A Little Piece Of Heaven
Little Sisters, Cookies and Band Practice
Chapter Twenty-Four:
I forgot my non-drowsy meds at Jace’s house. I made it through half of the school day before I just could not keep my eyes open anymore. I gave up and took a nap in the nurse’s office. I hate missing class, but my body needs to heal. I slept through lunch and can’t seem to wake myself up.”
-.-
“Angela, wake up.” Matt whispered. I jolted and blinked, trying to clear the sleep away.
“Did I really sleep through the rest of the day?” I asked, frowning. He nodded.
“I’m sure your teachers understand. It’s not like you’re in any danger of falling behind.”
“I know, but still.”
“You ready to go?” He asked me. I nodded.
“Let’s go. I’m starving.” I told him. He helped me up.
“Janice is excited to meet you.” I told me. I smiled.
“I’m excited to meet her, too, but I’m nervous.”
“Don’t be. How scary can an eleven-year-old be?”
“It sounds stupid when you say it like that, but I’ve never had siblings. It’s competely new territory.” I grumbled. He just laughed.
“You’ll do great.”
“I’ll stop psyching myself out.”
-.-
“I’m so glad you could make it for dinner.” Denise hugged me. I smiled.
“Thanks for inviting me.”
“You’re welcome anytime. Janice should be home soon. She’s studying with a friend.”
“No worries. Do you mind if I get a drink of water? My meds are starting to wear off.” I told her.
“Not at all, help yourself.”
“Matt show her where the cups are.” She told him, excusing herself. He got me a cup and I filled it up with water.
“Are you okay?” He asked me.
“I’m really nervous.”
“Don’t be; mom loves you.”
“I know, but I’m not that girl that gets taken home to meet the parents. I’m… the girl that you don’t. If she knew about my stepdad, she wouldn’t want me here.” I told him.
“You know that’s not true.”
“Or that it is.”
“I care about you, regardless.”
“I’m amazed that you do.”
“Just trust me on this. Do you want to come to my band practice tomorrow?”
“I’d love to.”
“Awesome.”
-.-
“So how was your day?” I asked Janice. She just stared at me for a second and shrugged.
“It was typical, boring. I was surrounded by horny morons, but that’s life. How was your day?” She asked me. I chuckled.
“It was kind of the same, but I spent half of it napping.” I told her. She smiled.
“Rad, I wanna nap through school.” She ate a mouthful of food.
“Just get really clumsy, fracture a few bones, and get medicine that makes you tired.” I joked. She giggled.
“How long have you been seeing my brother?”
“Not very long.”
“Weird. He never shuts up about you. He made it sound like you’ve been dating for longer.” She fed herself a mouthful of enchilada. I blushed.
“Are you in any clubs in school?” She asked me. I nodded.
“I’m in creative writing club and art club. I used to be in more, but I haven’t been as into school this year.”
“I’m in art class, but I’m not good at it. I like it, but I suck at it.” She smiled. She’s pretty chill for a pre-teen.
“You don’t have to be good at something to enjoy it.” I told her.
“Ain’t that the truth.” She sighed.
“Isn’t,” Denise corrected. Janice rolled her eyes. “How’s your wrist healing up?” She asked me.
“Slowly, very slowly.” I told her. “It’s not really my wrist that gives me trouble, it’s my ribs.”
“Those do take awhile to heal.” She frowned.
“Wanna go watch a movie?” Matt asked me. I nodded.
“Sure thing.”
We helped clear the table and excused ourselves. I followed Matt to his bedroom and sprawled out on his bed. It’s so comfortable and it smells like him.
“You’re so beautiful –you know that?” He asked me, laying next to me.
“So you tell me.” I nuzzled his neck and gave him a quick kiss. I really didn’t pay attention to what was on the TV.
“Do you want to come to my band practice later?” He asked me.
“I’d love to.” I told him.
-.-
“Dude, tell me you brought food.” Brian complained as soon we got out of the car. I handed him a tin of cookies. “Bro, she steals my heart every time she gives me cookies.” He smiled through a mouthful. I giggled.
“I see how it is. She comes around and I’m chopped liver.” Matt mock-frowned.
“If you brought me cookies, I’d love you more, too.” Brian told him, leading us into his house. “Everybody’s already downstairs in the basement, setting up.” He told us. I nodded. “They’re gonna be so disappointed that all the cookies are for me.”
“Or you could share.” I suggested.
“Or they can step on Legos.” He beamed. I shook my head.
“You’re something else.”
“Something awesome.” He shot back. We walked into his basement. It’s completely decked out with band equipment.
“Dudes, I have cookies and they’re not for you.” Brian bragged. The other guys tackled him and made for the cookies. After they stole their goodies, they introduced themselves.
“I’m Johnny – you must be the infamous Angela.” He hugged me. He’s rocking bleach-blonde hair and a nose ring.
