~Jimmy~

“Nah man, I wouldn’t,” Zacky said, shaking his head. “She’s hot and all, but not really my cup of tea. There’s something about her though…”
We’d been at Shadz’ house for a few hours and were taking a break from practicing since Syn up and busted his fucking string. We had all been sitting here talking about Emi for the past 20 minutes or so, and Johnny was getting fussy because he didn’t know who she was.

“What do you mean,” Brian asked. “What about her?”
“I don’t know man,” Zack muttered, fiddling with his guitar. “Like, there’s something about how she acts that kind of makes me want to ask her stuff.”
“I know what you mean,” Matt spoke up. “I noticed that too!”
“What if she’s a secret agent or something,” I laughed. “And she’s here to investigate something.”
“Aw, shut up Jim,” Zacky smirked, throwing a stuffed football that was laying in front of my drum kit.
I dodged it just in time, and put my head on my snare. “What,” I asked. “That’s what it sounds like you’re getting at to me.”
“Damn, you really do need a girlfriend,” Brian laughed.
“Fuck no, dude,” I said playing with my double kick. “I don’t need shit!”

“It’s not that he doesn’t want a girlfriend,” Johnny said. “It’s just that he can’t get one.”
The guys chuckled and I pointed a drumstick at Johnny. “Listen here, you little fuck boy,” I laughed. “I’ll let you get away with that ‘cause it was funny. But next time, I’m shoving this up your ass!”
“Haha, whatever dude,” Johnny said, standing up.
“When are they supposed to be back,” I asked, playing with my double kick again. “I’m getting antsy. They’re taking too long.”
“Yeah, they are,” Matt frowned. “We should call them.”
“Go for it dude,” Zack said. “Put it on speaker.”

Val answered after the second ring, and I swear, we all gave a sigh of relief.
“What’s up, dickheads,” she asked. We could hear Emi and Michelle laughing in the background.
“Where are you guys,” Johnny shouted. “You’re taking fucking long!”
“Are the boys on the phone,” Michelle asked with a laugh.
“Yes,” Val told her. You could literally hear her rolling her eyes with the way she said it. “We’re down the street from you, you doofuses.”

I hopped to my feet and stuck my head out of the garage, and low and behold, there they were, laughing once they saw me.
I walked back to my drum kit, sat down, and yelled, “Assholes!!”
Matt hung up the phone and found an amp to sit down on, a relieved smile on his face.
The girls walked in, and the twins went straight to their boyfriends while Emi kind of just stood there looking a little awkward. I glanced at Zacky and he nodded towards her.
I looked at Emi, then looked back at Zack and gave him a questioning look. He rolled his eyes and mouthed, “I’ll tell you later,” at me. I nodded at him, then turned back to Emi, who was still standing there.

She had to be the prettiest thing I’d ever seen. Her cheeks and forehead were bright pink from the heat, her lips were always a bright color and pouty, a trait that I always adored in women by the way. Her skin was a beautiful golden brown, she wasn’t skinny, but she was in no way fat at all, and her hair was in a really messy bun that made her look so freaking cute. That’s when she caught me staring and I paid closer attention to her eyes. They were a light brown color, like caramel almost. Usually people look away when they get caught, but I didn’t. I just smiled at her and she returned it, only a little awkwardly.

“You okay there,” Zack asked, getting her attention.
“Oh, yeah,” Emi said, turning to him and smiling. “I’m fine. Just a little hot.”
“A little is an understatement,” I thought to myself.
“It’s supposed to cool down out here in a little while,” Zee told her, getting off of his amp and waving her over. “Here, you can sit down if you want.”
Emi smiled gratefully at him and walked over. “Thank you so much,” she said, her accent wasn’t thick, but it was still noticeable.
Zacky smiled at her and nodded.

Johnny put his bass down and walked over to her, his arm outstretched. “Hi, I’m Johnny,” he greeted with a warm smile.
Emi took his hand and shook it, returning his smile. “I’m Emilce, but just call me Emi,” she said. “It’s easier to pronounce.”
“Emilce,” Johnny asked. “That isn’t too hard to pronounce.”
“Wow,” Emi giggled. “Nobody ever gets it on the first try.”
“Dude, seriously,” I laughed. “How the fuck?”
Johnny shrugged. “Perks of dating a Hispanic girl,” he said, walking back to his amp.
“Goddamn it, Johnny,” Brian laughed loudly.
“Do you want a water, Emi,” Val asked, walking toward the door that lead into the house. “I’m grabbing one for me and my sister.”
“Oh please,” Emi said politely. “Thank you.”
“No problem,” Val smiled at her.

“You guys should play something for Emi,” Michelle suggested with a grin.
“Yeah,” Emi said. “I wanna hear how bad Zacky sucks at guitar.”
“Ooo,” Johnny laughed. “Just when I thought she was all nice and shit.”
“I don’t know Emi,” Zacky said with a wink. “I’m pretty good at fingering the guitar, you know?”
We all laughed, and Emi snorted at him, “Talk is cheap, yo. Get to fingering then, and I’ll be the judge of that.” She winked back at him.
Val walked in right as the words came out of Emi’s mouth and she gave a disturbed look. “Whoa there,” Val said. “I think you two need to calm down.”
“I know, right,” I scoffed. “How lewd!”
“Shut up, Jimmy,” Matt laughed.
“Ugh. Whateverrrr,” I said, putting my hand up at him, speaking in my ‘typical white girl’ voice.
“No but seriously, guys,” Michelle said. “Play something!”
“Oh! Play Turn the Other Way,” Val jaunted.

