Ink Writes Music

DGM

Chapter 4

It's Unsettled

Friday has come at last, my second Friday here, but I ride the bus before and after school. The bus driver is really nice, and he gives me some company on days when I want to talk. He says he likes when I talk to him. I don't return the warm gesture, but it is comforting. He's like a counselor on-the-go. Requirements are: you have sit in the front of bus, and two, you have to be willing to talk to him.

You see, the only reason why I go on the bus everyday was because Lavi and Kanda and Lenalee didn't ride the bus. In the morning I see Kanda getting out of his dark gray, almost black mustang BTM. Lavi has a bright orange lamborghini. Lenalee rode with one or the other. "Here you go, Allen." The bus came to a halt and I stood up, letting the others get off before me. "Have a good weekend now."

I smile and wave bye to him, waiting for the bus to leave. I always do. I guess I'm a little close to the driver, can you believe it? He's not a friend, but he's more than everybody else that I see every day. He's something, he's different. I think others are afraid of him because he's an adult, a school bus driver.

When the bus had gone my smile faded. It was Friday and that meant Cross was out getting drunk and loving women. He might bring one home tonight, but since we arrived here in Edne, I haven't seen a single woman pop by our house. Not on Friday, not during the weekends, not after school, and I don't hear anything at night nor before school. It's freaking me out. I hope Cross isn't planning anything.

I take a quick trip home, right down the street and take a turn. My house is at the end of the street, and there's not another house on this street. We can't see the few people that live in this district because of trees or fences, only cars. Speaking of cars, I found a Lamborghini in front of my house, no doubt with a pain in the ass Lavi inside. Sure enough, the door popped open as I pass it, and walk as fast as I can to my front door. Lavi and his stupid long legs catch up, and he puts his hand on the door, trapping me between him and the door. This door just had to be a pull version. Now I'm stuck. "You're trespassing." I mutter, turning around to stare him down coldly.

"Aw, but we're buds." Lavi says, putting his arm around my shoulder, making me flinch. I try uselessly to push him away, but he had an molded his hand in my shoulder, trying to push me back towards his car. "We're going to the mall today, Allen. I got to meet Kanda and Lenalee, and I promised to bring you, so you can't say no."

"Yes, yes I can. Now you will either let me go or regret it." I snarl.

Lavi flashed a maniacal grin. "If you come I'll feed you. Anything you want."

I gulped, but I'm not that shallow. . . . Oh, yes I am, but I will not submit to him. I know what he wants and I keep telling him no. He just won't get the picture. Even sweet Lenalee won't listen to me, so much for sweet. Now he's trying to get his way through bribery. Better that than blackmail, I suppose, I'll give him that much. I still have to refuse. "N-no." But damn, do you know how hard it is to turn down food? He said anything.

Lavi smirked and shoved me in the passenger seat. Now he's kidnapping. That's a federal offense. I go to open the door, but I find it locked and unable to be unlocked. "Lavi!"

"I'm right here, no need to yell, bro." Lavi is sitting next to me, starting the engine, and he starts driving. "I still can't believe you convinced old man Yeager to let you do the project yourself. It was pretty cool."

I lean down in my seat, glaring at him. Cool air blew on my face from his air conditioner. I wasn't happy about this, but I have to say, his car is like riding first-class on an airplane but better. At least that's how I imagine it to feel. I could fall asleep right here and now. It was tempting with the soft cushions pressing against my body, the nice breeze, and the perfect silence.

. . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Silent! Lavi's being silent! Is the world going to end? Am I dreaming? Now get it together Allen, why on earth would I dream about Lavi kidnapping me? Well, I always wondered how it would feel to be in a Lamborghini. They not only look awesome, they feel awesome. Still, still, still, Lavi is not talking! "What's going on? Where are you taking me? No, actually, let me out before I break this fucking door." I panic.

Lavi stops at a red light and fiddles with the clutch. He hums a tune. I listen to the sound of each tap he makes and pat my hand on my leg, making a rhythm. Taking a moment to get distracted from my questions and panic, I click my tongue once and start making a sweet hum similar to the sound some people make when they meditate in mimicry. Oohmmm, but in a soft, long, sugary way. There was a gleam in Lavi's eye as he continued on with the beat, getting in to the beat I was making. It was a real good thing no one was behind us.

