-- Jack --
I waited for the choruses of "What?" and the "You play drums?" as I sat there in my seat with my head hung down. I know my talents are nothing to be ashamed of, but music marks a deep personal desire to create and destroy all within the tap of a beat, strum of the strings, and a harmonized vocal solo. Music can alter moods and help people understand things in life that they just can't figure out. I am not exactly one of those people who walk around, shall I say, clueless; however, when faced with tough decisions, I always consult the lyrics I listen to. I fit in with music more than life. I have a soundtrack for every hour, minute, second - every moment - of the day. No one else knows that but me. I normally just listen to my own track and live life the way I want to. Just like my music, my life is very changing and complex. My music and life is proof of and revolves around free spirited rebellion. My life and way is -
My thoughts were cut short by Felix speaking to me in a soft voice.
"Wow. That's so cool." Felix muttered, a smile forming on his lips. "I've always wanted to learn how to play the drums but we don't have the money to get a drum kit. Even if we did we wouldn't have anywhere to put it."
"So, he beats and bangs on random items around the house. So what?" Kellin muttered. He runs a hand through his black hair and rolls his eyes. I have the urge to throw him out the nearest window immediately after. "Beating and banging on random items," he repeats, "That's not music. Music is creating and enjoying what you create."
"Spoken like a true musician. The only thing is we're supposed to build each other up, not underestimate each other." Mark says in my defense, making my cheeks grow redder than the hair of my fellow classmate, Sam.
I took a moment to look over where Sam was sitting and saw that he and Nate were conversing with each other. Sam tried to sing in a high pitch and that made his voice crack. Then Nate was imitating it, making both boys burst into laughter. Nate had already settled in and they were all trying to run over the basics - which they were miserably failing to keep straight faces as they both cracked jokes - while trying to decide who would do what.
After I had zoned in on Nate for a moment, it was hard to turn my attention back to my own group. Finally, when someone snapped in front of my face, I finally redirected my focus.
"Hey, we need to start figuring out the genre of the song and what kind of tempo we are going to use." Felix told me.
"I'm thinking something upbeat, definitely. Maybe a rock song?" Mark planned as Kellin and I sat back in our seats. Kellin clearly didn't give a shit and I was having a few different ideas.
"I was thinking metal. However, that's just me." I sigh as I try to bring back down to earth. "What do you think Kellin?" I asked him. I know we hate each other but the least I could do is try to be civil.
My civility was proven futile. With a deep sigh, he averted his attention back to us and shrugged lazily. He sat back and crossed his arms with a darkened expression on his face. His greasy black hair fell in his face and his green orbs pierced past the black strands. All in all, there was no way to force him to talk. The only words that would come out of his mouth were insults. The nicest thing Kellin has said was "Music is creating and enjoying what you create" and even then, he was trying to knock me down a notch or so. He was trying to one-up me and make my talents seem like nothing at all; he'd made it seem as though everyone could play an instrument as complex as drums.
Little did he know how much the instrument meant to me...
•••
After the final bell, I made my way to detention. Normally I would just skip out on detention. I would skip out and go downtown all on my own, wreaking as much havoc as I pleased. I would kill to leave right now actually. There was only one thing holding me back: Mark.
If it weren't for Mark being in the classroom with Kellin, I wouldn't be at the school. I just didn't want Mrs. Lisa to go make out with Mr. Kestrel in the teachers lounge, thus leaving Mark and Kellin alone. Kellin would probably attack him and everyone knows that Mark can't fight to save his life. If ever he were to have to muster up all of his skills in combat, he would flail his arms wildly and scream like a maniac. That wouldn't get him anywhere but a broke arm and a visit to the nurse if you ask me. That's why I'm here. That's why I need to be here this evening. To protect the small tiny American flower from the large bulldozer with black hair and looks that could kill.
As I step into the room - where my fellow classmates and the teacher were already present - the air shifted. It went from a calm atmosphere to a hostile one in seconds.
"Seán. Take a seat." Mrs. Lisa greeted firmly. I only give a firm nod and sit down in between Kellin and Mark. As I sit, Mark shoots me a thankful glance and relaxes his tensed body. However, the relaxation only held for a second before a stack of papers landed on each of our desks; a cheat sheet lay directly on top.
"Grade these papers. I'll be back shortly. I have business to attend to." Mrs. Lisa said, turning on heel and retreating to the teachers lounge down the hall, as I suspected she would. She was going to make out with Mr. Kestrel. I just knew it. Then I thought of what would have happened if I hadn't have come to detention. All of a sudden, I was happy I decided to drop in.
Once she was clear down the hall and we heard the lounge door shut, Kellin jumped up. He walked over to the window.
"I don't know about you guys, but I'm sure as hell not staying here. If you want to rot, be my guest. I'll see you tomorrow." He told us. Marks eyes grew wide as Kellin opened the window and sat on the sill.
"Are you-"
"Escaping? Definitely." Kellin cut Mark off and grinned evilly before jumping down from the sill and out the window.
