K, you people are awesome. I got 11 reviews for 7 (hahaha... 7/11 ...). So, I was kinda hoping I could update tomorrow but you guys are just awesome so I'm gonna update today. 13 for the next chapter? I believe in you guys. You can do it! :)8
Oh, and sorry this update is so late. I tried to work on this earlier but I was feeling sick so it's been a collective effort over a whole mess of hours. Again, sorry...
CHAPTER 10: "She's 12"
I'm working my shift at Sonic Boom when wheels scrape the concrete outside. I would've thought nothing of it except that I recognize that person and they have no athletic coordination whatsoever, that's why he's into the arts.
And he's coming inside.
He skids to a stop, standing on the end of the skateboard, making it lean up, "Hey ace!" he smiles.
'Ace'?
Oh...
'Travis'.
He unbuckles his helmet, takes it off, and then flips the skateboard so it flies up to arm height. He catches it easily, walks forward, and puts the helmet and board on the counter.
"Hey 'Travis'!" I smile back, even though I'm very confused. Why is he here? If I've learned anything these past days (or is it weeks? Well, like two weeks) is that Austin never breaks character! And 'Travis' hasn't ever been to Sonic Boom nor does in the time I've spent with him, like someone huge into music.
"Hey!" he repeats, "You're probably wondering what I'm doing here." How did he know? "Dez told me where you worked and, since you seemed pretty cool the other day, I thought I'd stop by and say hi. So...Hi!"
"Hi," I laugh.
"Hi," he repeats again (Wait, that's kinda redundant), and breaks eye contact, awkwardly.
Yeah, this is awkward.
He opens his mouth and I figure he's gonna awkwardly say something about going but he doesn't. "So, you work in a music store?"
"Mm-hm. My dad owns the store."
"Cool..." he walks around the corner of the counter, looking at instruments, "I've considered taking up an instrument since I seem to have a lot in my room that I don't know how to play but with practices, I don't have any free time."
"Non?"
He turns his head to face me, "Not that I remember," he keeps walking for a few more feet, before completely facing me, resting his hands on the counter on the other side from where he started, "Do you play anything?"
"Yeah, you tend to pick up some things when you've lived with music your whole life."
"What do you play?"
"Well, not a lot because I spend most of my time practicing those instruments or working. But, uh...piano...guitar...keyboard, but that's like piano so never mind, uh...Oh! I can play the recorder which I find impressive since no one really know how to play that. It's an instrument that everyone takes up as a kid but most people abandon it pretty quickly or don't really know how to play."
"Yeah, I get ya. Heck! Even I tried playing when I was, like, 6, but I don't remember anything besides having one. I don't think I even practiced!"
I laugh, "Well, that's your problem! You gotta practice!"
He laughs back, "I know, I know..."
Our laughter dies down and it's silent for a while before he speaks up again, stuffing his hands in his pockets, "So...If I was to take up an instrument...what would you recommend?"
"Um..." I glance around him then think of something, "Well, girls love a guy that can play guitar."
He glances back at the guitars behind him, "Really?"
"Mm-hm," I nod.
"Huh..." he walks away to grab one then comes back. He sets the strap over his shoulder and strums it. He looks up at me through his blond bangs, "But I thought girls also liked jocks?" he asks skeptically, but still smiling
"They do. But they also love musicians." Now that I think about it, I wonder if that's why Austin took up music in the first place... "This way you're a double threat. Take it from me, I'm a girl. For legit."
He laughs, shaking his head slightly while putting his head down, making his hair move back-and-forth in front of his eyes. He strums again and I see a small smile on his lips. No matter how good of an actor he is, he can't hide his love for music. That must be the thing he loves most in the world since Dez said it wasn't pancakes. Oh, of course music is ranked above pancakes! I've never seen someone so passionate about the subject...
I'm interrupted by Austin—Oh, uh, 'Travis', lifting the strap over his head, "I don't think I have the talent to play."
"Don't say that! Everyone is talented!—"
"—Yeah, and my talent is sports, not music."
"Nonsense!" I wave my hand dismissively and walk over to him. I lift the strap a bit and he takes the hint to put the guitar back on, "It just takes practice. Here, just put your fingers here...here...and here..." I start, putting them on the cord, G, "Now strum..."
