Adulting 101 (Peyton)

I woke up before my alarm, rolling onto my side, I watched the minutes pass by. I'd stayed up texting Ryker and didn't end up getting much sleep yet I couldn't force myself to go back to bed.

Through the thin walls, I could hear that the rest of my family was already up. Mom was making breakfast, I knew that because Auggie was banging pots and pans together like he was some artist. The news was on full blast which meant dad was getting his dose of reality for the day.

I sighed and just turned off the alarm, there was no hope of going back to sleep.

I pushed the covers off myself and got up. I grabbed the closest sweatshirt and yanked it on. I tied up my hair and went to say good morning when my toes hit something hard.

I hissed curse words under my breath while hopping on one foot till the pain subsided.

I looked down to see what I'd hit. The old guitar case was laying on the floor where I left it weeks ago. I picked it up and set it on my bed. I pulled out the old guitar and gazed over it.

It was as pretty as it was when I first looked at it. I'd completely forgot about it, my parent's birthday gift from forever ago - or what felt like forever ago.

I held it properly against my body and brushed my fingers over the old strings. I cringed as the out of tune strings vibrated. I moved to tune them but a loud clang came from the kitchen followed by the booming voice of a newscaster.

It was loud to even attempt to play, let alone tune.

I was about to put the guitar back when my eyes scanned past my window, and fire escape. I hesitated and shrugged.

Why not.

I crawled out onto the fire escape.

I was grateful for the sweatshirt as the morning chill swarmed around me.

I settled myself on one of the metal stairs and positioned my guitar.

I was too far up to be affected by the traffic below. This was the most bliss I'd felt in awhile, I couldn't believe it took me this long to try playing out here.

Once the instrument was back in tune muscle memory took off and my fingers started to move.

The familiar tune of Jason Marz's, I'm Yours thrummed to life. It was like riding a bike, I didn't even need to think of the notes, my fingers just moved effortlessly.

I stopped when I checked back in with myself and realized I couldn't feel my feet.

Loud, booming claps came from behind me that made me jump and whip my head around.

A man, maybe thirty? Was out on his fire escape one over. He was wearing a plaid button-up and jeans, dark hair, and beard.

"That was pretty, why'd you stop?" He called with a friendly smile.

"I'm sorry - what?" I sputtered out still trying to keep my nerves down.

He laughed and moved his coffee cup from one hand to the other.

"You gotta voice to go with it?" He continued with curiosity.

I squared my shoulds getting more defensive, it was too early to deal with creepy men.

"Maybe, why?" I shot back with narrowed eyes.

"I work at a bar a few blocks down, my manager has been looking for local entertainment to jazz up the place. If you stop by later I'm sure he'd offer you a job," He shrugged.

I cocked my head to the side and relaxed, surprised at the turn of conversation.

"Sure, maybe. What's it called?"

"Moose's tavern, just keep walked that why on the right, you can't miss it,"

I looked down the street where he was pointing then looked back at him with a smile smile.

"You know I'm a still kinda like a minor? I'm not allowed in bars," I questioned with a raised eyebrow.

He raised his hands and backed into his aparment.

"I didn't hear that," was all he said.

I shook my head and laughed.

I went back in too. I put on some socks to warm the ice blocks that were my feet.

When I walked into the kitchen Mom was scrubbing a pan at the sink. WIthout looked up she grunted.

"You missed breakfast,"

Her tone was passive agresstive, I rolled my eyes and grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl.

"Sorry, I lost track of time," I mumbled and bit into the fruit.

Even though I couldnt see her face I could tell that it was set in her cold stare of supioraty.

"Maybe if you actaully did something with your day then you would have been up before eleven in the morning," Her tone still passive.

I huffed as I looked to the clock that read ten thirty.

Of course, the one day I don't have magic practice or training with Hale and get to sleep in, I'm critiziced for it, typical.

I tossed the apple core in the trash and stomped out before she could say anything else.

I moved my pillows around till I found my phone. Ryker's contact was still pulled up.

You up? Mom is already on my case.

I dressed and combed out my hair as I waited for Ryker's text back, though I doubted he was even up yet.

I looked over to the gutair case and frowned.

I loved music and it been so long since I'd played. Before eveything had happened the band and I would play everywhere we could. Parks, cafe's, school dance's. But starting a job with everything I had going on didn't seem like a good idea. It would be the peice in my janga puzzle of life that caused the whole thing to come crashing down.

My phone vibrated in my hands.

I am now. That sucks I'm sorry. Coffee?

My caffine addiction had my fingers typing at hyperspeed.

Yes, see you soon!

I went to the coat closet a

and tugged on my boots.

Everyone was in the living room, Auggie was on the floor smashing legos together, Mom had joined Dad for the moring news.

"Hey going to meet Ryker for coffee," I called to them.

