All of a sudden, Henry glared at him, reminding Aaron of the other passenger in the strangely comfortable truck. He had almost forgotten about Cat completely as she sat silently in the back, with her headphones plugged in (from what he could see in the mirror).
"Speaking of that, have you found anyone yet?" Henry asked, turning towards Jesse's road. Secretly, Henry just wanted to switch topics and Aaron automatically realised it. Henry had attempted it too many times for anyone to forget.
Then Aaron remembered that he hadn't told Henry about his mystery girl.
"Well, yes but stop changing the topic! You're leaving the band for good." Although Aaron didn't want to pressure the boy, it was a serious topic for him. Music was what they had decided upon since they were six and learning how to play the guitar.
Henry's free hand travelled to the beanie on his head, so that he could scratch his hair, yet as he remembered the beanie, he suddenly slammed his hand back down to his knee. Stressed was the word to describe him, Aaron thought.
"I'm not sure. I need time to think about it, okay?" Henry's tone of voice suggested that he didn't want to press further into the topic. Parking the car outside of Jesse's house, he continued, "now, tell me about this singer you've found."
"She's perfect," is all Aaron said before opening the car door.
Bangs and crashes filled the room upon their entrance, as a psychotic laughter bounced off the walls. The sound of a keyboard soon joined in, where it was obvious that random keys were being pressed continuously. There was no melody, no rhythm to the sound - just madness.
As the three of them walked into the garage, Aaron saw what had caused the madness. Jesse, the brooding bad boy, was smashing Mickey's drumsticks on the drum kit and Mickey was doing the same to the keyboard. As for the laugh, it had come from Mickey. The curly hair on his head flopped up and down as he laughed, his eyes crumbling to keep the huge smile on his face.
"Seriously, we're five minutes late and you're already messing around?" Henry asked, shaking his head in disbelief. A cheeky smile grew upon his face, wishing to join in the fun as he settled down the couch with his sister.
Mickey shrugged, as Jesse pushed him off his keyboard. A chuckled escaped Aaron's lips whilst he grabbed his practice guitar off its resting place, feeling the wood against his fingers. He stroked the strings, letting the vibrations tingle against his worrying skin, soothing him down from his emotional pains.
That was how practice always started off: Henry and Aaron being late, Jesse and Mickey messing around and then all of a sudden, they would get into the music. As Aaron continued to strum, the keyboard chimed along in tune. It was something new and they were only messing about yet that was how they got their ideas. Mickey's drums also joined in, first quick then steady, painting an almost perfect picture. The only thing missing was the words.
"I don't need to be bigger, just to say it's wrong," Aaron began to sing, letting the words come to his mind. His best work was always spontaneous, which was why he usually forgot it. "I don't have to be stronger, just to get my point across."
He strapped the guitar round himself, as thoughts of betrayal came to his head - his mum, his foster parents, Henry and even Mr Roberts. They all controlled him somehow, unintentionally or not, he had subconsciously submitted to them.
"I don't need to do what you say
If that's the only way you'll like me
I don't have to be there everyday
Cos giving everything up for you ain't healthy
Yeah, I ain't your shadow
I don't need to hang onto you
Yeah, I ain't your shadow
So don't keep me hanging on, hanging on"
The other boys gave Aaron space for a guitar solo, noticing his sudden rage turning into passion as he swung his arm along the strings. His hair swayed from side to side, covering his face as he slid to the ground, plucking the strings with the pick with a speed that was fast enough to break them if not a professional.
Once the song had ended, everyone was silent, including Cat who was staring at the void in front of her. As Aaron searched their faces, he noticed the vacant expressions replacing their usual cheerful and joking ones.
"What?" He asked, looking directly at Henry. His opinion was the only that he could trust, but he remained silent.
"Dude, we are so entering that talent contest!" Mickey screamed, fist bumping the air and making it was Aaron's turn to blink valiantly at him.
'What contest?' He thought and soon enough, Jesse answered his thoughts.
"Westfield are holding a talent contest, first one ever," he spoke, moving from his place to sit on the stool near the couch. "It would be good for us to get noticed. Simon Cowell and Justin Timberlake are going to be there."
"What?" Cat suddenly intervened. "Justin Timberlake?"
"Sorry, she's a big fan of Justin Timberlake," Henry spoke, with a nervous chuckle. The secret was that Henry also liked Justin Timberlake but Aaron knew he wouldn't admit that.
"You know, if we had a lead singer," Aaron replied, emphasising the last two words, "we could enter and meet Justin Timberlake."
Aaron was conscious of what he was doing, or at least trying to do. As Henry was also a fan of Justin Timberlake, the entire idea of meeting him would (in theory) automatically persuade Henry to rejoin the band. However, he was very much wrong as Henry shook his head.
"You know what we need," he continued, "your mystery girl."
"Mystery girl, eh?" Mickey asked, nudging Aaron's shoulder as he shrugged. He did plan on telling them, yet he had been caught up in rehearsing.
"I overheard a girl singing last night and her voice was beautiful," Aaron narrated. The entire scene replayed in his head, vividly remembering the song she had sung, as he had walked down that road. "It was perfect, just what we needed."
With Henry there, Aaron realised the betrayal lingering in his voice. That was the last thing he wanted, but the girl's voice was melodic, sweet but also harsh and powerful where it needed to be
"Then that's sorted!" Jesse cried. "We find this mystery girl and enter the talent contest!"
Everyone agreed, including Cat. Aaron noticed her silence throughout most of the conversation although that was not what was pulling his blue eyes towards her. It was her hand, outstretched onto her brother's shoulder, comforting him from the backstabber that was his best friend.
Chapter Four - Aaron
Start from the beginning