“Hey! Fuck you, jerk,” I groaned. “Trying to put me to work and shit. I ain’t doing it!”
“Aw, please,” Emi pouted. “I wanna hear!”
“Ugh, why do girls pout all cute and shit,” I whined.
“You’re such a bitch, Rev,” Johnny laughed.
“You’re a bitch,” I mocked in a stupid voice. “Little fag!”
“Rude little fucker,” Johnny chuckled.
“Okay, okay,” Matt interrupted. “Let’s get to it.”

I laughed and adjusted myself on my kit, taking a deep breath and catching Emi’s glance as I got ready to show off.
I love playing this song.
_____________________________________________________________________________



~Emi~

The guys all stood up with their instruments and got hyped up before Matt started them off.
My eyes grew as the music started. The chemistry between the guys was incredible. They were all in time with each other, their movements, the queues, everything. The tones between Zacky’s and Brian’s guitars either identical, or different, but no matter how they switched, they complimented each other. Johnny’s bass blended in so well with the guitars, it was hard to believe that he was able to keep up with them sometimes because of how much he was moving around. I couldn’t get over how fast Jimmy was going on some parts, it was insane! And the fact that Matt could be heard over him was just incredible.

“What do you think,” Michelle asked excitedly.
“I love it,” I said over the music. “They’re really good!”
“They are,” Val said proudly, staring at Matt with admiration.

“I've been the wrong one time and time again.
Now I'm on my knees forgive me please.
Tore out my heart, handed to me on a silver platter.
Sew up the hole, emptiness in the place of compassion.”

I continued to watch in awe as Jimmy went crazy on the drums, some of his blonde hair was plastered to his face from sweat. How he was able to keep up such energy throughout the entire song like that, and then be so crazy all the time impressed me.

When the song was over, the girls and I clapped and the boys gave goofy smiles and bowed to us.
“What’d you think,” Johnny asked eagerly.
I smiled at him, he was so adorable. “You guys are awesome,” I said simply. “I loved it!”
“Of course you did,” Brian said. “There was no way that you couldn’t.”
“Duh,” Michelle said, putting her arm around me.

A car pulled up and everyone turned their attention to it.
“Hey mom, hey dad,” Matt said, greeting the people that came out of the car.
“Hi baby,” his mom said. “Hey guys! It’s really hot out here, and you’re all sweaty! Why don’t you come inside already, we bought some pizza for you.”
“Aw yeah,” Zacky cheered.
“Everyone can get one piece,” Jimmy announced. “I call dibs on the rest!”
“Bull,” Johnny yelled, making Matt’s dad laugh.
“I second that one,” he said, walking into the garage with his wife.
“Come on, Emi,” Jimmy said, coming over and grabbing my wrist, walking me into Matt’s nicely decorated house.

“Hey mom, dad,” Matt said suddenly. “This is Emi. She’s going to start school with us.”
“Oh hello,” Matt’s mom said with a smile, taking my hand in hers.
“It’s nice to meet you, Emi,” his dad said, shaking my hand after Matt’s mom released it.
“It’s nice to meet you too,” I said politely.
“The boys usually practice here, so if you’re going to hang out with them, you might as well make yourself at home,” Matt’s mom said with a chuckle. “They practice almost every day.”
“Yeah, it’s like, a thing,” Jimmy said taking a bite of his pizza. “You never get enough practice.”
I laughed at how he looked chewing on all the pizza he put in his mouth, and started eating.


“So what time are going to leave so we can get to my house,” Val whispered when Matt’s parents were finished eating.
“In a little while,” Matt whispered back. “Just make sure you leave before we do so they don’t think anything.”
Val nodded at him and returned to her conversation with her sister and Brian and Zacky.
From there I watched as everyone talked with each other and joked about. Val was still talking to Michelle, and Zacky. Brian moved on to Matt, and Johnny, Jimmy was listening intently, putting very little input. I watched and cherished their little bond, missing the feeling of belonging somewhere… to someone…

Then I started to really hate myself. Here I am, surrounded by a bunch of wonderful people, and I can’t seem to get out of my own head. Why can’t I be strong? Why can’t I just keep pushing? I remember a time when I would fight to free myself from this same madness that’s taking over, and now I can’t. I don’t have the willpower to do it. I just crumple at the thoughts and let them slam my brain.
It hurts so much… I miss him… I need him...
I can’t take this any-,

“Hey,” Jimmy said, snapping out of my thoughts. “You okay there?”
I looked at him and nodded. “Oh y-, yeah,” I stammered. “I’m good. Just thinking. Sorry.”
“Thank you so much for doing that… I think I’m going crazy.”

Notes

Kind of boring, sorry!