Teenage life. part 3

I always knew her family didn’t like me but we’ve been together for a year now. I’d have thought that they’d have adjusted to the fact that Kalisha and I were a couple. But based on what happened tonight

I guess not…..

Why do they hate me! It’s not like I’m on parole for selling crack on the street! It’s not like I’m a drug dealer! I’m a drummer in a steady rock band, I do good in school, I respect my dad and brother, I’m in good health and I treat my girlfriend unbelievable loyalty well as I consider her the most beautiful girl in the world. I don’t know whether they think I’m not good enough for her or whether they think I’m on drugs because I’m in a rock band. Ha! The most “hard core” thing we’ve ever eaten is extra sugar popcorn!

Now I’m power walking down the street ranting in my mind about those awful people. Aaarrrghh! Just because they work in “insurance” and “politics” ,and all that other dead from the neck up crap that snobs work in, they had to attack me about my dad and the fact that my dad owns a music shop! They think that music is frivolous and a waste of time when you could just count how many pens you own or how many clients walked in with a bowtie on last week!! I think its pretty cool that my pop has a music shop. I stop and work in the percussion section sometimes at the shop to make a little extra cash, and I like to practise on the electronic drum kit in the back. My band some times comes and practises in the back as well.

We’ve got Corey, bass and vocals. Terry, rhythm guitar and vocals. Darren, lead guitar and vocals and finally me, Logan, on the drums. I’m a grade 7 as of last week. My band so far has done 2 main gigs and we rocked them both!

As I’m turning onto black wood road, I hear a voice calling my name. “Hey Logan wait up!”

It’s Kalisha. I keep walking.

Eventually she catches up with me.

“I’m so so sorry Logan. They said they would be alright and on their good behaviour tonight!”

“For people like them that was good behaviour! All we need to do is add a cape, fangs, hood and blood trickling down their neck and then we’ve got mildly unpleasant behaviour!” I shout.

“I know. You must be so mad. I’m really sorry.”

“For what! For the way your dad attacked me about me being in a band so that must mean I’m a mugger! Or the way they made my dad sound like a meth-addict on the street!! Hey! Don’t worry about it!! That happens right! Anyway how do you even know about this? You were in the bathroom when they started on me.”

“They just confirmed it after you left. I hate them for doing this! I’m so sorry Logan. You don’t ever have to come round and see them again. You’ve met them and that’s enough. Ok?”

“I will see them again you know. I can’t avoid them!” I say “ you’re my girlfriend! They’re your parents! There bound to show up again!

“Yes you can!” she says “You’ll never have to see them again! I’ll make sure that your paths never cross.”

“What if you come to a huge party and your parents come as well” I protest.

“Then we’ll hide and run when they come our way if necessary”

“What if they come into school? It’s a small school. I will see them!” I argue.

“Then you can hide behind a bookcase” she says.

“What if we are in the same building and we take the same elevator!” I argue.

“Then you can pretend to examine the wall and hum really loudly.”

She says while smiling.

“Ok?”

I sigh. When she looks at me and smiles, all anger seems to fade away.

“Ok.”

“Good. Are you alright now. Do you wanna to go somewhere?” asked Kalisha

“No I’m ok. I just needed to vent. I’m OK now. Il see you tomorrow” I says

“Hey” she says stroking my arm

“Are we ok?”

I look at her. She really is beautiful. The moonlight bounces of her long red hair. I remember when we first met.

It was at my bands first concert. After we walked off the stage (to thundering applause) she came up to me and started talking to me about our music. And I know I was the one who mocked the play “Romeo and Juliet” for being so ‘lovey dovey’ but this really was love at first sight.

“Yeah we are.” I kiss her and stroke her hair and whisper in her ear.

“I’ve always liked your hair long. Don’t you dare get it cut”

She smiled and kissed me back.

“I’ll see you tomorrow after band practise at my dads shop.”

“Ok.” She says standing still, watching me walk away.

“Bye” I say. I’m nearly at the end of the block and she’s still standing there.

I wonder how long she will wait there in that spot before she can go home feeling ok about everything.

END CHAPTER

CHAPTER 2

The crowd is screaming. We’ve finished are last song. Darren takes the microphone and screams to an audience of 20 000

“Thank you so much New York!! You are our last stop on our first world tour and you are by far the best!!” while he’s screaming at the audience I scan at first 10 rows looking for a certain red haired girl….but I cant find her.

“We cannot wait come back and play for you New York!!”

She’s not here.

“We are Darren…”

She didn’t come.

“….Terry….”

Kalisha is not here.

“…..Corey….”

My girlfriend is not here at our first world tour.

“…and Logan!! We are gonna make the biggest record deal in history and we will see you soon!!

