Heart and Soul

The following days are a haze, and not in a good way. Turns out that organising a rager without any authorities catching on, while simultaneously hatching a plot to rekindle the bond of two estranged childhood friends, is a little bit fucking impossible logistically. Oh, and I can't mention too much to Poppy, because then she might realise the whole thing is a set-up so she'll finally talk to her goddamn crush.

"Yep. You're an idiot." Marie informs me.

I'd decided I needed help, and seeing as everyone else I know is a target of this half-baked plan, I'm left with Rosie and Marie. Who still don't like each other. Look, I didn't say it was a great option. We met up in my room to figure out a plan, but so far it's not going well.

"You're right, heaven forbid someone puts their loved ones before themselves." Rosie snaps back at our cousin. "I'm on board, Ru, just tell me what you need."

Marie's eyes roll at the insult. "Yeah, obviously I'm in, but it doesn't stop him being a moron." She points out. "It's tomorrow evening, right? How much have we got done already?"

It's not like I've been lazing around the last few days, I've been getting invitations out to everyone old enough to drink, plus I went back to the boat to make sure it's all somewhat functioning and cleaned up...

"From what I can tell, we've got three major things left to do, we've gotta find a way to get the band's gear to the ferry. We've gotta get enough booze to feed the five thousand, without bankrupting ourselves... And I still have to figure out how I'm going to get all these people to talk to each other." I groan, realising I really have no idea how I'm going to actually resolve any of the issues.

The girls seem equally as uncertain, maybe I've really bit off more than I can chew here... Too late to back out now though.

"You could try locking them in a room, I've had good results." A voice reverberates through the door, before it opens, revealing our Mama. "Only here a couple of weeks and already starting a riot, huh?" She smirks.

Or I could get rumbled before we even get to the event, that works too. "Mama! You're looking amazing today... Have... Have you been standing there long?" I ask, trying to ascertain the damage.

She looks at me like I couldn't have said anything more stupid, which I suppose I couldn't. She gestures for me to sit on the bed with the others, to which I obey. "Let me get this straight, you're planning a party to reunite lost friends and get your sister out of her shell, all without any of them noticing?" She summarises. I look at the others, who look back with defeated stares, and we all simply nod. "I've never been so proud of you." Mama giggles.

"What?" Rosie scoffs at the turn. She's always been the follow-the-rules type, so getting a positive reaction to breaking them must be messing with here. Marie seems less surprised, guess that's Trish' influence.

"Well, it'd be hypocritical of me to try and stop you." Mama explains. That's a good point, she was heavily involved in Marie's parents getting together in very similar circumstances. "But, for the record, I'm furious that you didn't tell me this days ago."

The golden rule in the Monroe household, don't keep secrets from your parents. It's more of a guideline, I mean, it's not like we talk about everything, but our parents always drilled into us that it's better to talk about things than be embarrassed or upset by them.

"It's my fault, I didn't want to drag-" I begin, before I get cut off.

"Sweetie, that's great that you're taking responsibility, but we don't have time." Mama interjects. "Marie, give Sienna a call, she's in our old flat, right? The bar below should have a cash and carry card, it'll mean she can buy booze dirt cheap. Rosie, I noticed a truck next door that might be enough to carry the equipment, ask your friend if she can help." She commands, doling out orders with military precision. The girls look confused, but exit the room after receiving their assignments.

Can't say I was expecting our mother to come to the rescue, but then she's always been a bit unorthodox. "So, what do I need to do?" I ask as she pulls a chair from my desk and sits down facing me.

"You need to tell me which of these girls you're putting in all this effort for." Mama answers softly, her eyes filled with concern. Wow, has she got the wrong end of the stick.

"It's not like that Maman, they're my friends, and it wasn't even my idea originally, it was Echo's to get Poppy and her brother to actually talk." I correct her. I mean, okay, technically it was my idea, but Echo's the one who pushed me to do it.

"Echo, she the girl that gave you that?" Mama asks, pointing to the wall behind me. My stomach does a flip as I realise my guitar is leaning against the wall, I'd forgotten that I was forbidden to play. "Relax, you're not in trouble... Not yet anyway, just answer me."

I sigh, accepting my fate. "Yeah, she did, she really got me back into music. Her and Andi were friends but... Well they grew apart, I'm just trying to fix it for them, to help them out, that's all." I argue my case, but it doesn't seem to reassure her.

"You've always been addicted to the limelight, Rufus." Mama states, brushing my hair out of my eyes. "In some ways it was a problem, it's why we put an end to the 'rock star' phase after that incident, but it's what makes you who you are. Since I've come back, you've changed, I never would've thought you'd put this much effort into anything."

I feel like I should be offended, but I get her point. I was a serial coaster, I just got by without really having to try... Maybe I really have changed. "Is... That a bad thing?" I ask, causing a small smile to appear on her face.

"Only you can know that for sure, but there's this look in your eye, I recognise it well, it's more than just determination, it's a fire, like you can't accept anything but the best from yourself. I never thought I'd see it on you." Mama replies, her worried face now mixed with pride. "I just hope you figure out what's causing it, or rather, who's causing it." She adds, placing a kiss on my forehead and standing up to leave.

"Where did you see it before?" I blurt out. It's not like I buy that I've got some massive crush driving me to do the right thing for once, but she seems convinced enough to make me wonder.

Mama chuckles at the question. "Your mother, the day she told me how she felt." She responds with a nostalgic tone. "Maybe I'm imagining it, I might be a foolish old woman, but the moment she looked at me like that I knew I was hers forever. So, maybe be careful with it unless there's someone you really want to feel that way about you." She adds, laughing at my disgruntled reaction.

She exits my room, leaving me with my thoughts. Me and Echo? Me and Andi? Forever?

Nah. I'm going with the 'Mama is crazy' option.