Stuck On Strings

I'm Wide Awake

Tyler woke up and immediately regretted it. His alarm was blaring alongside the two other alarms in the apartment. The morning was shining and the birds were screeching. The cars outside were humming, the people bustling, the children on their way to school were screaming the way little children do when only slightly under adult supervision, and Tyler's head was pounding. He opted to spend the day in bed. pulling the covers over his head and pretending, that even just for a moment, he didn't exist. It was a fantasy he could only dream about and even then, those dreams didn't last long. The door to his room opened and light flooded in. A grey cat crawled in and jumped onto his bed, the pressure of the small footprints on his chest was enough to open his eyes to the new day.

"Tyler," the girl in his door said. He looked up at the small girl and sighed. In her natural habitat he couldn't deny or lie to her. She'd know the truth anyways.

"Yeah. I'm hungover," Tyler grumbled. He sneered at her disapproving face "Don't give me that. You were shit-faced last week Natasha"

"Yeah, on Sunday," Natasha replied. "It's Thursday." There was a moment of silence before it dawned on Tyler what day it was. Natasha, one of his room mates, rolled her eyes but smiled nonetheless. Despite his behavior and attitude Tyler was one of the most passionate people she knew.

Especially when it came to music.

The covers (and the cat) were tossed aside as Tyler searched his floor for a t-shirt that didn't smell like alcohol or cheap perfume. He found one that smelled relatively clean and put it on. Natasha watched, wishing to have the energy this boy had when it came to music practice.

Tyler was part of a band that he had made with his brother, Liam. The two of them were both incredibly musical growing up. So the idea of them starting a band with their best friends, Jake and Ryan, was no surprise. The four boys got along phenomenally but were horrible at managing their time and money. That's where Natasha came in. What the boys lacked In organization skills she made up for with her responsibility. She was just as important to them as Liam's drum beat.

"Liam!" Tyler yelled, banging on the wall that separated their bedrooms. Natasha rolled her eyes and left the room, her cat following her in hopes of food. The younger boy yelled a simple "i'm awake!" Back at his brother before getting up and leaving his room. Tyler left his own room and offered a high five to his brother. Liam sleepily walked right past him.

"Did you stay up all night?" Tyler questioned his brother. Liam simply shrugged.

"Karson needed me"

"the band needs you!"

"Look it's not my fault his girlfriend broke up with him." Liam yawned. "It was harsh apparently. Dumped him then immediately confirmed she had a new girlfriend a few minutes later." Tyler blinked in surprise. Karson was one of Liam's many, many friends. He and his girlfriend, Kenna, were always going to Liam for advice.

Natasha called them into the kitchen and served them each a slice of toast. The three ate in a comfortable silence before Natasha spoke up.

"you guys have everything you'll need for the rehearsal today?"

"yes mom," Liam joked. "i got the meth and cocaine." Natasha blinked, unamused at him. The boys snickered and high fived one another. Natasha sighed at her roommates and left the room.

"Just don't end up like Justin Beiber and i'll be happy Liam!" She yelled from her room. The two boys snickered and got ready for their band practice. They lived a block away from the studio so they didn't have to rush. Unlike some others in their band.

On the other side of the town, in front of an elementary school, a young adult was crouching in front of a small girl waiting in line to get in. The mothers dropping of their own children didn't know how to feel. This man was muscular, wearing shorts and a white v-neck that was covered by a green hoodie . He carried a guitar case on his back and he seemed to be hiding a few tattoos underneath his low collared shirt. Yet even though he held the appearance of a young punk here he was giving a bouncy little girl kisses on her forehead and promising to be there when school is done and that she can make him a flower crown and he will wear it everywhere.

"Okay Beau," He smiled at the little girl. "You're a big girl right?"

"The Biggest!" The seven year old said while giving her brother a big, bright, toothy smile. He mimicked her smile.

"Well Jakey here has got to get to band practice okay? can you stand in line and greet your teacher by yourself?" Beau's older brother, Jake, asked. He prayed she would agree. Her teacher knew Jake and his predicament and was very supportive. Normally he would have been able to watch her get into class but Natasha had been scheduling them earlier and earlier. The small girl squinted at the big man smiling hopefully at her.

"On TWO conditions!" she exclaimed loudly. Jake sighed inwardly in relief. But he couldn't rest yet. she drove a hard bargain. Beau saw she had her brother's attention and cleared her throat. "I want a lollipop after school! And you have to promise to sing me the song about dad later!" She crossed her little arms triumphantly. Jake laughed and nodded.

"Of course my little Beauty!" He exclaimed happily. "You be good at school you hear?" he stood up and kissed her forehead. "I love you!" He waved and jogged away as his sister yelled her good byes.

He got to the street and started  sprinting to get to the studio. Bramblewood was a small city but it was a city nonetheless. The buildings grew from rural houses to urban skyscrapers around him. Small children and their parents soon turned into business men and women. The way the world changed around him as he ran into the city intrigued him to no end. He payed no attention to the people around him as he ran, most people were smart enough to get out of his way. However sometimes, once in a blue moon, someone else isn't paying attention and they collide.

It seemed that today was a blue moon.