We walk of stage and go around back. But I run into the crowd. I’m fighting my way through it trying to find my girlfriend. I’m screaming Kalisha’s name and then….I see her! She’s about 5 rows away! I try to push my way through to get to her but the force of 50 people is holding me back. She sees me, she looks at me for a moment and then turns around and walks away. I scream for her to come back but she keeps on walking. And now I’ve lost her in a sea of people swimming all around me…..and then I wake up.

I lay in bed for a while. It was all a dream. My band hasn’t gone on a tour and Kalisha is still my girlfriend. My heart won’t stop beating. My face is cold with sweat. It was just a dream. It was just a dream. slowly my heart begins to turn back to its normal rate. I look at my watch. Holy crap! I’m late for work at my dads shop! I quickly crank Nickelback on my stereo and get my clothes out of my wardrobe. ‘Believe it or not everyone have things that they hide. Believe it or not everyone keeps those things inside’ I hear in the back round as I fling my clothes on. Nickelback really are my all time favourite band. Almost every time I’m in my room I always have to blast them as loud as I can. No matter how long I’m in my room for, I need to hear some real rock music. Every time I hear it its like im saying to what ever is bothering me ‘yeah well screw you!’ I grab my keys and mp3 player and go. Luckily the shop is only a few blocks from where our flat is. I’m there in about five minutes. I hear the little clink as a I walk in the door. I see my dad moving a bass to the other side of the shop.

“Sorry I’m late dad. My alarm didn’t go off”

“Ah don’t worry about it. It’s been quite slow here for a while.”

“Ah right. So no big sales then?”

“Actually someone bought the full pearl drum kit yesterday when you were at Kalisha’s. Oh!! Speakin of which, how’d it go at Kalisha’s last night? Did they try to drive stake through your heart or something?”

“Not very well at all actually. They don’t think I’m good enough for her. They says awful things about me, my band and you….”

“Hey wait a sec! What did they say about me?” he asked

“They said stuff like because you’re associated with music means that you must be on drugs etc.”

“They did, did they?” he says keeping a calm face.

“Yeah they did.”

“Well there’s an adult and proper way to deal with this you know Logan.”

“Is there? What?”

“A crowbar is always the answer! A good crack on the head could do the trick and maybe a few kicks in the…”

“Dad!!” I say in a fake warning voice.

That’s always how it’s been with me and my dad. I’ve got to keep him under control. Ha! Like he’s the son and I’m the dad!

“What about Kalisha?” he asked “ did she just sit there and let them attack you?”

“Nah they waited until she went to the bathroom before they opened fire.” I replied

“Bummer. Well I was gonna save this for later but you look like you need it now.” He says

“What?” I ask. He pulls out a CD from his pocket.

“No way!! You got the new one!” I exclaim. It was the latest Nickelback album.

“Yep.”

“Can I put it on?”

“Sure. Just not that loud. Have it playing in the background” he says.

“Yeah! I’ve been trying to find this. Where’d you get it?” I ask.

“At the new store across the street.”

“Oh it’s opened already?”

“Yeah. I thought it was gonna open a lot later but then I saw people going in and comin’ out with stuff so I checked it out. Hey, Heads up, Customer.”

I see a kid come in the store. He looks about 13.

“Hey, there. Can I help you?” I ask.

“Um yeah.” He looks around the store. “I need some 7a Ludwig drumsticks. Do you have any left?”

“Hold on a sec.” I walk over to the stick section to look for them. Eventually, I find the sticks. They were the only ones on the shelf.

“You’re lucky. These are our last pair in the whole shop.” I say handing him the sticks.

“See if they feel right.” I say. He spins both sticks in his hand, one after the other for about 10 seconds.

“Yeah they feel about right” he responds.

“Cool. How long you been playing?” I ask

“About 2 years.”

“Are you in a band?”

“Nope but I’m on my way to an audition for one. I was just heading there now when my sticks broke. I’m really exited about it!” he says.

“Oh, good luck man! Anyway, it’s $2.00 please.” He hands me the money and examines the sticks.

“Hey if you wanna practise, there’s an electronic drum kit round back.” I suggest.

“Thanks but I gotta run.” He says.

“Hey kid. What’s your name?” I ask.

“Alex.”

“OK. Come again Alex.” I say as he walks out. ‘nice kid’ I think. I look at my watch. Its almost time for band practise. Even as I’m looking up I see Darren with his guitar coming in the shop.

“Hey Dude. What’s up?” I say as he walks in.

“Not much. Am I late?” he asks.

“Nope, Right on time. How’s it going with Loraine.”

“Great, Great. She’s doing great. Oh, hey! How’d it go with Kalisha yesterday?”

“ohh! Not good, they says awful things and attacked me about my life and my band etc. I fill you in on the details later.”

I see Terry and Corey coming in with their gear.

“Hi guys. What’s up.” I say as we go in the back.

“Well, Corey has got some exiting news,” says Terry

Corey was sort of like the band manager.

“Yep, I do” he says while chuckling.

