Messing around.

Like I said, we had over an hour until our next class and a full hour to use the music room, so we stayed there messing around with the instruments. Steven did show me a couple of small tricks of his regarding fretting, really basic stuff that, being mostly self-taught, I had completely ignored. It was awkward to implement at first, but I kept trying it even as we all talked.

“Going back a bit,” Steven said, looking at the two girls. “You play J-pop?”

“Yeah,” Ruby said. “We mostly cover anime songs on keyboard and violin.”

“Unlike you two, we have no original songs,” Luna admitted.

“Why not?” Eric asked.

“We’re already having a lot of fun, and there’s no shortage of music to learn,” Ruby said. “But mostly…”

“We don’t have the sense to write music,” Luna said with a grimace. “We’ve been trying to learn, but the theory goes over my head and we can’t seem to get anything good from just trying random things out.”

“Maybe you’ll have that moment soon,” I said. “The moment where music clicks and you start understanding it as more than just a series of notes. Ever since that moment hit me I’ve been even more hooked on music and writing has gotten simpler.”

“...”

“...”

“...”

“...”

“W-What?” I asked, noticing that everyone was looking at me weirdly.

“Oliver, how much music theory do you know?” Steven asked me.

“A bit, but not much. Like Luna said, a lot of it goes over my head, but I’m still trying to study it.”

“You mean you’ve been writing music on sense alone?” Steven asked.

“I… guess?”

Eric clicked his tongue. “I’m seeing a different timeline where we kicked Julian out of the music club and we ended up as a famous local band.”

“I wasn’t even trying to write music back then. much less knew how to do it,” I said. “It only started making sense to me like… six months ago? I can’t remember.”

“Okay, now I’m really jealous,” Steven said. “The way I do it is that I look at the verses of different songs, trying to add a weird spin to it, change its key, basically try everything until it barely sounds like the original. But you’re doing it from scratch?”

“Like you said, it’s all simple stuff.”

“Is this how you caught all those hotties you’re dating?” Ruby asked.

“Holy shit, he already has groupies? I’m so fucking jealous,” Luna said.

“It’s not how he caught them, but it’s how he invited them to prom,” Eric said, smirking. “He plugged his guitar and a mic in the cafeteria and played one of his songs while inviting five girls to prom in front of everyone. It was all people could talk about for a couple of days.”

“Eric, I’m going to strangle you.”

“You can’t silence the truth. It’s on the internet!” he argued.

“Wait, wait, go back! Five girls!?” Steven asked, shocked.

“Oh yeah, you don’t know!” Luna laughed. “This playboy is actually dating seven women! We just learned that this morning!”

“Oh, you slut!” Steven said, pointing an accusatory finger at him.

“Seven?” Eric asked before starting counting with his fingers. “Mila, Grace, Sarah, Alice, Noelle… Wait, so there are two more now!?”

I sighed. I guess he wouldn’t know… “Diana and Fernanda are people I met outside school.”

Despite the apparent outrage that the revelation caused, I was starting to notice that, while there was a reaction, it wasn’t the type you would expect. The enchantment we had in place made it so it would be considered normal, but I remember Frey saying that it wasn’t the cleanest job, so I suppose some amount of surprise was the margin of error. These reactions were akin to revealing that I was dating an extremely famous Hollywood actress or something like that.

“Look, a lot of things happened, alright?”

“Please, Oliver, we don’t need that many details,” Eric teased, apparently getting comfortable enough to do so.

“I disagree. I’d like more details,” Ruby said.

“My mother warned me about men like you,” Steven said, shaking his head.

“He was even bragging about being good in bed,” Luna said, joining the teasing.

I sighed. I could’ve fought back, but experience had taught me that the best way to handle these situations is redirection. “Okay, but what about you, Steven? You tried to ask me out, so that means you’re single. How come?”

“Yeah, how come!?” Luna eagerly asked, taking the bait.

“I’ve been wondering, too,” Ruby said. “You’re cute, talented, famous… How are you even single?”

“Ugh, broke up with my boyfriend right before summer vacation started,” he said, rubbing his face and groaning into his hands. “Worst summer of my life. I admit that half the reason I asked you out, Oliver, was me taking more steps towards moving on.” He came clean with his story, but not being happy with being the center of the questioning, either, he turned to Eric. “And what about you? You said you’re seeing someone. Is it true?”

“W-What? Why would I lie!?” Eric asked, more shocked than offended.

“To get out of an awkward situation,” Luna said. “It’s what I’d do.”

“Well, she’s real, okay! Just a month ago we even…! Um… Err…. N-Never mind.”

Ruby and Steven both gasped loudly, covering their smirking lips behind their hands. “Eric, you naughty boy!” Ruby sang.

I chuckled, but in a more serious and understanding tone, I asked, “So things are going well with Maya?”

Eric sighed, but nodded with a small smile. “We… talked, like you suggested. She ended up inviting me to her VTM sessions and… I made new friends there. We’re getting closer, and… Yeah.”

So Eric did the deed, huh? Why do I feel weirdly proud of him? I shouldn’t really care. Besides, not like having sex should be some sort of badge of honor. I guess I’m more glad that things are going well for him, considering his previous insecurities.

“Hold on, so I’m the only one single here?” Steven asked, suddenly realizing that.

“Seems so,” I said.

“Well, shit… Does anyone have any friends they can introduce me to?”

I went down a list of names in my mind, and… “Sorry, everyone I know is both straight and in a relationship.”

“Same, and I don’t know many people to begin with,” Eric said.

“Yep, all taken,” Luna said.

“Oh, for the love of…”

“For what it’s worth, I’d advice to not **** it,” I said. “My sister decided to stop dating and has been focusing fully on her own interests. She’s happier.”

“Yeah, fuck it, I’ll dedicate myself to music,” Steven said, looking down at the guitar in his hands and playing a fast, highly technical solo. “And on that note… How about the five of us start a band?”

“A band!?” Eric exclaimed.

Ruby and Luna looked at each other with wide eyes and big smiles.

I frowned. “Sorry, but no. At least not yet. If you all want to star one, go ahead, but I’d rather not commit to something like that after only knowing you all for two days. Well, Eric excluded. I’d have no problems starting a band with Eric in the future.”

“...”

I think my answer brought the whole mood down. No, rather, it sobered up everyone. Luna and Ruby’s excitement dwindled, and the two nodded in agreement with me.

“Yeah, I agree. It sounds fun, and I’m more than willing to work on assignments together with you all,” Ruby said, “but a band is too big of a commitment right now.”

“I’m sorry, Steven…” Luna said, grimacing.

Instead of being disappointed, Steven smirked. “You know, I like that answer better. Shows you’d take it seriously. No, I’m the one who’s sorry. I got carried away. It’s just… there’s talent here, that’s clear. So just so you know, the invitation is open, and I’ll be waiting.”

Starting a band? I don’t think I ever even considered it. I had thought of playing in public, of being on stage, of uploading my music to the internet… but never about being in a band. I guess that’s the introvert in me.

But yeah, maybe one day, but not now, not so thoughtlessly.

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