"That's good, Al, real good!" Lavi exclaimed, moving his car on green. "I do that all the time, but it's hard not to repeat a beat with no strings or drums."

I sigh, glancing out the window. Why won't this kid leave me alone? Although, I do want to see Lenalee. "Where're we going, Lavi?" I try asking a second time.

"I promised the mall. . ."

"I don't want to go shopping."

"Good thing, 'cause I lied."

Figures, I should have expected that, but I'm so gullible at the times I shouldn't be. "Then where are you forcing me to go?"

"The band's shed."

"Excuse me?"

"We've been asking you to join for two weeks, and no matter what we do you won't join. So we're dragging you in. Allen, you got some serious talent. I've heard you sing, in school, at your house, during class. You always listen to music, you write it, and you play it. It's in your soul. I mean, the only music you don't seem to like is country."

"I'm not going to play for you."

"Then don't do it for me. Do it for yourself."

"What would I be doing for myself if I join?" I choke out in bitter laughter. "I'd rather be thrown to the wolves."

"Hahaha, welcome to the wolves then. I'll be the pack leader."

"It's alpha dog, moron." I grumble, setting my head against the window. I start to realize he was driving around aimlessly. I keep seeing the same street signs, same houses, and people. Was he driving in circles? "I love music, but I want to be a pianist."

"I want to be a famous singer and musician. I play drums and guitar." Lavi told me.

I contemplated over what he was saying. I can hardly play drums, but because I don't want to. I know how to play the guitar and bass, but I choose not to. The piano is my soul. I love playing it, even if it's just the electrical keyboard. It helps me through hard times and spirits me. It gives me what little spirit I have left in this world. "It's a dream." I whisper.

Lavi goes down a street that wasn't too far away from my house, maybe three miles or a little more. It was on another empty street. There was even a little park around here, but it looked old. I don't think children have played here in years... Heh, I can't remember the last time I truly played, or when I had light in my eyes. It was only a few years ago I used to be happy all the time, but all that changed because of mistakes, because I had no abstinence. "Allen."

The door is unlocked. If I run I'll get lost around here, so it's pointless. Looking around, I sniffed the embracing air that hugged me, and I find Kanda's vehicle in a parking lot beside the park. This place was worn down and old. It was a good place for a band to rehearse if you think about it. "Sorry about the unrefined layouts." Lavi said.

"I've seen worse." A lot worse. If you ask me, it wasn't too shabby. Besides the park, this place was pretty cool.

Lavi opened the door to the shed and nodded his head, telling me to enter it now. Giving that I have no choice anymore, I obey. The shed, or miniature house, was pimped out. I can give a few guesses about how they got the money for it: families, Komui, gigs, and jobs. Speaking of which, I ought to start searching for a job. "Hello, Allen!"

Lenalee waves from a chair and lowers her massive headphones that were around her neck and set down a magazine on beauty or celebrities. It didn't look too bad, the cover, I mean. It looked like a magazine for all genders. "Hi, Lenalee." My voice was so bland, but still she smiled.

I let my guard fall since Komui wasn't here, and for a few seconds I let myself be mesmerized by her. She seemed so happy. To me it seems she keeps the band together quite well even though Lavi claimed top spot. "Sit down, I don't bite." Lenalee ushered me to a curving couch that was placed at the corner wall. I sat on the twisting part with Lavi on one side, Lenalee on the other. Lavi handed me a soda, but I just stare at it sorrowfully. "Yippy, I'm at a rodeo. Where's the mule?" I asked dully.

"Mule?"

"Kanda, Lenalee. I think he's talking about Yuu." Lavi affirmed.

I lightly shake my head. Lavi's ego was just boosted tenfold now. "Watch what you say freak Moyashi. I just might cut off your head." Kanda bursts in through a door and I notice some sort of noise died down. I bet he was practicing on a guitar.

"Kanda!" Lenalee's strict tone makes me half smile as Kanda bit his tongue and sat on the floor. "Anyways, Allen, we brought you here to talk."

