Stereotyping Rock (Stereotyping Series) | ✔️

Chapter Forty

Gee

Nonna, I love you. Mum, Dad, I love you. 

I pressed my arms against my stomach, trying to keep it all in. I was doing something none of them approved on, tonight. Did that dishonour their memories? 

No. Because I'm honouring my own by doing so. They'd prefer me to do what I want. I think... Oh crap, would they? 

I swapped to hugging my knees to my chest, sliding down against the wall. I was fine. It would be okay. Our band's been on the bloody radio before. We can do it perfectly. Caught in the Middle won't skip a beat. 

But, oh God, will I'm Healing, Baby be okay? 

No. Someone's going to stuff it up. I'm gonna get my chords wrong or Matt's gonna have the wrong progression or... Courtney hasn't even practiced it with us.

We're not gonna win this, what was I thinking?!

"Gee, I have that top you wanted," Matt announced, walking in with the t-shirt in his hand, "What did you need-" He paused, "Are you okay?"

"Matt, we're going to lose. We... we haven't rehearsed properly, my chords suck, Courtney's gonna be late... Matt..." I looked up at him with wide eyes, "I'm disobeying Nonna, Mama and Papa's wishes. They hated rock music..."

"Calm down," Matt smiled gently, "We're going to do fine. Soundcheck doesn't need us, your chords are perfect and Courtney can pick things up in a heartbeat."

He sat down next to me, against the wall, "Your family however... they'd rather you followed your dreams than their memories. Wouldn't they?"

I didn't reply. I still felt all jumpy.

"What are you reading?" Matt murmured, glancing down at the book in my lap.

"Nineteen Eighty-Four," I stammered, "George Orwell?"

"Sounds hideous," he rolled his eyes, grabbing it.

"It's amazing, actually," I corrected, "It's difficult and confusing but brilliantly written."

Matt grinned, "I got you talking."

He opened to the first page and narrowed his eyes at it. He shook his head before mocking in his perfect English accent, "It was a bright cold day in April and the clocks were striking thirteen."

"A much more," how could I scare him off the book? "linguistically developed and involved first statement than one would prerequisitely believe."

I succeeded. 

Matt stiffened, glanced at me and pulled a face, "I'm done. Don't understand a thing you just said."

I pealed with laughter, "Basically the fact that the clocks striking thirteen was very important through the entire novel."

I loved dumbing it down for him.

"Why didn't you just say that in the first place?" he scoffed at me.

This was the Matt I loved. The one who knew what a smile was and could entertain me whenever I needed it. 

I beamed at him, "I wanted to confuse you."

There was a rap on the door and Mitch moved into the doorway, "Guys, we have to go down to set up now."

Of course.

***

The cover of Look What You Made Me Do was even worse than the original. They had a boy on vocals, so the sound was all messed up for one. The group, The Machines, only had a lead guitar and a keyboardist for accompaniment. They needed a drummer and at the very least a bassist as well. 

Quite a large turnout had appeared though. It was most of London Academy and some of Eastpoint High. I grinned, looking out at the number of spots taken on the stone steps of the amphitheatre. 

The next song was a cover of Patience. Performed by Black Leather Jackets, they all wore so. Slightly cringey, their jackets held more attention than they did. Their vocalist must have only been in the seventh or eighth grade, holding quite a squeaky, childish voice. Their lead guitarist wasn't hitting many correct chords. Poor kids looked nervous as heck. 

Matt whispered in my ear, causing tingles to race through me, "These are the real competition. That and the Waluigi group."

I glanced curiously at the group all wearing white singlets. Liking Me was another London Academy band, made up of one girl and four boys. Slightly surprisingly, the girl was on drums, a boy on vocals. 

They had an original, Heroes. As soon as they began, it was plain to me why they'd gotten to the Championship Round.

Matt wound his arms around me as I shivered slightly. 

"You're going to do perfect, Geegee," he murmured against my skin.

I felt safe and secure in Matt's arms. I shouldn't have, considering the drama we've been through, the fact that he's a legit criminal and that I'd only gotten detention once for several days. 

But I liked the danger that encased Matt when he was around me. 

I'm not who you say I am... but at the same time, I am.

***

Song: Patience - Guns and Roses.

Thoughts on this?

xx Sharky.