2009
"You hear the news?" Sirius asked as he sat in James' room, James strumming on a guitar.
"What news?" he replied absent-mindedly.
"Fall Out Boy are on hiatus."
James stopped strumming, the pick dangling from his hand. "Really?"
"Yeah. It's sad man, you know? They've been around for... what, six years? Since we were ten."
James nodded. "Same amount of time as I've been playing guitar for."
"Really? That long?"
James nodded again.
"Hey, wouldn't it be cool to be in a band?" Sirius sighed. "Touring, money... and girls like a guy in a band. I think."
"You think?"
"Well, yeah. I mean, I've not consulted them. The girls. But I think so."
James grinned. "I don't think any girl would talk to you for long enough to tell you."
"Now, see, that's where being in a band comes in. They'd talk to me then."
James laughed. "Well, why don't we start a band? I mean, I play guitar and I can kinda sing. And you play guitar as well, don't you?"
Sirius shrugged. "Used to. I could probably still remember a few chords."
James stood up out of pure excitement. "Man, let's do this!"
"Secret handshake?" Sirius offered.
James hesitated. "I don't know, man, don't you think we're a bit old for – Yeah, okay."
The pair laughed and performed what was only loosely speaking a handshake – more like an elaborate routine – and ended with the pair uttering what had been their motto since they'd met at the age of eleven: "I solemnly swear I am up to no good."
James frowned. "Do you think we're too dorky to be in a band?"
Sirius shrugged. "We'll work it out."