thank you for your idea in the previous chapter, I apologize for not including this in the last chapter but my computer went all funky and the name wouldn't come out so I am writing my thanks here.
Music Tangles
"Hmm…anniversary?"
"No what are we- some old married couple?"
"You know you want to be Mrs. Simon Lewis."
"Hah! No keep guessing."
"Birthday?" Clary glared at him and punched him in the arm.
"It's nice to know that you know so much about me."
With every enemy, there is a friend and for Clary, the friend was Simon Lewis, the guy who had seen it all in her world, from her unhealthy obsession with eating paste to the start of her artistic passion. If anyone had seen them, they would be shocked that Clary and Simon even talked to each other. Tall, awkward Simon with his geeky t-shirts and glasses, aside from playing video games, had only one other hobby- being in a band.
Give your friend something they've always wanted.
24 hours earlier
"What do you mean they can't play?" Clary demanded. The manager just glanced at her over his over sized glasses.
"Have you heard those guys? Their music would be able to skin the fur off a cat and they can never decide on a name. I'm sorry but I can't let a band with a name like 'Orgy in Hoboken' play here."
"Look I know that they can't decide on a name…or play good music but what if I tell you that they've improved…a lot." Clary bit the inside of her cheek after she said this, sure his wasn't exactly true but it was their only chance. The manager thought about it.
"What's this for?"
"Well I'm performing 30 Random Acts of Kindness and one of them is to give something to a friend, something that they've always wanted and Simon- Simon's always wanted to play in front of an audience and-"
"Ok, ok….if you can get me a recording of them not sounding so…rusty, I'll give them a chance."
"Great, thank you so much!"
"Wait, get it here by 8p.m tonight, no later."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"What the he- Simon, why aren't you practicing?" Simon looked up from the comic book he was reading and reached for another cheetos.
"Practicing?"
"With your band? I mean you guys still want to get better right? And pick a-uhh…cooler band name?"
"When did you become so interested in my band? I though you thought it sucked."
"I- no I have renewed faith in you and your band." Clary tossed her cell phone to him. "Call Eric, Matt and Kirk and schedule and impromptu band meeting. You guys are going to finally decide on a name."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"Lawn Chair Crisis?"
"Nah…it sounds like we're coming from the suburbs of New Jersey."
"Sea Vegetable Conspiracy?"
"Ugh, I'm allergic to fish."
"A sea vegetable is not a fish!"
"I don't care, they're both in the sea right?" Clary rubbed her forehead as she watched them go at it. This was taking forever. By this time, they would never get anything done.
"Sexist Pigs?"
"Nahh…that would scare away groupies."
"Like you'd get any."
"You guys are so bad at this; I swear lint could collect faster." Clary groaned.
"Lint….hmm….lint….what about…Millennium Lint?"
"Yea that's awesome…"
"Cool…"
"Slick…"
"I'm just glad you're not considering 'the Fang Brothers' anymore." Simon muttered.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"What?" Clary exclaimed. Simon nodded grimly. "No-n-y-you can't!" She could see all of her dreams, her effort going down the drain in this very moment. Being kind was so freaking hard.
"Majority wins."
"What? Matt and Kirk like it?"
"Bribery…and they want to keep the garage." Clary collapsed on the outdated couch and put her face in her hands. This isn't going to work. Her mind screamed at her. This isn't fair, not to me and not to Simon…he's been there for me through everything!
"I know they aren't the best at music but ugh jeez…turning Eric's poems into a song? That's musical suicide….no that's just suicide."
"Simon didn't you write a song?" Clary said as she looked up.
"Uhm…what?"
"You did…I remember you showing it to me. Simon, hear me out, this may be the only way to save your band, propose your song." Simon looked bewildered as I spoke.
"Wha-but it's not even tha-"
"It's that or you're going to be singing about nefarious loins." Clary said firmly. "Just let me talk to them."
They were lounging around, doing nothing as Clary walked it. It infuriated her that she had to prove that they could perform…so that they could perform! And here they were lying around, doing nothing.
"Get up." She snapped.
"What?" Matt looked at her dazedly.
"You guys do want to be a band and make music right? I'm pretty sure 'the Rhythm of Farts' doesn't count as a song. If you guys want to become musicians, you guys are going to have to work for it. It won't happen while you're just lying here wasting time so either star making music or go home." Clary knew she was being pushy and harsh, but they were on a time crunch and she knew they could make good music…if they worked at it…hopefully.
"Oh and Eric? Your poems suck, we're not doing them." Clary added in satisfaction.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Present Time
Clary slowly led Simon into Taki's, blindfold still on his face. When the cool AC hit them, she peeled it off of his eyes. Simon looked around in confusion.
"What are we doing here?" Clary grinned.
"My favorite band is playing tonight." Simon's eyes wandered to the giant sign with the scripted letters spelling out "Millennium Lint." "You better get on stage. They're starting soon." Clary said.
"Wha-ha- you did this?" He sputtered out. Clary nodded. "Thank you!" He leaned in and hugged her. "Thanks Clare." He whispered and then ran off to join the rest of the band.
Clary stood leaning casually against the wall, nursing her diet coke. The tables had been pushed to create somewhat of a dance floor. Simon was setting up his drum set on stage. Taki's was full as the show started when Eric got on stage.
"Hello New York! This is Orgy in- I mean Millennium Lint! Ok, ok first we have a song written by my buddy here, Simon Lewis!" The music started, it was slow and steady but then went through a faster bridge, reaching a rapid crescendo of beats and strums of guitar and noise. Clary hummed and swayed to the beat, grinning. She had help make this happen, Simon had finally gotten to perform. He was just killing it on it drums.
"Dance with me." Clary whirled around to see Jace. He gently took the can of coke from her and placed it on a table.
"I barely know you." Clary laughed.
"Yet I have coerced you into a 30 step life plan making you less…prickly." Clary mocked shock.
"I am not prickly."
"Not anymore obviously, you made this night happen. Look at how happy your friend is." Clary glanced at the drums. Simon was going at it like never before, eyes closed with a grin of his face.
"Yea…" Clary smiled softly. "He deserves it."
"Dance with me...please." Clary took a breath as she slid her hands onto his arms, and his hands rested on her hips and together they swayed to the beat, not talking but occasionally laughing or smiling. That night was a night of celebration and joy, of accomplishments and dreams. As the music swelled, the noise escaped through the cracks of the golden lit windows and into the open doors of homes, to the ears of strangers on the sidewalk. It played and wrapped and twisted itself around every person, building, bridge, ensnaring the skyline in its last crescendo.
R&R please! The next one will hit a little more closer to home, but keep coming up with suggestions, I really appreciate them!