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Chapter Four; The Sloths That Moved Too Fast
'Your pain, so raw…' Trent stiltedly purred, his words catching the essence of each syllable – or so he liked to believe. He looked around the rest of his band in hopes they'd have some kind of continuation. This was a regular occurrence for the band, trying to perfect and revise their songs before actually putting music to them. Of course, most were flops, but they were all too nice to admit it to one another. With Trent looking at them with anticipation, Nick simply shrugged whilst Max and Jesse tried their best to come up with something.
'Like a kitten that hurt it's paw?'
'We're fighting the law?'
'I like my steak raw?'
'You can't rhyme 'raw' with 'raw',' Jesse argued with Max, though due to the band's general sluggishness, it was a raise in tone before dappling out into dirty looks.
'Guys, its battle of the bands next week…' Nick interjected, examining his fingers for a moment before standing up and stretching slightly. His hair was currently a bright pinkish colour, something that put neon colours to shame. The band had a dramatically contrasted appeal, with a variety of guys from aloof and reckless, Max, to Trent who was the rebel without a cause… but totally different from Max's appeal – at least, this was the drivel Jane had drilled into her mind after hearing hours upon hours of discussion about it.
'How about 'Shut your maw'?' the voice chimed from the nearby table. Jane was nearby with a bowl of crisps, tutting her tongue and looking around at the band members. 'Is it just me, or are you always going to some 'battle of the bands' or another?' she wondered aloud, a hand placed on her hip while she eyed Jesse and Max (who were still glaring at one another).
'Of course, we're a band, and we have to battle to be the best!' Max managed, clearly the most aggressive of the band members – though it was a hollow façade, lasting until they were faced with real danger or real trouble… Jane still had the tape to prove it too, a little something she whipped up a while back. A guilty smile passed her features, giving Max a moment or two of 'the look of all-knowingness' before turning her attention to her brother.
'Huh… Trent?' Jane said, examining her brother who seemed to have fallen asleep on the table.
'Take five,' Jesse injected, all three standing up to go outside and smoke. Jane felt her nose crinkle up and eyes narrow at her brother. She walked over and sat the bowl down beside him, shaking it slightly so the crisps made a noise. At this sound of food, Trent perked up.
'I swear, I never meant for the banana to find us in a hot tub…' he yawned, fists clenched on the table.
'As much as Freud would have a field day… Do I want to ask?' she said with a grin.
'No. You'd know too much.'
They sat, staring at the bowl for a moment or two.
'Janey?'
'Mhh?'
'You and Daria – are you fighting…?'
'Why do you ask, dear brother of mine?'
'Last time I saw you two together you didn't seem right. Like you were full of negative energy or something…'
'It's fixed now…' Jane shrugged, taking a few crisps and shoving them into her mouth. Trent did the same, his hands resting on the table as he carefully chewed through this mushy, horrid starch lumps he and his sister loved.
'Friends forever, friends for never…' Trent hummed, his fingers tapping the table briefly as he looked around for a paper and pen. After the extensive period of three minutes, he scrawled together some kind of song.
We're friends forever
Friends for never
No need to pretend
My soul you gotta mend
My life's ambition
Our new mission
Get Janey a date
Before it's too late
Maybe if we get paid
Janey might get la -
'Hey!' Jane scoffed, stealing the paper and rushing away with it. Trent made a few languid movements after her, laughing (well, coughing) at the display as he tried to retrieve the lyrics. The two rushed around much like when they were younger, when there was just them and their older siblings – they had always been the closest… Jane and Trent were thankful for that, the rest of the family even more insane than them.
Eventually Trent gave up the pursuit, hearing the doorbell ring. Panting slightly and uncharacteristically red-faced, he opened the door and tried to remain standing. 'Oh. Hey Daria.'
'I'd say 'Hey Trent' but you seem too vigorous to be anything but an alien counterpart to the real Trent -'
Jane came crashing past, Trent taking this opportunity to steal the lyrics back. Daria was in awe – despite rarely moving faster than a snail, sloth or other slow animals, he seemed to be in perfect shape… She watched him fend off Jane before noticing Daria watching – as if trying to preserve his image of tired and weary he tucked the lyrics into his pocket and stood as if he had never moved.
Thankful for her track team training, Jane puffed a few times before composing herself, 'Welcome to the Twilight Zone, Daria,' she cooed, 'where Trent moves quickly and Mystik Spiral's songs actually makes sense!'
'Give me a minute, my world just turned on its head…' Daria warned, entering the house and sitting down on the couch. Jane followed, as did Trent with both taking a seat either side of her.
'So what brings you here to my lofty abode?' Jane asked aloud, indicating her rather dismal house, clearly well-worn after the many years of children rioting through it. Daria was still in a state of shock at Jane and Trent's display, but managed to pull herself together.
'I needed to talk to Trent…'
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