Time And I

Six

"Are we going to play Mario Maker 2 or not? I need to know who I can torture with my levels," Buddy stated as we exited the school's main doors. Brody's sedan was parked out front, and he rolled down the window to wave at me when I spotted him.

"Unless you're cool with me coming over after dinner, I have a meeting to 'attend.'"

"I think you used your air quotes in the wrong place," he said, cocking an eyebrow as he followed me to the car.

"No. Brody has a meeting with a new community center. I'm tagging along. I'd invite you along, but-"

"It's club thing. I get it."

"Actually, I'll be doing homework the entire time, and you know how Brody gets when we screw around."

He shuddered, remembering the time we were sophomores and wound up cart surfing at Target. With the two of us separating from him while he bought art supplies for the Clubhouse, Buddy and I grew bored with sitting by the magazines and decided to race down the aisles with me in the cart and him pushing from behind. We were being careful, but when Brody saw us, he scolded us in front of the entire electronics departments as though he were a forty-year-old man and we were his rebellious teenagers. We never did anything like that again, at least not with Brody around. If Buddy tagged along, we knew we'd get bored and do something that might upset Brody. Neither of us wanted to risk it.

"Just let me know what time you're leaving at. I'll check with my mom if you can still come over."

"Sounds good."

I waved to him as I slid into the passenger seat, saying "Hi," to Brody as he drove off school grounds.

"How did last night go?" he questioned. "Did you ask Jeanie about the concert?"

"Yes." I bit my lip, hiding my smile.

"And?" he slowly asked.

"She said she'd come!"

"What did I tell you," he encouraged, clapping his hand on my shoulder. "She loves you."

"Well, I know she loves me, but she's so busy with her brand, I didn't want to get in the way of anything she needs to do."

"Did she mention-"

"No, I don't think she realized, but she'll remember when the date comes closer. I hope she likes them. The Struts aren't exactly her favorite genre, but I fucking love glam rock. Queen. Elton. ELO. Seriously, just the best."

"Speaking of ELO, put them on shuffle," Brody said as he handed me his phone. I played their top hits, starting with Mr. Blue Sky. "The concert isn't going to be so much about the music for her. As long as she doesn't hate them, she's just going to enjoy being there to spend time with you. I guarantee that is all she wants to do with you. It's not like you two ever spend time together."

"I want to, but she's busy. When she's not locked in her studio, she's in her room, binge watching TV till she falls asleep. She works long hours, and she never leaves the house."

"Now she'll have a reason to."

"Still... I want her at least like them. Have at least one band that we can love and fawn over together."

"You just think Geth is attractive."

"How could I not," I hummed. "He is the drummer. And all drummers are attractive."

The drive to the community center didn't take as long as I assumed it would. Just twenty minutes. I slung my bag over my shoulder as I slammed the car door shut. Following Brody inside, he seemed to know exactly where he was supposed to go. I wanted to take my time and look around, but since he was on a schedule, I didn't want to hold him up.