The Worst Of Me(Treebros)

Chapter Sixteen: No, I Don't Like Jazz

Zoe's POV

Zoe clutched her old and warn out guitar to her chest. She stared at the empty auditorium in front of her.

She started to practice again, humming her song lyrics.

This month, her instructor had told her band to each create their own song to play. Zoe would go last, because "We should save he best for last", quoted by her instructor.

She looked down at her phone. 6:30. The concert would start in thirty minutes. She took this time to text her parents.

YA.LIKE.JAZZ???:Mom Dad are u comin 2nite?

Cynthia.Murphy: Oh, I'm so sorry honey. I have a yoga class tonight!

Boss.Murphy.Dad: I have work.

Zoe sighed as she tucked her phone away into her bag. Her parents rarely came to her concerts.

Sometimes they did, but most of the time they didn't. Connor only went to a few until eighth grade.

Which, was technically her fault. She though back to that day and cringed.

"Good job, ZoZo!" Connor congratulated as he engulfed Zoe in a warm hug.

Zoe squeaked and hugged back. She heard whispering and turned her head toward the source of the noise.

A group of eighth graders were whispering and laughing about the two. About Zoe and Connor.

"Oh my god, look at that freak! She's with the school shooter!"

"Isn't that her brother?"

"Such bad luck! But she's also a Murphy, she'll probably end up emo and high!"

"She's such a freak."

Zoe pulled away from her brother and glared at him. Connor stared back, confused.

"What?" He asked.

"Don't ever come to another one of my concerts again."

Now Connor looked surprised, confused, and hurt. Zoe winced lightly at his expression.

"What? What do you mean? You just want me to stop coming? Why?"

"Shut up. You FREAK," she spat out that last word and disappeared into the crowd.

Connor stared as she left. All he felt was hurt and betrayal.

From that day on, Zoe has never seen Connor at her concerts before. To be honest, she really wanted him to come, but how was she supposed to tell him that?

He's a monster anyways.

"Alright girls!" Her instructor called. "It's almost showtime! Sabrina, go on!"

Zoe walked backstage as Sabrina went up, waving a good luck sign at her. She waiting.

~Time Skip~

"And for our last performance, Zoe Murphy!"

Zoe took a deep breath and walked onstage. She sat down down on the bench and said, "this song is written for my brother, Connor Murphy."

And with that, she began to play.

"Why should I play this game of pretend?

Remembering through a secondhand sorrow?