𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗩𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 (𝙵𝚞𝚛𝚛𝚢 𝙱𝚡𝙱)

Track 39 | 𝗬𝗼𝘂! 𝗠𝗲! 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴!

⏭

"...F-fuck!" Levi grunted, struggling to support the overwhelming weight of our giant Fender amplifier.

"Wow, did I just hear Levi curse?" I laughed as I lent him a hand, gripping the edges of the amp and heaving the blocky piece of machinery into Rian's van for him from the inside. Levi caught his breath and gave me a feeble thumbs-up. I reached out for his hands and pulled him up into the van as well.

"C'mon, guys, we can't be late!" Rian impatiently called out to the rest of us from the driver's seat, shoving his keys into the ignition. 

"We're coming, we're coming, Jesus!" Eden bickered in response from the sidewalk, racing up to the van. She and Torrence climbed inside, from the back this time instead of the side, closing the back doors behind them and locking them shut.

"Alright, alright—everyone here? Are we all set?" Rian checked, already pulling out of the parking spot on the side of the road outside of Rian's apartment.

"Wait, wait, don't go yet! Are we sure we have everything?!" Levi panicked, checking over and counting the various pieces of equipment laid out in the back of the van as Eden, Torrence, and I took our seats.

"No time, if we forgot something, I'm sure one of the bands there can back us up," Torrence assumed, patting Rian's back from the seat behind him. "Let's go, let's go!"

"Shit, where's the amp cables?!" Levi practically squealed, frantically rummaging through all the shit on the van floor.

"They're right here," Ari answered, laid back in the passenger seat next to Rian with his feet up, coiling Levi's precious wires in his hands.

"Get your shoes off the dash," Rian swatted at Ari's feet as his eyes stayed glued to the road. Following his orders, Ari reluctantly retracted his legs and sat up straight. "And put your seatbelt on." Ari rolled his eyes and put on his seatbelt. "Everyone, seatbelts!"

"Got it, Mom," Torrence mocked. Rian stepped on the gas, driving down the street and away from the apartment.

"Showtime, bitches!" Eden yelled, pounding the roof of the van. Torrence and I both howled with excitement, shoving our fists in the air and doing the same.

"Stop! Don't pound the fucking r—Jesus Christ," Rian grumbled, pulling the steering wheel. Ari chuckled softly and turned his head, looking back at me in the car seat behind him. I passed him a friendly smile in return.

And off we drove to Jersey City. Another week had gone by in a flash and, miraculously, it was already Friday, and tonight we'd be performing. We were a little pressed for time, though, (hence Rian's impatience and Levi's panicking) since the rest of us took a few extra minutes to set up a little surprise for Levi. It was his birthday tomorrow and tonight would be the sleepover.

"Ninety-nine bottles of beer on the wall, ninety-nine bottles of beer..." I began to sing randomly once the car ride had gotten a little quiet. "Take one down, pass it around, ninety-eight bottles of beer on the wall!"

"Harvey, I swear to God, don't start," Rian groaned with agitation.

"Ninety-eight bottles of beer on the wall, ninety-eight bottles of beer..." Torrence joined in, the two of us singing in unison. Then Eden joined: "Take one down, pass it around, ninety-seven bottles of beer on the wall!"

"Guys. I'm not fucking joking—!" Rian interrupted our tune, only for us to interrupt right back.

"Ninety-seven bottles of beer on the wall, ninety-seven bottles of beer..." Then Ari hopped onto the bandwagon. "Take one down, pass it around, ninety-six bottles of beer on the wall!"