I Remember Halloween: Through The Eyes Of A Girl

The next day, the four musicians gathered in Sticks’ room to rehearse the three songs they were going to play.

“What was it again?” Alex asked Hendrix as she held her old bass that she was barely able to find in time for the practice session.

“You start on the fifth fret of the A, then you go to the second.” Hendrix pointed at the frets as he talked. After going through the motions and warming up a little, Alex nodded.

“We ready?” Sticks yelled over the combined buzz of the guitar amp, the bass amp, and the feedback of the microphone. The band all gave her a thumbs up in return.

In the cafeteria, the five teens that weren’t in the band helped Bloom hang up a white blanket that would act as the background for the projector.

“What movies are we going to watch?” Vida asked.

“I have Halloween, Sinister, and maybe I’ll throw on a little Hocus Pocus for some fun at the end.” Milo shuffled through his stack of Halloween themed VHS tapes.

“That’s after the feast and the show, of course.” Bloom smiled at Vida.

“That stupid show. I might skip out on it.” Vida thought to herself.

Back in Sticks’ room, the band burst into noise. The addition of Alex’s bass elevated the performance to a different level. The group could feel their hearts vibrate with the deep picking of the five-string bass.

Sticks’ drumming was just as aggressive as yesterday. She hit the snare like she held hatred for it.

Hendrix’s guitar felt like butter between his fingers. On his old guitar, the strings felt stiff and slightly rough on the fingers, but Hendrix had never played another instrument, so he didn’t know the difference. On this electric guitar, he could easily improvise a solo over this song, playing pick sweeps with ease.

“This thing is amazing.” Hendrix thought as he played, but something was still stuck in the back of his mind.

“I will form my strength into a fitting weapon for you.” The masked man’s words rang through his head.

“What did he mean by weapon? This is just a guitar… right?” Hendrix continued to ponder as Chase’s vocals started.

'“BONFIRES BURNING BRIGHT! PUMPKIN FACES IN THE NIGHT! I REMEMBER HALLOWEEN!” Chase was screaming the lyrics with little concern for the original take on it. It had more passion than yesterday, for sure. And that’s all Sticks needed.

“YES! PASSION IS PUNK!” Sticks screamed over the noise as Chase smirked to himself.

“Just an inkling of my true potential, I suppose.” Chase thought to himself as he continued to scream.

The song continued with burning intensity until it hit its end. The group let out a sigh as they looked to each other for confirmation.

“Yeah. That was awesome!” Hendrix yelled as he grinned. The group began to high five each other.

“You kids are really something else. You’re gonna change the world one day.” Alex laughed.

“Oh, it’s time for lunch.” Alex looked at the clock on the wall of Sticks’ room, putting down her instrument and turning off the amp. The two boys walked with her.

“I’m hungry. I guess I’ll come with.” Sticks rested her drumsticks on her snare and got out of her seat.

Alex was surprised by Sticks’ comment. She couldn’t remember the last time she caught sight of Sticks outside of her room.

“I guess that’s the effect those five have on people.” Alex looked at Chase and Hendrix, then thought about Akilah, Vida, and Amora as well.

The group talked about their song choices for the other two songs for the rest of the walk to the cafeteria, even through the lunch line. Alex had never seen Sticks so lively.

The group got through the line and went to sit down with the rest of the teens. Vida waived to Hendrix, and then saw Sticks, which caused her to roll her eyes and look back down at her food.

“How was rehearsal?” Amora asked Chase as he gave her his apple juice.

“It was great, if I do say so myself. Only helped by my amazing voice.” Chase smirked and put his fists on his waist like a superhero. Amora laughed.

“Are you guys gonna come to the show?” Sticks asked the group, she was standing at the side of the table with Alex as she pointed her fork at the group. Most of the kids nodded in agreement, except Vida.

Sticks silently took a peak at Vida. She could feel the hostility radiating off her.

“I’ll eat this back in my room, see you guys at rehearsal tomorrow. Last rehearsal!” Sticks still kept her excited mood as she walked back through the hall.

Alex grabbed her food and went to sit with Bloom.

Hendrix gazed at Vida as he could feel her annoyance as well. He decided to stay quiet and talk to her after lunch.

Lunch ended and the group dispersed.
”Me and Kai are gonna go shoot some hoops, you in?” Taro asked Chase.

“Hell yeah I’m in.” Chase joined them on the walk to the gym.

“Me and Amora are going to look at some books Bloom found, you wanna come?” Akilah asked Vida.

“No, thanks. I’m gonna go rest.” Vida let out a weak smile.

Vida made her way towards her room, but right before she opened the door, she heard a voice from the balcony at the end of the hall.

“Yo.” Hendrix called quietly.

“Hey. I’m gonna take a nap.” Vida said.