"Again? I don't know why you waste your money, we have coffee here. It wouldn't hurt to have him over here," Mom crabbed from the couch.

Dad put a hand on her knee.

"Oh stop she wants to hang out with her friend. Have fun sweetie," He smiled at me.

I gave a tight lipped one back.

I wanted to correct him and tell him the he wasn't a friend, he was my brother, but I took the win and left before any more meladrama occured.

Ryker got there before me and had my coffee waiting, I took the seat across from him and he pushed the cup infront of me.

"Thanks," I sighed as I took of my coat.

"No problem, so your mom?" He asked taking a sip of his own drink.

I groaned.

"She's just so - Urgh! She just can't help but criizize everything I do! I don't think she even realizes she does it anymore, its just embbeded into her mind," I huffed and took a sip of my coffee. "Ok like the moring , I got up before my alram and was playing my gutair out of the fire escape, got offered a job interveiw but I missed breakfast so now I'm a monster!" I huffed and leaned back inmy chair.

"Job interveiw?" Was his only comment.

I rolled my eyes and shook my head.

"Yeah I was out playing gutair on the fire escape and out of the blue this guy over heard and said his manger might give me an interveiw, but it's nothing I'm not going," I told him looking down at my coffee, picking the order sticker off.

"Wait, why arent you going?" He asked with a confused look.

I frowned and looked up at him.

"Becuase we have lot going on right now. Magic, war, senior year, its all to much to add job to the list too," I explained, brushing it off.

Ryker scoffed and leaned forward.

"Peyton you have to go. Good things arnt going to happen to us anymore, this may be your last chance, take it,"

I chewed on the inside of my cheek and conceded.

"Fine, I'll go to the interveiw, doesnt mean they will hire me though,"

"Pessimissim must run in the family," Ryker chuckled.

When we departed I carried out my promise and went home and got my gutair and then hunted down Moose's Tavern.

The guy was right, it was hard to miss the large neon sign. I gave a long sigh and them walked in.

The smell of peanuts and stale beer hit my nose as I let the door shut behind me. It wasnt too busy, granted it was only twelve, I spotted the man from this moring behind the bar, he had a name tag on, Ray. I walked over to him and he noticed me as I aprroched.

"Hey Red, you showed up!" He called setting down the bottle in his hand.

"My name's Peyton," I chuckled back.

Ray shook his head.

"Nah, I like Red better," He gave me smirk that screamed uncle vibes.

The large swinging doors from behind him opened and a man about the same age as Ray with longer blonde hair came out, he was so tall I was suprised he didnt hit the celing.

"Hey Moose! This is the chick I was telling you about. Red meet Moose, the manger and owner,"

I bit my lip as he looked me over.

"Is your name really Red or is Ray pulling my leg?" he asked with a soft smile.

I gave a chuckle and extended my hand.

"NIce to meet you, I'm Peyton,"

He shook my hand and then looked over to Ray.

"So, Ray here says you know your way around a gutair?"

I smirked and shugged.

"I know a thing or two,"

Moose's eyes were bright with amusment.

"Well then, please, let me hear,"

I nodded.

"Right, one sec,"

I set the case on the barstool and took out the gutair and took a seat. I took a breath and then started to strum the intro to the Eagles, Take It Easy.

Keeping the rythm, I slowly let the lyrics hum out.

"Well Iv'e been running down the road trying to liisen my load, Iv'e got seven women on my mind.."

Just like this moring I lost myself in the music, It was like I was back in my bedroom, all alone.

I suprised myself as I strummed the last notes, clapping followed and I was brough back to the tavern.

Not only was Ray and Moose clapping but the the few patrons who were in as well.

I blushed and put my gutair away.

"Wow Ray, you have an eye for talent! That was amazing," Moose thundered.

"Thanks," I murmered with a shy smile.

Moose leaned on the bar and narrowed his eyes at me.

"Tell you what, if you can keep up that classic rock genre you got yourself a job, we don't get to many youngster's in here,"

A smile broke out om my face quiker then I wou;d have liked.

"Wow- Thank you!" I stuttered out.

They both laughed.

"No problem kid, I'm going to need some time to advertise so leave your number and I'll call you," He smiled and then went back through the swinging doors.

Ray reached under the bar and handed me a pad of paper and pen.

I wrote down my name and number and handed it back to him.

"Well I should get back to my job, good job Red," He gave a nod and then went over to a customer who had just sat down.

I took my gutair in hand and headed out with a little skip in my step.

When I got home Dad was in the kitchen, getting things ready for dinner.

"Hey, what have you been up too?" He greeted as he peeled patato's into the sink.

I shugged off my boots.

"Not much, just out. Call me when dinner's done?"

He nodded and I went to me room and put my gutair case away somewhere I wouldn't trip on it.

I sprawled out on my bed and called Ryker.