Chapter 7. Do-Re-Mi
Thursday rolled around quicker that Vert thought it would. He'd listened to the CD Zoom had given him every chance he got. It was even ripped to his computer and uploaded onto his iPod. There were seven songs total. The first three on the disc took priority. Even though he couldn't properly read it, Vert was grateful for the sheet music because he could follow along with the words, or lack of. Music was weird. This music was weird.
"AJ!" Vert called out. "I'm heading out now!"
"Have fun!" came AJ's muffled reply from his bedroom.
Vert rolled his eyes and headed out the door. He popped the CD into the stereo, letting it fill his ears one more time as he drove to campus. He was humming along to Take On Me as he pulled into Mobius Royal University. Vert checked AJ's parking permit to make sure he was in the correct lot. He wasn't about to get towed for parking in the wrong place, even if classes were finished for the day. Security Officer Johnson was ruthless like that, AJ had told him after being towed three separate times that semester. Though Vert suspected that had more to do with the fact that AJ couldn't fucking park, but still he wasn't taking any chances.
Unfortunately for him, AJ's permit didn't extend to the Fine Arts building, so Vert would have to walk. He adjusted the messenger bag slung across his chest, following the online campus map so as to not get lost on his first day of rehearsals. Thankfully, the building was easy to find as was the room they were practicing in. Vert could hear the delicate sounds of the piano drifting through the closed door. He opened it slowly, so he wouldn't disrupt whoever was playing and stepped inside the practice room.
Zoom smiled when he saw him come in and tapped Stanford, who was the one playing, on the shoulder. Stanford turned his back to the piano.
"Perfect timing!" He said, looking at Vert. "We're just waiting for the Cortez brothers, but since we're just playing notes, we can start a little early."
"Sure," Vert nodded. "By the way, what were you playing? It sounded really nice."
"Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata." Stanford answered. "Viv can play it way better than I can, but thanks for the compliment!"
"To be fair though, she is playing it in her recital." Zoom added. "So, of course she has to be better at it than you."
"That's true." Stanford said and turned back to the piano. He beckoned Vert over with one hand while the other played the opening notes to Hallelujah. "Let's get started."
Vert grabbed his music out of his bag before setting it down and walking over to the piano. Stanford would play a line first just so Vert could get it in his ears before singing over it a few times with the piano, and then a few times without the piano. Sherman and Spinner had come in sometime during this, and together with Zoom the three of them quietly hummed along as he and Stanford worked. Alone, he did fine. Putting all five parts together was another story. It was easy for Vert to get lost in the nonsense syllables of the different harmonies happening around him when he was no longer singing the actual words of the song. They only managed to get through when Stanford played his part while they sang. Vert tried not to get too frustrated. After all, these guys had months of practice time before he showed up.
Zoom suggested they try a different song and everyone agreed. Vert was grateful for the change. At least, he was until they started. It wasn't just notes they expected him to learn, but now he had to dance too? Between the rapid pace of the words, the shoulder bops, and the invisible air trumpet, he really fucking hated Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.
Vert checked his watch. They still had an hour to go.
...
Stanford was sprawled across the couch in Viv and Agura's apartment, one arm laying over the back of the couch and the other dragging on the carpet. He was still frustrated over the day's disastrous rehearsal.
"It was bad, Viv," he told her. "I know it was the first rehearsal, but God it was bad." Viv just nodded along as he spoke, quietly sipping from the mug in her hands. "I mean, how hard can it be to follow along with the words in front of you and when your part is being played? I was practically spoon-feeding it to him."
Viv set the mug down on the coffee table. "Are you done?" She asked.
"Yeah, pretty much."
"Good." She said. "Now you can stop being an ass."
Stanford looked at her like she was insane. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me. You're being an ass about this."
"How?"
She gave him a flat look. "Seriously? You said it yourself, it was only the first rehearsal. You, Zoom, Sherman, and Spinner have been working together for years. He's new to this. Give it time."
Stanford opened his mouth to speak, but she cut him off. "I know what you're gonna say, but don't. Yeah you have a competition, but it's not the end of the world if you don't do well. You guys need time to adjust. Get to know each other. Don't be another Simon."
Stanford was quiet for several minutes. "You're right." He admitted. "As usual."
She smiled triumphantly. "Now, invite him and his roommate to pizza at Zeke's tomorrow."
"Why the roommate too?" Stanford asked, confused.
"Because him and Tezz are the reason you met Vert in the first place." She said. "And you know Spinner's gonna ask to bring Axel."
"True."
"Plus, I want to go too."
"Of course you do."
"And Agura if I can drag her."
"Fine." Stanford huffed and pulled out his phone to text Vert. It took a couple minutes for him to get a response. "You win. Zeke's tomorrow. Three o'clock. Be there."