So Long And Good Night

Chapter Three (Something Like That )

I got home and saw my dad on the couch watching tv.
“Hey sweetie, the neighbours are coming round tonight to welcome us into the town. They have two boys around your age. I think you might finally have some new friends.” He smiled at me while saying this.
“Hmm so that’s why we’re having a nice tea not a ready meal tonight. I wondered what that was about.” I replied sarcastically. In truth, my dad is a great cook, and he taught me how to cook good meals for other people and all the stuff.
“Oh shut up you” He got up off the couch, shaking his head, and gave me a hug. “I’m guessing you got the note then because the coffee was gone?”
“Yeah I got it, thanks dad. I’ve got a bit of homework so I’m gonna go do that now.” I went upstairs and got my stuff out of my bag. I had some music homework, which was to write a piece for an instrument you play. I decided to write something for bass, something which would give the teacher a good impression of me. Well, better than already. My music class was actually good. The people left me alone, so I could get my head down and do the work. The teacher was pretty cool. She let me listen to my music while we were doing theory work. She said she’d put it on her laptop on speaker, since we both like the same music. Only bad thing was, Mikey, Gerard and Frank were there too. Although I will say, they’re talented. Gerard sings really well, Frank is amazing at guitar, and Mikey was actually really fucking good at playing bass. They left me alone though, which was good. I don’t think they even noticed me to be honest, because they were so focused on their work.
Before I realised it, I’d finished scribing the piece for it, so went over to my bass and played the piece I’d written. It didn’t take long to actually play it perfectly without the notes in front of me.
After I’d finished my homework and all that stuff, I put my record player on. I had all the albums of my favourite bands on vinyl, so I didn’t need to worry about any of that. I put From Under The Cork Tree on, by Fall Out Boy, because thank you Pete Wentz for those basslines. I picked up my bass again and began playing the bass lines along with the songs when I heard the front door open and my dad greet some people. Then me being called downstairs to ‘come and meet our neighbours’. I shouted down I’d be down in a minute, I just needed to finish this song’s bass line. It was Dance, Dance which has one of my favourite bass lines to play.
Once it finished I put my bass down and went downstairs, I turned around to face the door and saw the last person I expected or wanted to see in my house.
Mikey Way.
I saw Gerard behind him, their parents had obviously gone through to the living room or something. Mikey had medical tape on his eyebrow that I punched and his nose looked crooked. I smirked at that and laughed a bit.
“Like what you see Quinn?” He questioned me.
“Mhm yeah I did a bit of damage didn’t I?” He just rolled his eyes when Gerard finally spoke up.
“You play bass?”
I felt my face heat up a bit. Shit, they weren’t supposed to know I play bass.
“Ermm yeah I play bass, I’m not that good though” I saw Mikey roll his eyes at that.
“Yeah we heard someone else playing bass in music today. We thought it was Mikey but he was playing something different.” Gerard said. He seemed cool too. To be fair, they all seemed nice  except Mikey. What was his problem with me?
I smiled at Gerard, “Yeah I play guitar and piano too. Wanna see?” I offered him. I need to at least try and make friends. Gerard nodded his head and I turned to go back upstairs to my room to show them my bass and guitar. My bass was plain black on the main part, with dark green splatters on it while my guitar was black and red. They walked in my room and clearly saw all my band posters. I had a lot.
“Hey what’s the flag for?” I heard Mikey ask. Shit, shit, shIT.
“Oh right that nothing ahaha” I laughed awkwardly at them. Gerard looked at me with a look on his face that said “really, it’s not there for no reason or it wouldn’t be there at all” while Mikey raised his eyebrow with the tape on it. I sighed at them.
“Fine, fine, I’ll tell you. I’m bi and that’s a bi pride flag.” I trailed off at the end. I don’t have internalised biphobia or anything, I was just scared to tell them on the first day we met. I didn’t know if they were homophobic or anything. They didn’t seem to be.
“That’s great! Girl I’m proud of you!” I heard Gerard shout then hug me, I reluctantly hugged back. Mikey smiled slightly too.
“That’s cool dude. You be you.”
“Well at least you don’t hate me for being bi” I said after breaking the hug with Gerard.
“Na, I might hate you anyways, but not for being bi, neither does Gee” Mikey was looking at my bass now “Cool bass by the way.” I  looked over at him. He had the bass in his hands and was strumming random notes.
“Yeah I saw y’all in music class. You’re really good at singing Gerard. Also Mikey you didn’t strike me as the sort of person who plays an instrument, neither did Frank really. But y’all are good. I’m pretty shit.” I smiled a bit. Playing my bass or guitar was great fun for me, and I really wanted to do something music related for a career, I always have. Maybe in a band.
“Do you wanna have a go with it?” I asked Mikey, who hadn’t really taken his eyes off the bass.
“If you don’t mind”
“Mikey, you’re a dick and I hate you and I punched you in the face earlier, but you’re good at bass, I’ll give you that.” With that he picked up the bass, sat down on my seat and started playing Don’t Threaten Me With A Good Time while me and Gerard sat on my bed. He was amazing. Like fucking talented. His face when he actually played the bass was so focused, it was kind of cute. Wait, what am I thinking. I hate him, he hates me. I literally punched his face a few hours ago. I can’t be calling him cute or anything. Ok no I hate him. It stays that way.
He finished and I was amazed. He didn’t miss a single note or anything.
“I said he was good right?” Gerard said smugly.
“Yeah yeah sure. Pass it here. Give me a song.” I was given my bass back.
“I Don’t Care by Fall Out Boy” Gerard and Mikey shouted at the same time. I smiled at them.
“One of my favourites to play.” I smirked at them both and started strumming it and started playing. I forgot about the two boys who were sitting with me and started playing it with everything I had. When I was finished I looked up and saw the two of them looking at me in awe.
“What? Did I do something wrong? Am I that bad-” I was cut off by Gerard and Mikey
“That was fucking amazing” Mikey
“You have a great voice Phoenix.” Gerard. Shit. I was singing. That wasn’t supposed to happen.
“Heh, it’s not that good but thanks I guess…” I trailed off and looked down. Then I heard my dad shout down that food was ready. Gerard jumped up and shouted for the food. I chuckled at him and got up, expecting Mikey to have left with him, and put my bass away, running my hand down it and smiling softly at it. I turned round and saw Mikey was still there, leaning on the wall with his arms crossed. He really didn’t seem that bad just now but I guess I was wrong.
“I don’t know what you’re doing, but can you get out my room now we’re all going downstairs?” I put my weight on one foot and put my hands in my pockets.
“I didn’t actually ask or want to come over, just so you know. I still hate you. And you trying to be friends with Frank or Gerard won’t help make me not hate. Just so you know.”
“Good, I don’t care what you think about me because believe it or not I didn’t ask or want you to come over to my room. Also, I’m trying to be friends with Gerard and Frank because they seem like cool guys and I want to die saying I made at least one or two friends in my life. Now, my dad makes some great nachos so I’m gonna go downstairs and eat my food. Bye” I made sure to push his shoulder on my way out, and went downstairs to the dining room and sat next to my dad at the table, with Gerard on the other side of me.