So, in order to fully appreciate this chapter, you HAVE to look up "Rolling Stone" by The Weeknd and listen to it. Like...I'll be heavily disappointed in you if you don't, because you won't get the full effect of the chapter. It's a beautifully sung song by one of my favorite artists, and his haunting tone reminds me of things that Scott himself would sing. This chapter gives me what Dallas calls that second-hand embarrassment. That's why it was so hard to type XD I couldn't stand how stupid Nora looked with this one!
Edit* SaritaF called me out on something that was confusing, and I wanted to clarify. The song is NOT the genre that Scott would play for. But that doesn't mean he wouldn't like the song (I know I personally have eclectic taste in music) I was more focused on the emotion and meaning behind the song, that I feel he would relate to. Thanks!
Chapter Twenty-Four
Scott's POV
I put my bass into its case and got ready to go. I wasn't sure how interested I was in this band, but if they were offering…well, I wasn't going to refuse. It gave me something to do anyway besides huddling in my room all day. There was another song I'd been singing all day to practice my notes and my range.
Now you're thinkin' bout it
Girl you're thinkin' bout it
What we got here
How we f-ckin' got here
They recognize
They just recognize
I'm in a life without a home so this recognition's not enough
I don't care about nobody else
Cause I've been on these streets way too long
too long too long
Baby I've been on this too long,
"Rolling Stone" by The Weeknd. One of my favorite songs to sing, because it related to my shitty life so well. Especially right now. It was one of my audition songs for tonight, and I had a feeling it was going to come out better than normal.
And a chest full of weed
Got me singing bout a b-tch
While I'm blowing out my steam
Yea I know I got my issues
Why you think I f-ckin' flow?
And I'ma keep on smoking 'til I can't hit another note
Oooo, but until then
I got you, ooooo
Baby I got you, ooooo
Until you're used to my face
And my mystery fades
I got you
So baby love me
It sounded so nice. Almost like I was singing to someone. But no. She didn't need to love me. She needed to hate me. And she needed to stay the hell out of my life before she caused any more trouble. But it didn't mean I could help how I felt. Music did that to me, and for me. Allowed me to express myself without having to actually- express. I was calmer than normal; I had been all day. Until Nora called and twisted everything up. Hopefully she'd make up for it with this audition.
I grabbed my bass and music and hustled out of the apartment. Lynn tried to ask me where I was going, but I didn't feel like hearing any of her clucking. I jumped into the Mustang, my excitement building. The Devil's Handbag, hm? I'd been there before, but I couldn't remember just how I'd got there. I'd left Nora there after some trouble. Hopefully there wouldn't be any tonight. Not when I'd finally found the gig that I was looking for.
I called the number of the girlfriend chick back. "Hey, what are the directions to the warehouse again?"
"Umm-"she stuttered. "I'm not really sure. I'm only the girlfriend."
….What the fuck? "How do you not know that? Whatever, where do they practice?"
"Don't know."
…
…
…..
Something was wrong. I didn't know what it was, or why I felt that way. But something was totally off. Somebody was playing me. I was no longer interested in this 'audition'. If anything, it sounded like a trap. Maybe for-for him- to lure me in. He knew I loved music. I couldn't even play in bands anymore. I had nothing anymore. In my anger and sadness, I hung up. I spun the car in a U-turn, and sped back home. I threw open the door, ready to pack my shit and take a hike. My mom jumped when I burst in.
"Scott? What are you doing back so soon?" she cried. I ignored her. Lynn wondering about what I was doing was the least of my problems. I pushed the door open, catching Nora red handed in my room.
And then I knew. The audition was bullshit. She was bullshitting me. And I wanted to know why.
"What are you doing?" I growled. Her eyes widened.
"I wasn't expecting you to come back so fast." She stuttered.
"The audition was fake, wasn't it?" She was sneaking through my shit.
"I-"
"You wanted me out of the apartment." I stormed towards her and grabbed her arm, shaking her. "You made a big mistake coming here." I might have been tempted to do worse if my mother hadn't walked into the door frame.
"What's the matter Scott? For Heaven's sake, let her go! She came by to pick up the sheet music you forgot."
She lied to Lynn too? "She's lying. I didn't forget any sheet music." I'd never forget my music.
"Is that true?" she asked, looking at Nora. Nora went redder than before.
"I lied." She stuttered. "The thing is, I really wanted to ask Scott to the Summer Solstice party at Delphic, but I couldn't bring myself to do it in person. This is really awkward." I let go of her arm so that she could wobble to my desk and back. She handed me a piece of paper and a hot dog.
'Don't be a wiener, Go to Summer Solstice with me.'
I didn't know whether to backhand her or laugh piteously at how pathetic this whole attempt was.
