Closet Rocker

Closet Rocker Chapter 5

Chapter Five:

“Are you sure we are ready?” I asked my bottom lips nearly raw from the chewing it was enduring. I knew I must look like a frightened rabbit; my hands were fisted into my shirt, my eyes wide, and my knees trembling. But it seemed that Jinx had more than enough faith in me, since she bobbed her head vigorously as she pulled on a pair of skintight black skinny jeans.

“Hell yes you’re ready! I mean, you totally kicked ass back there, and I know you can do it again,” she consoled, buttoning the button and coming closer to rest a comforting hand on my shoulder. I nodded my head, in defeat, my palms slick with sweat, but a bubbling excitement rising in my stomach.

Once Leo had pushed his sister out of the room, we played a few more songs, sounding better and better with each one. By now we sounded like an actual band, which pleased me immensely. It was 6:30, and I had just gotten off the phone with my Abuela, letting her know that I was going to stay the night at my friend’s house.  You can only imagine how happy she was when she heard that her loner of a granddaughter found a friend, and was actually socializing with it. So, I was free to play at The Closet, and my overbearing father would be none the wiser.

“Hey, you ladies gonna lend us a hand out here?” Lex called from down the hall, making us laugh.

“Just a minute, bro!” I yelled back, bending down and picking the amp up at my feet. Jinx did the same, muttering curses under her breath, and followed me out. Hends had a guitar in both hands, Mase was rolling the base drum out the door, and Leo was wrapping up his chords.

“About time!” Lex whined playfully, taking the amplifier from my hands with a wink. I smirked back at him, the excitement for tonight making my mind and body tingle as I relieved Hends of one of the guitars. Skipping outside, I handed it to Sloan who was put on band-equipment-Tetris duty. He clipped it in its case before placing it atop one of the many amps that we had.

We had to get to The Closet by 7:00, so we could warm and tune up before the show starts. We had our set list put together, so we knew what we were going to play, and what we needed to work on, but mostly the kinks in our noise was smoothed out, and we were nearly in complete harmony with one another, despite it being our first go. Jinx- who had been allowed to listen to us play, since she was “the official Pieces of The Game groupie”- had told us that we were amazing, much to my happiness. So, I think I may be ready for this concert business.

Running back to help, we quickly packed up the rest of our equipment and grabbed enough snacks to keep us content. Munching away on some Fritos, I sat in the back seat next to Sloan and Lex, while Hends and Leo were up front with Leo driving us, and Jinx and Mace hogging up the back row. Currently, Leo and Jinx were arguing over how the band got its name.

“I told you, it was from that quote I found online!” Jinx shouted, throwing a little cookie at the back of her brother’s head. He scowled at her in the rearview mirror, and Hends picked the cookie up off his shoulder and popped it in his mouth.

“No, I thought of it when I was playing chess with gramps, sis,” he sighed, bravely ignoring her tongue as she stuck it out at him. Thinking hard, I cleared my throat, interrupting their next bout of argument.

“I’m not sure if it’s the same thing, but there is a quote by Omar Khayyam, which goes ‘But helpless Pieces of the Game He plays, Upon this chequer-board of Nights and Days, Hither and thither moves, and checks and slays.’” I recited; glad that I could still remember it. The car was silent as the mulled it over, the argument long forgotten.

“Kitty, I think I’m glad that you’ve joined us,” Mace said from the backseat, before handing me a cookie. We laughed as I took it from him, biting a chunk out of it and shoving it my mouth before Lex could swipe it from me. Turning up the radio, we rode the rest of the way to the older brick building that was the new teen hang-out and home to The Pieces of The Game. The boys and Jinx all jumped out, letting out whoops and cheers as the back double doors opened to reveal who I am assuming is the head honcho of this place. He was short, round, and had probably the coolest beard I have ever seen, which is saying something, since I have been exposed to many beards.