Dormant>> m.g.c.

Chapter .06

Last period rolled around and I wasn't sure how to deal with the excitment pounding in my chest. I watched each second on the clock tick past further from the last. Tick, Tick, Tick, Tick. Silence, with the exception of the tick and a few tapping pencils, fell upon the sad room. Edges of posters curl under. Ragged, brown edges frayed. Wall much brighter than the rest of the sun damaged paint peeks through like a child awaiting Christmas day. The desks, much older than I, creek upon movement, some have a story, written in graffiti, others just filled with doodles exhibiting profanity. I work my finger lightly over the doodles depicting a small person working up a large mountains of papers, grades, and books. Pencils, pens, and rulers jutt out from the cliff threating the small, fragile person. Yet the other side of the cliff bores a deep abyss. A dark nothingness labled life. I sigh and drag my index finger through the abyss wondering what that abyss holds for me.
I clutched my books to my chest, awaiting the final bell. Three minutes turns to two, two to one. I count down the remaining seconds; 17,16,15,14. I sit anxiously on the edge of my chair, toes tapping the floor like a rythmic beat looping over and over and not stopping until the final bell rings like a war cry of freedom launching life into the lazy, bodies slouching into the depths of their chairs. They suddenly come alive as if they had been shocked by an AED.
Being short in the hallways of a highschool is like being a kitten in some tall grass. Even the freshmen are taller than me. Due to this disadvantage it takes me a while to get to my locker to put away the books I don't need and to grab my bag. Luckily when i finally do get to my locker i'm greated by four tall boys better known as my friends.
"Hey," Luke greets "you were taking too long so i picked your lock and got your bag for you." He says slightly blushing. I roll my eyes at him and smirk. Such a dork.
"That's against school policy." I jokingly complained at them.
"Well we're bad-ass" Ashton said spitting on the ground. i scrunched my eyebrows at him
"That was straight up disgusting, Ashton." I crtiqued him. He shrugged and I again rolled my eyes. I packed my backpack and put my bag over my shoulder. It was very heavy and Michael saw how i was struggling.
"Need some help?"
"That would be great, yeah." i smiled and handed him my bag
"What've you got in here, rocks?" He joked and I smiled at his lame joke. Just as Calum turned around I could tell he was about to tease Michael. Just as he was to open his mouth I shook my head at him. Calum nodded but then went on to raise his eyebrows up and down at me. I mouthed the words "fuck off" to him and he laugh at my attempt to be bad. The school hallways were littered with papers and empty bottles of water. A rainbow of chewing gum sprinkled the walls and anywhere else it would stick. Quite disgusting they haven't cleaned it off yet. The dusty hallways never failed to make me sneeze, but today they do. Haven't sneezed once. Maybe it's a good luck sign. I like to take in my surroundings. Rooms tell a story.
I look up at Michael, walking by my side. He is already looking at me. He turns away in embarrassment and I smile. I smile hard enough to make my cheeks hurt in just a matter of seconds. Once I look up, the other boys are far ahead of us. I speed up to catch up with them.
When we finally reached the front doors the school was nearly vacant. Few cars dotted the front parking lot. Michael's Car had just enough room to fit the five of us; driver's seat, passenger seat, and three back seats. We ran to the car, which of course I got there last, due to the unlenghty stride of my short legs.
"Who is sitting where?" Luke questioned Michael. Michael looked up as though the answer was in the sky.
"Well, since Jade is a lady, she needs her space and will sit in the passenger seat and you guys will sit in the back." Michael decided as his conclusion.
I took my seat on the passenger side and from the back door opposite the drivers door Calum yelled "It's only 'cause he likes you!" Michael stood looking over the roof of the car at Calum and Calum just laughed at him. Ashton and Luke were already squished in the back and Calum then squeezed in himself. Luke was pouting that since he was the tallest, he shouldn't have to sit in the misdle but Ashton and Calum just shrugged. Calum then began to pout that it wasn't fair i get the best seat. I turned around in my seat, with my thumbs touching my temples and the rest of my fingers wiggling at him a stuck out my tounge at him like a five year old. Ashton found it quite funny.
On the way to Michael's house he asked me what kind of music I listened to. I named a few bands I liked and before i knew it Luke and I were full force conversation about Blink 182.
About three minutes from Michael's we all grew silent. I really enjoy looking out the windows. It keeps me busy, entertains me. I note what kinds of plants are growing, how the houses look. Some houses have a welcoming glow. Perfectly clean yards with a warm breeze blowing the trees in a swaying motion. Freshly trimmed lawns and happy little porch swings. Other houses have a sad and mysterious, yet beautiful presence. Sunken roofs, beaten old trees, untrimmed hedges, dull darkness. Beauty.
We arrive at Michael's house and I'm a bit nervous though i have nothing to be nervous about. His front yard is hidden in shade with small amounts of light beams breaking through the tree tops, throwing themselves to the thick grass that flourishes throughout. His house is a calm blue color. Suttle. We walk to his front door. He pulls a keychain from his pocket and unlocks the front door. The other boys dont wait to be welcomed in, they charge in like crazed bulls and jump onto the furniture. They treat this like they live here. Does Michael live with his parents?
"Great to be back here." Ashton relaxes laying back on a long couch. It's quite clean in this house, cleaner than i expected, brighter, too compared to the outside. Luke takes no time to grab a snack, emerging from what must be the kitchen with a box of crackers. Calum jumps up and opens a door and walks downstairs.
"Where is he going?" I turn looking up at Michael, still standing next to me.
"Probably going to see if his bass is in the condition it was in when he left it about four months ago." Michael shrugged. On remembering their instruments, Ashton and luke followed Calum down the stairs. Short after Michael and I went too. In the matter of a minute a small jam session had already begun. Just as promised when we first met, Ashton was a drummer. Luke and Michael play guitar, and Calum plays bass guitar. I sat down on an empty barstool and listened to them adjust their instruments before starting to play.
The basement was an average sized, cozy area scattered with posters and warm lights. Musical equipment scattered the room. A large cabinet held extra guitar strings, picks, drumsticks, amplifiers, and more. The walls were a pale olive green, but most of the wall was hidden behind a poster. Music filled the air. Relaxing. I started to yawn.
"Are we boring you? What would you like to hear?" Ashton teased. I hummed in thought but I didn't know what songs they all knew.
"Anything." i responded. They nodded and began playing a song.
"You're not going to sing?" i said and they all blushed. Such shy boys. "C'mon! Don't tell me you're all too shy to sing?"
"Fine." They gave in "But only if you turn the other way!" They requested. I waved my hand at them and turned around to face the wall. They started playing a song I didn't recognize. "Sometimes i start to wonder was it just a lie, if what we had was real, how could you be fine?" The lyrics to the song were quite beautiful, sappy, but nice. When they finished I turned around. They were all looking down like big dorks and i smiled at them and shook my head.
"Guys that was great! What song was that I didn't rcognize it."
Luke and Calum looked at each other. "Um...we kind of wrote it." Luke said motioning his finger between him and Calum and they were both bright red.
"That song was beautiful! I am so amazed!" I said to them and they both smiled stupidly.
"Water break!" a very sweaty Ashton declared and we all went upstairs for some water. After a five minute break we continued downstairs. Six songs and four water breaks later, band practice was over.
"This was one of our best practices ever!" Luke hollered into the evening air.
"Maybe Jade is our good luck charm." Calum winked at me. I scrunched my nose at him and giggled.
"See you tomorrow, boys." I waved walking down the street. They all waved in unison and smiled at me. Further up the street I stopped at a familiar place. Not my home, but more welcoming than my home will ever be. The Pond.