Chapter 4

The ambush of Mr. Keating began early on Monday morning, with everyone managing to sneak into the studio. Not exactly a day known for enthusiasm, but you couldn't tell from how the boys were. Even Todd felt excited, if of course rather nervous. Neil had a bit of a strange sixth sense for when Todd was uncomfortable, and was always trying to reassure him. It hadn't been more than a few days, but he'd been quickly absorbed into this group of boys, and it was all thanks to Neil.

When the man of the hour finally arrived, he was practically mobbed, but didn't seem to mind. Hell, he seemed pleased to see them, and even a bit expectant.

"Hello boys!" he chirped, carrying another box of records, "I take it you've enjoyed the show then."

"Yeah. It was brilliant." Neil was the first to actually speak to him. "What're those?"

"Oh, you want to take a look?" He put the box on his desk, and invited the boys to take a look. Neil began peering through them almost immediately, saying phrasing like 'wow' and "brilliant' every few seconds. Even Charlie seemed to be genuinely impressed by the collection.

"Which ones do you want to play?"

Neil almost immediately pulled out a record by David Bowie, saying it was his favorite. Charlie had something from the Ramones, Knox's was a soul record from the sixties about (what else) unrequited love, Mitts had a dance song from an obscure french electronic group, and Pitts began excitedly waving the soundtrack to the Rocky Horror Picture Show.

"And what about you?" Mr. Keating inquired Todd.

"Nothing." He mumbled half-hardheartedly in response.

"Well, I don't believe that for a second." Keating beamed, shoving the records in Todd's direction. "Go on, pick one."

Todd shook his head. Why was he being put on the spot like this? Neil was looking at him in that fucking way he always did, and the other boys seemed curious, but why couldn't they see? He wasn't like that. He couldn't be, he didn't have any reason to be outgoing, he was just awkward, boring old Todd Anderson, so why did they expect anything of him?

"Oh, I see," Keating said, "Todd thinks that we''l laugh at him, is that right? That we won't like what he offers us. I understand. Sharing music with people, it's not a simple, easy thing. Sharing music you love is like bearing a piece of your soul to someone, part of who you are, and Todd thinks that what he is is worthless." He smiled at Todd, and then said "I disagree, I think that you are worth a very great deal, and obviously so do they." He gestured to the gang. "Go on, are you a man or an amoeba?"

Finally, Todd picked out the record that he wanted to play. It was a song that he'd heard on the radio only once before, but he remembered it well.

"The Cure, huh? Friday I'm Love?" Keating smiled and put his arm around Todd. "Excellent choice."

As promised, Keating played all of their request, and when Todd's song came on, Neil immediately started raving about how good it was.

"Really, it's great! Why didn't you tell me you had such great taste in music?"

Todd shrugged, trying to hide his obvious blushing. "Dunno."

"Well, next time you should be less shy." Neil answered, beaming.

He nodded in response, but still didn't want to tell Neil that he'd picked the song specifically for him.