Mark let out a small squeak before I decided that I didn't want to be here either. However, I wasn't jumping from a window like Kellin. I wasn't the athletic one (and if Mark wanted to follow, believe me, he wasn't either) so I'd never land without getting hurt. I wasn't the character of an action movie. I was Jack McLoughlin, a teenage rebel and one of the only rebels who could put their money where their mouth was. I was technically the last young renegade. Anyone who could say otherwise didn't know me. Not at all. Yet, no matter how many getaways I achieved over my time of being a teenager, I would never pull off a remake of 21 Jump Street. Not to mention, I didn't want to be here and it was only a matter of time before the teacher came back and saw Kellin gone.
What were Mark and I to do? Rat Kellin out? Of course we would. Then again, we'd get in trouble for not stopping him. We'd also get the crap kicked out of us if we did tell her he ditched. We'd get in trouble for not coming to get Mrs. Lisa. We were damned if we did and damned if we didn't. As I turned to glance at Mark, he seemed to know it too.
"Now what?" He broke the silence as we stared into each other's eyes.
I didn't respond. I just stood from my desk and looked at him. He seemed frozen as he watched me, unable to move or say anything. He knew what was about to happen. What I was about to do. His body just wouldn't let him stop me. That made the situation so much more pleasant. Snatching up my leather jacket, I sauntered toward the door.
"Wait!" Mark called.
The feeling of satisfaction was replaced with disappointment. He didn't fully trust me enough to follow without any words spoken; therefore he spoke to stop me. In the moment, I spun around to face him.
"Where are you going?" He asked.
"I'm leaving." I answered causally, suavely. I flip the collar up on my jacket and flip my head, just enough to shake my disheveled hair from my eyes.
"W-what if she comes back?" He asks.
"Then she'll have to grade these by herself." I smirk.
"I'm staying."
"Then I guess you'll miss out on the fun."
"What fun?"
"Come with me and find out."
He looks down at the papers and back up at me. His mouth opens as if he were about to say something. He quickly shuts it again, his eyes glazed with confusion.
I walk back over to him, grabbing his books and walking back over to the door.
"Wait! Just stop, okay? This will get you nowhere. You'll only get more detention! I don't want to have to get you-"
"Into trouble? Mark, please spare me the saints speech. The thing is, you don't want to stay here either. I can see it. If I leave with your stuff, you won't get it back. We both know that. Also, you wouldn't rat out Kellin and I right? You know just as well as I do that we're damned if we do and damned if we don't. C'mon, Mark. You wouldn't rat me out like that, would you?" I hit every single point I can think to hit. Every single spot that I can prod at to make him cave. I can see it's working as he bites his lip and worry flashes on his features. No matter how much was going on in his head, he still held strong.
"I'm staying." He repeats. Once I see that he's not going to cave, I shrug nonchalantly and saunter out of the classroom.
I gave him only thirty seconds to come out of that door and follow me like a lost puppy. I had so much faith that I stopped dead in my tracks to count. I could only count to twenty-five before I heard feet pounding heavily against tile floors.
I turned to face Mark as he raced toward me full speed. I made a sign with my hands for him to slow down and stay quiet. He slowed to a stop once he realized that we were walking right past the teachers lounge. His eyes widen and I put a finger to my lips.
"All we have to do is sneak past them. Stay low to the ground so they won't see you through the window and make no noise at all." I told him in a hushed whisper.
His eyes were wild with excitement and fear, a look that enticed me. I couldn't help but give a soft smile as he breathed quietly and stepped forward lightly. He motioned for me to go on and I turned back for him to follow my tracks. I was slouched as I walk past, my feet softly stepping. I walked in a cat-like fashion as I ghosted my way down the hall. Mark followed closely behind, his walk just as quiet and graceful as my own.
Seconds felt like minutes as we walked in silence. Mark stayed right on my heels and made no attempt to talk. If he was worried, I had no clue about it. If his heart was racing, I couldn't hear it. A pin could drop in the cafeteria, in this very moment, and I would hear. Once we rounded the corner and we were well out of hearing distance, Mark began to speak.
"So where are we going now?" He asks. I hear excitement laced behind his voice as it only made me want to drag everything out; then again, Mark had been a good boy, so why not tell him?
I stop and turn to face him with a smirk on my face.
"The principals office."
-----
Hi guys. I'm sorry if these chapters suck, but right now I'm so caught up in school work, writers block, family problems, ECT.
There may not be as many chapters this time as there were the last time I posted. I normally try to get in four chapters (or more) each time I write. This time, there might only be two or three. That is my apologies, but I need to "stay off my phone for a little while" and I haven't been on it all week!
SMALL TRANS RANT!!
Okay, so I may be getting the haircut that I wanted. My dad doesn't support me as Trans but I have saved up the money and now I'm going to go get the haircut that I want. I have the money for gas and everything, so he can't say anything about it. If he goes to complain, I can tell him it was my money. I'm not selling my body, I'm not drinking, I'm not doing drugs, what is the issue here? I'm a 13 year old Trans boy who can pay for his own damn haircut. It's not like I'm asking my dad for surgery for Christmas, I'm not asking to get my chesticals removed, I just want a haircut. That's all. Well, thanks for listening
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-Samuel.