//------------------------------// // New members // Story: Beats per minute // by TheBigJ //------------------------------// Vinyl waited anxious on her desk, counting down every minute left of the last class. Five minutes, that is all she had to endure to be free for the day, five more minutes. The teacher was speaking about something that happened centuries ago, but every on Vinyl's mind was the five minutes left and how slowly they passed by. She gazed through the classroom, searching for something more interesting than whatever the teacher was talking about; she could see Lyra drawing something on her book, Bon-Bon was reading something on her phone, and Vinyl could notice that Octavia, sitting in the first row, was one of the few students whose were paying attention. She looked again at the clock, four minutes left. The constant sound of the hands of the clock echoed in her head, like a kind of torture and a reminder of her close freedom simultaneously. If it wasn't for the ticking of the clock, Vinyl could swear that time had frozen in the living room. The teacher did nothing but talk despite the few listeners he had, and the other students seemed dead in life, preferring to do absolutely nothing to pay attention to the class. Once again, she turned to look at the clock, this time indicating that there was only a minute left for the class to end. Vinyl closed her eyes, thinking in whatever but the time. Maybe if she distracted herself the clock would work faster. A few moments passed when the bell rang loudly, making the teacher to stop the class and all the students started to leave the classroom. Vinyl let out a sigh of pure relief, grabbing her bag and standing off her desk. She smiled softly, already thinking about what she would do later, but first she would need to catch up with her mint-haired friend. "Hey, Lyra, come here!" Vinyl called for her friend, making Lyra come close to her desk. "Are you free for now? I need you for something really important." Vinyl stood up and walked to the front of the classroom, not waiting for Lyra to reply. "Octavia, I need your help, and yours too Bon-bon!" She moved across the room rapidly, not even facing the other girls, who surprisingly enough followed her without problems. "Ok, so remember last week, when we were talking 'bout bands and artist and stuff?" Vinyl dominated the halls like a captain followed by her trusted crew, walking fast through the crowds. "Well, last night I was thinking why we don't create our own band!" This time she was facing Lyra, crossing an arm around her shoulders and holding her close. "You would be the rhythm guitar and vocalist, and I would be the main guitarist! We need to find a drummer and a bassist and that's all!" Vinyl turned around to face the other two girls behind her. "And that's where you two come in!" "I am a cellist, I do not know much about an electric bass..." Octavia quickly replied. " And I'm not a drummer, I don't even know how to play any instrument at all!" Bon-bon mentioned shrugging. "If you are planning to teach me how to play the drums, then good luck..." "What? No! I need you two as something like judges." Both girls waited for Vinyl's explanation. "Bon-bon, you know everyone in the school, so you can tell me who can be a good candidate for the band, and Octavia, you obviously know about music as much or even more than me and Lyra combined, so you can help me find real talents here!" "Hey, wait a second dude... I didn't even say yes to the whole Band idea." Lyra's commentary came like a bomb to Vinyl's ears; it was like a betrayal, like a good bucket of cold water thrown directly over Vinyl. "Do you even known of someone who plays the drums who is not already in a band?" "I do..." Bon-Bon interrupted, tapping both girls in the back and walking ahead of them, leading the way through the halls and corridors. "I heard him play many times last year, but he didn't apply for any band or music club... The fact is that he doesn't talk too much, well, he doesn't talk at all..." "You mean he is...?" Octavia asked nervously, reflecting the same awkwardness that Vinyl and Lyra shared. "Oh no! Not at all, well, is complicated..." Bon-Bon waved a hand, trying to not giving too much attention to the subject. "People say he talks to his family sometimes... He is just shy." "Or a freak..." Lyra said in almost a whisper, though she was still heard by Bon-Bon, who gave her a death glare. "What? Isn't it crazy that a guy doesn't speak to anyone? Not a single soul? Never?" She received a few nods from her friends, but Bon-Bon didn't seem to be so happy about the commentary. " Anyway... How did you find him anyway? What did you do, were you walking and did you hear the sound of the drums?" Lyra used a tone too sarcastic for Bon-bon's liking, who quickly turned around to offer one of her best expressions of anger to her friend. To tell the truth, Lyra enjoyed making Bon-bon annoy, since she received those tantrums and pouts that, in her opinion, were extremely cute. "It wasn't exactly like that..." Bon-bon responded, inflating her cheeks and crossing her arms over her chest. Vinyl and Lyra shared a quick glance before the blue-haired girl joined the conversation. "It was totally