The Hush Society Presents..., Izzy Matias [cat reading book .TXT] 📗

ideas only to have people shut them down. They’re my best mates, which should make it easier, but it isn’t. It’s frightening.

Commit or quit.

I nod, then play my riff. The tone of the song changes from its edgy nature into a more soulful tone. I want to transcend genres—not just your typical indie rock, but funk, soul, and edge. It reminds me of the stripped version of LANY’s "ILYSB."

Eric and Benji tighten the melody as I adjust my voice to match their rhythm.

Eric's tempo increases. Benji and I follow along.

The bridge is approaching.

I inhale deep before I burst back into song. Doubt and fear threaten the spark. Don’t let them keep you in the dark, lest you live with regrets, what ifs. Now, tell, me, are you ready for the cliff?

I let the moment take me. I pop and lock, swing my arms around like a hip-hop dancer, just 'cause. Yeah. I'm feelin' it.

In this moment, I’ve never felt more proud to have Benji and Eric back me up. I trust them with my music.

The music pumps through my veins; the adrenalin consumes my body, my soul. We carry the beat faster this time.

We are a volcano ready to erupt.

As we hit the final chorus, we explode into a thousand pieces of glass and end on a high note. I turn around to face them. We've got massive grins on our faces. That was brilliant. I want to do it again.

So we do.

We go on for another hour or so. I haven't kept track of the time. When I check my mobile, it registers the time: it’s almost five in the afternoon. We've been down here for over three hours.

I should be tired, but the high and adrenalin from surrendering ourselves to the music has me floating.

Who would have thought that the solution to having no band was to ask my best mates? It’s absolutely ace that we can turn a simple idea, a simple melody into something more. I can’t wait to figure out our sound as a band. I don’t ever want to go back to the mundane if I’m able to live in moments where nothing but the music matters. If only I could have this excellent feeling on loop. Nine-year-old me would be so proud.

CHAPTER NINE

Just like the day before, we spend most of our time in Eric’s basement. It was another day full of music, and video games. Aside from keeping up with my part-time jobs, most of my days are either at Eric’s basement or Benji’s band room practising for our first tour. Judy and Nate were thrilled at my progress in a few short weeks—from losing two bands to forming one with my best friends.

Benji stands up, and pockets his mobile and announces he’s leaving. He lives a few streets away from Eric. We nod at him, not looking away from the telly.

Aside from the violent sounds blaring from the surround sound speakers, our fingers add a different kind of noise with the forceful way we handle the controllers.

"Use one of the potions to extinguish the blaze!" I yell at Eric.

We’re a ridiculous sight: two teenagers yelling at the telly whilst drinking a cuppa. This moment is reminiscent of the countless times Benji and I crashed at Eric’s. Our video game sessions began with an accompaniment of numerous boiling teapots and overflowing cuppas since we were too young for anything else. Once we transitioned to a new era of life, we began experimenting with cheap spirits.

My left thigh vibrates and I press the wrong buttons on the console. Eric curses at my mistake.

I grab my mobile—the cause of the error. There’s an unread message from Cassie. We’ve been chatting the whole day.

I tune out Eric’s whines and open the message.

Cassie: You’re a gamer?

Me: Just another item to add on the list of things I’m horrible at.

I smile, and continue typing.

Me: Eric’s gone bonkers I accidentally stunned him.

Cassie: You really are horrible.

Me: I told ya :)

Why did I send her a smiley when she hasn’t sent one back? Agh. How does Eric flirt with girls? It’s not like I can ask Tamara for help about things like these. She’ll only tease me. Speaking of, which…

Me: He’ll get over it. Do you have any siblings?

Cassie: Not that I know of.

Me: Haha! Only child then?

Cassie: Actually, Mum’s up the duff.

Ha. My fingers fire away.

Me: Bluff!

Cassie: How can you tell? We are miles away.

I hold back a laugh, but keep on smiling.

Me: My BS radar is unfiltered.

"If you’re going to stare at your mobile grinning all the time, we might as well quit the game," Eric says with a dramatic flair and flops on the couch behind us.

"Thought you’d be more supportive with my progress," I say.

"Not after you stunned me!"

We burst out laughing.

"Who you chatting to anyway?" He raises an eyebrow and repositions himselfon the couch—on his stomach. His chin rests on both his palms and his eyes have a mischievous glint to them. "Hope this means you’re courtin’ a lass!"

I put my mobile down and tighten my lips.

"Oi!" He shoves my shoulder. "It’s the least I ask of you, since you’re living with me until who knows when. No secrets in this household."

His house has six massive bedrooms—one for his Mum, another for him, then his sister, and three guest rooms. One of the three guest rooms is my new home.

"Why don’t you go chat up the latest lass you’re courtin’!" I say.

"I’m off to grab a snack. I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me." Eric dodges my question, bows, then heads up the stairs. "Don’t think I won’t have figured it out when I come back."

Since he’s left me, I glance down at my mobile to read Cassie’s latest message.

Cassie: Do you have any brothers or sisters?

Me: Two. My sister’s older by three years and my brother is nine.

Cassie: What is it like to have siblings? Your house