Three boys were sitting on the couch in Nick's basement. After the fiasco in 'Rusty Nail', they decided to comfort themselves with smoking pot.
"How do you think, where is John Bonham right now?" asked Nick lazily.
"Dumb question. He's rotting in a coffin somewhere," fuffed Ken.
Nick tried to kick him with his leg. "No, dumbass, I mean, where is his soul or spirit or something like that. He couldn't just die; he must leave something behind."
"He left," admitted Ken. "You have all Zeppelin's records. Be happy - John Bonham always stays with you."
"It doesn't help, man," Nick rose up to pick up a pack of crackers.
"All drummers go to the heaven," said Daniel sleepily.
"Oh, yeah?" asked Nick, champing. "That's cool. Then I'll meet him one day."
"All good drummers," corrected Ken. "You'll go to another place, there will be no drums, but disco all day and all the night."
"Boo," hissed Daniel. Nick threw a handful of crackers into them. After a few minutes of silence, he said again "I'm serious, I'd like to know things like that."
"You asked wrong persons. Find a brainiac like Lindsay and torture him instead of us," said Ken, sipping a beer.
"Oh, man, that's a good idea. I wanna ask her tomorrow," pointed Nick merrily.
"You're hopeless," Daniel rolled his eyes. "Forget dead drummer, better ask her to go out with you."
"Um, I dunno," said Nick with a shy smile. "What if she refuses?"
"I don't get it," said Ken seriously, "Have you already found another Heidi?"
Daniel smirked while Nick blushed and kicked Ken one more time. There was all the answer.
Despite the fact that he was stoned, the idea to ask Lindsay firmly lodged in his head. Not about a date, he was almost sure she would refuse, and it could ruin everything. But spending some time only together would be perfect for him. So, next day Nick caught Lindsay after the first period.
"Hey, how's it going?" he asked friendly.
"Oh, hey, Nick," she smiled. "I'm fine. How are you?"
"I've been better," said Nick, "I wanna ask you… have you any plans this evening? I mean, you proposed to study together, right? So, I was, um, thinking if we could do it today? I have a Biology test tomorrow, so..."
He ended with an unsure shrug, but Lindsay smiled sincerely. "No, I have no plans. Come to my house after school, okay? And take you copybook with!"
"Got it!" beamed Nick. "Oh, I can pick you up after lessons, if you wanna."
"It would be great," agreed Lindsay. She watched as Nick going away and felt a strange mix of dizzy and impatience. Like before math challenge...
"Mom, I'm home," said Lindsay as they entered the house. Nick went after her a little bit awkward.
"Today you are late, honey," said Mrs. Weir going from the kitchen. "Oh… You are with a friend, right?"
"Mom, remember Nick?" asked Lindsay as Nick stepped to Mrs. Weir, grabbed her hand and shook it enthusiastically.
"Um, hello, Mrs. Weir, how are you?" asked he friendly.
"I'm fine, thank you, Nick," said Mrs. Weir with a polite smile.
"We'll prepare for the test," continued Lindsay.
"For the test? Oh, that's right. Good luck!" Lindsay's mom wished. "Don't forget, dinner at 7. I hope you join us, Nick?
The boy looked at , then at Lindsay and again at her mother.
"Oh, I, um, yeah, it would be cool, thank you," he shrugged shyly.
"Okay, let's go," said Lindsay and show Nick way to her room. When the door closed Lindsay exhaled.
"I'm sorry for her, she can make you feel really embarrassed," said Lindsay.
"No, not at all," protested Nick. "She's great."
"Yeah, probably," Lindsay smiled.
"So, let's start!" she went through her room and searched her copybook. Nick stood near the door and looked around. He felt strange being in the girl's place; he was confused noticing girlish things like a flower print on her blanket or paintings on walls. Besides, Nick didn't know what to do next - sit somewhere (and where?) or wait for Lindsay's direction? Or maybe should he say something, about her room, perhaps?
