A/N: Thak you to CorianderSpice and Twilightwicked5678 for beta reading this chapter.

Chapter 3

Johnny walked into the Grace Note on Sunday morning. He hadn't been inside that place in so long, yet nothing had changed. It still looked the same, smelled the same and felt the same. Back when Johnny was younger and life was good, this was his favorite place.

The owner and proprietor of the store, Jose Chavez, was busy going over inventory sheets and didn't see Johnny come in.

"Jose?" said Johnny, getting his attention.

"Junito!"exclaimed Jose upon seeing Johnny. Junito was the nickname he gave Johnny when he was little. Loosely translated, it meant Little Junior.

Jose was a short, jovial Cuban-Canadian and Johnny's dad's best friend. The last time Johnny saw him was at his mother's burial over a month ago. The last time they spoke was a week after Johnny moved into the group home when he called Jose to let him know where he was living and to see if Jose had notified his dad about his mom's passing.

"Hey, how's it going?" asked Johnny.

"Couldn't be better, man," Jose replied. "What brings you to this neck of the woods?"

"Um, well...I need a job," said Johnny. "Do you think you can help me out?" Jose shook his head apologetically.

"Sorry son," he said. "I have all the help I need. But you know I'd give you a job if I could."

"I understand," said Johnny. His attention immediately turned to the display window. There sat a Ludwig Legacy Classic drum kit in red sparkle finish. It was identical to the one his dad had promised him four years ago.

Jose saw what Johnny was looking at.

"You wanna give her a try?" he asked, holding out a pair of drumsticks.

"I don't know,"said Johnny. "I haven't played in so long." He still kept time on desks, tabletops and textbooks when no one was looking, using pens or pencils as sticks. But that was something he would take to his grave.

"Just go for it," said Jose. "You just might surprise yourself." Smiling, Johnny took the sticks, sat down at the kit and took a deep breath.

He started off slowly, then he began to build up momentum. Soon, it was as if his hands had a mind of their own. Johnny was in the zone.

People walking by on the street stopped to watch Johnny play. He knew they were out there, but his attention was focused on the drums. Although he did notice something out of the corner of his eye. He kept sneaking glances, never missing a beat.

Alli Bhandari was standing at the front of the crowd, slightly to the left. She had a big smile on her face. Her brother, Sav, was standing next to her with his jaw dropped. This made Johnny smirk.

Despite this slight distraction, Johnny kept going. He started to wind down and then came to a stop. The crowd outside cheered, Alli cheered the loudest. Sav put his fingers in his mouth and whistled. Johnny smiled shyly.

As good as the adrenaline rush was, Johnny became self conscious. He got up and walked away from the window.

Just then, Alli and Sav came into the store.

"Johnny!" exclaimed Alli. "I didn't know you played drums."

"There's a lot you don't know about me, Backwoods," Johnny teased.

"Apparently, Mystery Man," Alli laughed.

"Johnny, you're awesome," Sav gushed. "I'm impressed." That was the first positive thing he ever said to Johnny in, well, ever. It flattered Johnny, yet made him feel awkward. Jose approached the group.

"Yeah, Johnny's dad is a drummer," he said patting Johnny's shoulder. "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, right Junito?." Johnny looked down at the floor shyly. Sav looked at Jose and blinked a few times.

"Hey, weren't you in a band called Whiskey River?" Sav had recently bought their demo CD from Recycled Records down the street.

"Yeah," said Johnny, looking up. "He was the bass player."He was surprised that yet another person his age had heard of the band.

"And Johnny's dad, Tony, was our drummer," Jose added. Johnny cringed a little.

"You know, I have the CD and saw in the booklet that the drummer's last name was DiMarco," said Sav. "But I never made the connection."

"Well,DiMarco's a pretty common last name," said Johnny. "Especially if you're in Little Italy."

"So, what's he up to now?" asked Sav. Johnny should have known that question was coming. He usually just told people his dad was dead if they asked but he wasn't sure if that was appropriate since Jose was there.

