Chapter 6: Trumpet is Man's Only Friend
Enjoy.
Ian's POV
I'm not sure what I did. Or, rather why I did it. Completely out of impulse, I kissed Elizabeth even though I'm dating Nikki. Totally makes sense.
Driving away from Elizabeth's house, I didn't really go anywhere. There wasn't a place for me to be and I didn't want to go home to a crazy house. Having three younger siblings does that.
Stopping the car and getting out, I realized that I was at the park where the drama went down. The sky reflected my mood and couldn't decide weither to be sunny or cloudy. Sitting down on the end of the yellow plastic slide, I thought of everything that has happened so far this year.
I thought of summer when everything was finally going right for once. Every single class had at least a friend or two and the teachers were understandable. Plus, I no longer had to take geometry and biology. The year was shaping up to be an easy one.
But then it all fell apart the first day of band camp. The trumpet section leader, Sean, had to drop band to "learn smart person medical stuff" to become a firefighter, so it's hard to be mad at him. With the trumpets being more chaotic than ever, nothing was accomplished. My arms can still feel the pain from the hundreds of push-up we had to do.
And now the teachers are talking in their usual alien language, so that helps my grade a lot. Plus, its only the third week of school! Jazz band is boring since we do nothing now and band, well is band. Then there's Elizabeth...
Enough is enough. Time to stop sulking. Listening to my conscious, I got off the slide and walked to my truck. Taking the scenic route home, I passed Elizabeth's house, hoping to catch a glimpse of her before school tomorrow. On that same route I passed Nikki's house.
What if I choose the wrong girl? What if Nikki was a test to see if would take the bait? Well I definitely took that and what happened?
What has happened?
Turning off my truck, I walked up to the front door and took a deep breathe. From the outside, my house looks like the typical American dream. All white, even with that stupid fence. But inside...
"Ian's home! Ian's home! Ian's home!"
"Yay!"
"Big bruder is 'ere!"
Three speeding munchans came running into my legs. Trying to shut the door, I plowed my way to the kitchen while dragging my siblings that were hooked on to my legs.
"Hey mom." setting my keys on a hook above the phone. Mom had her books strewn out all across the entire table. Or what was available on the already messy table.
"Mom, it's almost 6, you need to get ready for work."
"Yeah I know. Thanks. Why do you need to know about asymptotes? How will they help you in the real world?" slamming her algebra book then running upstairs to get ready. My mom was a high school drop out when she got pregnant with me. She keeps trying to get her high school diploma or GED but she just can't pass, usually because of work or kid issues. And yes, I am that bastard child.
Running down the stairs mom shouted, "I'm leaving Ian! Thanks for watching the kids! Either me or Paul will be home about midn-"the door drowning out her last few words. Paul is the man who took my job as the man of the household, as well as the father of my younger siblings. He's great and tries to include me as he's own son but I don't want him. I want my father. Though, I'm not sure who my real father is. Mom never says his name but she used to tell me what a great guy he was and how she fell for his amazing trumpet ability, but he suddenly left the summer of their sophomore year. That's my one dream, to meet my father, if I ever get out of this small town.
"Ian, will you come play dress up with me?" my sister Katy said.
"After he plays dinosaurs with me!" Katy's twin, Colton said, younger of the two.
"No! No! No! Ian pwomised me to pwlay Legos last time." Jeffery said, he is the baby, of course.
"Ok how about this, we have some dinner, pick up our messes and then go up to Katy's room to play dress up, Colton brings his trex and Jeff can bring 10 Legos. Deal?"
"Woah 10 Legos? Yay!"
Picking up Jeff and putting him on the bar stool I set out to make dinner, since the three of them went to bed early. I'm not sure where to begin in the small kitchen.
"Ian! Ian! Ian! Can we have Spongebob Mac n cheese?" Katy asked
"No! Dino bites! Dino bites!"
"Mac n cheese!"
"Dino bites!"
"Mac n cheese!"
"Dino bites!"
How quickly can I get a headache? It is still early.
"We can have both Mac n cheese and Dino bites, so Katy, can you find the box and a pot to make it in? Colton, can you get four glasses out of the cabinet? And Jeff, you can model or be commentator for us."
"Okey dokey!" all three of them said at the same time.
"Can I get any kind of cup?"
"How about the most colorful cups you have ever seen."
"Ok!"
Grabbing a tin pan out from under the sink, the bag of Dino bites out of the freezer and assisting Katy with the pot, the chaos finally was somewhat subdued.
"As big bruder pulls the big shinny thing under the water, Katy goes for the box in the cabin't. Colton has three cups but where's mine? Ian, Colton didn't put a cup out for me!"
"I haven't found the colorfulest one yet, you dummy!"
"Colton! Do not say that word! Apologize to him."
"Sorry." colton mumbled
"What was that? Did he say he wanted to be... Tickle attacked?" Katy and Jeff giggled
"No! That's not what I said!"
"But, that's what I heard though. Isn't that what you heard too Katy?"
"Uh huh! He wants a tickle attack! With some peanut butter on his tummy for jade to lick!" Jade's my black Great Dane that I got when I was five and mom married Paul.
"Oh! Thank you for reminding me. Can you get me the jar of peanut butter?"
"No, no, no! I never said that I wanted peanut butter on my tummy!"
"Then what did you say?"
"I called Jeff a dummy."
"Yes and that is wrong. What should you say to him?"
"I'm sorry for calling you a dummy, Jeff." Colton said looking straight into Jeff's eyes.
"Thank you, Col." Jeff's nickname for Colton, he can't say Colton's name yet.
"Who wants dinner?"
"Me! Me! Me!"
*Ding*ding*ding*ding*ding*
The bell released everyone from their fourth hour class, mine being chemistry. The only academic class I have with both Nikki and Elizabeth. The other two being band and lunch. Ironically, lunch being next. Lunch will be interesting.
"Hey Ian." Nikki said grabbing my hand.
"Hey." pulling my hand out and sitting down at our circle table.
"So I have a question in Spanish about congating the imperfect verbs."
"Why would you have problems with that tense? It's the easiest one!" James exclaimed then shoved a handful of greasy fries. I had my yummy pb&j packed in my blue lunch box. Nikki had a bag of chips and water for lunch and Elizabeth, who just sat down, had her own lunch box but I don't know what's in it since she sits next to Nikki and Nikki blocks my view of her.
"Yah, well when you have band next hour, you wouldn't concentrate either." Nikki said bringing the conversation back to her.
James sprayed me with soda as I glared at him and laughed feebly and everyone else went crazy.
"Nikki, can we talk?" I asked her bluntly.
"Sure" she said confused. Elizabeth, who's also wasn't laughing, looked up at us.
"Be right back guys, other wise someone bring my lunch box to the band room."
"Ok, sure whatever" Is what everyone at the table replys.
Walking away with Nikki in hand, I lead her down a side hallway near the band room. I'm getting nervous and started to regret my decision.
"Ian, why is your hand all sweaty? It's ok." crap, she noticed. I dropped her hand in response, looked down and took a deep breath.
"Ian, your scaring me."
"Nikki, how do I say this, but I don't like you anymore. Can we just be friends?" I tried to say slowly but it just came out as a big jumble.
"If that's how you feel." she started tearing up.
She walked away and I just stood there. I dont know how long I was there for but I finally moved. Walking away, I felt like the worst person in the world. I didn't go back to the lunch room but instead went to a practice room with my trumpet in hand.
My birthday is soon, can I have one review, please?