like that, wasn't it?" "W-Well, maybe it was, so what?" Bon-bon continued pouting as he surprisingly guided the group to the unknown destination of the other girls. A couple of minutes and laughter later and the girls stopped outside one of the school music rooms. From where they were, the sound of the drums could be heard, demonstrating a level of skill that surprised the musicians. "Alright girls, I need you to make no noise and make no sudden movements..." Bon-bon gave the instructions to her friends, blocking the door with one arm, thus preventing any of them from entering unexpectedly. "Like I said, he's shy, and if you scare him, he won't listen to you." That said, Bon-bon opened the door very slowly, just enough so that they could see into the room, stacked on top of each other. In the room they found nothing out of the ordinary; apart from the typical class tables and instruments, they could distinguish the drums, and a not very skinny boy with crimson hair sitting in front of them, playing passionately without knowing that he was being watched as a hunter's prey. Listening carefully, Vinyl was able to recognize the song that was playing, drawing a slight smile on her face as she followed the rhythm with her head. "~Where is your boy tonight? I hope he is a gentleman And maybe he won't find out what I know You were the last good thing about this part of Town... ~" Both Bon-bon, Lyra and Vinyl were truly amazed at the skill the boy displayed, but were more shocked when they heard that Octavia was the one humming the song; The trio turned to see the last member of the group, who was still unaware of this. At the same time that the boy finished his song, Octavia realized that she was the new focus of attention, trying to get out of the vigilant sight of her friends and slipping in the process, falling hard on the floor and alerting the drummer in the room. The drummer and the girls saw each other for a few seconds, and then the boy began to gather his things with impressive speed; However, while Vinyl attended a distressed and sore Octavia, Lyra took the opportunity to intercept the drummer before he could even think of leaving. "Wait a second Drumeo, we need to talk to you for a moment." Lyra's bloodthirsty gaze didn't help the boy calm down, nor did the fact that he was held against a wall with amazing force. Bon-bon stepped in, to the drummer's relief, offering a friendly smile and getting Lyra to stop pressing him against the wall and giving him some room. "There's no need for you to be scared, we didn't come to hurt you or anything like that." The drummer gave Lyra a quick look and saw Bon-Bon again. "She's a little aggressive and impulsive, I admit it, but I promise we won't hurt you, ok?" The boy nodded in agreement, separating himself a bit from the girls and sitting down again in front of the drums. "Your name is Kicker Beat, right?" Kicker nodded, not breaking visual contact with Bon-bon. "Good, my name is Bon-Bon, she is Lyra, and those two over there are Vinyl and Octavia... they want to make you an offer." Bon-bon allowed Vinyl, who just arrived, to take control of the conversation, or better said, the interrogation. "Yeah, well, we heard you playing the drums and we were wondering if you want to be part of our band!" Silence was the only response Vinyl got; a complete minute passed without anyone saying anything, and Vinyl was about to give up when Octavia stopped her. "I think he wants to know more... like how do we known he was a drummer, and more about the band specifically." Kicker nodded again, and Octavia smiled to him. "Starting with how we knew you were a drummer, is all thanks to Bon-bon, she heard you play last year and she told us about you. If you want to know more, ask her..." Kicker nodded once again, this time with a small blush on his cheeks, and signaled Octavia to continue. "The information about the band goes by Vinyl and Lyra, I am just helping them." Kicker turned to look Vinyl directly in her eyes, and she flinched not knowing what exactly to say, and Octavia whispered to the blue-haired girl what would be a good response to the not-existing question. "Huh? Oh, yeah... So, actually we are not a band yet, both Lyra and I know how to play the guitar, but we need a good drummer, and I have to say, you were great back there..." Kicker was staring with curiosity at the blue haired, apparently more interested in the conversation. Octavia once again whispered to Vinyl before she talked again. "Oh, right! The genre, right! We want something like a punk-rock band, maybe kinda pop-rock or something like that... Wadya say?" Kicker looked to all the girls standing in front of him, and focused on Octavia, the only one who could understand what he was trying to express so far, but this time he made a signal that was very understandable for everyone; with a shaky hand and a sad look, Kicker signaled his mouth, something that made every heart in the room ache. Lyra was the one who takes the initiative, placing a hand on his shoulder, and offering a huge smile. "No problem with that, with some time we can get used to it! Friends don't need words to understand each others!" It was half-true and Lyra knew it. Yes, it was true that she