• The sound of loud off strumming that didn’t sound anything like the song I wanted to play irritated me, “That’s it! I’m done with this!” I threw down my Lyon Acoustic Guitar on my bed and just walked away.

    I got that guitar when I was 15 and it’s only been a year since I started playing it. I can’t read lyrics, I can’t play by ear, and I don’t know chords for nothing. I suck. When I got home that day I put the guitar in it’s case and left in the corner of my room right next to my T.V.. I haven’t touched the thing since. I’m a junior in high school and I’m turning 17 in a few months now. I haven’t picked up another instrument or even thought about playing one much. It just irritates me.

    I have friend who can play instruments, and I have to admit they are pretty good. I admire them, and yeah, I’ll admit I’m a little jealous. They can do the things I wish I could and play the songs I want to play. Even though, I still don’t feel like playing. At least, that’s what I keep telling myself.

    I’ve been pretty content with how things have been. School is whatever, I mean I’m getting by. Sure my parents wish I could be doing better with all the money they spend on me, for going to a college prep. High school. Home is alright, I mean my parents have been at it more lately but it’s not too bad I guess. I have good friends, there isn’t really much else to say about them right now. Definitely though, my girlfriend is the best thing I have in my life. We have our fight and she says we’re Rocky Road but I don’t think so. We have our problems and fights but I’m never going to let her go. She knows that, it’s why she loves me.

    So far things have been pretty average with my life otherwise. I get average grades and the occasional bad and good ones. I can’t drive and I don’t have a job. I don’t really do much. I play sports but not for a team. I’ve been involved with drama and clubs but I never show up to a meeting and I had to quit the play due to failing grades. I’ve been involved in spirit week every year, but frosh year I made an a** of myself and I quit the last 2 years in a row. I was going to do the talent show last year too, but well I didn’t. Damn. What the hell am I doing?

    I’m a month into my second quarter and I already have 3 D’s and I’m barely making my 2 C’s. Thank God for my 2 B’s and my A, otherwise my mom would kill me. Sure, the good grades are in my elective classes but that doesn’t mean they aren’t hard, sometimes. Honestly, I feel like I’m wasting my time at school and it bugs the hell out of me.

    So, now time for a little it of an intro to how I got into the current situation I’m in. It was a few hours ago, right after school got out at 2:35. I was walking with my girlfriend to her car and getting ready to leave, when I heard my name being called. I turned around and saw my friend Jase running after me. “Alex! Hey! Wait up!” he shouted. I waited by my girlfriends car for him to catch up.

    “Whatsup Jase?” I asked.

    “You busy tonight?” he forced out the words while trying to catch his breath.

    I looked at him with interest, “Nothing planned. You wanna do something?”

    He looked up and smiled, “I got a gig tonight at Beats and I want you to come check us out. There’s no one who can feel the music better than you.”

    I was caught off guard by what he said. I was hesitant and surprised, “Whatcha want me to do?”

    He still kept smiling as if he knew I was going to be there, “Just hear our music and tell me what you think? Please man?”

    I hesitated still, “All right man, sure.”

    He ran to catch up with his sister who was already calling him to hurry up.

    While he ran, he turned around, “I’ll get you around 7! Thanks dude!” he shouted with his arms flailing in the air as a wave. I waved back with a puzzled look on my face. What was he talking about?

    Damn! He’s late. It was around 7:10 when Jase pulled up in his Blue Chevy Astro.

    “Come on, let’s go!” he shouted over the roar of the engine.

    “Hey! You’re the one who’s late!” I jumped in through the side door and before I could get my butt in the seat, I felt Jase’s brother slam down hard on the gas.

    “Hehe, you ready!” Jase said so damn enthusiastically with that grin of his.

    I was still trying to get my seatbelt on when I replied, “I guess, g’luck today man.” I was still trying to figure out what was going. Why’s he so in to me right now?

    We were late. Jase and everyone grabbed all the equipment and rushed to the stage. There was no time to sound check or anything. They hooked up and headed back stage to get set. I waited outside while they did their stuff. I could here them all excited and jittery. Jase’s voice booming, “It’s time to go! Stage time BABY!” The band started to shout and yell, feeling the spirit from and Jase. Everyone was hyped up. Over the roar of their shouts, I heard, “Hey Jase? Did you tell him yet?”

    I was nervous when I heard this. I wasn’t sure if it was about me, but I had a bad feeling in my stomach. Jase! What’s going on? I walked with the rest of the band to the stage, while everyone walked on to get their instruments ready, I waited on the side. It was an interesting feeling watching the band get ready. I was still trying to figure out what Jase was up to, but at the moment, I was lost in the ecstasy of it all. The energy was wild, the audience right on the other side of the curtain and their yells of excitement. I was a little envious and jealous. For a second there, I thought of my guitar and my own dreams of being on stage. I snickered and cracked a little smile. What am I thinking? Idiot! I’m done with mu-

    “Hey! Quit daydreaming and move your butt!”

    “What?!” I was startled by Jase, who nudged me in the back and started pushing me forward.

    “Sorry it’s such short notice dude. We need a new lead guitar,” He kept pushing me straight to center stage.

    “Are you kidding me!? I don’t play anymore! I was never even good!” I panicked.

    “You’re better than you think. So shut up and play! You can’t get outta this!”
    I was already center stage. I hadn’t looked at him cause I new if I did then there would be no way out for sure.

    “I don’t even know any of your songs! C’mon man, this isn’t funny!” I hoped he would go with this and let me off the stage.

    “Don’t worry! These are your songs! Hehehe!” He grinned the same way he did when he got me to come to this thing, when I turned around.

    I was speechless. My songs?! I only wrote 2 songs. I can barely even play them. How? Why? I couldn’t get any of what I was thinking in my head to come out of my mouth. Before I knew it I was all set up, the only thing missing was the guitar. Jase didn’t take long with that though. He was still grinning when he put the strap over my shoulder. “You can do this man! I’ve heard you! You have a feel for the beat, just trust it! You’ll see man!”

    I was frozen where I stood. I couldn’t get out of this anymore. I heard the announcer introduce the band, “Let’s get ready to blast out loud! Someday Famous!” I was shacking and I could feel the cold swat run down my forehead. I didn’t know what to do. I looked down at the guitar in my hands, Fender Telecaster. I always wanted a Telecaster. Wait! This isn’t good! I can’t do this! I’m gonna look like an idiot! NOOO!

    The curtain started to rise and it felt like my spirit was leaving with it. I wanted to run away but I couldn’t move my damn feet. Once I could see the heads and waving hands of the audience right in front of the stage, I grabbed the pick from under the strings at the end of the neck of the Telecaster and got set to play. The curtain was almost fully raised and I could hear the drummer signal the rest of the band to start the beat.
    What am I doing? Am I really gonna play? Can I even play anymore? I mean I never really could in the first place! This is… This… I whispered to myself, “This is freaking terrible…” as the sound of Jase and his bass and the drums begin the beat for my song, “Something.”