I woke up, I looked at my watch; 5 AM. My shift starts at 3PM. I should go to a music store today. I slid on my work pants and I grabbed my jacket. I got out of my room and I got downstairs. I saw Luan and Lynn eating breakfast on the floor in front of the TV.
"You cut your hair?" Luan asked as I got off the stairs.
"Yes, I did. Is it not alright?" I asked back, blankly.
"No, you look good. It really makes you look like a tomboy cop who killed 3 dudes during her probation." Lynn said. "That's a compliment by the way,"
"She won't know a compliment even if it shot her in the face," Luan said as she shoved a forkful of bacon into her mouth. "That's not a compliment by the way," She continued with her mouth full. "Sit down, eat, Lynn made too much bacon," I sat down and Luan passed me a plate filled with bacon. "It is surprising that Luna wants to look nice though,"
"Yeah, that's just weird," Lynn noted. "What's normal for her to do is beating up kids and making sure they don't tattle tale, like remember when we were in high school and Luna punched that bitch Cassandra until her front teeth fell off?" Lynn asked as she ate some more. "And that collar grab stance, damn Luna, you're like bred for war," I chuckled lightly and gave a wry smile. "You need to practice smiling more," The two of them looked at my face, mouth still full.
"Agreed," Luan replied. They stopped staring and continued eating. "And that boy you broke up with that she almost drowned at the park fountain," They laughed.
"Where's Pop-pop?" I asked, changing the topic.
"Pop-pop went to Walmart to get some fertilizer, he has this new theory on how to grow tulips in the backyard," Luan replied. "Where the hell are you going, you usually don't wear pants at home, even when we have guests over,"
"I'm going to the mall..."
"Luna and the mall... Yeah, are you alright sis? Fever running a bit high?" Luan asked, her face worried, as she placed her hand on my forehead. "She's not running a fever," She looked at Lynn. Lynn inched closer to me and she placed her fingers on my neck.
"Pulse is normal," She lets go. "Apparently, Luna really wants to go to the mall."
"Weird..." Luan said. "You okay? I know your brain is a bit weird, but are you really alright?"
"I'm fine," I said as I poured myself a glass of milk. "Pop-pop told me to find a hobby, and he suggested that I take up music,"
"Oh," They said in unison.
"Then we'll go together, I just got my check and I feel like getting something nice for myself,"
"Yeah, I need to get myself a new hockey stick," Lynn said, now without a fork and eating with her hands. "We don't need to stay together, we'll leave you at the music shop and we'll find our own things," Lynn said as she drank her coffee. "Sounds cool?"
"Yes," I said.
We arrived at the mall via bus. I had my jacket on. I got out of the bus with them both and we got inside the mall. It's surprisingly as bland as my memories. I waved them goodbye and I arrived in front of a musical instrument store; Sharpened Stone Audios. I pushed the door and I walked inside. 90s rock music enters my ears. I looked around and just as I was about to touch one of the display guitars, a voice came from the door beside the counter. "Hey, welcome to Sharpened Stone Audios, best music gear in town," I turned around and I saw a girl, about my age. Her hair was blonde with a teal streak. She had her shirt sleeves rolled up to her elbows. "Can I help you with anything?" She asked. She's pretty.
"Yes, umm... My grandfather told me to get a hobby and he suggested that I take up music," I said, stuttering a bit.
"Oh I see, do you have any particular genre that you like? Any instruments that have an interest in?" She asked as she got closer.
"No, I don't know anything about music," I said.
"Do you like any song at all?" She asked. I suppose that song that Dad let me listen to before was good.
"There was this song, I heard it when I was seven, Transformation, by Mick Swagger... I think," I said. She smiled.
"Mick Swagger, wow!" She replied. "You got good taste, come here," She said as she pulled me to the counter. She took out a stool and she tapped it. "Sit down." She said. I did. She went to the cashier's computer and she played the song. "This song right?" She asked. The song played. It's that same song.
"Yes," I said.
"What do you recognize from the music, what's the first instrument you could recognize?"
"Guitar?" I asked.
"Guitar it is then," She said, she went to the back room and she came back with a box. "I know you're just trying music out, so you shouldn't spend a lot of money on something that you might not use often. This here is our cheapest electric guitar, it comes in a set with an amp so you don't have to spend extra on the gear. What do you think?" She looked at me and asked. "You can hold it if you want," I took that offer. I picked it up and I held it. "You look like a natural, let me plug it in for you," She said as she plugged the thing in. "Try strumming it," I did. It was loud. I strum some more. I looked at her and I saw that she was smiling. "You got pretty good strength control," She said. I placed the guitar back in the box and I stood up. "So, do you like it?"
"Yes," I said.
"Would you like to take it home?" She asked. I stared into her eyes.
"Oh yes," I stuttered.
"You can pay in one receipt or you can make installments," She said. I took my wallet out and I took my card out.
"I'll pay now," I said. I need to get out of here. What is happening to me? She went to the POS, and I tapped my card on the reader.
"Here's your receipt and your warranty card," She gave me two pieces of paper stapled together. "Here's my number in case you need some help on the guitar," She said as she gave me a piece of paper with her phone number written on it.
"Thank you," I replied. "I'm Luna, Luna Loud, by the way," I reached my hand out to her for a handshake.
"Luna Loud, that's a rockstar name there. Sam, Sam Sharp, been a pleasure doing business with you," She said as she shook my hand. It felt rough. Guitarist calluses. "Firm handshake, I like that," She said.
"Thank you,"
I left the shop and I sat down on a bench near the shop. I sat there, with the box on my legs. I looked at my watch and its almost 1 o'clock. I looked around and then suddenly, I felt someone grabbing me from behind. I looked up and I saw the giddy faces of Luan and Lynn. "LUNA! GIVE US DETAILS!" Luan and Lynn said in unison.