"Well? What do you think? Do you want to be a wiener or not?" Nora asked, holding a terrified grimace that was supposed to be a smile.
"What?" I was so shocked that she thought I would fall for this. It was…just so stupid! I could not take the amount of dumb that she must have thought I was.
"Well, isn't that the cutest thing ever! You don't want to be a wiener, do you, Scott?" Mom piped in. I realized that it was a little sad that my mother would fall for such a trick, but maybe that's who it was meant for. Well, she wasn't going to be Nora's human shield any longer.
"Give us a minute, Mom?"
"Is the Summer Solstice a dress-up party? Like a dance? I could make a reservation at Todd's Tuxes-"
"Mom."
Lynn finally got the hint. "Oh. Right. I'll just be in the kitchen. Nora, I've got to hand it to you. I had no idea you were up here planting an invite to the party. I really thought you were picking up sheet music. Very clever." She literally winked and left the room, closing the door. Clever my ass. That plan was anything but clever. But that didn't matter. I turned back to Nora, who quailed as soon as she saw my expression.
"What are you really doing here?"
"I told you-"
"Not buying it." I wasn't my goofy mother. "What did you touch?" I needed to see what was missing.
"I came by to give you the hot dog, I swear. I looked in the desk for a pen to write the wiener note, but that's it."
She's so full of shit! "I know you're lying." I went to my desk and began looking through my drawers. So far nothing was missing. I turned back, and Nora backed towards the door. Finally, her face twisted, as if she was insulted.
"You know what? Keep the hot dog, but forget about Summer Solstice. I was just trying to be nice. I was trying to make up for the other night, because I felt responsible for your face getting smashed." I scowled. "Forget I said anything."
She had her nerve, alluding to my weakness. My getting my jaw cracked. The night I realized she was nothing but trouble. I'd almost opened up to her, too. It was almost heartbreaking, but not as it was irritating. But my insult was enough for me to put some extra malicious bass into my voice.
"I've got my eye on you. Think about that. Every time you think you're alone, think again. I'm watching you. If I ever catch you in my room again, you're dead. We all clear?" I'd never let her get me killed. I wouldn't let her ruin my life any more than her family already had. If she was smart, she'd get the hell out and never come back.
Nora's red face became paler and paler with my threat. "Crystal." She whispered.
She left, and I began looking through my things more thoroughly.
Vee's POV
I didn't know what I was about to do with my car. All these Nora adventures were killing my poor baby. And by my baby, I meant my Neon.
I was also sweating like a pig, I couldn't breathe, and I needed a shower. A shower and another hot dog. Nora walked out, looking relieved but shaken.
"Nice decoy work," she said, slipping in some sarcasm. I looked at her like she was crazy.
"You ever try chasing down a car?" I gasped.
Nora chuckled, giving a sheepish expression. It was the most normal face I'd seen her make in a while. "I'll one up you. I gave Scott my hot dog and asked if he'd go to Summer Solstice with me."
"What does the hot dog have to do with anything?"
She grinned. "I said he'd be a wiener if he didn't go with me."
If I wasn't already dying, I probably would have of laughter after that one. "I'd have run harder had I known I'd get to see you call him a wiener." That was so lame.
Nora rolled her eyes and laughed. "Let's go get your car out of another bad situation."
Scott's POV
Where is it?
Where is it where did it go I don't understand where could it possibly be
My ring was gone. I checked in the compartment. It wasn't there. I checked the closet. I checked under the bed. I checked in the bed. I checked in the desk. I checked all my shoes. I checked all my shirts. I checked all my pants. Not there. Not there not there not there not there.
I'd been searching my things, when I noted that nothing seemed moved except for my chair. I saw something flicker out of the side of my eye, and when I jumped, I noticed that the plaster was peeling off of the wall just slightly. The plaster where I hid that ring.
Oh my god.
She took it. She took my ring.
The bitch-
She's out to get me-
He's coming for me-
I have to stop her-
Lynn pushed the door open, freezing at the sight of everything being everywhere on my floor.
"Scott! What is all this? Why is everything all over the floor?"
I ignored her. My panic was growing. The ring was gone and Nora had it. She was trying to play me. She wanted information. She was going to sell me out for something. I had to stop her. I reached back into the closet, and dug through it again. I pulled- it- out.
The gun.
She wasn't going to ruin my life. I had enough to ruin hers too. I'd even use it if I had to. If she tried anything, if he tried anything. I would be ready. I didn't want to kill Nora. I didn't want to kill anybody. But I would defend myself.
Before Lynn could stop me, I was out of the house. I didn't even stop to grab the Mustang. I just ran.
You better listen to that song! And maybe some other ones; maybe become a fan like myself. Read and review!