"Oh, you know, he's just laying low these days," said Jose, coming to Johnny's rescue. Sav nodded, he seemed to buy it. Johnny was relieved.

Alli knew the truth about Johnny's dad but said nothing.

"Well Sav," she said. "We need to be getting home soon. Don't forget what we came here for."

"Oh yeah," said Save, remembering. "I wanted to order some sheet music. My music teacher, Mr. Ballard, said this was the best place to order it."

"I know Ernie, we went to high school together," said Jose. "Come this way and I'll hook you up."

"Hey, Jose," said Johnny. "I gotta get going. Gotta pound the pavement some more. Bye Alli, Sav." They both waved.

"Later, John," said Jose."It was good seeing you."

Johnny set the drumsticks on the counter and walked out of the store. He wasn't aware that Spinner Mason was in the store as well.

Spinner was pretending to look at cymbals. Actually, he was trying to get up enough courage to approach Johnny. He had been watching outside too and, as much as he hated to admit it, Johnny was an awesome drummer. Better than him even.

He heard the entire conversation between Johnny and Sav.

So it is true, thought Spinner. Wow, just wow.

Spinner had been in the neighborhood running errands when he passed by the store and saw Johnny tearing it up. He had been inside The Grace Note many times before. People were always trying out the instruments, Spinner himself had sat right where Johnny was sitting and rocked out on that same drum kit. But he had never seen Johnny there. In fact, he never knew Johnny played the drums.

Johnny was two blocks down the street when he heard someone calling him.

"Hey Johnny!" the voice called."Johnny DiMarco!" Johnny turned around to see Spinner Mason running up to him. He rolled his eyes.

"I wanna talk to you, man," said Spinner breathlessly.

"Look dude," said Johnny wearily. "If this is about yesterday, I'm sorry. I don't know why I got in your face. My bad."

"No, I'm the one who should say sorry," said Spinner.

"Look," Johnny said, taking out his wallet. "I forgot to leave a tip for Holly J. Five bucks should cover it, right?"

"We wound up being hella busy last night." Spinner laughed, putting his hand up. "She more than made up for it." Then Spinner's tone changed.

"I'm sorry I doubted you about Bullet being your dad, Johnny," he said.

"It's cool," said Johnny. "I shouldn't have gone off on you like that. I shouldn't have expected you to believe me." He turned and started walking.

"I saw you playing in the window, man," said Spinner. "You really shred." Johnny turned back around and looked at him quizzically. He hadn't noticed Spinner in the crowd of people.

"Thanks," he said skeptically. Two people who have never liked him gave him compliments in one day. He wasn't used to that and it felt weird.

"Still need a job?" Spinner asked.

"Yeah," answered Johnny, still skeptical.

"Cause I still need a dishwasher."

Johnny glared at Spinner. How dare he!

"So, now that you found out who my dad is and that I can play the drums better than you, we're suddenly friends?" Johnny snapped. Spinner tried to remain calm.

"I'm not asking to be friends, Johnny," he said in an even tone. "I'm just offering you a job."

"Well, I'm not your charity case!" Johnny said icily. He turned around and stormed off. Not long after that outburst, he began to regret blowing up at Spinner once again.

Why do I always do that to myself? thought Johnny. I have such a bad habit of messing things up for myself.

Alli and Sav could not stop talking about their eventful morning during the entire bus ride home. They were still talking about it as they walked through their front door.

"I used to date the son of a rock star!" Alli squealed.

"Alli, do you have any idea how big Whiskey River was in the 90s?" asked Sav.

"No Sav," said Ally. "Considering I was born in '95." Sav shrugged. He was born in '93, so he wouldn't have any idea either.

"You just have to listen to the CD of theirs I just bought from Recycled Records," Sav told his sister. Lately Sav had been into retro music and was now buying CDs from used record stores. They went into Sav's room where the CD was still in his stereo. He pushed the button and the song "Hypnotized" started playing.

