Sometimes Our Saints Are Sinners (TVH sequel)

I strummed delicately with my fingers. I played Hey There Delilah on my old white fender, which was covered with one large Nirvana sticker that stuck out like a sore thumb against the pearl charm of the body. It was missing a string but I continued to play, humming along to fill in the missing gap. My fingers began to sting, since I had dropped playing the guitar as a hobby since the boys have arrived, not wanting to attract any attention. However, today I was feeling a bit down that Jimmy was able to get a girlfriend and I was stuck between a rock and a hard place, so I checked all bedrooms for any sign of life before sneaking the guitar out of Matt’s room and jazz running to my bedroom.
“Hey there Delilah, what’s it like in New York City, I’m a thousand miles away but girl tonight you look so pretty, yes you do…” I sang quietly to myself, swaying along to the beat as I did so. I began to feel natural under the weight of the quiet electric sitting on my lap, and I got more into the song I just kind of dropped out of the real world and into my own world. With that, I realized as I neared the end of the song my voice had risen considerably, so I shouldn’t have been so surprised when I heard hoots and applause outside of my bedroom.
“Damn Kid, that was fantastic.” Johnny complimented as he barreled into my room with the other four morons. I could feel my temperature rise and I set the guitar down, suddenly not wanting to look at it.
“Why didn’t you tell us that you played guitar?” Zach asked as he snatched up the Fender.
“Play another!” Jimmy and Brian chanted as they pumped their fists in the air.
“That’s why.” I responded, resisting the urge to hide under a rock.
“You look like you’re going to be sick.” Matt mentioned from the doorway. I looked up at him through my bangs, noting the hint of worry on his otherwise stoic face.
“Kid?” Zach asked, scooting near me. I shrugged, averting my gaze from all of the eager faces.
“I don’t want to play for you guys. I’m not as good as you two guitar Gods and it’s just a hobby. A hobby that I enjoy doing alone, so that I can tell myself that I’m a good guitar player without having to feel like a dirty liar.” I said, taking my guitar back from Zach’s hands. I could feel everyone getting offended like it was coming in a wave during a hurricane.
“Can you play some of our songs?” Matt asked, trying to save me from drowning in what I’ve created. I chewed on my lips, blood beginning to seep from the places I’ve gnawed raw.
“… A couple. But only the rhythm guitar parts.” I answered slowly, sending a silent thank you towards Matt. He nodded, a smile beginning to form. Whether it was from him saving me or me admitting that I can jam to their music, I wasn’t sure.
“What songs?” Johnny wondered excitedly. I pursed my lips, a blush rolling through my cheeks.
“Umm… Betrayed, Bat Country, Gunslinger, Dear God…” I listed, not mentioning that I only knew certain parts to all of those and even with many months of practice and even a few guitar lessons from a lower-level band member that I was friends with, I still sucked at them. I couldn’t get my fingers to move fast enough.
“Can we hear?” Brian asked gently, knowing that this was too much of him to ask of me, but still decided to ask anyway. My gaze dropped back to the ground and I shrugged.
“We’ll play with you.” Jimmy offered. I glanced up at him and his face began to shine with excitement. “Yeah, I’ll get my drum pad and we scrounge up another guitar for Brian and we can have a small concert in this apartment!”
“Yeah!” The group sang in a chorus. I laughed a little, the deep fear of performing in front of others slowly creeping out of the cage I had shoved it into so long ago.
“I don’t have another guitar here.” I said weakly, hoping that they’d just leave it at that and invite me to go swimming so I could get out of this horrid mess. But what was I thinking?—That’s not how Avenged Sevenfold works.
“We could go borrow some guitars from Guitar Center.” Zach said at the same time that Jimmy said
“We can go buy some guitars.” The whole room became a pandemonium of options, and the only ones that were quiet were me and Matt. I gave Matt a hopeless look and he stood straight, once again being more than willing to save me from his friends.
“Guys, can’t you see that Kid is scared shitless by the idea of playing for us?” Matt called, bringing all of the attention to his presence at the door. “Can’t we just let the girl be and go play pool or something?”
“Easy for you to say, you’ve heard her play before.” Brian scowled. Matt’s eyebrows rose, along with my own.
“Not me, dude.”
“Didn’t you say she almost destroyed your acoustic?”
“That was me.” Zach intervened, sending me a dirty look, which sent me into a fit of giggles.
“I don’t like acoustics anyway, so not like it was going to offend me.” I shrugged. The room filled with gasps and I rolled my eyes. “Oh come on, I’ve told you guys before that I like electrics a lot better than acoustics.”
“Yeah, but you don’t just say you’d be okay with destroying it.” Zach replied in disgust.