and Vinyl could know what the other was thinking without saying it, but that was because years of long friendship, and there was the other thing, they had just met him, they knew nothing about him, just that he was a drummer who doesn't speak to anyone, they were no friends, but the priority was to convince him to join the band, so she could allow to use some lies or half-trues to do so. "So, you're in or what?" Kicker Beat looked straight into Lyra's eyes, making the mint-haired girl nervous. He hesitated for a second, but Kicker finally extended a hand towards the girls, standing up and smiling to the group. Vinyl was the first to shake the hand, followed by the other girls. "So, hey, sorry about all the beat up earlier, and the "Drumeo" thing... I can get carried along pretty easily, you know?" Lyra shook Kicker's hand and scratched her neck, looking elsewhere but him while apologizing. Kicker waved a hand, making clear that he was not affected or he did not care at all, either way he was now part of the band. "Don't worry about her, dude, Lyra is kinda punchy with everyone." Vinyl made clear her point receiving a punch in the shoulder from Lyra, though she did not even react to it. "You'll get use to it..." "Ok, you have two guitarists and a drummer, now you need a bassist." Everyone looked at Bon-bon, expecting her to came up with something. "Hey, what do you expect from me? The only free bassist I know is Octavia, and sh-" "Actually, I'm a cellist..." "Same thing..." Octavia was about to same something else, but Bon-bon continued with her previous statement. "What I was trying to say is that she already said she was not a bassist." "Come on, you have to know about someone else Bonsie!" Lyra asked, using the special nickname she made for her, something that usually made Bon-bon give up and do things for the mint-haired girl, like giving her the homework answers or share some chocolates with her. Lyra was confident in the effectiveness of the nickname, but this time it failed. "Sorry guys, I can't remember anyone who plays the bass who isn't already in a band..." Lyra lowered her head, digging her hands deep inside her pockets. "Well, looks like I'll have to learn to play the bass... Come on guys, let's get out of here." Lyra was about to leave the room followed by everyone except Vinyl, who was standing in front of the drums. Her face was thoughtful, an idea forming in her head. She clapped loudly, turning around to face her friends with a devilish smirk plastered on her face. "You won't have to learn anything, Lyra. I have the most awesome, incredible and great idea ever!" "I thought there was no more bassist left in the school..." Octavia asked, her tone curious about Vinyl's idea. "Well, THAT is half-true..." "Sorry, I don't comprehend." Now Octavia was even more curious, mostly because Vinyl was now beside her smiling widely, dragging her to the front of the group. "W-What are you doing, Vinyl?" "Guys, I introduce to you Octavia Melody, our very new bassist!" Vinyl was standing proudly, her hands extended towards Octavia, like she was exhibiting her. The others did not seem to impressed by this, and frowned at Vinyl. "I think you were on the moon when Bon-bon said that Octavia was a cellist, A CELLIST." Bon-bon nodded to Lyra's commentary, but Vinyl was already prepared for this, and did not lose her energy. "Yeah, that's true, but we can make her a bassist!" Now she got all the attention with different reactions. Lyra, Bon-bon and Kicker were now interested in what Vinyl had to say, and Octavia was shocked. She sure did not expect Vinyl to say something like this. "All we have to do is teach her just a few things and that's all!" "W-Wait a second! I do not have the minor idea of how to play an electric bass, and not to talk about the genres you want to play!" Octavia took a couple the steps backwards, bumping with the drums, and shielding herself with the Hit-hat. "That is just a terrible idea, Vinyl. I am sorry, but I think I would not be able to do it." "What are you talking about, Octavia!? A bass is not that different from a cello, you just have to play it like this instead than like this!" She made exaggerated positions and movements to signal the differences, something that brought a grin to Octavia's face. "And is more about style than anything else, not mater the genre, just find your style and stick to it!" "Are you sure?" Octavia took little steps forwards, closing the distance between her and Vinyl. She tried to find some kind of support from the others members of the group, but they seemed more interested in the scene than in supporting anyone. "I'm totally honest with you." Octavia was surprised by this sentence, not only by what Vinyl was saying, but mostly about how she said it. That was the most serious tone Octavia has heard from Vinyl until that moment; it was trustworthy, confident and caring somehow. Vinyl extended a hand to Octavia with the biggest smile the cellist has ever seen on someone. "Come on Tavi! It'll be fun!" Octavia took Vinyl's hand, and she was dragged once again in front of the group, only that this time she was staring directly into Vinyl's eyes. She could feel something warm about those magenta eyes, something that