Try Hard

Guitar V.S. Drummer

I finished bringing people to the room and stand near the front, a battle raging in my mind. I still hadn't seen Ashton, but I was so sure he was here earlier.

Finally, a few minutes before the boys were scheduled to start, Ashton runs into the room. The other boys surround him and they remind him which song they're going to play. Ashton nods before taking a seat behind his drums. He looks off today, and I hope he's ok. 

"Hey guys, I'm pretty sure most of you know that I'm Luke. This over her," He says, pointing to his left, "Is Calum. Over here," He says, pointing to his right, "Is Micheal. Ashton is sitting behind the drums."

"Hey!" Ashton waves at the fans and they scream. I roll my eyes and wave back, earning a smile from Calum, who was right in front of me.

"The first song we will be singing is Try Hard from our Don't Stop album." Luke nods to Calum, who starts counting.

"1, 2, 3, 4!" 

"She's dropping out of school 'cause she don't need the grades, the colors in her hair don't seem to fade. I get dressed up when I go out, but she gets dressed down." Luke sings, winking into the crowd. The girls scream and I laugh to myself.

"She's 17, I told her I'm 20. I couldn't take her out 'cause mom's got no money. It's stuff like this that makes me wish that I could change somehow." Calum sings into his microphone. "She's got a rose tattoo but she keeps it covered. I play guitar, but she's into drummers." I look at Ashton, catching his eye in the crowd. 

"She's seen my face around, but she doesn't even know my name." Calum takes a quick breath. "I pierced my lip so she thinks I'm cool, ripped my jeans and dropped out of school. I followed her around the town but she thinks that I'm a weirdo now." Calum continues singing.

Luke sings a quick line "Sitting here at home." before they all start singing.

"It's obvious she's so out of reach. And I'm finding it hard 'cause she makes me feel, makes me feel like I try, like I try, like I'm trying too hard. 'Cause I'm not being me and it's getting me down that she makes me think, makes me think that I try, that I try, that I'm trying too hard again." I glance at Ashton to find him already looking at me. He blushes before quickly looking back at his drums. 

"But now, who knew, that she's in the crowd of my show. Nothing to lose, she's standing right in the front row. The perfect view 'cause she came along on her own and there's something that you should know you're so out of reach. And I'm finding it hard 'cause you make me feel, you make me feel yeah, she makes me feel, she makes me feel." Luke sings, his voice full of emotion. He winks at me and the crowd screams again. How do they do this all the time?

"It's obvious she's so out of reach. And I'm finding it hard 'cause she makes me feel, makes me feel like I try, like I try, like I'm trying too hard. 'Cause I'm not being me and it's getting me down that she makes me think, makes me think that I try, that I try, that I'm trying too hard again" They all sing, their voices blending perfectly. 

Luke looks at me before singing his last lines, almost missing his que. "And again, and again, and again, and again. 'Cause I'm trying too hard again and again, and again, and again, and again. 'Cause I'm trying too hard again." His voice fades out and the girls start screaming again. 

I look back to Ashton, who smiles at me. He tilts his head and gestures toward the door, and if you hadn't been looking at him you wouldn't have noticed. I nod, ever so slightly. 1.  He holds up his fingers below one of the cymbals. 2. I quietly get up and walk closer to the door. 3. I rush out the door, pretending to check my watch as if I was late to something.

I lead Ashton to my office and shut the door, not wanting to get caught. "So what's your name?" Ashton asks, and I smile.

"My name is Rowan. I am one of the radio hosts." I say, looking down at my desk. I quickly tidy up some papers that aren't stacked properly and invite Ashton to sit.

"I know. I was listening to your station this morning when you played Old Me, but I hadn't caught your name so I was curious." Ashton said. I blushed, checking my watch for real this time.

"Won't your bandmates be wondering where you are?" I ask, and Ashton laughs.

"I thought you saw earlier. They didn't know where I was all day and when I rushed in, they only talked to me about our song. Didn't you see?" Ashton asked, and I nodded. I would've hoped they would at least ask where he was.

"Nobody questioned it?" I asked, and Ashton shook his head.

"Michael gave me a weird look, but that's it. Knowing Luke, he's just stressed because of the show. He is the main vocalist, after all. Calum was probably double-checking that all the instruments were in place." Ashton said, trying to defend them.

I nodded, not willing to upset him. "Ok. So, how are you? Where were you all day?" I asked, and Ashton laughed.

"I was visiting my mum. She lives near here and I missed her, so, I went and saw her. I'm well, you?" 

"I'm well. Just happy to be here everyday, you know?" I say, and Ashton nods.

"I do."