“So does that mean you don’t like acoustic basses?”
“That’s basically a cello, Johnny, so no. I like the edgier, electronic sounds more than I like the sound of a bird getting caught in a net.”
“You’re a disgrace.” Matt chuckled, shaking his head. “Betcha can’t even play our songs.”
“You wanna bet?” I challenged, my gaze locked on Matt’s cocky stature. He smirked and flicked his eyebrows at me cheekily.
“I mean, come on guys, she doesn’t even like acoustic. How could she play something like Dear God?” Matt scoffed. I stood up and squared up to him, though I was still a good eight inches shorter than him. He looked at me through his lashes and I was shocked with a feeling of anger and something else.
“That’s it, I’m calling Sam. I’ll show you who can play guitar, Mr. Hands Free.” All of the guys hooted as I snatched my phone from its charger and ran out to the hallway, dialing up Sam with incredibly speed.
“Hello?” Sam answered in a tired voice. I looked back to the apartment and locked eyes with the cockiest color of hazel I have ever seen and spun back around, the feeling of competition rushing through me.
“You better hope that those practices on the guitar were worth it. I need two of your electrics.”
~
“So which song first?” Zach said happily as we set up the last little bit of the amps. I shrugged and looked out at the audience. Matt, Johnny, Zach and Sam were all sitting on the couch that I had moved for us to plug in our equipment, watching with anticipation.
“Who’s singing, by the way?” Jimmy added. I looked at him and cocked my head a little. He sighed and put on a look of triumph. “Well fine, if I have to. Betrayed it is.”
“Well there’s our first song.” I answered with a shrug. I took a deep breath and shifted my fingers to the first note, and with the countdown from Jimmy, I sprung into the chords of the song of choice.
I kept my eyes closed, not only to focus but to keep myself on track. I listened to the beats of Jimmy’s drum pad and the grainy sound of his morning voice as we went through, trying to block out the hoots and hollers of the men on the couch, as well as Brian playing a few feet away from me. I could feel my fingers moving quickly, but I tried not to over think or I’d totally screw it up. This happened until we got to my favorite part, and the last chunk of the song that I was able to learn before it all just became too much for me to memorize.
“Just did it for the love, and people healed through us. Don't live your life in vain, don't take it out on me. You're cracked, so just remember, I'm not your enemy. I don't deserve to fall this way, by a man who felt betrayed.” My voice came out louder than I had meant it to, and after that part had ended my fingers slowly stopped as realization that not only did I no longer know what to play, but that I had also sung a part of a song that I had silently taken to heart through all of the practices I had gone through. I forced myself to open my eyes, my throat closing with embarrassment. Everyone’s eyes were on me, and I felt the blood rush to my face. Sam had sunk himself into the couch cushion, his eyes locked on Matt. Matt looked shaken, as though he knew that I had made some sort of connection and that it was probably about him. Saving myself quickly, I turned my head to my only solace: Jimmy. “Th-that’s all I know on that song.”
“Good job, Kiddo. I’m surprised you got so far. Who taught you?” Jimmy said, giving me a high five. I slapped his hand weakly and he laughed. “That was pitiful.”
“Shut up.” I snapped jokingly, slapping his drumsticks out of his hand. He gasped dramatically, the look of utter disgust running across his face.
“How dare you.” Jimmy yelled angrily. I shrugged cheekily.
“Sorry not sorry.” I grinned.
“Dick.” He snickered. He leaned down and pick up his sticks, hitting my legs with them lightly as he sat back up. “So who taught you to play? Since obviously Zach wasn’t able to.”
“Shut up.” Zach grumbled, crossing his arms. I snickered.
“Sam did.” I answered, pointing to my friend. “He’s in a local band, obviously, and he bribed me with free dinner for every song I learned.”
“It wasn’t worth it.” Sam sighed, pursing his lips. “She literally broke the neck of one of my favorite guitars.”
“I paid to fix it though! I paid to fix it.” I yelled, interrupting the beginnings of a full out war against me.
“Well, you taught her pretty well.” Brian said, nodding towards Sam. Sam smiled and returned the nod.
“Let’s hear some more!” Johnny chanted. Everyone screamed excitedly and I looked to Jimmy and Brian.
“Gunslinger?” I suggested. They nodded and we all set up for the next song, the listeners fidgeting excitedly in their seats. I glanced one last time to Matt before going into my zone, and the dead look in his eyes followed me there and for a long time after that.

Notes

This chapter could have been better, but I wanted to get this up because it's Kaleigh's birthday today! Happy birthday bby I hope you like this and everyone should mentally thank her because this chapter wouldn't be up now if it weren't for her persistence and well... her being born. But enjoy! :D ~Jessi