This Conspiracy

Chapter 3

Hayley's parents were not happy about her joining our band, but she refused to quit so her father agreed to allow her to participate so long as her was the manager. We asked him what exactly that meant. He said he would basically make sure we always had somewhere to play and he would try to get labels interested in our band. This sounded awesome to us.

"So what is this band's name anyways?" Mr. Williams asked.

"Vicarious Death," I smiled, "I made it myself."

Mr. Williams looked at me with a disgusted look on his face and said, "Boy? You really expect my daughter to become rich and famous in some band called Vicarious Death? No! You're lucky she even has it in her generous heart to lend her talent to you untalented monkeys!"

I was so surprised and insulted I couldn't even speak. He went to our next practice to heat how we sounded. It was uncomfortable playing with the disdainful man scowling at us the whole time. After practice he said we were going to play at some bar called The End in the next couple days.

Months passed of playing at different bars every weekend. It was so fun to play on stage. Mr. Williams told us his childhood friend from Florida was coming to check us out at our next show and we would be making a few slight changes before the show. Josh and Hayley had been working on a lot of new material. They were always working on songs together and everyone said they were in love. She always said I was her best friend but truth was, I would have switched places with Josh any day. I wanted to be more than friends.

The day before the big show Hayley's dad called a meeting with the band.

"Okay boys, I'm going to say this straight, Hayley is an amazing singer. You monkeys are barely decent musicians. My old friend from Florida, yeah, he is one of the top label executives of rock music, Fueled By Ramen Records. He is interested in signing Hayley but they prefer to sign bands, not solo acts, so you guys are in luck. Well, some of you anyways." Mr. Williams smiled evilly.

Josh looked at him in disbelief, "What do you mean some of us?"

"Well, your rhythm guitarist is out, you sound better without the little ass. Your bassist sounds like the crap I scrape off the bottom of my shoe, Hayley's friend Jeremy Davis is going to replace him. I wanted to replace you too Joshy-Boy but Hayley fought me too hard on that one; she's got a soft spot for you. And your drummer is actually really good so, he can stay." Mr. Williams said.

Josh stood up and took a couple steps closer to Hayley's dad.

"You can't kick people out of our band!" Josh screamed angrily.

Mr. Williams seemed unaffected, "You are so stupid boy. This is Hayley's band now, get used to it. Oh, and before I forget, you need to find a new name." he ordered.

I looked at Hayley trying to make sense of this. She was sitting next to her dad staring at her feet. Josh was still looking down at Mr. Williams in angry disbelief. I saw a tear escape Taylor's eye and he quickly wiped it away. Jason stood up very calm and hugged his best friend Josh good bye.

"Don't worry about me and T dude. This is a good chance for you and Zac to make something of yourselves, just go show that record label dude who you are and what you can do. For me okay? So I can say 'I knew that guy when…'" Jason whispered to Josh.

Taylor waved good bye to his ex-bandmates and followed Jason out of Hayley's house to walk sadly to his own.

Mr. Williams told us that we would practice in his basement from now on and to go to Taylor's house right then and get our equipment, set it up in the basement and start a practice immediately.

I walked slowly into Taylor's room and approached him.

"You okay Taylor? I'm really sorry about what happened back there dude. He is way out of line." I said.

Taylor wiped his eyes, "Yeah. It's just we started this band, four best friends, to have fun. I had the funnest time in my whole life and now I'm not allowed to play because I'm not good enough. It sucks."

I felt so bad for Taylor but I knew I had to get to band practice before Mr. Williams replaced me too.

"I love you man, We've been best buds since forever and whether we are in a band together or not we can still hang out and have fun." I hugged him and went downstairs to get my drums. Hayley came down the stairs and helped me break them down. It was silent for a few seconds until I realized she was not going to explain what had just happened so I said, "You knew that was going to happen. He talked to you about it. You fought for Josh to stay but said hell to everyone else."

Hayley's jaw tightened, "Don't complain. You're still in it."

This pissed me right off, "Why didn't you fight for Taylor and Jason like you did Josh? They could have still been here!"

"Zac, this is no more my fault than anyone else's." She tried to defend herself but I ignored her.

"You didn't even let us know," I continued, "I trusted you! You say I'm your best friend, but you don't even warn me when you know something like that. What if your dad didn't think I was good enough? What if he was kicking me out? Would you have just sat there silently?"

Hayley shook her head, "I'm sorry Zac. I didn't ask for this to happen but it did and we need to get to practice, we have a really big show tomorrow."

When Hayley, my drumset and I arrived to practice a tall blonde dude with facial hair was talking with Mr. Williams. Hayley put the pieces of my drums down and ran to the young man excitedly yelling "Jeremy! Jeremy!"

Jeremy caught her as she jumped up into her arms and squeezed her then put her down.

"How you doing Hayleybear?" Jeremy asked.

"I'm fine. How bout you Germy?" Hayley smiled from ear to ear.

After I put my drums together and everyone else was set up we began to play through our setlist. I was surprised at how amazingly talented Jeremy was at Bass. I could see the dislike painted all over Josh's face whenever he looked at Jeremy though. I wasn't quite sure if it was because Jeremy took his best friends position in the band or because how close he was with Hayley, probably both. Josh would scowl at Jeremy but Jeremy seemed completely oblivious to it. In fact he seemed kinda oblivious to everything, he was a bit out of it.

When practice was over we sat down on the couches Mr. Williams had set up and talked. Mr. Williams went upstairs to start preparing dinner.

"Do you mind if Emma and I eat dinner here tonight Hayley?" Jeremy asked.

Josh's head perked up suddenly, "Emma? Is she your girlfriend? He asked hopefully.

Jeremy nodded yes and looked back at Hayley.

Hayley turned to Josh and said, "More like his wife, they are so in love it's hilarious!" she laughed then looked at him and confirmed his dinner request. Jeremy left to pick up Emma. Hayley, Josh and I were left in the basement. It was very silent until Hayley spoke up, "I'm really sorry about what happened. I don't want you guys to think it was my fault. I hope you like Jeremy though, he's an old family friend, and I've known him for a long time. He really is like a big brother to me."

Josh got off the couch he was sitting on and sat next to Hayley on her couch.

"What happened sucks, but at least we are still here, I guess." Josh was only saying that because he was happy Jeremy had a girlfriend, "I don't think it was your fault Hayles."

Hayley leaned into his chest and hugged him and thanked him.

"Can I talk to you alone Hayley?" Josh asked.

I stood up, "It's okay, I'll leave. I was leaving anyways. It's not like you guys ever notice me anyways but whatever." I pouted and left.

Next thing I knew, Josh came home completely in love, Talking about nothing but my Hayley all night. Apparently they were now officially dating, he asked her out. And he was invited to eat dinner at the Williams' house. The whole band would be there but me, nobody invited me, Hayley's "best friend". I must have been invisible to be the only one not invited. I felt so angry. I hated that my best bud was kicked out, I hated that Mr. Williams was so mean to us, and most of all I hated that Josh stole Hayley from me, I like her first, no, I loved her first!