Senior Year

12

"What do you think he wants us to do today?" Zac asked Naomi who was sitting next to him at a table in the park.

"I don't know really. I just hope he doesn't want us to go sky diving or something like that." Naomi sighed.

"You really think he's capable of that?" Zac asked worriedly.

"Honestly, I've been trying to figure him out and I still can't. The man is unpredictable."

Naomi stopped talking when she spotted her music teacher walking towards them wearing a black short sleeved shirt with blue jean shorts and white and black sneakers.

"Well at least he looks normal today." Naomi nodded to herself.

"Hello my students! Ready to go?"

"You still haven't told us where we're going." Zac pointed out.

"You'll find out when we get there. Now let's go before we're late." Mr Hartford pointed at his car.

"Okay, I call shot gun." Naomi announced as she got up starting to walk towards the car.

"Seriously? Just like that?" Zac asked still sitting down.

"Yeah." Naomi shrugged.

"Okay then." Zac sighed also getting up.

They got in the car and Mr Hartford drove them to a building that had the words Captain Smoothie. 

"What are we doing here?" Zac asked as his teacher parked the car.

"All in good time." Zac and Naomi gave him a questioning looks which he didn't see. "Follow me."

They followed him out the car and into the building. The inside looked like it was a typical smoothie shop. It was almost full and there was a little stage with instruments on it.

"What are we doing here?" Zac asked confused.

Naomi looked around and saw a flyer on an empty table. She picked it up and looked at her teacher quizzically.

"It's a band competition. You brought us here to watch a battle of the bands or whatever this is?" Naomi asked.

"I didn't bring you here to watch, I actually brought you here to-"

He was cut off by the owner of the shop yelling from the stage.

"Thomas there you are! Your kids are going on in five minutes!"

"What?! You signed us up?!" Zac and Naomi yelled in unison.

"Yes I did."

"Why?" Zac asked.

"I want you guys to know how it feels to go on stage and perform in front of people."

"Again I ask. WHY?!"

"Well my music classes would be useless if you two don't learn how to perform in front of a crowd."

"I'm not going up there." Naomi finally spoke up.

"Why not?"

"What if I mess up?"

"So in other words you're scared?"

"Yes I'm scared!"

"I recall you were also scared of clowns. I also recall that you braved it out, hugged a clown and took a photo with one."

"That's different."

"How? You were brave enough to do what scares you the most. This is nothing."

"This man is insane." Naomi whispered to herself.

"How were you able to touch that snake?" Mr Hartford asked Zac.

"I took a deep breath, closed my eyes and got it over with." Zac shrugged.

"That's what you have to do now. Take a deep breath, close your eyes and just do your best." Mr Hartford said smiling at the two.

"Thomas! Are those kids coming on or not?" the owner yelled.

"I don't know. Are you guys going up there?"

"Yes." Naomi sighed and Zac nodded.

"Well then get up there." Mr Hartford pointed at the stage.

"Let's do this dork." Naomi told Zac.

They got on stage. Zac sat in front of the drums, Naomi grabbed a guitar and stood in front of the mic. Mr Hartford grabbed a base guitar.

"You got this." Mr Hartford told his students before Zac started playing the drums and Naomi took a deep breath.

"You guys did great by the way." Mr Hartford told the two as they drank the smoothies he had bought them.

As soon as they finished performing everyone gave them a standing ovation. As a way to apologize for making them go up there in the first place Mr Hartford bought them each a smoothie.

"Thanks. I'm just confused. Why didn't you tell us why you invited us here?" Zac asked.

"Were you really gonna come if I told you?"

"Nope." Naomi said with a smile.

"Okay everyone! The top five performances today will perform next week Saturday at 8pm for $2000!" the owner yelled from the stage.

"In the top five we have..... Smile, Summer Vibes, Grand Rockers, Morning Baby and No Clue!"

"That's us!" Mr Hartford yelled.

"I can't believe you called us 'No Clue'." Naomi frowned at Zac.

"She asked me the name of our band and I said 'No Clue'. I didn't think she'd assume that was the actual name."

"Who cares. You two are coming back here next week and maybe you'll win $2000." Mr Hartford smiled.

"I guess you're right." Naomi smiled taking another sip of her smoothie.

After finishing their drinks Mr Hartford took them back home. He dropped Zac off first before driving to Naomi's house.

"We have arrived." he announced as he stopped the car in front of her house.

"Thanks for today." Naomi said getting out the car. "You know, you're one really weird teacher."

"I know." He shrugged making Naomi chuckle and give him a fist bump.

"See you Monday Mr Hartford." Naomi shutting the door and walking into her house.

"Hey sweetie. Did you have fun with your friend today?" Her grandmother asked from the kitchen.

"I did actually."

"I'm glad you're starting to enjoy yourself."

"Me too." Naomi smiled to herself.

She felt her phone vibrate in her back pocket and she immediately checked it out. It was a text from Zac.

Zachary: How does it feel to officially be in a band? 😎

Naomi: It's cool. We should get matching outfits and special made shirts.😂

Zachary: That's not a bad idea actually.

Naomi: No Zachary I was joking. I don't want to wear the same outfit as you. 😑

Zachary: I'm serious. I'm gonna talk to Mr Hartford about getting the band some shirts.

Naomi: 🤦🙄. Are you even reading my texts? I was joking!

Zachary: What color should the shirts be. I was thinking black with electric blue words. Or maybe white with black words.

Naomi: I give up. Do whatever you want to do Zachary.

Zachary: Okay, see you Monday.

Naomi: Whatever dork.

Naomi smiled at her phone before going into the kitchen to help her grandmother.