“It’s good to meet you.” I told him.
“Hey, I’m Jimmy.” A guy offered his hand. I shook it. I’m jealous of his hair – mine never behaves the way I want it to. It’s short and gelled on top with bangs and longer on the bottom. His smile made his labret piercing twinkle.
“Angela – it’s nice to meet you.” I smiled.
“Did Matt ever get you the demo?” He asked me, looking at Matt. I nodded.
“He did. My father is coming to town tomorrow, so I’ll be able to give it to him then. I’m sure he’ll love it.” I told him. He grinned and pulled me into a hug.
“Right on. Let’s start practice.” He walked over to the drums. He looks like he was made for them. All the guys look right, like this is what they were made to do. I pulled out my camera and started recording.
“What are we starting with?” Matt asked Jimmy.
“Almost Easy?” Brian suggested. Matt nodded.
“Let’s do this.” Zach voiced. They warmed up and got started.
I feel insane, every single time I’m asked to compromise.
‘Cause I’m afraid and stuck in my ways –
And that’s the way it stays.
So, how long did I expect
Love to outweigh ignorance?
By that look on your face,
I may have forced the scale to tip.
I walked in front of the band and took turns filming each of them. They’re so into their playing; I doubt they even notice.
I’m not insane; I’m not insane.
I’m not insane; I’m not insane.
Matt looks so sexy when he sings. He makes the best faces. I finished taping the rest of the song and their next. Maybe I can put this together as a video for them. I’m not entirely tech savvy.
“I think that’s enough for today.” Matt told them. He looked over at me. “What did you think?”
“You guys were great. I got some good stuff.” I waved the camera in my hand.
“Awesome. I’ll take you home.” He offered.
-.-
“Thanks for letting me tag-along.” I told him, opening my door.
“Don’t mention it.”
“I’m gonna show the video to my dad, tomorrow. Maybe you can meet him soon.” I told him.
“I’d like that.”
“Not this time. I’ll ask him to come down next week.” I told him. He nodded and captured my lips with his. I melted into the kiss before taking my leave. “I’ll see ya mañana.” I told him.
“Bye, babe.”
He drove away and I floated inside. Today was nice. I need to cherish all my happy moments. I’m excited and nervous about seeing Jared. He’s going to ask so many questions. I don’t know how many of them I want to answer.
I’ll worry about tomorrow’s problems in the a.m. Tonight, I’ll sleep
I forgot my non-drowsy meds at Jace’s house. I made it through half of the school day before I just could not keep my eyes open anymore. I gave up and took a nap in the nurse’s office. I hate missing class, but my body needs to heal. I slept through lunch and can’t seem to wake myself up.”
-.-
“Angela, wake up.” Matt whispered. I jolted and blinked, trying to clear the sleep away.
“Did I really sleep through the rest of the day?” I asked, frowning. He nodded.
“I’m sure your teachers understand. It’s not like you’re in any danger of falling behind.”
“I know, but still.”
“You ready to go?” He asked me. I nodded.
“Let’s go. I’m starving.” I told him. He helped me up.
“Janice is excited to meet you.” I told me. I smiled.
“I’m excited to meet her, too, but I’m nervous.”
“Don’t be. How scary can an eleven-year-old be?”
“It sounds stupid when you say it like that, but I’ve never had siblings. It’s competely new territory.” I grumbled. He just laughed.
“You’ll do great.”
“I’ll stop psyching myself out.”
-.-
“I’m so glad you could make it for dinner.” Denise hugged me. I smiled.
“Thanks for inviting me.”
“You’re welcome anytime. Janice should be home soon. She’s studying with a friend.”
“No worries. Do you mind if I get a drink of water? My meds are starting to wear off.” I told her.
“Not at all, help yourself.”
“Matt show her where the cups are.” She told him, excusing herself. He got me a cup and I filled it up with water.
“Are you okay?” He asked me.
“I’m really nervous.”
“Don’t be; mom loves you.”
“I know, but I’m not that girl that gets taken home to meet the parents. I’m… the girl that you don’t. If she knew about my stepdad, she wouldn’t want me here.” I told him.
“You know that’s not true.”
“Or that it is.”
“I care about you, regardless.”
“I’m amazed that you do.”
“Just trust me on this. Do you want to come to my band practice tomorrow?”
“I’d love to.”
“Awesome.”
-.-
“So how was your day?” I asked Janice. She just stared at me for a second and shrugged.
“It was typical, boring. I was surrounded by horny morons, but that’s life. How was your day?” She asked me. I chuckled.
“It was kind of the same, but I spent half of it napping.” I told her. She smiled.
“Rad, I wanna nap through school.” She ate a mouthful of food.
“Just get really clumsy, fracture a few bones, and get medicine that makes you tired.” I joked. She giggled.
“How long have you been seeing my brother?”
“Not very long.”
