Memory

Cassie

100 facts about Landon Hart

100 facts about Matthew Rayner

100 facts about Clark Cline

I scrolled down the screen but there wasn't one with the same headline as Kasey's. Weird. But what's more weird is how I could work with these people and know next to nothing about them. As a Communications intern, I totally suck. How am I supposed to promote them without even knowing the basic stuff about them? This is so frustrating. I don't know why I prefer to consult G****e instead of asking the people themselves.

"Are you stalking us?" Landon said, rolling his seat towards mine and leaning closer to look at my computer. Unlike Clark, Landon could be a bully at times that's probably the reason why we got along with each other. He’s someone like a partner in crime. We both like playing pranks on the other guys.

"It's called working," I said making quotation marks with my fingers in the air, emphasizing the word work. "I'm doing my research."

"Come on, no need to be shy about it," he said lightly elbowing me on the side. I poked him back in return. "Nobody beats Matthew when it comes to stalking."

"Matthew?" I asked. I stopped calling him noodle-hair since it makes me hungry just by thinking about it. What about him? Come to think of it, I think Clark mentioned something about it when we went to get some coffee not too long ago.

"Yep," he said popping the 'p' on the end. "Before I came to join the band, he stalked me until I agreed to watch their rehearsal. I mean the guy doesn't know when to give up."

"I'm glad he did," I said. I think Matthew would have been a successful sales agent though, with his great convincing skills and all. Maybe he should work on the marketing team as well.

"Me too," Landon grinned. He looks so young when he acts like this. "So, what else do you want to know?"

"Hmmm...I don't know," I said, scrunching my nose. I honestly don't like asking people questions. Rather, I think I wasn't actually interested in what they were saying. Or maybe I just don't want to get too involved. I don't want to be too nosy either. "Just tell me what you can."

"I was a really messed up kid that time," he started. You still look like a kid, I thought. But who am I to talk. I've been always been mistaken as a lost child. Landon wouldn't be good to me if I started teasing him about that.

"I ran away from home after my father kicked me out," he shrugged. That caught my attention. Though he did look a rebel kid sometimes. "I didn't want to go to school because I wanted to continue singing. He was really mad at me that time."

Right, Mel once mentioned he came from a family of singers. That’s probably why Matthew said he’s been singing since birth. She must have told me a lot more but I barely listened to her so there's no doubt I don't remember. I just hate myself for not listening sometimes. It usually comes to bite me back later.

"What?" I asked when I saw him gave me a small smile. Did I say anything subconsciously?

"You're not giving me that look," he said.

I don't know what he's talking about. I must have looked confused, too.

"Like I was a kicked puppy or something." he explained.

Was that how people who knew his story treated him? Looked at him with pity? He didn't need that. I do think he was brave. On the other hand, he was someone to look up to.

"Maybe because I understand," I said to him. That feeling of wanting to be free. Like a bird in a cage. It's easy to forget how to use its wings when it’s been trapped for so long.

I did.

"I think that was really cool," I told him. He probably didn't know but not all people could do that. Run away and leave everything behind. It would take a firm resolve just to walk out that door, not knowing if you could ever come back.

"You do? It's not as easy as you might think though," he sounded like some wise old man about to give the younger generation some life changing advice. Which is weird because I know he’s several years older but he doesn’t look like his age at all. "I lived with my grandma for a while. I also worked to earn money. I was in a band but things weren't looking so good as I hoped," he said seriously.

"I know. That's why I think you're really amazing. You went through all that because you knew what you really wanted," I said. I wish I could do the same. To not regret my decisions because I knew that I did everything that I can.

"I guess I was lucky Matthew found me," he said. "I was a piece of shit but because of him I became a cool shit."

"Well, that was quite a humungous transition," I said laughing. I guess that was quite a positive outlook. "By the way, Matthew mentioned about a boy group once."

I remembered our little detour on top of the hill. I guess I got a bit crazy for a while, but at least now everyone's at peace. Matthew sounded melancholic that time.

"Ah, Matthew used to be in a hip hop group but they eventually disbanded. It was his idea to form a rock band," he paused thoughtfully. "He convinced Clark, then invited Alex and Yuu. Kasey and I were the last to come into the picture.

"Alex and Yuu?" I asked. I've never heard of their names before. I don’t think anybody has mentioned them. Not Clark. Not even Mel.

"Yuu was the drummer before Kasey. He left the band to pursue an acting career and his parents didn't want their son to pursue that line of work," he said making a funny face. I think Yuu's more obedient than Landon.

"And Alex?" I asked. "What happened to him?"

"He was arrested for groping the leg of a twenty-one-year-old female student on a train and got out of the States," he said. "I think that was our lowest time. Clark thought of quitting the bass to learn the guitar. We didn't think we could manage to add another member. Our tour was also canceled. My whole world collapsed on me for the second time."

It must have been especially hard on him, I thought. Just when you thought everything has become better, it could also turn out for the worse. That’s why sometimes I’m afraid of being happy; because I know that that happiness can be taken away from me anytime.

"Thank god Matthew didn't lose his shit," he smiled. "Matthew took Alex's place as lead guitar, and we re-arranged our songs to be played for one guitar. He had been our pillar of strength."

"You guys really like him, don't you?" I said. I thought of Clark and how he told me the same things about Matthew. I'll bet Kasey feels the same way too. No doubt Mel loves these guys so much. Being in a band is different than being a solo artist. Being in a band means being one with your band members. If one of them is not in sync, it will definitely show in their music.

"Who wouldn't?" he replied.

He's right. Who wouldn't? After all, I think I'm beginning to like him, too.