“it’s a real exciter!”

“Well? Are you gonna tell us or are we gonna die in suspense never knowing what it is?” says Darren.

“Fine! Fine! I’ll tell you now.” Says Corey. “God! You wont even let me savour it will you? You always have to know stuff straight away. You never slow down. You always….”

“Corey!” I warned.

“OK! OK! Well, you know that guy who owns that huge bar across from where I live?” he says

“Yes” I say in mock excitement.

“Well he’s having a charity concert in a fortnight. And he said that anyone can play. He said he especially likes rock. And he said that no more than 4 people per band.” He sarcastically counts everyone in the room. “ I think that there are 4 people in our band and we play rock ‘n roll. Can you see where I’m going with this?”

By the time he’d finished we were all grinning ear to ear.

“Yes!! Another gig! Finally!” shouts Darren while punching the air.

“We’ve been remiss for a while. Its about time we got another show!” I shout.

Darren immediately starts pestering Corey with questions.

“So how long is the gig? How many people are going to be there? Can we invite friends to see us? How many songs can we play?”

By the time Darren had finished asking, or to be more real, shouting his questions, Corey was in the corner of the room with his arms flailing out in front of him with a look of pretend fear on his face. We all started laughing.

“well..” said Corey. “in order of which question you asked first….20 minutes, about 200 people, yes we can and about 4 – 5 songs. Satisfied?”

Darren started laughing as well.

“Yes thank you! Well we’d all better start practising if we’re gonna be ready in 2 weeks!” he said with that ‘lets get to it’ look in his eyes.

“what songs do you think we should play?” said terry

“well….” I say “I think we should do some Nickelback stuff. Oh! By the way, I just got the new album! Shall we listen to it and see if we can do any of the songs on it.”

“Cool” they all say in unison “lets hear it”.

* * *

“Well all in all” said Darren as he paused the CD player, having finished listening to the whole album about 4 times.

“I think the catchiest songs were Photograph, if everyone cared and someone that you’re with.”

“I liked savin’ me.” I said as I looked at the lyrics.

“It had really ace lyrics and the tune was really great. I think that should be a hit song. What about you Corey?”

Corey took the CD to look at the song list.

“well I really loved the drum fill in follow you home and I liked if everyone cared but I gotta say I’m putting a vote in for rock star as well. Its got a good vibe.” When Corey finished Darren growled.

“What’s wrong” said terry.

“He said the word ‘vibe’.” Said Darren with a look of distaste on his face.

“So?” said Terry.

“I hate that word.” Said Darren.

“Its so hippie and… ‘Tree hugger-ish’.”

“O…k?” said Terry, looking confused and slightly amused.

“Well I guess all rock stars have their weird quirks.”

We all laughed.

“So I think that the first song we should play is gonna be…” I start to say when Corey cuts me off.

“Is ‘tree hugger-ish’ a word?” he asks.

“Nah. There’s ‘tree hugger’ and ‘tree hugging’ but no ‘tree hugger-ish.” Said Terry.

“Oh.” Said Corey.

“Why do they call it ‘Tree hugging’?” he asks

“Umm guys?” I try to interject.

“They call it ‘Tree hugging’ because its like they love the earth so they ‘hug’ the plants.” Said Terry

“Oh.” Said Corey.

“Ok, so now that’s clear I think we should…” I start to say.

“Why do they call them ‘Hippies’?” asked Corey.

I give an annoyed sigh.

“I dunno.” Said Terry. “Maybe because they’re so…happy?” he guessed.

“so if you’re happy, does that automatically make you a hippie?” asked Corey again.

“Probably not” said Terry.

“If that were true then there would be a lot more hippies in the world.”

“Well there are quite a lot already.” Said Corey.

“I would guess maybe out of…wait, how many people are in the world?”

“Ok. Guys. Please stop doing tha…” I start to say.

“I think there’s about 8 billion people in the world.” Said Terry

“Really?” said Corey.

“I thought I was about 5 billion.”

“Guys…” I warn.

“I could have sworn it was 5 billion.” Said Corey. “I thought I saw it on TV somewhere. Or I could have…”

“Oh my god! Will you please shut up you babbling freaks!” I shout.

“What?” said Corey and Terry together.

“you’re doing that thing where you start a conversation and then you digress and digress and digress until you are so far from reality that might as well be on Cartoon Network!” I say loudly.

“We don’t always do it.” Said Corey.

“Oh no? remember about a month ago in band practise. we were talking about Darren’s Guitar strap and in less than 5 minutes we were talking about door-hinges in the 17th century!” I shout.

“OK OK! Fine! But ,as Terry said, all rock stars have their own quirks!” said Corey.

After a long pause, we realise Darren had been staring at us the whole time.

“Never a dull moment as log as I’m with you guys!”

By Drummerboyb. (this is all of my previous work out together with some more added onto the end. please please please please tell me what you think.)