One Note at a Time

1

"Okay, but you can't tell me that doesn't sound like fun!!" Richie exclaimed, putting his hands up defensively as his friends stared at him.

"You mean to tell me you think we should start a fucking band?" Eddie kaspbrak shot back, crossing his arms and raising an eyebrow.

The room was quiet as everyone seemed to contemplate the idea of a band. Okay, maybe it was a little crazy, but Richie just wanted something to do. To feel like he had a purpose besides just existing! And what better way than to start a band.

"I don't think it's a bad idea." Bev spoke next, glancing around at the others. "Come on, we live in a shit hole of a town, how about we start something new?" She shrugged, smiling at Richie before pushing a piece of hair out of her eyes.

It took a few minutes, but eventually there were nods from four of the boys. The only one left was Eddie Kaspbrak, and everyones gaze was on him as if they were silently begging him to join in on their idea.

"Come on, Eddie, it'll be fun!" Mike said to him, nudging the smaller boy in the side with his elbow.

Eddie groaned and pushed Mikes arm away in annoyance. "You guys know how my mom is! She would never let me do that in a million years!" He frowned, looking away from the group. After a few more minutes Eddie sighed, turning his head back to the others. "Fine. But if I get caught I'm out!"

The group exchanged smiles, a peaceful silence falling over the group. Truth be told they could sit like this forever. Just spend their days doing nothing but basking in each others company. The bubble from the stream seemed like music, ironic for the topic they had just been discussing.

There was only one person not listening to the sounds, it was Stan Uris. Normally he would be glancing off, distracted by a bird in the trees, but currently he was racking his brain. He was thinking of ways this band idea could turn into something bigger. Something better.

"I can be your guys' manager if you're really serious about this." Stan spoke up, the others giving him unbelieving looks. "What? We all know I'd be the only one capable of keeping you guys on track."

"Damn, Stanny." Richie said with a soft chuckle. "You're right, but that doesn't mean you had to say it." He pretended to pout, causing Stan to roll his eyes.

When the time came where the sun was starting to set the group dispersed, heading off to their homes.

Ben sighed as he walked into his home, his mother still wasn't home, she had probably picked up an extra shift. This was fine by him though, it gave him time to sit down at his keyboard and mess around, a chord progression flowing roughly until he worked out the kinks.

Ben had ended up falling in love with the piano after finding one for cheap, although he only seemed to mess with it on the nights that he couldn't sleep. Or occasionally while his mom was gone.

The others arrived home, all doing similar things that would benefit, or at least amuse, their idea of a band. Richie practicing on the bass that his parents had gotten him, Eddie softly singing songs that blasted through his headphones, Bev drawing designs for costumes while singing songs echoing throughout her room, Mike drumming along to his own music using a practice pad, and Bill strumming lazily at his own guitar.

———————

Birds could be heard singing as kids walked onto the school grounds, it was quite easy to pick out which kids enjoyed mornings and which didn't. The losers seemed unbothered by the people passing around them as they stood in a small circle, it had become a morning routine.

"So, I'm saying we have practice in my g-g-garage tonight. My p-parents don't really give a sh-shit what I do anyways." Bill suggested to his friends, a couple of the boys nodding along.

"That's fine by me." Ben stated, shrugging softly. "I worked on some stuff last night, just as a way to play around with band ideas."

A chuckle tore the group away from their conversation and they were faced with none other than the shit eating grin of Henry Bowers.

"Awe, the little losers starting a band?" He chuckled, his friends joining in.

"Sounds like a fucking shit show." Vic said in response, glancing around the group of kids, the tension only making him smirk towards Henry.

"At least we're doing something with our lives," Richie shot back. "that's more than you can say, right Henry?"

The tension grew as they waited for Henrys next move but nothing came. Henry leaned in, glaring daggers at Richie.

"Better watch what you say, fairy." Henry spoke lowly before looking at the others as if giving off a warning, and with that they walked off.

A silence stayed among the seven as they finally began to walk to their respective lockers, grabbing what they'd need for the long school day ahead of them.

———————

Bills garage was definitely the best place for them to meet for their band to start, yet no one knew exactly what to do. Bev was sat down next to Ben, leaning against his shoulder and watching as Richie and Eddie argued over god knows what.

"Hey, Mikes here." Bev said, pointing towards the old pickup that pulled into the driveway.

Mike walked into the garage, a pair of drumsticks in one hand, practice pad in the other.

"Should we get this started?" Stan asked, looking around the group as everyone nodded. Their excitement was evident as they were all curious as to where this silly idea would take them.

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Hi!! So, I let myself get talked into writing a band au. This story will also be up on AO3!! I hope you guys enjoy, I had fun writing this :)

-Liz