"They sound line Nickelback, sorta," said Alli.

"Yeah, only better," said Sav. "I don't get how Nickelback ever signed with a major label when Whiskey River is so much better."

"It's just one of life's little mysteries, Sav," said Alli.

Meanwhile, back at The Dot, Spinner was on break, enjoying a cup of coffee with his girlfriend Jane.

"Jane," he said. "You wen to Lakehurst. How well did you know Johnny DiMarco?" She looked at him sideways.

"I've known Johnny since kindergarten," she said. "Why?"

"Has he always been so stubborn and confrontational?" asked Spinner. Jane chuckled.

"Believe it or not, Spin," she said. "He was actually a nice kid back in grade school."

"So what happened?" Spinner asked.

"Well," said Jane."In grade 8, he started having family problems and became this little bad ass."

"What kind of family problems?" Spinner was curious as he was no stranger to family problems himself.

"His mom got really sick and had to stop working,"Jane told him. "She and Johnny had to go on welfare."

"What about his dad?" asked Spinner." Did you know he was the drummer for the band Whiskey River?"

"Oh yeah," replied Jane, nodding. "I forgot about that. He used to work in the cannery in between gigs. His mom was a waitress before she got sick."

"So, then what happened?" For Spinner, something wasn't adding up here. The look on Jane's face became serious.

"Okay, I'm going to tell you something," Jane began. "But Spin, you cannot tell anyone I told you."

"Okay," Spinner said, nodding. "What is it?" Jane sighed heavily.

"Tony DiMarco was indicted four years ago for drug possession." She said. Despite the fact that Tony was somewhat of a local celebrity, neither the TV news nor the papers mentioned his name when covering the drug bust.

"Wow", Spinner replied. "No wonder he's always had such a chip on his shoulder."

Johnny didn't feel like eating dinner that night. He told his counselor, Eddie and his roommate, KC, that he wasn't feeling well. He lay on his been and thought about what Spinner had said to him and how he reacted.

Ever since Johnny was sentenced to probation, he started to slowly develop a conscience. He still harbored resentment toward certain people, namely Spinner Mason. He had learned to just stay away from him to avoid conflict. He couldn't risk violating his probation by getting in some stupid fight. If he went to jail, his mom would have been alone with no one to look out for her.

When Spinner offered him the dishwasher job on the spot, Johnny assumed he was making fun of him. Looking back, he realized Spinner was sincere.

The next day after school, Johnny went to the dot to see Spinner. When he arrived, he walked right up to the counter where Spinner and Holly J were standing.

"Can we help you?" asked Spinner. Johnny took out his wallet and pulled out a five dollar bill.

"Yeah" he said. "Last time I was here, I forgot to tip the waitress. That was rude of me. Here you go, Holly J." he handed her the money. She didn't take it, instead she just looked at Johnny in amazement.

"Dude, I told you," Spinner said smiling. "It's okay." Holly J. snapped out of her stupor.

"No Spin, it's not okay," she snapped and then snatched the bill out of Johnny's hand. "Thank you for your honesty, Johnny."

She put the five dollars in the pocket of her apron and went to go wait tables. Spinner and Johnny looked at each other nervously. Johnny took a deep breath.

"Once again, I apologize for blowing up at you," he said. "You'd think after a year and a half of anger management, I'd know better, right?

The two boys smiled at each other.

"Believe it or not,"said Spinner. "I know exactly what you're talking about." They both chuckled.

"The job's still available if you're still interested," Spinner added.

"I am actually", said Johnny.

"Can you start after school tomorrow?" Spinner

"Sure," Johnny relied. The two young men shook hands.

"I gotta be going," said Johnny. "See you tomorrow."

"Three o'clock" said Spin smiling. "Don't be late."

They waved to each other and Johnny went out the door. That had to be the easiest thing Johnny had ever done in his life.

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