"I'm not joining your band. I'm sorry, Lenalee, but in case you haven't noticed, I'm not a people person." I cut in.

"We've noticed." Did they rehearse what they were going to tell me? Cause they said that in unison, perfectly together.

"Allen, our dream is to become famous, become super stars in the music industry. We saw your room, I have heard you sing in the halls, I can tell you love music, so why won't you join?" Lenalee asks.

She really doesn't want to know, but if answering her question will get me out of here sooner. "Because I don't want to. I have nothing against you, Lenalee, them I do, but I don't think it'll work out."

"You're getting in the damn band. There's no yes, no, or buts about it." Kanda yelled at me.

What could I say about that? I was stunned. I don't get why these idiots and Lenalee were trying to get me to join. They haven't heard me play my piano-uh-technically-a-keyboard in this matter, and I hum and softly sing here and there. Doesn't everybody? But I never thought I had a good singing voice, I just sing. For fun. If everyone else had a problem with it they could just go to hell. It's my business, not theirs. "C'mon, Al, give it a try, please? We need ya." Lavi begged, getting on his knees and giving me the puppy eyes. It looked like he was about to cry. "Pwease?"

Puppy eyes, seriously, puppy eyes! Those eyes bug me if you do it right. I love puppies, hence why Timcampy gets all his fatty goods and is pampered like a superstar at home. It's hard to resist those wonderful eyes-for Lavi, eye. "St-stop it!" I bury my face in my hands, hearing Lenalee laugh at me because of this. "Do-don't do th-that." Typically, I was talking to both people.

Lavi set his chin on my knee, his arms hugging it like a girl would a teddy bear, or a man getting roused up and ready to pounce on a lady. . . 'What the-get that thought out of your head, Allen!' "Awlen!"

"No." I can't look. 'Don't look. Think of Cross. Yeah, think of Cross. If I do this he'll say something. Probably. Not the best way to go, so think about Lavi being Cross.'

"Allen?" Lenalee's gentle voice had a strange tone to it. I've heard it plenty of times, and I was hoping she wouldn't use it. But she did. Lenalee's thin finger ran a line up and down my back then moved to my leg. I shivered when I felt her breath on my neck and she hugged my right arm, placing her fetching face in the crook of my neck. Nervously I swallow. Why did Lenalee have to be so beautiful?

When I removed my hands from my now amorous eyes, and I had to catch my heart in my throat. It not only skipped one beat, but an extra two. I didn't seem to care how dangerous or weird that would be for me, because I got lost in Lenalee's delightfulness. She was. . . awe-inspiring. I wish she was a model, so I could have pictures of her without a problem. She'd be everywhere.

It hit me right there. It was like a slap to the face. I didn't say my most favorite yet most despising line. Don't touch me. Her touch was soothing. In fact, my eyes swelled just thinking about her letting me go. Am I. . . . Am I crushing on Lenalee? "Allen," Another chill is sent down my back when Lenalee's candied voice whispers in my ear.

Here's a note to everyone, guy, girl, gay, or straight. An attractive person is dangerous, but it's like a wildfire you can't run away from when this person knows how appealing they are. "Won't you please join?" Lenalee pleas. "I want you to, really, I do. You are the perfect candidate for us. You don't have to sing if you don't want to, but you can play the keys. I would love it if you were to join."

Seduction. It is the cruelest thing this world has to offer you. "I-I... N-" How could I tell her no? "But... I-I." Could I be any dumber stammering like this? Gaining a little more self-control, I scoot over, looking at them one by one, Lenalee the longest. These weren't the people I wanted to hang out with, but then who was? They did seem to be good people, but they were crazy also... You do know I'm not talking about Lenalee, right? We got the jackass, the rabbit, and the model. What a band. If I say yes I'll be stuck with them every day, but would it be so bad? They don't leave me alone already, and I might move soon. "What if I move?"

"Then we'll deal with that Cross! I'll have Tiedoll or Gramps take you in. Whatever works." Lavi tells me.

I sigh, I would later regret this, but with how much I'm fidgeting, and how nervous I was, I only cared about getting out of this position. "Fine, I surrender."

"You'll join?"

