~Bands and Bathrooms~

Everyone was elbow to elbow, making their way to the lunchroom to get first in line. I was going the opposite way of traffic- therefore, getting shoved, back, forward, up, and down, like a giant moshpit. Hey, you, with the football jersey. Step on my foot one more time and I'll murder you with my bare hands.  I spotted Riley leaning against the teal lockers and sighed in relief.

"There you are! I thought I was going to be stomped to death," I said, approaching Riley with a grimace. She released her girly, sweet  ringing laughter that caused a couple people to glance over with curious eyes.

"I would have rescued you and given you CPR if that happened," she replied, flipping that to-die-for hair behind her shoulder,  "So where do you want to eat? We have to talk." Wonder what that means. We arrived at the luchroom and strolled to the middle, scanning the tables on each side.

"How about that one?" I offered, nodding torwards an opening on a long table full of girls. We went and dropped our bags off, then scurried into line for lunch. The lunch lady glared at me when I chose a salad and apple slices. What? I need my nutrition. You want the future generation to be fatties incapable of walking? Yeah, didn't think so.

I was careful not to bump into anyone on the way to the table, like I did my first day of freshman year. I still remember the details of that bittersweet moment. One of the jocks slammed into me, causing my spaghetti meatballs to go flying all over my brand spanking new school outfit. Most everyone saw and started laughing and pointing, and I could feel tears forming. Then this gorgeous blonde stood up and pulled me away from the mess. I recall being a little intimidated, because she was a Sophmore and had a cajillion friends, who were associated with the "popular" crowd. But she didn't act like them. In the bathroom, she helped me scrub the red sauce mostly out of my clothes, and told me her name was Riley. I didn't have anyone to sit with, so she invited me to sit with her at lunch. Hence, our inspiring friendship adventure began.

"What's up?" I asked while stuffing my mouth with chocolate pudding, as any lady would. Riley sat up a little straighter and turned towards me, obviously itching to have this conversation all day. I'm pretty sure I could predict what it was about.

"Look Riley, I know you're bummed about this new babysitting job, but just think of the opportunities! You happen to have 5+ hours with this guy a week. This could be really good for you!" Riley beamed, holding more excitement in that sentence than I've expressed in all sixteen years of my life.

"No no no," I denied, "Trust me when I say absolutely nothing will come of this. Me and this Jaxon you speak of don't exactly get along."  I stabbed at my salad, hoping she would drop the topic. But this is Riley we're talking about.

"Oh really?" She said ever so slowly, chewing her meatloaf with slow plodding motions. There it was, the 'I'm going to get to the bottom of this' tone. Riley was amazingly cunning and persuasive; she could get anybody to spill their secrets in a matter of minutes. I always tell her she needs a job as one of those police interrogaters that sits in a black room with the single lamp and stares the suspects down until they tell her what she needs to know. It's practically her calling in life.

"It will be a phenominon if I don't kill him by the time my babysitting trial is over." I stated bluntly. Riley raised her eyebrows in suspicion and pulled out her phone. I saw her click the facebook icon, causing me to shift nervously in my seat. There was no way to argue out of this one.

"If that's so, then how do you explain this?" She waved her phone in my face, displaying the horrendous picture. I snorted, almost spitting lettuce chunks all over.  It just keeps getting better and better.

"Uhm," I choked from my supressed laughter, "Do I have to?" She slapped my arm, as we tend to do to each other whenever we feel like it.

"Alright Alright! I'll tell you." I filled Riley in on all that had happened so far, from the blowdryer prank to the final warning words he said to me. She about died of laughter when I mentioned lulling him back to sleep after taking the picture.

"I can't believe you planned on hiding this from me!" She exclaimed in a scolding tone.

"I didn't want you to freak out and start planning our marriage or something like you usually do." I mumbled under my breath. She, of course, heard me and rolled her eyes, knowing I was right. Riley has had so many men chasing after her ever since the sixth grade. Me? Not so much.

"Being you're best friend, I think that it's only fair that you let me assist you in this." I grunted like an angry pig.

"How do you plan on doing that?" I chided, looking into her ecstatic blue eyes glistening with ideas. She gave me a wicked smile.

"We'll start plotting immediately. If he's going to challenge you like that, we'll make him regret he ever started this. Two words," she said daringly, "Game. On." We high fived so hard I thought my hand would light on fire. Me and my two man army were gonna take down Jaxon for all that he's got. Those good looks and countless female admirers weren't going to protect him now. Cue the gunshots. Your going to regret ever messing with me.

<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><>>

"Are they ever going to shut up?" I groaned, frustrated beyond comprehension. Then I remembered I was within hearing distance of young ears, and quickly added, "Only I can say that, okay?" They were too busy building Jenga block towers and taking turns demolishing it to care.

The booming and guitar shredding sounds coming from the basement were making my ears bleed. When Heather mentioned that Jaxon had band practice today, I thought they would hold a quiet little practice in his room or in the garage or something. I had no idea they would amp it up to the point where the walls were vibrating, every boom of the bass echoing off the walls. Silly me.