He timidly strums.
"OK, good. Now here, here, and here," I instruct, leading them to the cord, C.
He strums again.
"Great! You just learned a song!" I step away from him as he looks at me shocked.
"I did?!"
"Well, you gotta learn the tempo and everything but I taught you the cords."
"Huh..." he looks down at the guitar in wonder. He looks back up at me, curiosity etched onto his face, "What song did you teach me, anyway?"
"One Time by Justin Bieber {1}. It's the simplest actual song I know and I figured you didn't want to learn some lame warm up."
"I appreciate that," 'Travis' laughs. He stops and smiles down at me, a bit nervous, "You're a good a teacher..."
"Thanks!" I smile back then walk back behind the counter. I get behind it and 'Travis' is just walking up.
"So, uh...Do you think you migh—?"
"—Yo, Lightning Bolt!"
We both whip around to face a voice and I see three someones I don't recognize
But apparently 'Travis' does.
"What do you want, Jacobs?" he practically growls.
"Not much... Just for you to admit that we're better than you."
"Never."
OK, I'm confused.
"'Travis'... Who are they?"
"Michael Jacobs, Frank Johnson, and Walter Coolding {2}," 'Travis' whispers to me, ducking his head slightly to meet my ear, "They go to Tesla's rival school."
"What's it called?"
"Thomas Edison High {3}."
"Of course it is."
"Yeah," He straightens his head, "Just leave, Jacobs!"
"No. You have no right to throw me out, Glockman," Michael Jacobs responds. He looks over at me, "Oh, who's this?" he starts stepping towards me, his friends following.
'Travis' rushes forward, standing between me and Michael (or should I call him Jacobs? I should probably call them the same 'Travis' does to eliminate future confusion), before he can take another step. I guess that's one good thing about being a football (and baseball...and soccer...and lacrosse) player. You run fast. "No one."
"Oh really?" Jacobs takes a step to the side, but 'Travis' quickly blocks him, "She doesn't look like no one."
"OK, she isn't...But she's not available so just leave her alone."
"Why? Is she your girlfriend?"
Step to the side.
Blocked line of vision.
"No."
"So? Is she someone else's girlfriend?"
"No—Well, Ye—Well, I don't know," he turns his head back to me but doesn't move his body, "Are you?"
"No, I'm single."
I see one of his eyebrows raise ever so slightly.
But Jacobs talks again, "Oh really?"
'Travis' whips around to face him and I notice his shoulders pull back. "Yeah, but just...leave her alone."
"Why? If she's single why would it be a problem to say hi?" he leans over to the side, "Hey!" he smiles at me and I think he's trying to give me a charming one so I'll swoon.
Little does he know, I'm immune to jerk charm.
'Travis' blocks him once again.
"She may be single but she's not available for dating. She's...12! Yeah, 12! She's waaay underage to date."
"She doesn't look very 12."
Step.
Block.
"Well, she is. And I would be careful if I were you cause her brother was in the army."
"The army?"
"Yeah, the army. And he went a little crazy, started threatening his bunkmates. And, he saw all of his friends die in battle, that's why he went crazy, and he hasn't finished his therapy yet..."
"Therapy?"
"Yeah. And, her other brother's a cop. And her dad's a judge. She can have you arrested and locked up with one phone call {4}. And don't bother fighting, the army teaches you how to tackle."
Wow, OK, 'Travis' is not good at lying.
"...Really?"
"Yeah..." he nods.
"I don't believe you."
"Fine, take the risk. Suit yourself. But don't say I didn't warn you..." 'Travis' takes a few steps to the side and crosses his arms.
Jacobs looks over at me, glances at 'Travis' (who still looks tense to me but I could still be wrong), then back at me, "Fine, I'll except your poor excuses," looks at 'Travis', "Only because your brain must be fried after that show." OK, that was rude. "On one condition, you agree that Edison High is way better than Tezla."
