Chapter Text
Arthur and I were on our way back home from school.
The older boy, my brother, looked down at me. I knew exactly what was going to come next.
I had always been a pretty good singer and creative head. Our dads teached us music very early in life, Dutch brought me to singing lessons since I can talk and Hosea taught me how to play the piano. Four years ago, as I celebrated my 12th birthday I started to write my own songs.
I’m 16 now and still haven't lost my childish imagination and the fun to write and compose songs.
Arthur knows how much singing and making songs means to me, keeps telling me how I waste my talent by not joining their band. They already have a leadsinger. A slim Mexican boy called Javier Escuella, I think. Can't really focus on remembering Arthurs friends cause I can't even remember mine!
„So? Giving it a try?“, I didn't realise that Arthur was still waiting for my response, ‘cause it was going to be the same as always!
„Sure, why not.“, WHAT. Well, that came surprising!
I immediately got hit with the typical smelly teenager-smell as I entered the garage. The huge room with poster-covered windows was stuffed with all kinds of instruments, from a huge drumset, a keyboard and tons of different guitars and bass guitars. Next to the old gray leather couch was standing a small fridge with a bunch of energy drinks inside, I could imagine.
I almost tripped over a pile of cables as I walked into the room. The dark green walls and the black carpet covering the whole floor sent shivers down my spine, I smiled. I analyzed the people inside the room.
I watched the five teens on the couch:
Two young women, one laying between the other ones legs. The one with the beautiful long black hair, which was tied into a tight bun, was braiding her girlfriends long dark blond hair. The girls had to be Abigail Roberts and Sadie Adler, Arthur always talked about them at the dining table. He always says that they’re the perfect example for a lesbian couple. Sadie was a muscular, unafraid, football-playing, confident woman while Abigail was an old-money, shy girl. I had to smile, I wish I had something like this.
A loud laugh catched my attention. Next to the girls said a slim boy, wearing a blue long sleeve and black jeans. Lenny Summers gestured widely with his long fingers while talking, which dragged another laugh from the smaller ginger next to him. Sean Macguire, Lenny Summers best friend, was resting his arm across Lenny's shoulders while holding a cup of strong alcohol in his other hand. The Irishman was drunk every time the band had practise and they’d come over, Arthur tells me every time.
Kieran Duffy, another Irishman, sat next to the couch on the floor, smiling shyly. He looked at me, surprisingly I recognized his face! We’re classmates! Sadly I do not know much about the boy. He only got to our school two months ago.
My eyes caught Arthur sitting next to the large drumset playing his bass guitar. Charles Smith, a huge muscular, handsome man sat next to him on a cajón. His majestic long black hair was braided behind his head into a complex braid. Arthur and his boyfriend talked quietly.
Taking a step forward into the room without tripping this time I noticed their lead singer sitting on the floor, playing an acoustic guitar. He had his eyes closed and was singing quietly in Spanish, I think. Arthur always tells how Javier Escuella was from Mexico and how well he could sing Spanish songs. Of course, his native language is Spanish, Cowpoke.
Javier wore his black hair in a short ponytail, his well-groomed beard looked interesting. Above his upper lip was a dark, narrow moustache, trimmed neatly enough to look deliberate, yet rough enough to show that vanity was not his greatest concern. A short beard ran along his chin, thick and black, making his narrow face appear sharper. Taken together, it gave him a dangerous air. Like a man who was just as capable of singing love songs as he was of shooting someone. The shirt he was wearing was a loose black Kiefer Sutherland shirt, I never heard of this guy, must be some kind of musician, I guess. With that he was wearing a black jeans jorts going right under his knee. His black converse were painted with various things.
I took another step forward, tripping and falling right next to the Mexican. Nobody, even Javier, didn‘t bother to give me a look, lol. Javier just raised his head a bit, giving me a strange look, before giving his attention back to his guitar.
Never have I ever been more embarrassed than right now. How I hate my life.
I stood up, sitting next to Escuella, listening to him playing.
„Sounds nice“, I heard myself say after Escuella finished playing.
He looked at me, scoffed. „Thanks“, stood up, „Must be John Marston, ¿no?“ Javier stared me down, „You can sing, ¿amigo? How 'bout you show me? Show me what Arthur was talking about all the time.“
The room got quiet all of the sudden, everybody laid their eyes on me.
„Yes, Marston!“, Sean yells, „Give us some tunes!“
The girls laugh, Lenny agrees. Kieran just looks at me. I hear Charles giving me a beat in the background. It seems like Arthur showed around my songs! Arthur tuned in with his bass. I closed my eyes, trying to recognize my own tune, searching for the name of my song. As Charles and Arthur played further and the girls started to hum I realised that this wasn't my song. This was fucking Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes, Arthur grines into my face. I hate this song. Javier wasn't bothered to join in, he just looked at me, sceptically if I would ever start to sing this awful song.
A note from the author: I love this song, John’s just a dick here lol
„I’m gonna fight ’em of..“, good for them that I knew this song by fucking heart. Awful. „..A seven nation army couldn’t hold me back.“, fucking hell, I'm really singing this stupid song. Javier smirked while Arthur tried to choke his own laugh, Charles just chuckled. Seems like everyone noticed how much I hate this song because everyone just started laughing as I came through the second chorus.
„Okay, Marston, stop shitting around, sing something proper.“, Javier huffed, I rolled my eyes. „Sure, if Arthur and Smith would stop fucking around!“, I hissed, Arthur and Charles breaking out in laughter. „Sorry kid, we thought this might be funny!“, Charles laughed.
„Of course it was, Char!“, Sadie yelled, getting a nod from Abigail and Lenny. I scuffed. „Play something real now, damn. Arthur, don't you have this song of his?“, so Javier was real about wanting to hear me sing. I hummed in approval. After some moments, after Charles and Arthur got their shit together, they started a slower beat, one which was familiar to me. I had to smile, man, this was my favorite song!
„…where we stay forever..“, I opened my eyes and saw everyone staring at me. „Goddamn John Marston! This was fucking amazing!“, Sadie smiled. The scratch in her voice made me shiver, what an amazing woman. Abigail nodded in approval. Lenny and Sean clapped while Kieran still just stared at me. I looked at Javier. His expression darkened. I wonder why?
I flinched as Arthur padded me on my shoulder. „I knew they’d like your voice, bro.“, he smiled at me, „What about you singing as our frontman, hm?“ I had to smile brightly, not thinking about Javier already being their lead singer. Why should I care anyways? He’s already playing the guitar, no? „You would really do?“, Arthur nodded. „Well, welcome to OUTLAWED, John.“, he left. As Charles left too, he padded me on my shoulders. They all left. Lenny and Sean saying some nice things to me, Abigail and Sadie hugging me tightly, while Kieran just ignored me, going out. Javier on the other hand fixed his gaze on me, I couldn’t read his expression as he walked past me.
„No te lo pongas demasiado fácil.“, he left too.