“Come get some sun. It helps you more than anyone.” Hendrix smiled.

“I guess.” Vida thought. She joined Hendrix, leaning on the bar next to him.

“That festival is gonna be great. I didn’t know how much I would like being in a band.” Hendrix thought out loud.

Vida rolled her eyes at the mention of the band. Hendrix caught the gesture.

“Oh! This whole time she’s just been jealous because she wanted to be in the band!” It seemed to click for Hendrix.

“Oh, you’re like, jealous?” Hendrix asked as Vida’s eyes grew wide.

“Has he noticed when I blush? Oh, god. I don’t know what to say.” Vida’s mind began to panic.

“Well, y’know. I just want to spend some time with you, and it feels like you got someone new, so… I just…” Vida let out a weak smile.

“Oh! She thinks Sticks is a better friend than her? I get it!” Hendrix patted himself on the back in his mind for figuring out Vida.

“Let me show you something.” Hendrix turned his guitar from his back to his front. Vida watched in curiosity.

Hendrix began to play a song. It had that soft touch of the simple open chords.

“This is nice-” Vida’s thought was interrupted as Hendrix began to sing.

His voice was by no means pro, but it sounded like he had put a little practice into it. Vida’s eyes widened, as she had never heard him do anything close to singing.

Hendrix had forgotten some of the words, but he remembered the melody very well.

“I’m in love, with the world. Through the eyes of a girl.” Hendrix sang. Vida had to stop herself from crying, this time from joy.

Hendrix finished out the song, then smiled at Vida.

“What song is that?” Vida asked.

“It’s a song from Mr. Frewin’s vinyls, I forgot the name. But I wrote it down when we were little… Because the lyrics I remember reminded me of you.” Hendrix smiled awkwardly.

Vida’s eyes widened.

“Did… Did he just…” Vida thought

“Because you’re my best friend. Always will be. It doesn’t matter who else I’ll meet.” Hendrix swung his guitar to his back. Vida burst into laughter. Hendrix joined in her laughter.

“What’s so funny?” Hendrix asked as he continued to laugh.

“You, silly. You just make my days so much better.” Vida smiled earnestly. That wide smile that Hendrix loved was back. Hendrix smiled back.

“Do you wanna be part of the band?” Hendrix’s question caused Vida to laugh again.

“I can’t play an instrument, let alone sing.” Vida chuckled.

“Today, in Sticks’ room, I saw a tambourine hanging on a wall. It’s super easy to pick up and learn. All you have to do is shake it to the beat. So what do you say?” Hendrix looked at Vida.

“I guess I’ll give it a try.” Vida chuckled.

The next day, in the rehearsal room, the four band members converged on their instruments.

“Are you guys ready?” Sticks held up her drumsticks.

“Do you mind if one more person joins the band?” Hendrix asked over the buzzing of amps. Vida walked in right on cue, waving awkwardly at Sticks.

Sticks’ face scrunched up, but then she noticed there was no more hostility. She relaxed her face, but kept cautious.

“She can play the tambourine. Adds a little flavor to the mix.” Hendrix chuckled at Sticks.

“We can try it out.” Sticks shrugged. She smiled at Vida, who smiled in return.

Vida wanted to apologize for her attitude, but she knew Hendrix and Sticks would rather let the music speak.

After a minute or two of Hendrix showing Vida how to shake the tambourine properly, she gave the thumbs up to Sticks.

“One! Two! One, Two, Three, Four!” Sticks’ count burst into noise once again, this time the group played their second song.

Sticks’ drums, Hendrix’s guitar, and Alex’s bass all had the same intense power as yesterday. Then Chase began to scream.

“DIE! DIE! DIE, MY DARLING!” Chase had even more passion than yesterday, the group didn’t know how he did it.

Sticks, Hendrix, Vida, and Alex all chuckled to each other as he screamed into the mic.

All of their eyes met in the middle of the noise, and the grin that passed between them said everything.

The song ended abruptly, just like punk should. The group all burst into laughter.

“That! That was amazing!” Sticks threw her drumsticks into the air. “We’re officially festival ready!” She said with confidence.

Hendrix smiled. The group unplugged their instruments and walked to the cafeteria.

“You coming?” Chase asked as Hendrix fiddled with his amp as the last person in the room.

“Yeah, just one sec.” Hendrix nodded as Chase left the room, leaving Hendrix alone.

“What the hell?” Hendrix mumbled to himself.

Hendrix turned off the amp. It didn’t go silent. The normal buzzing of the amp was replaced by a low humming, almost like a deep whisper.

Hendrix unplugged his guitar, which made the sound stop. Hendrix waited for a second to see if the sound would return, but it didn’t.

“Man. I need some sleep.” Hendrix told himself as he walked out of the room.