“Weird. He never shuts up about you. He made it sound like you’ve been dating for longer.” She fed herself a mouthful of enchilada. I blushed.
“Are you in any clubs in school?” She asked me. I nodded.
“I’m in creative writing club and art club. I used to be in more, but I haven’t been as into school this year.”
“I’m in art class, but I’m not good at it. I like it, but I suck at it.” She smiled. She’s pretty chill for a pre-teen.
“You don’t have to be good at something to enjoy it.” I told her.
“Ain’t that the truth.” She sighed.
“Isn’t,” Denise corrected. Janice rolled her eyes. “How’s your wrist healing up?” She asked me.
“Slowly, very slowly.” I told her. “It’s not really my wrist that gives me trouble, it’s my ribs.”
“Those do take awhile to heal.” She frowned.
“Wanna go watch a movie?” Matt asked me. I nodded.
“Sure thing.”
We helped clear the table and excused ourselves. I followed Matt to his bedroom and sprawled out on his bed. It’s so comfortable and it smells like him.
“You’re so beautiful –you know that?” He asked me, laying next to me.
“So you tell me.” I nuzzled his neck and gave him a quick kiss. I really didn’t pay attention to what was on the TV.
“Do you want to come to my band practice later?” He asked me.
“I’d love to.” I told him.
-.-
“Dude, tell me you brought food.” Brian complained as soon we got out of the car. I handed him a tin of cookies. “Bro, she steals my heart every time she gives me cookies.” He smiled through a mouthful. I giggled.
“I see how it is. She comes around and I’m chopped liver.” Matt mock-frowned.
“If you brought me cookies, I’d love you more, too.” Brian told him, leading us into his house. “Everybody’s already downstairs in the basement, setting up.” He told us. I nodded. “They’re gonna be so disappointed that all the cookies are for me.”
“Or you could share.” I suggested.
“Or they can step on Legos.” He beamed. I shook my head.
“You’re something else.”
“Something awesome.” He shot back. We walked into his basement. It’s completely decked out with band equipment.
“Dudes, I have cookies and they’re not for you.” Brian bragged. The other guys tackled him and made for the cookies. After they stole their goodies, they introduced themselves.
“I’m Johnny – you must be the infamous Angela.” He hugged me. He’s rocking bleach-blonde hair and a nose ring.
“It’s good to meet you.” I told him.
“Hey, I’m Jimmy.” A guy offered his hand. I shook it. I’m jealous of his hair – mine never behaves the way I want it to. It’s short and gelled on top with bangs and longer on the bottom. His smile made his labret piercing twinkle.
“Angela – it’s nice to meet you.” I smiled.
“Did Matt ever get you the demo?” He asked me, looking at Matt. I nodded.
“He did. My father is coming to town tomorrow, so I’ll be able to give it to him then. I’m sure he’ll love it.” I told him. He grinned and pulled me into a hug.
“Right on. Let’s start practice.” He walked over to the drums. He looks like he was made for them. All the guys look right, like this is what they were made to do. I pulled out my camera and started recording.
“What are we starting with?” Matt asked Jimmy.
“Almost Easy?” Brian suggested. Matt nodded.
“Let’s do this.” Zach voiced. They warmed up and got started.
I feel insane, every single time I’m asked to compromise.
‘Cause I’m afraid and stuck in my ways –
And that’s the way it stays.
So, how long did I expect
Love to outweigh ignorance?
By that look on your face,
I may have forced the scale to tip.
I walked in front of the band and took turns filming each of them. They’re so into their playing; I doubt they even notice.
I’m not insane; I’m not insane.
I’m not insane; I’m not insane.
Matt looks so sexy when he sings. He makes the best faces. I finished taping the rest of the song and their next. Maybe I can put this together as a video for them. I’m not entirely tech savvy.
“I think that’s enough for today.” Matt told them. He looked over at me. “What did you think?”
“You guys were great. I got some good stuff.” I waved the camera in my hand.
“Awesome. I’ll take you home.” He offered.
-.-
“Thanks for letting me tag-along.” I told him, opening my door.
“Don’t mention it.”
“I’m gonna show the video to my dad, tomorrow. Maybe you can meet him soon.” I told him.
“I’d like that.”
“Not this time. I’ll ask him to come down next week.” I told him. He nodded and captured my lips with his. I melted into the kiss before taking my leave. “I’ll see ya mañana.” I told him.
“Bye, babe.”
He drove away and I floated inside. Today was nice. I need to cherish all my happy moments. I’m excited and nervous about seeing Jared. He’s going to ask so many questions. I don’t know how many of them I want to answer.
I’ll worry about tomorrow’s problems in the a.m. Tonight, I’ll sleep
Notes
Music Credit:"Almost Easy" -- Avenged Sevenfold
This is an amazing story. Some chapters were hard to read but I was hooked. Thank you for sharing it.
2/16/18