That Thing You Do! (Multiband Fan Fic)

Chapter 11 - Ohana

Katie's P.O.V

Once we got our bagels, Stevie saw something and disappeared in the crowds.
"Always?" Dylan asked me, about Stevie.
"He's always like this, yes." I nodded, taking a bite out of my bagel, not worrying for Stevie.
"Fair enough. So, you don't have anyone waiting for you at home?" Dylan asked me, leading me over to a wall, facing the market, so we could sit and eat, and wait for Stevie.
"No... Why?" I asked, wondering why he was still talking about this.
"You were in that phone booth for three hours, Monroe! You weren't talking to Joe. I know that much. You talk to Joe for five, maybe ten minutes, before you hang up and off we go. You had the biggest smile on your face. I saw you." Dylan looked at me, sitting on my left.
"Well, he's not my boyfriend, but I really like this guy... It's not going to happen with him- I'm too far in the friendzone!" I quickly added, frowning.
"Ah, I see... I'm sorry to hear that. No way out of it?" My new friend questioned.
"No..." I let out a deep sigh, thinking of Kirk.

Dylan stayed quiet, eating his bagel, glancing at me now and then.
"Dylan! I found you a girlfriend!" Stevie ran over, bag of cherries and his bagel in one hand, a dashboard hula girl in the other hand.
"Jesus Christ!" Dylan chuckled, taking the hula girl, as Stevie stood in front of us.
Stevie had actually wrote 'Dylan's Girlfriend' on the base of it, making us all crack up laughing.
"Her name's Ohana." Stevie smiled.
"Why 'Ohana'?" Dylan asked, looking at his little lady.
"'Cause 'Ohana' means family, and it's what we are." Stevie had a heart to heart moment with Dylan.

Our dickhead friend looked down at Stevie, who remained standing in front of us, as we stayed up on the wall. He actually looked touched by Stevie's words.
He didn't say anything, he just raised Ohana up, giving Stevie a nod, as a 'Thank You'.

. . .

Back in the mini bus, after breakfast, Stevie took over the driving. I was in the back, with Dylan. He was tuning his guitar, as Stevie started telling us about his parents, filling Dylan in on everything he should know.
We would be staying at Stevie's for two nights, then off to New York. I started to think about my life, my mum and dad, Joe and Billie... Even Liv Tyler. She was a Goddess, and I was able to call her one of my greatest friends... Unbelievable!

Stevie then said something that triggered a memory. "It's always about music in the house!"

I could see it now... Clear as day... It felt like yesterday...

Dad came to collect me from school, I had an awful day. He opened the car's back door for me, letting me climb in. I didn't speak to him, didn't look at him, just held his hand as he led me to the car.
I was four years old.

Dad was talking to me, trying to get me to speak, on the drive home, but I just wouldn't. All the kids hated me.
"Your dad's weird! He looks like a girl!"
"Why do you always talk about music?!"
"Why do you always sit by yourself?"

Well, Karen, you were never nice to me. Remember!
I sat next to you, on the first day of this year, but you took one look at me, then moved to another table, leaving me to sit by myself.
My dad just has long hair, leave him alone. He's a good man and a better person, then you'll ever be!
I only talk about music, cause it's the only thing that matters!

"I need to make a quick stop, on the way home, kiddo. Do you want to come inside with me?" Dad asked, as he pulled the car over.
I nodded and dad put the car in park. He climbed out and came round to my side, helping me out the car.
He took my hand, leaving my school bag on the floor, in the back of the car, and he locked the car, before leading me towards a record store.

I looked up at dad, then at the old sign, that swayed above the shop, sticking out into the street. 'Velvet Records.' It read.

Dad smiled down at me, before he crouched to my height. He gave me a £10 note and grinned at me. "Pick a record." He smiled at me. "Any record... It's yours."
I took the money and dad stood up, opening the door for me.

The shop wasn't huge, but a great size. Music played in the background, there were vinyl records everywhere. It was all old, but had aged so well. Shelves were on every wall, with a long wooden shelf in the centre of the store, the cash register was to the right, straight ahead, as you walked in through the door.
I walked to the middle and ran a hand over the records. Dad told me vinyl records were a dying breed. No one bought them anymore, so each one must be used with care and love.
They were so big, but so thin, in my small hands.

Dad started talking to the guy at the counter. We were the only people in the store.
I looked up at my dad, as he leaned on the side of the counter, so he could keep an eye on me, as he spoke to the shop owner.
I walked round the shelf, the money tight in my hand. A record cost £10, but a single cost only £5.
I wanted a record. I knew that much. I just didn't know what record to buy.

There were dark ones, colourful ones, some with strange pictures, some just black, one black with a snake on it... There were so many to choose, but then I saw it.
By the window... It was blue, with some red.
I hadn't noticed dad stopped talking and started watching me.
I was fascinated by it. It was tucked away, just out of sight.

An air raid siren started to sound over the store stereo. I heard a voice start to sing "A-Ahhhh!", "A-Ahhhh!"
I felt myself walking closer. It was amazing, so bright and loud.
"A-Ahhhh!" The voice sung, as I placed my right hand on the record.
This was the one...

I pulled it off the shelf and got a good look at it, instantly feeling connected to it somehow.
Blue, with a red circle, going off into a cross... White stars, in each corner... Four guys in the centre, sat and standing looking at the viewer...

'The Sweet... Blockbusters'

"Daddy..." I didn't dare take my eyes away from the men on the cover.
Dad walked over and crouched down behind me. "Sweet... Excellent choice, kiddo." He smiled at me, taking my hand.
He led me to the counter, I was still in my daze.
I slid the record on the counter and the man took my money. I took my record and stared at it again. I didn't notice the guy give dad the money back, telling him I was free to have the record.
Turned out the guy was a very close friend of my dads. He knew it was my first record.

Dad took me home and showed me how the record player worked. We put my record on and my whole life changed forever.
Music was everything. It was music or bust. You better beware... You better take care... I love my dads long black hair.

Music is everything.
And I still own that record to this day...