Chapter Text
Reggie smiled to himself in the mirror, I'm getting better at this, he thought. He heard the faint sound of his dad's seven o'clock alarm go off and froze.
He packed up his mom's make-up quickly, quickly shoving it back under the sink. He grabbed his book bag, phone, wallet, and lanyard.
"Where do you think you going so early in the morning," his dad's voice echoed the empty halls and he stopped immediately. "Off to school," he replied not turning around. "School doesn't start for another ninety minutes," his dad corrected.
He grabbed his bass, which was in the case, "I promised the guys we'd rehearse this morning." "And you didn't think to tell me," his voice slowly rising. "I did after school yesterday," he mumbled.
"What was that, boy," his father shouted. Reggie shrunk slightly, refusing to turn around when he heard his father's footsteps approach him.
"Roy, leave him alone. Let him go practice," his mother said. "Stay out of this Janice," he shouted. "Just let him go! It's not like we need him for anything," she yelled back.
Reggie held his bass close to him as he ran towards the door. It wasn't even eight in the morning and they were fighting.
And no matter when or where he was always somehow in the middle of it, the punching bag.
Just like last night. The night before that, and that, you get the point.
He sighed and smiled as the cold December air hit the face. Only two weeks left of this semester. Only ten and a half more school days. He was going to enjoy freedom while it lasted.
He felt his phone vibrate and grabbed it out of his pocket. He slid right and answered the phone, "Hey Luke. I was actually just about to call." "Hey man, just wanted to make sure we're still on for practice in the auditorium this morning," Luke asked. "Yeah, of course. I'm almost there. The doors unlocked," he asked. Remembering how the principal would sometimes get there before Reggie and unlock it for them.
He heard a click and could've sworn he heard Luke smile, "Yeah." Reggie laughed, "I'll be there in about a minute. Save a seat for me?" Now, it was Luke's turn to laugh, "Always do, Reg. See ya in a minute."
Reggie smiled when he saw who was sitting on the stairs. "What are you doing out here. It's what...26°?! You're insane," Reggie said. Luke laughed and stopped strumming his guitar, "You told me to save you a seat. Sit."
Reggie laughed and sat down at a comfortable distance from Luke. "Thank you," he whispered. Luke smiled and playfully swatted his shoulder, "I'd do anything for ya, you dork."
Reggie smiled to himself and turned to face the ground. He could've sworn he felt his heart punch him from the inside. The punch was full of nothing but guilt.
Luke has been his best friend since third grade and has yet to find out about his house life. All he does know is his parents fight, but whose parents don't?
What he doesn't know is how bad it actually is. And he will do everything in his power to keep it that way. The last thing he wants is his best friend taking pity on him. It would crush his heart.
"Hey, you okay," Luke asked. Reggie's head perked up and he mentally smacked himself. "Yeah, sorry. Just spaced out," he smiled at Luke.
One thing he loved, though, no matter what was going on Luke always made him smile. Even the thought of him made him smile. Julie and Willie would tease him that he had a crush on him, but he refused to believe that. Mainly because if he did, he'd probably do something he regrets. I mean. . . Luke was straight, right?
"You wanna go inside while we can still feel our fingers," Luke smiled. Reggie nodded and grabbed his bass and book bag.
Luke held out his hand and Reggie grabbed it, getting up with a slight jump; completely ignoring the heart skip when he touched him.
~~
♪Sometimes I think I'm falling down
I wanna cry, I'm calling out
For one more try to feel alive
And when I feel lost and alone
I know that I can make it home
Fight through the dark and find the spark ♪
Luke and Reggie began to play beside each other, Alex drumming on his stand.
♪Life is a risk but I will take it
Close my eyes and jump
Together, I think we can make it
C'mon let's run♪
Julie grabbed her microphone and got up to walk around the stage.
♪And rise through the night, you and I
We will fight to shine together, bright forever
And rise through the night, you and I
We will fight to shine together, bright forever ♪
Luke walked over to his mic, continuing to strum for a few seconds before singing.
♪In times that I doubted myself
I felt like I needed some help
Stuck in my head with nothing left
I feel something around me now
So unclear, lifting me out
I found the ground I'm marching on ♪
Reggie hopped over to his mic and they began to sing together.
♪Life is a risk but we will take it
Close my eyes and jump
Together, I think that we can make it
C'mon let's run ♪
He hit his chest lightly and Reggie hopped back to his mic as they all began to sing together.
♪And rise through the night, you and I
We will fight to shine together, bright forever
And rise through the night, you and I
We will fight to shine together, bright forever ♪
Julie walked over to Luke and they met halfway. And began to sing the next part together.
♪In times that I doubt myself
I felt like I needed some help
Stuck in my head with nothing left
And when I feel lost and alone
I know that I can make it home
Fight through the dark and find the spark ♪
He walked back to his mic and they all began to sing together once again.
♪And rise through the night, you and I
We will fight to shine together, bright forever
And rise through the night, you and I
We will fight to shine together, bright forever ♪
They all panted and the music stopped. "That was great guys," a girl shouted.
They all turned to see Flynn backstage. Julie smiled and put the microphone up, turning it off. "Thanks, Flynn," she smiled.
"Yeah, I think it's a great choice for the dance. We still have to practice finally free and great. But I think we got this," Luke smiled happily. Julie nodded, "I agree."
"Yes. You're marketing team is...amazing," Flynn smiled flipping her hair behind her shoulder. "How many times do I have to tell you. You can't call yourself a team if you're only one person," Julie sighed.
Flynn smiled and grabbed someone's shoulder, bringing them beside her. "Say hello to Nick. He's my marketing partner," she smiled. He waved awkwardly, "Hello."
"Sup."
"What up?"
"How ya doin'?"
"Hello, Nick."
He smiled, the visible tension leaving him. "Nice to officially me you all. Flynn has pretty much told me everything I need to know. I am, also, a new student here," he introduced.
Reggie was about to say something when his phone buzzed. "Sorry. I gotta take this," he mumbled jumping off the edge of the stage and using the side doors to exit the building faster.
"Secret lover," Alex questioned. "As if," Luke said ignoring the ping of jealousy, "I would know if that was the case." "Hence the word: secret," Alex chuckled. Luke huffed and stared at the doors.
"Can you?"
Reggie sighed and nodded, "I'll double shift. Just thanks for it not being last minute. I'll see you tonight?" "Yes! Thank you, Reggie! I'm so lucky I stole you from Roman Quinn," she squealed.
Reggie laughed, "See you in a few hours, Hayley." "Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you! I'll see you tonight," she shouted. Reggie shook his head and smiled, hanging up.
"Hey man."
Reggie looked up to see Willie with his skateboard. He smiled, " 'Morning. Alex is in here, come on." Willie smiled and followed Reggie back into the auditorium.
"Loverboy, you're lover is here," Reggie shouted, cupping his hands like a megaphone. They all turned to see Willie and Reggie.
Alex squealed excitedly, shoving his drumsticks into Luke's chest and hopping off the stage. He ran up to him and hugged him.
"It's been two days Alex," Luke shouted. Alex turned to him and stuck out his tongue. Willie laughed and let go, hanging one arm across Alex's' neck.
"Are those two a thing," Nick asked. "Yeah. That...okay," Julie asked. "Yeah, yeah. No, I just didn't want to assume them being together and then not. I just wanted to make sure," he said. Julie smiled and looked at her watch, "Ten minutes ya lazy bums!"
They all looked at her. "That means to get your things," she shouted. "Oh," they all said slowly gathering their book bags.
Alex looked at Willie and kissed his cheek, "See ya after school?"
" 'Course."