"It's Tesla. Nikola Tesla. Heard of him? They call him the father of electricity. He practically invented everything, including AC current; the radio; the radar; X-rays; the hydroelectric generator, like the ones at Nigra Falls; the remote control; neon lighting; a better light bulb, which Edison didn't even invent, by the way; the electric motor; robotics; the laser; wireless communications and limitless free power; the Tesla coil which fires pure electricity; an earthquake machine; and a death ray. I wouldn't mess with someone who invented a death ray. And that's not all he invented and I'm not even counting what he discovered {5}."
"...OK, that was just a bunch of words. But Edison is better. He invented the light bulb. Your precious Tezla didn't do that."
"Did you even hear me?! I just said he didn't invent the light bulb! And it's Tesla! No 'Z'! It's an 'S'! And Edison is a jerk! Forgetting the fact that twice he promised Tesla money and then said 'Oh, oops, I didn't really mean that' and that he took credit for everyone's work, he paid kids to kidnap people's pets from their yards to publicly electrocute them just because he didn't like a little competition. Yeah, you can thank Edison for the electric chair! Yay! {5}"
"Sure...Whatever you say..."
"It's true!" 'Travis' bellows.
"'Travis', calm down," I say as I walk around the counter, quickly trying to calm him down. Austin doesn't have the best temper sometimes...
"Yeah, you better listen to your little girlfriend there."
"She's not my girlfriend!"
"Oh, right, she's 12."
"Shut up!" he bites out.
"Never!"
"Look, I'm trying really hard not to lash out right now and remain civil with you but I'm on 4 different sport teams and I could hurt you really bad, please...I don't want to, please don't make me."
"Wow, big talk from someone who goes to the loser school."
"Stop insulting Tesla! He was a great man!" he suddenly pushes me behind him, "And stop checking Ally out, she's 12!" he exclaims, with a slight biting tone once again.
"Look, whatever, I don't care about her. She's not even hot enough for my time."
'Travis's shoulders pull back again. Is he...mad? Well, if he is, I appreciate it. That was hurtful.
"She's plenty hot—I-I mean, pretty enough!"
"Whatever you say, loser, I still don't care about her, so congrats."
"Leave Jacobs, and take Johnson and Coolding with you. You guys aren't welcome here if all your gonna do is insult Ally."
"What does Ally have to do with it?"
"She's part owner."
"How? She's 12."
"Cause one of her parents own it."
"I thought you said her dad was a judge."
"He is. Her mom owns it! And I don't think she'll take too kindly to you insulting her little girl."
"You know, you're not too good at hiding your feelings."
"What feelings?! I don't have a crush on her, if that's what you're implying!"
"That is what I'm implying. And if not, then why are you so defensive of her?"
"Cause she means a lot to my best friend so she means a lot to me!"
"Yeah. Like, you like her. Honestly, a 16 year old shouldn't be crushing on a 12 year old. Isn't that wildly inappropriate?"
"I don't have a crush on her!"
"Yes, you do."
"No, I don't!"
"Yeah. You do."
"I do not!"
"Uh, yeah. You totally have a thing for her."
"Shut up, Johnson!"
"Make him."
"You too, Coolding!"
"'Travis'!"
"Stay out of this, Ally. I don't want you to get hurt," he softens his voice at me but I can still hear the anger inside of him, he's trying to hold it back.
"Of course you don't."
"That's it, Jacobs!" 'Travis' starts walking forward and I do not like that look in his eyes. I somehow stop him (which I have no clue how cause Austin's 10x stronger than me) and he takes a few steps back, but still seething. I keep my hand on his chest just in case. "What...can I do...to make you...leave...me...alone...?"
"Oh, nothing, really. But..." Jacobs trails off and I don't like that a lot more than what I saw in Austin's eyes.
"But what?"
"But we'll have a match. Tomorrow at Edison. Your best players against my best players. Winner takes all."
"All what?"
"All..."
'Travis' heavily gulps.
"What's the game?"
"Mmm...Football. That is your weak suit."
'Travis's eyes narrow. Football is his worst sport? He seemed pretty good at it.
"And what if I don't agree?"
"Then..." his eyes flick over to me then back at 'Travis', "they'll be consequences."
'Travis' muscles tighten again and his teeth grit. Why does that make him so darn angry?
"Fine."
Jacobs grows a sick smile on his face, "Great. Later losers!" and just like that, him and his, strangely quiet, posse walk out.
