Sit Back, Gotta Catch My Breath

I closed my locker door and turned to go to my class. I was about halfway down the hallway when I heard someone behind me calling my name.
"Alex!" I turned to see Zack jogging towards me. I stopped when he was a few feet in front of me. "Alex, we need to talk about something."
"Can we talk later? I gotta get to class."
He nodded. "Uh, yeah. Can Rian and I come over to your place after school?"
I nodded back. "Yeah. Sure. I'll see you then." I turned on my heel and went straight to class.

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"So, what did you guys wanna talk about?" I asked, setting my cup of tea on the coffee table before joining them on the couch.
Rian sighed. "Okay, well, we were wondering if you were still wanting to do this band thing?"
I bit my lip and looked down at my shoes. "Um... yeah. I do."
"Then we need to find someone to take Jack's place," Zack said.
I nodded. "Yeah. You're right. We do." I looked at the both of them. "And we need to do it as soon as possible."
We were all silent for a few moments before Zack spoke up again. "So, what do you think? Should we hold auditions?"
Rian and I both nodded. "Yeah," I said, "Sounds good."

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Rian, Zack, and I all posted on our Facebooks that we were looking for a new lead guitarists. Within two hours, we each had a few messages from people who were interested. I ran my hand through my hair. This was all happening so fast. It feels like Jack just left yesterday, and we were already replacing him.
But no one would ever really be able to take Jack's place. But we needed a guitarist, and I knew that. So I was just kind of along for the ride. Yeah, I wanted to continue this band thing. It was one of the best things I've ever experienced, and I wanted to make a living out of it. So I guess I just had to do this.
I put my headphones in and just stared up at the ceiling, singing along with the lyrics.

"Summer has come and passed
The innocent can never last
Wake me up when September ends
Like my father's come to pass
Seven years has gone so fast
Wake me up when September ends..."

Tears started to flow down my cheeks as I continued to sing along. Green Day was one of Jack and I's favorite bands that we would listen to together. Along with Blink-182 and Face to Face.
I sighed and rolled over on my side. Damn it, Alex. Let him go. He obviously didn't want to stay. Just let him go...
I pulled out one of my headphones and wiped the tears away when I heard a knock on my door. "Yeah?"
The door opened and my mum's head peaked around the corner. "Alex, honey, are you okay?"
I sat up to look at her. I bit my lip and wrapped my arms around myself. "I miss him, Mum..."
She sighed and crossed the room to join me on my bed. She pulled me into a hug and began petting my hair. "I know, honey. I know. But it will get better."
"I d-don't think it will..."
"It will. It'll take some time, but I promise that it will get better and you'll move on."
I nodded. I didn't agree with what she was saying, but I really didn't want to start an argument. I buried my face in her shoulder and continued to cry.
About half an hour later, I couldn't seem to cry anymore. I felt like I could, but the tears just wouldn't come. I pulled away from her and wiped my face. I looked at her and gave her a reassuring smile. "Thanks, Mum."
She nodded. "If you need anything, all you got to do is ask." She stood up from my bed and left the room without another word.
I sat there by myself in silence, not really sure of what to do. I looked over at my phone that was on my bed-side table. What would happen if I tried to text Jack? I bit my lip as I picked it up. I stared at it for a few moments before shaking my head. No. I couldn't do it. If he wanted to talk to me, he would text me first. I didn't want to bother him.
I returned my phone to its place and just sat there in silence until it was dark outside, and then just laid down and went to sleep.
This was basically my daily life now. I just sat in my room whenever I was at home until it was time for me to go to sleep. It's not like I had nothing to do. It's just that I didn't have the motivation to do anything.

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"Welcome to the band, Travis," Rian said, shaking the boy's hand.
"Thanks," the boy responded.
"So, we'll be having band practice tomorrow at 4. We'll see you there?"
Travis nodded. "Yeah. Sounds good. I'll see you guys then." He smiled before going upstairs.
We waited to hear the front door close before we spoke.
"The guy's good," Zack said, looking at us.
"Yeah. He's got talent," Rian agreed, "I'm just hoping this works out."
"Hopefully it does. I mean, there were some other good guitarists, but..."
"Yeah. Not the right style. That Ricky guy I think would be my second choice."
Zack shrugged. "He was good, but I don't really think his look would fit in with the rest of the band. Like, at all."
I listened to the two talk about the other auditions. I really didn't care for any of the people who tried out, because none of them were Jack. I just sat there in silence until I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I quickly dug it out of my pocket and looked at it. My heart sank when I saw that it was only Juliet. I opened the message and looked at it.

From: Juliet Simms
Hey! How are the auditions going?

To: Juliet Simms
We got a guy.

From: Juliet Simms
Awesome! Is he cute?

I rolled my eyes before responding.

To: Juliet Simms
I guess. But he's not really my type.

From: Juliet Simms
You mean he's not Jack.

To: Juliet Simms
Yeah...

From: Juliet Simms
Well, maybe it's for the better.

To: Juliet Simms
I guess.

From: Juliet Simms
Okay, well, I gtg. Andy's band is about to start practice. I'll see you at school tomorrow?

To: Juliet Simms
Yeah. See you tomorrow.

I shoved my phone back into my pocket and tuned back into the rest of the world. I noticed that Rian and Zack were looking at me. "What?"
"Who were you texting?" Rian asked.
"Juliet. She was just wondering how the auditions were going."
They both nodded.
"So, how are you doing?"
My eyebrows pulled together. "What do you mean?"
"You know what I mean."
I sighed and looked down at my shoes. "I'm... doing okay, I guess."
"You guess?"
"Yeah, I mean, it's gonna take a while. But I'm getting better."
"That makes sense," Zack said, "It's just that you seem distant."
I shrugged. "I guess. I just... I don't know. I just kinda lost interest in everything when he left..."
"Well, you still have us," Rian said with a reassuring smile.
I nodded and looked at him. "Yeah. I still have you guys." I gave him a half-smile, trying to show him that I was okay. I wasn't, but I didn't want them to worry.

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