Lindsay found her Biology copybook and turned to Nick.
"Oh, sit down where you'll feel comfortable," offered she, taking a seat on a chair by the desk. Nick came to her and sank to the floor, resting his back on a corner of her bed. Now Lindsay could look down at him, and it was unusual for both of them.
"Well," said she, "I think we should read our chapters, then I ask you about the material, and after it, we discuss problematic issues. What do you say?"
"Um, okay," Nick opened his book as Lindsay did the same.
It wasn't easy. Lindsay was sitting half-turned so that Nick could see her profile and watching her was more interesting than boring paragraphs in the book. He caught himself he read one sentence the third time and couldn't understand its meaning.
"How… how do you think, if people are just, um, a lot of muscles, bones, and blood or there is something more? Ya know, like soul?" asked he at last.
Lindsay looked at him thoughtfully and a little bit sad. She remembered her granny's last moments. "I wish I knew. Maybe people are just animals with a highly developed nervous system, maybe Millie is right, and there are heaven and hell for our souls. I don't know. But in the end, we all want to believe in unproven theories if they get rid us of fear."
"Oh," only sighed Nick. Lindsay returned to her book and said no more.
Somebody knocked the door and almost immediately opened it. Nick slightly jumped by surprise.
"Lindsay, what are you doing?"
"Oh, hey, dad," Lindsay greeted her father and rose up. "We are studying."
Nick got up and saw Mr. Weir. He went to him and gave him his hand.
"Um, hello, Mr. Weir. I'm glad to meet you again."
"I have no doubt," grumbled Mr. Weir, but shook Nick's hand. "Say, Lindsay, all of your friends will study at our place?"
"Dad!" exclaimed Lindsay embarrassed.
"Well, well, I don't bother you. Study properly," he underlined word 'study' and went away, leaving the door open.
"What did he talk about?" whispered Nick as soon as Mr. Weir went far from them.
"Daniel," answered Lindsay with slight disappointment in her voice. "He asked to help him with Math, but he just wanted to get right answers to a test. I had some trouble after that. Don't mind."
She paused for a while and then change a topic.
"So, are you ready for the little test?"
"Gimme a few minutes, okay?" asked Nick. He tried to focus on paragraph he was reading again. At least, he did his best.
The dinner at Weirs went well, as far as it was possible with the concerned father who was ready to suspect every guy next to his daughter in all mortal sins. But Nick didn't give the slightest reason, speaking mostly about his drums or praising the cooking of Mrs. Weir. Nevertheless, everyone, including Nick himself, breathed a sigh of relief when he said goodbye and left.
Lindsay agreed to meet with Kim next day before school, and the first question her friend asked was "Hey, what's going on between you and Nick?"
Lindsay looked at Kim incomprehensibly, stopping for a moment.
"Um, nothing? We're just friends. Why did you ask?"
"I saw you yesterday," Kim smiled slyly. "So, he picks you up after school, yeah?"
"It was just once," answered Lindsay. She started to feel uncomfortable. "Nick asked to help him to prepare for the test. We were studying together, that's all."
"Oh, yeah? Nick has never paid attention to that school shit. I think it was just a lame excuse to hang out together with you."
"No, it wasn't," said Linsay with conviction. "He must keep his grades high unless he would get to the army. It's serious, Kim. And if you want, you could join us, we all could study together."
Kim smirked.
"Believe me, Linds, I know many ways to spend my time better. Besides, I don't wanna be the third wheel."
"Kim!" Lindsay exclaimed ashamed, but her friend just glanced at her innocently and changed the topic.
However, Kim's remark made Lindsay think was their meeting with Nick just about study or not. She'd like to think so, but something told her she had enjoyed as well leading someone instead of following like she always did. Besides, Nick was the really great guy and hanging out with him was always nice. She didn't know certainly, which of these reasons was decisive.