I make sure they're out of eye sight before letting go of 'Travis'. He glares at the door a few more seconds before looking down at me, "I'm sorry about that, Ally. I try to remain civil to them, give them no reason to hate me but sometimes they just go too far. And something about this time just got under my skin, I just wanted to punch they're faces off," he tenses again and he looks like he could go off at any moment, like a cocked gun, just waiting for a trigger to let all break loose.
"OK, let's back off that ledge, 'Travis'," I pull him behind the counter, "It's fine."
He relaxes slightly, "Are you sure?"
"Mm-hm," I nod and try to give him a smile.
I get a small one in return. I like a smile on his face much more than that ready-to-charge look from before.
"Why do they even hate you so much," I ask quietly and cautiously.
"I don't even know. They hate anyone that's been in Tesla High. I don't even attend the school, I just use their fields, and they act like that to me. I feel bad for all the kids who actually go there in the fall."
"Yeah..." I trial off, thinking of my friend who's gonna be attending.
"They seem to think they're better just because they go to Edison. Anyone that's stepped foot in Tesla High, they label as a loser. No matter the person's substance."
"Um...But I've been in Tesla..."
He looks down at me, with wide eyes, "Let's not tell him that. I don't want you to get more harassed then you are now. I'm really sorry about that, by the way," he looks really deep into my eyes, very apologetic.
"It's fine."
"No, it's not. You don't deserve to be treated like that. That's why I told them you were 12. I figured that would make them back off at least a little. You know, appeal to their morals. If they have any..." he adds to himself.
I laugh, "It's fine. I appreciate you trying to help."
He smiles, "Good," he starts but adds, "Now, I don't know if this is too much to ask you, but would you mind coming tomorrow? My team does best with an audience and a lot of them work harder to show off for a girl. I understand if you don't want to cause I'm kinda putting you in an awkward position where guys'll probably be hitting on you left and right but I'll try to stop them and Dez definitely will too. So...will ya?"
"Sure," I agree with a smile, "But I don't know where the school is so —"
"—Oh, that's fine. Dez and I will pick you up. Now, if you'll excuse me, I should probably go to round up a team in time," he grabs his helmet and puts it on, then walks around the counter with his skateboard in hand, "See ya tomorrow, ace!" he hops on and rides out, narrowly avoiding people, but stirring them up.
Looks like I've got some damage control to do.
Things To Know:
{1} It's true. Those are the cords. I asked my sister and she's pretty known for playing guitar so... Now, I don't play the guitar so sorry if I got anything wrong.
{2} Made them up. Don't bother trying to find them anywhere.
{3} Yep...I went there... I mean, come on! I need a rival school for Tesla High...it's perfect!
{4} Yes, I got that from Oliver Oken on Hannah Montana. Don't judge me! It was a fine show!
{5} All true... You're like Tesla and hating Edison a little more now, aren't you... Seriously, you gotta look Tesla. He's amazing!
Disclaimer:
I do not own Austin & Ally, "One Time" by Justin Beiber (however you spell his name), historical people, anything I referenced, or anything that belongs to them.
Reviews:
-:- Reviewers who are members and should be expecting or have already gotten PMs from me -:- RexLuna -:- K-Cat14 -:- Rossismylife -:- ReAdErSfEvEr -:- xXxmagicalpanda00XxX -:- BunneybearsXD -:-
-:- Hazel -:- NICE! That's a weird coincidence but cool nonetheless. Nope, never. Yeah, but I think he's blonde... I honestly have no opinion on him one way or another since I don't really know him. I mean, it'll be hard to follow up David Tennant and Matt Smith but if Moffet (or whoever) choose him, they must have a good reason too. I wanted the actors that play Fred and George in Harry Potter to play The Doctor so he can finally be ginger. Yes, both of them. And I know that they're actually brunettes but come on, that's entertaining to think about. Plus, I doubt that after 10 years of dying their hair red, they would mind dying it again...
-:- Guest -:- OK! :)8
JoeyJar99's Message:
OK, the responses from the last chapter were pretty entertaining. Mostly because most of them were about Doctor Who. There's nothing wrong with that, I just thought it was funny and kinda cool. I found some Whovians on here and it's cool!
Later. Over-and-Out. Live long and prosper.