6 Jake

I reached school quite earlier than I thought. The guys aren't here. So I went to TC998, our practice room. The room was reserved for club members till last year. I had eyes in this place for a long time. Wide space, sunlight comes from each side and a stage. We wanted it when we started the band in sophomore. Our bad luck that seniors didn't let us. They wanted the space for their club activities. More like illegal activities!

The Clove

But this year I snatched it not because I am a senior now! I took it from them last year. Standing here, breathing the smell, I feel victory surging through my veins.

No one in the band trusted me enough to get this place for us. But I did! And I proved to so many people that they are wrong.

I gathered my things and placed them over a table. When I was going to unpack my guitar bag, someone tapped the door.

It was Maya.

"Hey," she said, waving her hands a little.

"Hey, come" I waved her inside inviting her. I pulled a chair and I decided to stand. She came and put her bag on the table, but didn't sit.

"Umm. What's up? " I asked her. Why she's so early here?

"Hey. I... Um.." she started to fidget with the end of her dress.

"Do you have anything to say, Maya? " I asked easing her.

"I... I thought... I mean... I came to see Luke" she stammered.

Luke?

"No. It's just me. The guys will be here around 10! Or so. I guess"

"Yeah... When I saw you in the parking area... I thought Luke will be here too..." she said. Still, she didn't meet my eyes. Now I am intrigued.

"What's the deal with Luke, Ms. Lauren? " I asked her.

"I was...I Was just...Passing by....and thought he would be here..." she said.

"What Luke did now!" I muttered under my breathe.

"No. He didn't do anything... It's me... I wanted to talk to him. That's all!" She defended him.

Uhh... I don't know what to say. What Luke does outside this room is none of my business. But still...

"Why you want to see him?" I asked her.

" I told you. Just to talk." She shrugged.

"I have never known that Luke Miller talks to girls!" I signed.

"Then I guess Sharlow isn't a girl as I thought!" She muttered.

"Stalker much? What do you want to do with Luke, Maya? Say the truth!" I folded my arms against my chest.

She signed.

"We have a business to finish. He didn't take his phone... So I thought..." she said

"Hmmm. Maybe been busy with all these things" I waved my hands referring to our musical instruments. "He'll call you. Don't worry." I said and went to take my guitar.

"Okay. Then see you. Bye." She said and went to the door. Suddenly stopping and turned to me saying "I wasn't stalking. I saw her and Luke talking to Isabelle two days ago at The Ravens Official court" maybe she saw the confusion itched on my face and said again "Thought you would know" with that she left me with my increasing confusion.

Two days ago?

Why Sharlow is seeing Isabelle? And what Luke and Sharlow have to talk about with Isabelle?

Why I am knowing this from another person? And what the fuck both of them are doing at The Raven's arena?

God!

Why is no one telling me anything?

This shit has to stop here!

I opened my phone and turned the data on. A lot of messages came. But I have two people on priority right now!

Luke already messaged me! I opened his chat. It shows that he got Isabelle's number. What's going on here? Why he desperately wanted her number? I typed various replies. But couldn't send anything. I don't know where to start the conversation.

Instead of sending him a message, I decided to message Sharlow. She too messages me already!

Sharlow: Hey, it was April there. I just answered her—Tat's ol. And I knw you were sleeping. So.....

Yeah! So... I texted her to meet me at school at 11. I know she doesn't have class after the first period. By ten 'o'clock Luke will be here. So I can cross-examine both of them!

I silenced my phone and took my guitar. I just ran my fingers over the string. Its sound echoes through the room.

That's how I end up playing The Pretender's Stand By you. Sharlow loves it. But she never will admit that she hears it all the time. A small smile played over my lips. After 20 minutes Cooper entered the room.

"Well, well. Loverboy is sitting alone here?" He said with that cocky smirk on his face.

"Fuck off! I was just playing." I said removing my guitar strap from my shoulder.

"Yeah, right, and unexpectedly it becomes Sharlow's favorite song. What a coincidence, " he laughed and went to take his bass.

Like I expected, Luke and others came by 10:30. I didn't ask him anything. He's a smart one, I can give you that. If I asked him about his and Sharlow's involvement with Isabelle, he will turn the story upside down. Nevertheless, in presence of Sharlow, I don't have to worry about that. She's can't lie to my face.

"So, are we going to start or what?" Luke asks

"Sure," I said while picking up my guitar.

"Logan! Do you've any hearing problems? Get your ass here, man! " Cooper shouted. When I looked up from my guitar, I saw Logan fumbling with his phone.