Me and Riley had already begun scheming for phase one, but first, I needed to access Jaxons bathroom. It was just a tad more difficult having four more majorly hot guys downstairs rocking out to get past. I knew I wouldn't be able to sneak by unnoticed, but I could atleast try.

I snaked down the stairs, the creaking of the staircase drowned out by the hammering guitar solo happening below. I cracked the door, blown away with the cacaphonous sound of guitars clammering together. The bass was so loud I could feel my heart beating along in my chest, and I furrowed my eyebrows together, pondering for a bit. As much as I hate to admit it, they're good. Like, really good.

Now that I had stalled a minute or two, absorbed into the intro they were doing, it was time to act. I couldn't leave the kids up there alone for too long before they realized I was gone and started an anarchy. It was now or never.

I entered the room and raced to the protection of the hallway. Right before I could be fully cloaked by the shadow of the hallway, the song started. I didn't even process the words, all I could do was listen to that beautiful voice. It started low and husky, perfectly on key, singing with a dangerous edge in it. Then it transformed to the chorus, and hit a trillion different notes flawlessly. Luckily my back was to them, because my jaw hit the floor. I could feel my legs about to buckle, ready to surrender to the music. I never knew music could make me feel this way, but then again, I've never listened to anything close to rock. My mom said it was for stoners that screamed obscene things to corrupt your mind. But this, this was something else.

I was melting inside when the music suddenly ceased. A single note faded away as the basement grew eerily quiet. Why are they stopping?

"Who's she?" Said a deep voice, almost annoyed. No No No No No.

I turned around, my unbelievable long hair turning with me. I cowered a little, watching four sets of eyes gaping at me. Speechless, loss of words, appearing retarted; that was me. Searching the faces, I found Jaxon's in the front, standing close to the mic with a red electric guitar slung over his chest. He looked me up and down, a smirk already pre-set on his angelic face.

"This is the girl I told you about," Jaxon said pointedly. The bass guitarist snickered. He had wavy blonde hair and tan skin, and looked more like he belonged on a beach as a lifeguard than in Jaxon's basement. Not as pleasant to look at as Jaxon, but a close runner up.

"Bayley, is it?" He asked me to confirm.

"That's me," I replied, clearing my throat. What exactly has he told them? I contemplated briefly. The blonde guy smiled, and the one hidden behind the drums set sat up straighter to get a better look at me.

"What brings you down here? We don't appreciate being interrupted." Jaxon cooed, enjoying every moment of this. I stood straighter and rose my chin a little, as if I was challenging a bear. If I had a choice, I would choose the bear in an instant.

"I, uh, need to use the restroom," I replied lamely. The two of them who's names I didn't know continued to stare at me blankly.

"You are aware that their is one upstairs." Jaxon stated overtly. I fiddled with the edge of my shirt, breaking eye contact.

"Yes." I racked my brain, trying to come up with an excuse that wouldn't make me sound mentally defective.

"Aw, did you come down just to see us?" He accused with mock admiration. I looked back into his amused eyes, a newfound confidence rising out of me.

"No. The kids plugged up the toilet and there was nowhere else I could go. But please, don't let me ruin your practice. I would hate for your music to suffer even more than it already has," I snapped back. The blondie grinned at me. You earn a pat on the back for that one, Bayley.

"Carry on." I finished, turning and dissolving into the darkness. Jaxon laughed, breaking the band members vow of silence. One mumbled "She's hot" under their breath, and that made Jaxons laugh escalate. I shut out their idle conversation and flicked the bathroom switch. I had to chuckle at that. He must be attracted to fiestiness, not looks. I am nowhere near a guys definition of 'hot'.

The music started up again, and it took loads of self control not to awe over it. I tuned it out and focused on the work at hand. Out of my sweatshirt pocket came the bleach. I stole Jaxons man 'shampoo n conditioner' in one (How come girls don't got these? So convenient) and poured the remainder of the bleach mercilessly into the bottle, giving it a good shake or two.

I finished and did a little happy dance, rubbing my hands together like some evil genius. I carefully returned it to the shelf and flushed the toilet, covering my tracks. The deed was done. Well, I thought so, until I saw his blue hair gel next to the sink, begging for attention. The temptation was too strong; I took the blue vile of sparkles Riley insisted I bring, and poured a solid layer on top of the jelly liquid crap. From a high angle, you couldn't even tell it was there. A jubilant theme song started in my head as I walked past the boys and up the stairs. I could feel their eyes drilling through my back, but I chose not to stress about it.

Phase One completed. But I'll have to inform Riley that next, we need to target something other than his looks. That is a major factor in his whole everything, of course, but what about that personality, that charm? I'll need to start a chart or something of our progress, and brainstorm more possibilities to strike. Deep in my stomach, I was suddenly punched with unavoidable terror. Now all there is to do is to wait, and wonder what he has planned for me.