Blue sky pt 2

Matthew

“Matthew,” I felt a hand lightly tapping my cheek. “Matthew, wake up.”

I slowly opened my eyes and was greeted by a blinding light. My hair’s plastered to my forehead with sweat. My arm felt stiff and I felt disoriented for a little while. Right, we were up on the hill. I must have fallen asleep. It sure felt nice having some peace and quiet once in a while. Cassie was already up, stretching.

“What time is it?” I asked, dusting off some grass from my pants.

“It’s nine in the morning,” she said, unbothered.

“Already!?” I asked with a jolt. I must have slept more deeply than I thought. I took out my phone and saw missed calls from at least five people. I sighed. Landon left a voice mail. Which in itself was a bad omen.

Get your ass in here right this instant, it says.

“Did I get you in trouble?” Cassie asked, a crease forming on her forehead. I noticed her eyebrows were slightly arched, which often makes a snobbish character out of her. Her hair was messy and her face was flushed. She looked like a grassland fairy, I thought, sizing her up with my thumb.

“Landon’s threatened to kill me a hundred times, but I’m still alive,” I said, giving her a small smile. She doesn’t look convinced, though.

“I can get you there in less than half an hour,” she offered. I thought of the ride on the way here and I can almost feel the nausea hitting me. It would take more than half an hour drive to get to the studio but I prefer to be grilled by Landon than to puke my brains out getting there.

“No!” I suddenly said and took her by surprise. “I’m not getting in the same car with you as the driver.”

She smiled sheepishly at me and went to the passenger’s seat. I got on the car and went down the hill. She kept quiet along the way so I decided to play some music.

“I don’t think I have some classical music in here,” I said, remembering she loved those. Then she started humming.

"What?" she asked after I gave her a weird look. "Doesn't mean I like classical music that I don't listen to other genres of music."

"My bad," I said, focusing my eyes on the road. I guess it was too early for me to put her into a stereotype.

"No problem," she replied, tapping her fingers on the dashboard along with the beat.

"Do you play? Instruments." I asked. She was playing an invisible piano a while ago.

"A bit," she said thoughtfully. "I kind of learned the basics myself. They said I should learn more useful things."

"Like what? Tackling a guy twice your size to the ground kind of stuff?" I smirked. I wonder who she meant by 'they'.

"Something like that. You have to admit it was pretty useful." she grinned back. "How long have you guys been playing?"

"Hmm. More than ten years, I guess?" I said. "I made Clark learn the bass in two weeks. Landon has been singing ever since he got out of his mother’s womb, I think. Kasey was a teacher before he regressed to childhood."

"Woah! That's impressive," she exclaimed. I don't know which part she's referring to. I guess all of them. "How are you guys able to do it?"

"Do what?" I asked.

"Stay together for that long," she says. As if she can’t imagine such a thing happening to herself.

"Because we like one another?" I answered. "I can't imagine how other people can stay in a band when they don't even like each other."

“You’re lucky,” she nodded. Trying to comprehend what I just said.

“Don’t you think the same thing?” I wondered.

“I guess I could say that I got used to people being tolerable,” she shrugged. “But I think you guys are good people. And there’s Mel, too.”

Was that what she was doing the whole time? Tolerating me? She clearly wasn’t, the first time I met her. Not the second time around either. But somehow her demeanor changed when she found out we were to work with one another. She got along well with the others while I was away. So I guess I was the one who had the problem. I should have tried to make amends with her sooner. I think I didn’t expect her to be so amiable.

When we reached the studio, Landon was waiting for us. Why do I feel like I’m doing the walk of shame? I was prepared to face his wrath when Cassie placed herself between us. Landon looked at her, then at me. I shrugged.

“I’m sorry. Matthew’s car was just so cool I took it out for a ride,” she said, her hands clasped together in front of her. “It’s all my fault.”

Did she just do what I think she just did? Did she just act cute in front of Landon. Somehow, I find that annoying. I’d rather get chewed on by Landon a hundred times over than for her to do that again.

“Matthew?” Landon said, unable to believe what he just heard. “Matthew did that?”

Cassie nodded. A little too much if you ask me. Though she wasn’t technically lying when she said she took it out for a ride, I’ll doubt it’s true she did it because she thought it was so cool. She doesn’t seem to be easily impressed by that kind of stuff.

I wonder what I have to do to impress her. A sudden thought came to my head.

“You should have told me. Then you two could have hanged out a bit longer,” he smiled at her and patted her head.

I can’t believe it. It actually worked. But then again, I haven’t seen it because I was standing behind Cassie, but she must have looked adorably cute especially when she’s trying that even Landon can’t say no to her. This girl is dangerous. She’ll have all of us wrapped around her finger in no time. If that hasn’t happened yet.

“We’ll talk later,” he scorned at me, before turning around and walking away, leaving me and Cassie standing in the hallway.

Talk about a sudden about-face.

“That was scary,” Cassie said facing me and giving me a wink. I think she knew why Landon let her off the hook easily. I can’t say the same for me. They’ve really gotten close that easily. I’m quite envious that he talks about things to Landon yet she’s just starting to open up to me.

“You didn’t have to do that,” I said. I’m used to Landon’s stubbornness anyway. I had to stalk him for a long time before he even agreed to talk to me. I guess the others weren’t wrong when they say I could be quite creepy.

“I would want to see you still in one piece at the end of the day. He looked like he was ready to tear you into pieces,” she said. Right, but he won’t do that because he needs me to play the guitar for him.

“Well, thanks anyway,” I said. “I better go before Landon drags my ass in there.”

I followed Landon into the music room where Kasey jumped me as soon as I opened the door. Clark was sitting cross-legged on the floor, smiling. Landon hit me on the head with his palm, but it wasn’t because he was angry. I think he looked quite happy. I really don’t get this guy. He was scolding me just a few minutes ago.

“You finally listened to us, didn’t you?” Landon said, grinning from ear to ear. That stupid guy wouldn’t stop hitting me just for the sake of it.

“It was the first time Matthew didn’t get along with anybody,” Clark added. He was much worse than me when I brought Landon before. He just wouldn’t talk to him no matter how hard I tell him to open up to him. They even got mad at me for bringing such a cocky bastard like him.

“I’m sorry Matthew but I’d choose Cassie over you anytime,” Kasey screeched in my ear. He still hasn’t gotten off my back so I dropped him on the floor. He’s just got the mental capacity of a five year old.

“Ouch, that hurts!” Kasey said, as his butt collided with the floor. “You’re very cruel.”

“What’s the fuss all about?” I said. I knew these guys were crazy but this was a whole new level of craziness. I think they’ve all gotten too fond of Cassie.

“We’re just glad you two came along,” Clark said. “She’s a nice girl. She just didn’t know how to approach you. I think you realized that by now.”

I nodded.

I did.

But she was more than a nice girl.

But I can’t find the words to describe her.

Not yet.