God…

This guy. " Next time I see you with that thing during our practice, promise I'm gonna break that thing to pieces, Logan!" I warned him.

"Uhh. Come on! This is the only time I get used to my phone. " Logan said

"Yeah, other times she's with you. So I don't think you needed the phone that time" Luke muttered. That earns him a glare from Logan.

"Knock it off man! Do some work. We need to finish this!" I said. With that everyone's focused their mind on the practice. We went through 3 songs by 11:45. In the middle of the first song, Sharlow came and seated on the floor watching us.

We ended our practice early because Cooper got a call from his home. He didn't say much. He went out pretty fast as we ended the session. Logan was still playing with his instrument, so I guess he's not leaving for now.

"So, you summoned me?" Sharlow asked. Luke was smirking playing with the drums. Logan ignored us.

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah. But it's not only you, I've to talk" I said looking at Luke. He didn't saw me looking at him. After a moment of silence, he looked up and raised an eyebrow at me.

"What?"

"That means you too." I pointed my finger at him.

"God. No! Jake .. Man. I love you. You are my buddy. But I am not that much of kinky to have a threesome with you" he said dramatically pointing at two of us.

"What the fuck are you talking about?" I shouted. I heard Sharlow laughing, but ignored it. "Come here, you little fucker" I hopped on the stage and dragged him down where Sharlow stood.

"Leave me!" he said shoving my hands off from his elbow.

"Okay. Okay," Sharlow said breathing in between her laugh. "Now, what you want to talk about?" she asked.

"What are you both hiding from me?" I asked looking at them.

"What?" a confused Luke asked

"What are you talking about?" so as Sharlow

"What you both have business with Isabelle?" With that Sharlow's smile slipped from her face.

"Uhh. I.." Before she could say something Luke said "Man! I told you. It's nothing. She doesn't have anything to do with this."

"Oh yeah. Then what the fuck were you two doing at The Raven's Official court two days ago?"

They both look at each other like they were talking in their head. Then Sharlow start talking

" Okay. It's nothing like you are thinking. It's's... just" She looked at Luke. He nodded.

"So, anyone going to talk?" I asked again

"You remember our field trip a few days back?" Sharlow asked.

"Yeah, " I said

"So, you remember how our seats got mixed up with the last time and Mrs. Hemsword made us sit by our numbers?" Luke asked.

"Of course. How could I forget that? " I said. We chose our seating on that field trip. But someone messed up with the arrangements and we were confused about the bus. At the last minute, Mrs. Hemsword made everyone sit by their numbers.

"Man! Don't remind me about that. "Logan said from behind. "I was supposed to be seated with my girl and ended up with some skinny nerd from my science class. Oh, god " he said covering his face with his hands.

"Don't tell me! I was supposed to be seated with Jake and ended up with one of the frat boys. This dude was full of games and shit and didn't give a rest to my ears" Luke said and he looked at me "Well, what about you?"

"Umm... I ended up with Clarissa" I said

"Clarissa? The tall one?" Luke asked

"Yeah"

"Well, I guess mine was less brutal than that" Luke said. Sharlow punches his arm.

"Ouch! What's that for? I said the truth. She only has one thought. That is selfies. Her Instagram is full of her daily routine." He says rubbing his arm.

"True. In the whole trip, she was all over me. Couldn't even eat my food." I said. "So, why you brought up this?"

"Uh, that day, like all of us, Sharlow ended up with one of the football players and April ended up with Isabelle," Luke said

"Isabelle wasn't so happy about the arrangement and she was bitching about me and you," Sharlow said.

Why is she bitching about us?

"Why she bitching about us?" I asked.

"Uh.."

"We can say, you made out with her. But you didn't let her see your business, so she got angry and lashed it on April, as April is Sharlow's friend." Luke said.

Poor April.

At least Sharlow can handle the girls being bitches — perks of being with me — but April is not like that.

Shit!

"So, long story short, that day, Isabelle stole a box from April which contains her diary, some of her mother's things. But it is locked and the key is with April" Sharlow said.

"Yesterday, I saw her crying in the corridor and asked her what the matter is. She said this and at that time, Luke came. So we made a plan to get the box from Isabelle. April didn't want anyone to know. That's why we didn't say anything to you. She already has some problems going over the ass of an ex. She didn't want more." She said.

"So that's why you wanted Isabelle's number." I looked at Luke for which he shrugged.

So much drama!

"If you want any help, feel free to ask," I said. "Yeah. Me too." Logan said.

Sharlow and Luke looked at each other. Then she jumped to my arms and I caught her laughing.