Chapter Fifteen
The doorbell rings. I'm so excited that I'm already waiting at the door for Miku and Len. I've invited them to come help write the song after school. I unlock and swing open the door. Miku and Len stand in front of the door eagerly and enthusiastically. Miku is wearing a pair of cute black shorts, a loose, black and white striped sweater and tall black boots. Her turquoise hair complements it perfectly. Len is wearing fitted, ripped blue jeans, a black V-neck tee, and converse sneakers. His blonde hair falls mysteriously across his eyes. Across his back is a dark red guitar.
"I brought my own guitar, but you've got a bass, right?" he asks in a deep voice. I nod my head.
"And I'm assuming you've got a microphone and piano," Miku says lightly. I nod again.
"Come on in, guys." I say. As they step in, I explain to them my thoughts. "As I was setting up downstairs, I realized that we're going to need some other people to back us up with instruments. I mean, most good bands have more than three members," I clarify.
Miku and Len take a moment to consider this. "You're right, but who are we going to get to practice with us?" Miku asks.
"If I'm on guitar, Rin can do bass, or maybe the other way around. We're pretty flexible since we can both play," Len suggests.
"I like your idea, but Rin's in the other band, remember?" I remind him. Len nods his head as we enter my basement. Len sits down next to me on my sofa. Miku sits down across from us on the recliner. "We need someone in another class," I say.
"Kaito is really good on drums," says Miku. Len shrugs, not looking too happy. "It's only a suggestion," she clarifies.
"I know that Luka can play drums pretty well, too," Len counters. Miku nods.
"That's way too many people who can play drums," I laugh, "what about guitar, bass, keyboard, or even backup vocals? Anything else?"I ask, clearly desperate.
"Gumi plays guitar," Miku points out. I smile, nodding my head.
"Piko still plays on his DS," Len laughs. I roll my eyes.
"We're being serious, Len!" I groan. Miku laughs at me.
"I know that Gakupo plays flute," Miku says. Len snorts. I shake my head, holding back an obnoxious laugh. I meet Len's eyes, and we burst out laughing. "What's so funny?" Miku demands. Len and I only laugh harder.
"Len, shut up," I say in between uncontrollable laughs. He moves closer to me, a devilish smirk on his face. "Ugh! Don't give me that Kaito look!" I giggle, practically falling out of my seat already. Len starts tickling me furiously.
"Don't you ever call me Kaito again!" he laughs, tickling me until I can't feel my stomach anymore. Miku starts laughing at how cute she probably thinks we are. Len finally lets up on me, but our laughter doesn't stop (and neither does Miku's). "There. Gosh, you made me have to go Rin-mode on you," Len says. I giggle again.
"Alright, we should probably start laughing," I say, out of breath. My eyes widen. "I-I mean working!" I yell. This sends Miku into another round of giggles.
"Madoka's probably right," sighs Miku. A smile still remains on her face. "So, we'll get Gumi for backup on guitar?" she asks. Len and I both nod. "And Kaito for drums?" she asks. I nod. Len scowls.
"Why are you still dating him?" he grimaces.
"Why does everybody still care?" Miku counters. The happy mood that lingered in the air finally disappears.
"Guys-" I start.
"Kaito's really good on drums!"
"Yeah, but so am I!"
"But you can't do both drums and bass!"
"So? We'll find someone else!"
"That's why I brought up Kaito!"
"Anybody but him!"
I bite my lip to keep from screaming as I swing my head back and forth watching them argue. "Both of you, shut up!" I finally give into frustration. Miku frowns. Len stares at me with large eyes. "I can't stand to watch you guys fight like this," I sigh, head in my hands. Len puts his hand on my shoulder.
"I'm sorry," he says. "I didn't know."
"Yeah. Same goes here," Miku breaths heavily. I blink, opening up my notebook.
"Wait. Don't say anything," I say to both of them, flipping to the page with the song. I take out the pencil to write some more.
And now they praise you for being yourself so don't give in
To many who tried their best they could never guess
They would look to you for where to go next
But then one day you changed into something that you're not
And since they don't understand you end up wanting to be alone
But why not give up all the phrases you were trying to make up
We don't need another lie to put to music
How could such a bunch of noise be fit for human ears?
And I know that you hate me
But whispering is starting without a sound
"What a fake, this girl is never gonna stand her own ground"
And you would cry, but why insist on crying all alone?
I put down my pencil and think to myself. "We need a chorus," I say in a monotone voice.
"Huh?" Miku asks, looking up from her lap. Len looks up as well.
"A chorus. Something catchy… that really gets a message across," I say, pensively. Len leans on the couch arm, thinking as well. Miku stares at the wall for motivation.
"Let me see what you wrote," Len says, taking the notebook from me. I bite my lip as he reads. He sighs when he's done. I lose any trace of happiness that may have remained from the tickling. "I just wish… that I could express emotion on paper as well as you can," he says. Suddenly, I think back to his drawings.
"Len, what about the drawing I saw back in Songwriting earlier today?" I ask. He looks up in shock.
"What about it?"
"You know, how beautiful it was. Like, when I saw it, I felt so… I don't know. Like, you didn't want to show it to me. I didn't know why, because it was so amazing. And you know, I'll always be there if you ever create anything and you're too afr-" I fade out midsentence.
"The chorus! I've got it!" I shout excitedly. Miku and Len exchange a muddled glance. Suddenly, their faces break out into smiles.