Coda & Jacket

Chapter 1 - Bad Girl

There's something about him. There always has been. When he's trying to sing a melody and his long dark brown hair gets into his mouth or when he jawns because he has been up all night trying to write new lyrics for our debut album. I admire his work and talent, I've told him many times and he always just says; "Thanks, Matt" with his sweet voice and add a shy smile. We go way back and have history together. We met each other when he joined my choir in high school and we hit it off from the beginning. I found him hilarious from day one and we once got kicked out from the practice because he kept making me laugh when we had to sing. I'm happy he did though because that was the day he took me to his favorite spot in Vancouver and we spend the whole night there in his car, just hanging and talking for hours on end. That was the night I realized I had a crush on him. I had never had a crush on a guy before, but there was just something about him. Still to this very day, when he looks at me or smiles, my heart flushes and I feel like I could fly. Just fly away with him. 

"Ey, Matt! Stop daydreaming and listen," Josh said, his tone strict but calm and delightful.

He startled me so I quickly got back to reality. My eyes were on him and my ears open and ready to listen to every word he had to say. I rolled my chair closer to him so I could concentrate better. He went on his computer and found a folder titled Fix Me. There were a few sounds and he played one of them. It was this sick guitar riff and it sounded fucking rock and roll. 

"Josh, that sounds awesome! When did you record that?" I asked.

"The other day when I went over to my dad's studio for some advice," Josh said.

"Cool... How's the writing going?" I asked.

"Pretty good to be honest. I just need like to finish a few more songs and then we should have our album. Hopefully, we'll get some radio plays..." He said with a sigh.

"All we can do is hope, Josh... When's Mike and Ian getting here?" I said.

"I don't know actually," He said.

With an "okay" I sank back into the chair. That phrase reminded me of a time where things were a lot more complicated between Josh and I. It was also back in high school. I was younger and not so mature when it came to relationships. I didn't know what to call what we had. It was kind of more than best friends but we had never kissed. I wanted to kiss him though. I remember a night where Josh had snuck out and had gone over to my place. He was knocking at the window. I hadn't gone to bed because he said he would come over. He didn't ask but I was used to it after so many times. 

I looked up from a new book I got for my birthday. Josh was standing outside my window. He was wearing a black hoodie and a pair of jeans. He looked cold, why didn't he wear a jacket? The weather is cold in Vancouver even though it's march. 

"Let me in." Josh mouthed.

I got up and opened the window for him. He stuck a leg inside and crawled in. He turned his back to me, to close the window. He was a little taller than me. I was the tallest in my family so whenever Josh would come over it felt a little weird to not be seeing the top of everyone's head. 

"Hey, Matt," Josh said and went in for a hug.

"Josh, you gotta be quieter when you show up at this time of the day," I told him.

"Oh, sorry..." He apologized. "I just wanted to see you," He said.

"Why now? There's school tomorrow," I said.

"I'm not going tomorrow. I have some... uh, family stuff to figure out," He told me.

"Oh, is something wrong?" I asked.