The One Who Was Taught To Survive

By the time Music Appreciation had rolled around, I was finally able to find my way around the hallways of the new school. There was a bit of confusion of course, but I almost always had someone by my side walking me to and from classes; especially after what happened at Lunch.

“So do you play any instruments?” Kayley asked as she sat behind the drumset and Dilynn warmed up her bass.

“Uhh, not really. I sing and play a little bit of guitar, but I wasn’t able to bring my guitar with me so I haven’t played in probably 2 months,” I shrugged.

“Dude you sing?” Kayley grinned widely.

“hopefully better than us two,” Dilynn giggled as she tuned her guitar.

“No joke,” Kayley chuckled.

I laughed, “Uhhh, well if there’s an extra guitar maybe we can play something. Like have you guys heard “My Hero” by The Foo Fighters? It just came out like last year.”

“Fuck yeah, it’s a good song!” Dilynn grinned. “And the bass on that song is fucking amazing.”

“No joke, the drums are fun too,” Kayley twirled her drumstick.

I grinned, “Is there an electric guitar I can borrow?”

They grinned as they looked over at Zacky who was practicing his electric guitar without an amp. I hadn’t even realized he was in the class with us, oh fuck, Matt is too. He was sitting next to Zack talking to him. Matt had a list in his hand and a pencil in the other. “Yo Baker,” Kayley hollered over at him.

He looked up at her with a raised eyebrow, “What the fuck do you want Seward?”

She pointed at me, “New girl wants to show off a bit, let her see your guitar.”

I blushed as Zack had a look of shock on his face, “You know how to play?” He stood as he brought over the instrument.

I nodded slightly “Yeah, haven’t played in awhile but wanna jam with these two for a song or two if that’s alright? I promise I won’t steal your guitar everytime. I had to leave mine in New York.”

He smiled apparently finding amusement from my ranting, “Alright, just be careful with her, she’s my girl.” He winked at me and handed me the guitar.

“You two gonna watch us?” Dilynn asked playfully.

Matt laughed, “Do we have a choice?”

“Well we figured you’d want to hear your new girlfriend sing,” she countered back smirking.

He blushed, “She’s not my girlfriend I just told Chase that to get him to leave her alone.”

Zacky laughed and shook his head, “Dude, he’s gonna figure it out when everyone at the school tells him he’s wrong.”

Matt shrugged, “Let’s hear you guys play together.” He thought about it for a minute as the rest of us held back laughter. “Wait that sounded bad.”

I laughed and threw one of the picks in my pocket at him, “Dirty boy.”

“So what are you guys gonna play?” Zack asked as he took his seat again. The teacher was still in his office, us 5 were the only ones in the class today. Dilynn said that most of the kids didn’t even show up, they’d rather go get high and the teacher never took role.

“Guess you’ll have to see won’t you,” Kayley smirked and set off into the drum intro, Dilynn joining in after a few bars, and finally I joined in with the main guitar parts.

There was a drop out of the instruments and right as they picked back up I started with the vocals. My voice was more alto than soprano, but I’d sang this song so many times and played it, I knew it like the back of my hand. Never missing a note or word. Dilynn backing me up on vocals as we performed.

“Too alarmin' now to talk about
Take your pictures down and shake it out
Truth or consequence, say it aloud
Use that evidence, race it around

There goes my hero
Watch him as he goes
There goes my hero
He's ordinary

Don't the best of them bleed it out
While the rest of them peter out?
Truth or consequence, say it aloud
Use that evidence, race it around

There goes my hero
Watch him as he goes
There goes my hero
He's ordinary

Kudos, my hero, leavin' all the best
You know my hero, the one that's on
There goes my hero
Watch him as he goes
There goes my hero
He's ordinary
There goes my hero
Watch him as he goes
There goes my hero
He's ordinary”

As the final notes faded out I blushed and looked down but Kayley and Dilynn were instantly by my side. “OH MY GOD! YOU WEREN’T JOKING!” Dilynn gushed excitedly.

“Dude, you have to join our band,” Kayley jumped up and down excitedly reminding me of Jimmy and I couldn’t help but giggle.

“I don’t know if I’m that good,” I blushed looking down.

“Uhh…babe that was fucking amazing,” Matt complimented me. “You could rival my vocals.”

“No joke, you could rival mine and Brian’s guitar skills,” Zacky complimented me.

“Well thank-you,” I smiled at the guys kindly.

“So what do you say?” Kayley asked bouncing impatiently.

“Well…” I trailed off thinking about it.

“Please say yes,” Dilynn begged me smiling at me.

“Oh alright, I’ll be in your band,” I laughed as they hugged me.

Notes

Chapter title credit to the Foo Fighters -- My Hero

Love that song, haven't heard it in forever until today and it came out in 1998 which was when these guys were in high school :D

Let me know what you think. Gonna update Visions Left Inside here shortly with a plot twist and a new POV we've never seen before.