Page 17 of Crash & Burn

“It’s usually what I use to write the songs. Playing helps the lyrics flow once I find a melody that fits our sound.”

I turn to Theo. “Do you only play electric guitar?” I ask.

“I started off learning on the acoustic, but I switched to electric after learning the basics. The two are super similar, but there is a big adjustment to how you play and how it sounds. I haven’t picked up an acoustic in years.”

The conversations continue with more questions, answers, and tangents, but I sit back and listen while I ponder this new information.

Something Eddie said keeps replaying in my brain, and I’m not sure if it is the roller coaster of feelings and new things today brought or if it’s the alcohol, but the words slip out of my mouth before I can think much about them.

I turn to Eddie. “Will you teach me how to play guitar?”

All conversations cease, and all eyes are on us.

Eddie is frozen in place with his beer bottle at his lips and his eyes wide. I feel my brother’s harsh stare going back and forth between us, but I don’t care. I have one thing on my mind right now, and it’s learning how to play the guitar.

If Eddie can use the guitar tofinda melody, so can I.

What feels like an eternity passes of him and I locked in a starting match, but finally Eddie brings his beer bottle from his lips and says, “Sure.”

A moment passes before Emmett claps his hands and announces, “Alright, on that note, everybody out. I want to go home.” Emmett has the type of demeanor that makes you feel like you have to listen, but there’s also something about him that makes him approachable. “I want to see my girlfriend before she falls asleep.”

Feeling more comfortable by the moment with these people, which is something I don’t want to think too much about right now, I ask, “Your girlfriend goes to sleep at10 p.m.?”

Emmett lets out another chuckle, and I can’t help but be a little surprised that a guy who looks like such a grump can be so smiley when it comes to his girlfriend. “She’s a sixth-grade teacher. Her last day for the school year was this past Friday, but she’s definitely struggling with residual exhaustion from the year.”

“Sixth grade? Wow, I can’t believe people willingly go back to that grade,” I say. I have such respect for teachers, especially with everything they deal with. There’s no way I could do it.

“It’s been a rough year, but she made it through,” he adds before turning to the rest of the group, a shadow briefly coming over his face, and then it disappears as if it never happened. I wonder what he means by arough year. “And that’s why you all have to leave. I want to be home with her.”

He swipes my empty can from the bar in front of me before wiping it off with the towel that was hanging over his shoulder. Luke grabs the rest of the glasses and bottlesbefore rounding the corner and turning off the lights.

“See you tomorrow?” Emmett asks Eddie as we all start heading towards the door.

“Yeah, see you then,” Eddie answers, but he seems distracted.

“Good,” I hear Emmett respond, “because we have a lot to catch up on.”

I wonder what it is they have to catch up on, but as I turn to see the exchange, Emmett looks amused and Eddie’s usual grin has a slight discomfort to it, so I decide it’s none of my business and follow Mateo to his car.

“So,” Mateo starts as we make the drive home. The first few minutes were a comfortable silence as I reflected on how positive I feel after a day that had the possibility of being horrible. “You want to learn how to play guitar?” He’s staring at the dark road ahead of us as we make the drive back to my apartment.

“Yes.” I cross my arms. “Why?”

“No reason. I was just . . . surprised.”

“Why?”

We stop at a red light, and he turns to look at me. “You’ve never shown interest before.”

“I thought you wanted me to branch out? You know, find things to live for or whatever,” I say, throwing his words from this morning back at him.

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy to hear it. But like I said, I’m just surprised.” The light turns green, and he turns back to the road to continue driving and ignoring my attempt to be a smartass. “I didn’t think you still had an interest in music.”

I internally cringe.Why does he have to be so damn perceptive?

I should have known he would pick up on it.

I try to think of an excuse, but I decide to go with a half-truth instead. “Today reminded me how much I love photography. I figured maybe I’d see if I forgot how much I loved music.”

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