"Yes. . . yes."

"YES!" I covered my poor ears when Lenalee and Lavi jumped up happily.

I sigh, remembering all the reasoning they gave me about wanting me to join them. That's when it came to my attention that I didn't tell him I wrote songs. "I got one question, though. Lavi, how'd you know I write songs?"

Lavi's mood dropped massively as he slumped over. He held a weak smile now, and his index fingers were fidgeting. "I... Well, Al, you appear to be the type and... and ... in the car when you did that awesome beat... You enjoyed it... You, uh, I'm..." Lavi looked at the floor, slowly at Lenalee, darting towards Kanda, and dodging me. "Yeah, so, I kinda snooped in your room before, ya see, and... I saw the music sheets in your room. They were yours!"

I would press on, but right now, I didn't feel like arguing. Instead, I pluck open the can of soda in my hand, not even looking at the type, and swigged it down. When I finished, I stood up and walked straight over to him. "Don't ever go in my room again." I threatened and tossed the empty can in the garbage nearby. "Okay?" And now my cloying, polite smile appears when content as Lavi takes a step back.

I can be really nice, but I still have control over others. I know how to manipulate them by using fear. It's not something I'm too proud of, but I do it to make sure of a few things, my secrets, remain a secret. If they really care, if I do stay long, they'll wait for me to open up... I don't want to, but at the same time, I have to admit to being lonely, and it's killing me. I one day I need let my feelings out. I need to talk to someone. "Got it, Chief Moyashi!" Lavi cheers.

But my evil manipulation is wearing thin on this guy. It won't work long. Just look at what he does to Kanda. "So how long am I stuck here?" I mutter, eyeing the place.

If I want to get away from Cross, this would be the perfect place to come to. It's pretty comfortable looking. "For a little while. I just came to check something, then you'll be free to go if you like." Lavi said, dragging me to a pile of instruments. "Play some music."

I hate the way he keeps ordering me around and dragging me where I don't want to be, but at least this one was a bit interesting. I find the keyboard which looks old and dusty. I pull it away from the rest of the instruments and set it by a bass on its stand. My fingers were nimble as they flew by the keys, checking them to make sure they were in good condition. When the harmony gratifies my taste, I think about a song to play. I couldn't think of any regular songs at the moment, so I let my fingers run across it until I find a new heart penetrating rhythm.

I could feel the music soar around me and enter my ears peacefully. A new song. It was a good thing I could memorize these easily. Since I made it after all. "That's the tune from the car." Lavi mused, and it didn't take long for me to agree.

Apparently the tune suited me well, but I have Lavi to thank for finding the melody. He began it after all. Letting the thoughts slip my mind, I close my eyes and see the notes pass through my head. It sounded good, real good. I was slowly piecing a new song together, now to find the lyrics. What kind of song would it be? Love song, fun song? What genre? Pop, rock, soft, ballad? It was hard to tell.

From another part of the room, I heard a guitar strike up. I listen closely. About a moment later it caught on and matched equally with the beat. "That's great, Lavi, keep it going." I order, not shouting, but loud enough for him to hear. You may be asking how I know this is Lavi. This is easy, he's the only one who knew this tune to jump in this fast.

When I open my eyes, Lenalee stares at me with a wide smile of satisfaction and amazement. Her eyes were a little wide, but I loved the view even more. I found myself watching her walk over to the drums. There was a microphone in front of her mouth once she sat down and she picked up two drum sticks, and began joining in the music fun. Sourpuss Kanda even got in it. Lavi had the regular electric guitar and Kanda the bass. I didn't really expect Lenalee to be the drummer, but damn, she was good.

What I found incredible, though, was the smile that formed on my face without them noticing. When I was only repeating the music, I stopped seeing a fitting end for it. Quickly, I let my smile drop to an insincere one and Lenalee comes hopping over. "That was mind-blowing! When... How... You're a prodigy!"

I rub the back of my head, keeping my eyes on the keyboard. "Thanks, Lenalee."

"Call me Lena, Allen."

"Right," I didn't know what to say, really. I mean, I haven't been around people outside school for a few years. "Lena it is."

XxOxOxOxOxOxX


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