tells her to stay with her, to be confident with her, to trust her. "Yeah... I was thinking just the same K.B." Lyra was talking to Kicker, obtaining the attention of the rest of the group. Lyra and Kicker held in a laugh, and then the girl waved a hand, not giving any clues about what they were "talking". "So I guess we're complete now, right?" Lyra was looking at Octavia, a question mark on her head. "Yes, you are correct Lyra." Octavia's response was enough to make everyone happy... Until another question came up to the cellist mind. "I just need to know something, where are we going gather and practice?" That question came up like a bomb to the group. Everyone was staring at each other, blank expressions on their faces. Silence ruled among the students, no one knowing exactly what to answer, but we always can count with Lyra to break this kind of silence with a sharp commnentary. "Yo' Vinyl, your awesome rock band plan have a tiny-winny little flaw. Guess you only had capacity for thinking so far after all!" "Hey, I was going to think about it later! To be honest, I didn't think we could find all the members in just an hour!" "That proves exactly my point!" Lyra was growling every word, though she was not that angry, in fact, she had the solution to the problem... she just liked to argue with people, Vinyl specifically. "I can't believe you didn't thought about a place where to practice." "I don't see you thinking either! Can you do something with that brain of yours beside thinking 'bout picking up fights?" Lyra and Vinyl went like that for various minutes. It was like a tennis match, with Kicker, Octavia and Bon-bon as the crow, none of them daring to get involved in the cross fire, and the guitarists as the players, the only difference, beyond every obvious thing, was that instead of a ball the girls played with comebackers and insults. A good ten minutes passed when Lyra decided she had enough fun for the day, closing her eyes and letting out a long sigh. "I suppose I have to do everything after all..." That made Vinyl flinch, having to stop just before her next punch line. The expectators were taken by surprise as well, giving Lyra full attention for her next movement. "Since Dad isn't home, I guess we can use the garage. Mom works almost all day, so is empty most of the time, we just need to make some room for the instruments." "What is going to tell your mother? Would she agree with us playing at your house?" Octavia asked, innocent and worried about her new band-mate. Lyra smirked, lying on the wall, something she made to look more "Badass". "I'll ask her tonight, it will be fine though. Like I said, she works all day, so far we don't burn the house down or get arrested for playing too loud, it shouldn't be a problem for her." Lyra shrugged, trying to end the conversation. Octavia looked pleased with the answer, the sole mention of Lyra asking her mother for permission eased her mind, but another thing came up in her mind. "Umm, I don't want to cause trouble, but I should let you know that I do not posses an electric bass." This time was Vinyl who drags the attention to herself. She was laughing, placing a hand on Octavia's shoulder. "No need to worry Tavi, I got one back at home. You can borrow it if you want to practice at home too!" Again, Vinyl's warm smile made Octavia feel comfortable with everything. It seemed like every detail was solved by the moment, but to be sure Vinyl directed her focus to Kicker. "I'll give you Lyra's address, K.B.! That way you can bring your drums set, we got a basic one of you can't, but it would be better if you bring your own." The drummer nodded, showing excitement for the project. Bon-bon clapped, a big smile on her face. "Well, looks like everything is ready, so I should be leaving then..." she was starting to walk away when she was held by Lyra. The mint-haired had a cocky smile on her face, and crossed an arm across the other girl's shoulder. "You can come with us if you want to, it would be nice to have someone to listen to us rocking!" Lyra noticed how close she was to her secret crush, and in a fast movement, she took some steps away from Bon-bon, trying her hardest to make sure no one notices the blush on her face. "B-Besides, you are the one who has the connections with everyone in the school, you can find us a couple of parties to play in" Bon-bon nodded, accepting the mint-haired girl's propose. "Cool! So we wait for your mother's permission. We are done here, better get going before it gets darker outside..." Vinyl said, looking at the hour in her phone. The girls walked off the room, letting Kicker alone inside it. He was gathering all his things when the group came back, waiting outside of the room. "Yo' dude, what are you waiting for? We are getting old out here!" Vinyl waved a hand to the drummer, telling him to join them. Kicker sad look turns into an immense grin as he hurried to secure his bag on his back and held firmly his drumsticks in his hands. Kicker ran outside the room, welcomed by Vinyl with a palm on his back, joining with that strange group of girls. Kicker may would never say it, but those girls were now the closest thing he had to real friends, and he was more than happy with them.