Mismatched socks

Sophia - Chapter 7: Leonard the Turtle

I smile when I see Renée. She's wearing a thick winter coat, a scarf, and a beanie. 'I'm cold,' she says and walks past me. I laugh and follow her. It's Saturday and we're meeting Colin's band in a pub. Elise is already there with Kai. James and Matt are also coming.

'What's the name of the band? You never told me,' I ask. 'The Green Pickles.' 'The Green Pickles?' I ask confused. 'Yes, you can laugh. I did for days after they told me the name,' Renée laughs. 'How did they come up with a name like that?' 'How did the Red Hot Chili Peppers decided their name? I think it's original, but it's funny,' Renée smiles.

It starts raining and Renée starts complaining. 'It's even worse than Belgian weather,' she mutters. 'Really?' She looks at me, questioning. 'I can't tell if your question is real of sarcastic,' she says. 'I don't know either.' We both laugh.

We enter the pub and it's really crowded. I look at Renée who uncomfortably removes her coat, scarf, and beanie. She just looks at the ground. I also take of my scarf and coat. We hang them on the coatrack and search for her friends.

'Renée! Finally! We really need your help!' Parker says loud. 'With what?' Renée asks confused. 'Marc just got really ill – we think food poisoning – and we need you to play the bass,' Kai says, with Elise on their arm. 'Oh, I don't know. You can easily play songs without a bass,' she says and fidgets with her sleeve. Even I know songs without bass – that are supposed to have it – sound bad.

'She doesn't have to if she doesn't want to,' I say boldly. They look at me in surprise. Colin joins the group. 'Would you be more comfortable playing the drums?' he asks. 'Hey! What about me?' Kai says stunned. 'Oh, I can play bass, you keys and Colin guitar,' Parker says. Renée looks up at her friends. 'I'll play the bass,' she says not sure about her choice. 'Great!' Parker says and shoves the bass guitar in her hands.

The band leaves and gets ready. 'Are you sure?' I ask. 'No. My anxiety is really bad at the moment, but I love playing the bass. So that compensates right?' I nod, hiding my doubts. 'Ren!' James and Mathieu show up behind her and greet her and then me. 'Are you playing?' James asks surprised. 'Yes. And I should probably go over the songs they are playing. Bye.'

James has a concerned frown. Renée always says Colin and her are best friends. But I think James and Renée are like the underrated friends in a TV show. 'She will be fine. She loves the bass,' Mathieu says to James and me. 'I hope so,' James and I say.

After ten minutes we have drinks, and the lights turn off and Elise stands next to me. Colin welcomes everyone and introduces the band. Some people laugh with the band's name. Renée doesn't look at the crowd, just at the guitar and her hands. Mathieu has his arms around James's shoulders and listen with a smile when the music starts.

They play some songs I don't really know, but they're good. Then there's a song I know, Do I wanna know? by the Arctic Monkeys. Colin is a really good singer and Kai and Parker are also really good. You couldn't hear the bass in the songs before, but in this one you can. I can see a little smile on Renée's face. That makes me smile.

After some more songs they take a little break. Renée comes to us and Mathieu hands her a beer. 'You were smiling,' James says with a proud face. 'It is fun,' she smiles and then looks at me with a big smile before taking a sip from her beer. I smile too.

'You were really great!' Elise compliments Renée. 'Thanks,' she says with a shy smile, looking at me. 'You were,' I say and give her a reassuring smile. She smiles back. 'Ren, we're about to start again!' Colin shouts over the crowd.

***

Later that evening, I'm a little tipsy, but so are the others. Kai and Elise are almost eating each other, James and Mathieu are talking happily, Colin and Parker are being enthusiastic about the performance tonight, Marc went home after throwing up a few times and Renée is silently sitting next to me.