Breakout

Chapter 4.

I followed the address on my arm Jack has written down. I stood in front of a medium sized house. I took in a deep breath and walked up to the front door and knocked on it. A middle aged woman answered the door. I could hear banging of instruments coming from the basement.

"Hi, is Rian here?" I asked.

"Yep, he's downstairs practicing with his band. Are you a friend?" she asked. I nodded.

"Rian and I are in the same English class."

She stuck out her hand, "Nice to meet you. I'm Kathi. Rian is downstairs in the basement. I'm sure you can follow the sound."

I smiled as Kathi stepped aside to let me in. "Call me if you want anything to drink!"

I smiled at her. "Will do!"

I followed the loud noise and I suddenly appeared in the Rian's basement. I saw Rian, Zack, Jack, Alex and Samantha.

"Marie!" Samantha called. "What are you doing here?"

"Jack invited me."

"Cool, we were just getting started practicing," Rian said, behind the drum kit.

"They are so good! You have to hear them play," gushed Samantha.

"Isn't that what I'm here for?"

Samantha and I walked and sat down on the couch, in front of the band. I recognized Zack from the party. I noticed that I haven't heard him talk. He must be shy. Alex and Jack were both tuning their guitars.

"Testing, 1, 2," Alex spoke in the mic. I smiled.

"You guys ready?" he asked. Samantha and I nodded as Alex started playing his guitar.

"Inquisitive and thoughtful, she was the challenge he'd been waiting for. A reminder that creativity runs deep, like secrets," Alex sang. Even though it was only a lyric, Alex had a great voice.

"Dark eyed dreamers, they were a dangerous pair. Q next to U, scribbled out on paper. They stop. They go. They're done." I smiled. This song was great so far.

"Go back to the place we knew before. Retrace our steps to the basement door. I'll ask you if the rain still makes you smile. Like so much time that we spent in the fall. Put color in our cheeks while the air turned cold. Preceding what became our bitter end," Alex sang then took a deep breath.

"Round in circles, let's start over. Round in circles, let's start over."

When they finished singing the song, I couldn't help but stare at them with awe. They were amazing! Samantha and I both clapped.

"Wow! That was so good!" Samantha complimented.

"Amazing," I said. Alex smiled at the both of us.

"Did you write that?"

"Yep. It was the first song we wrote as a band."

"Did you want to hear another song?" Jack asked.

I nodded. Alex stepped up to the mic.

"Well, this one is off our EP called 'Put Up Or Shut Up', we don't have a realease date yet," he smiled a song smile while he was playing light cord on the guitar. "It's called 'Coffee Shop Soundtrack.'"

Jack started off with his gutiar and Alex soon followed.

"Should I write myself out of the history books and mark a place in time for every chance you took? Don't get me wrong, I know you've got your life in place. I've yet to take the hint, someday. I'm sure I'll get the picture. And stop waiting up," he sang. I noticed his eyes glistened when he sang. I could tell he really enjoyed singing. I smiled.

"When it all comes down to a sunrise on the East Side, will you be there to carry home the remains of my wasted youth? This wasted time on you, has left me shaking in waiting, shaking in waiting for something more."

When the song ended, I couldn't help but get off the couch and hug Alex. He was startled at first but he caught on and hugged me back. We both pulled away.

"What was that for?"

I shrugged. "I don't know, I just felt like hugging you."

"What about me?" Jack asked. I turned to face Jack. He had a pout on his face. I laughed and walked over to him and gave him a hug. Just then, Kathi came down with glasses of lemonade. She each gave us all one. Alex, Jack, Zack and Rian all put down their instruments. We all sat on the couch, Zack on the end, Rian, Alex, me, Jack and Samantha on the other end. I was surprised we all could fit on the tiny couch. I took a sip from my lemonade.

"So you guys are signed?" I asked. Alex nodded.

"We were originally signed to Emerald Moon Records and released our first EP in 2004 and our first album last year. And now we're are signed to Hopeless Records."

"That's impressive."

"I didn't really thought we could actually do something like this," Jack said. "I remember jamming out to Blink-182 on the guitar a lot on my room."

"I'm proud of you guys," Samantha spoke. "Extremely proud."

We then all quietly sipped on our lemonade.

"Wanna hear another song?" Alex asked me.

"Sure."

"Okay."

They all got up from the couch and put back on their instruments.

"This next song," Alex spoke. "Is called...Lullabies."

I could tell by the way he said it, it meant a lot to him.

"Make it a sweet, sweet goodbye...it could be for the last time and it's not right. 'Don't let yourself get in over your head,' he said. Alone and far from home we'll find you..."

Alex took a deep breath before singing.

"Dead, like a candle you burned out; spill the wax over the spaces left in place of angry words. Scream, to be heard, like you needed any more attention; throw the bottle, break the door, and disappear. Sing me to sleep, I'll see you in my dreams, waiting to say, 'I miss you. I'm so sorry.'"

I felt a few tears trickle my eyes. Alex continued singing the song and I could tell he wanted to cry but he just can't. I noticed his eyes glistening with small tears. He blinked, trying to hold them back. I had never seen this side of Alex before. Vulnerable, alone...broken. I feel like this is a side that no one at school had seen before. Only Rian, Zack and Jack and maybe Samantha have seen. Jack and Alex strummed the last guitar cord before ending. Alex quickly wiped away a few stray tears from his eyes and turning around. Jack put a hand on Alex's back as if saying, you alright? Alex absentmindedly shook his hand off. He composed himself before turning around and looking at me.

"Do you need a ride home?" he asked. I was a little startled by his question but quickly looked at the couch above Rian's drum kit. 5:23.

"Yeah," I said.

"Cool. I'll just pack up my guitar and we'll leave."

---

As Alex and I were in the car, he asked me, "What's your address?"

I told him my address as we pulled away from Rian's house. We were both silent on the way to my house. Both of us not saying a thing. Alex could sense the tension so he turned on the radio. A random pop song started playing and filling the car with music.

"You're really good at writing songs," I said.

"Thanks," he mumbled. We were silent once more.

"Question six. Do you write songs?" Alex asked, taking his eyes off the road for a second, looking at me. I was confused by his question but realized what he meant. 21 questions in Science.

"Kind of. They're not that good."

Alex smiled.

"Question seven. What was Lullabies about?"

Alex tensed up a bit. "Nothing. Question eight. Do you ever think about wearing contacts?"

I sighed. Not because of the question but because he said Lullabies was about something. A song that you wrote makes you cry, does not mean nothing.

"Yeah but they hurt my eyes. Question nine. Why won't you tell me what Lullabies is about?"

"Because I don't want you to know. It's none of your business."

"If a song you wrote makes you cry, while playing it, doesn't mean 'nothing'," I said putting air quotes around nothing. "If it's personal, maybe I could help you."

"I don't need help," Alex clinched the steering so hard that his knuckles were turning white.

"But I want to help you."

"No! I don't need your help!"

He suddenly stomped on the break, making the car leap forward a bit.

"We're at your house now."

I looked out the window and saw my house. I took a deep breath and got out before slamming the car door.