"Testing, testing."

The microphone squeals in protest, picking up the static from the speakers. Pain shoots through my ear canal.

"Turn it down a little Titus." Jagger adjusts his stance.

"Sound check one..."

Jagger strums his guitar.

"Two..."

Titus plays a strong beat on the drumset.

"Three..."

Sommer plays a complicated string of cords on the keyboard.

"All set. Let's practice."

To find inspiration within the ordinary is to find creativity within oneself. It takes bravery, indeed, to see the extraordinary in what is ordinary. To do something radically different--to see something radically different--within something seemingly normal, surely takes a courageous soul.

"Lunch break."

After hours of rehearsal and sound checks, I am relieved to finally have a break period. Jagger places his guitar into its stand.

"Hey, it's nice out. Let's eat outside."

We walk across the broken pavement. A worker from the lounge lays an aged quilt across the grass, another approaching us with a flat square box. They smile warmly at us, opening the box to reveal a large pizza, the crust golden, cheese oozing melted fat. The smell triggers a growling sensation within my core. We do not speak, mutually ravenous, each taking a slice and consuming it quickly.

The sun is warm against my skin, the air cool. The gentle breeze brushes stands of Sommer's curled hair behind her shoulders. She smiles at me.

I am inspired by the way the wind blows; twisting the leaves through the air with her occasional gusts of pressure, dust spreading across broken pavement and into the grass.

People of all ages peek through the windows, straining their eyes through the closed blinds in an attempt to view the performers.

"Looks like our audience is here." Jagger smiles. "Let them in."

The doors are opened. The audience files inside.

"Lex! Nice to see you again man!"

I recognize the boy with the bright coloured hair from the school. He raises his arm to me, spreading his fingers. I flinch in defense. The boy stares at me in confusion.

"He's shy." Jagger laughs uncomfortably, taking me by the wrist, and extending my palm like the boy's, slapping my hand against his.

"Don't worry about the eh--event the other day at school." He smiles pleasantly. "We've all forgotten about it." I return his smile with slight discomfort.

"Ace! Ready to party?" Titus steps from the 'stage', a small area in the corner of the lounge, hardly a foot higher than the floor.

"You know it." He slaps his shoulder. "I brought Xandria. Watching you guys perform always lifts her spirits. God knows she could use a smile."

He walks to a table, taking a seat beside an adolescent girl with hair sticking no longer than a centimeter from her scalp. She looks around the room, wide-eyed, smile bright.

"I told them you had a crush on Jagger," Titus speaks in a hushed tone to me. "And that's what caused the outburst at school. In case you were confused."

I look to him in annoyance, heat rising to my cheeks with embarrassment. He laughs off my reaction.

Simultaneously, the room begins to chant; Jagger, Titus, and Sommer's names echo across the rugged lounge. The group waves at their audience, making their way to their specified instruments. The small audience of 15-20 individuals applaud as Jagger strums his first cord.

I am inspired by music; the way the notes melt into melodies, the dedication and talent put into it, the emotion it creates, how the rhythmic pattern of the lyrics and instruments blend together into a beautiful harmonic song, as though it were a living being.

I stand off to the side, solitary in a corner of the room. I feel as though I am the sole spectator of this performance; the rest of the audience seems a part of it.

"We love performing here. You guys are a great crowd!" Titus raises his drumsticks above his head.

"Oh please, Titus. As if we perform in front of any other crowds." Jagger presses his microphone into its stand.

"I was trying to say something nice to our friends!" Titus addresses the audience.

"Don't be a suck-up. We already got the free pizza."

The audience hollers.

I am inspired by laughter; the way it breaks silence and releases tension, lifts moods and breaks barriers, creates moments of joy and happiness to be remembered for years to come.

"And now, and exclusive Luane's Lounge performance, the amazing, the talented, the beautiful..." Jagger's exaggerated voice booms throughout the room. Titus plays a drumroll. "Sommer Rayne!"

She grins shyly, flushing, slapping her brother's leg with the back of her hand.

She begins with a simple broken cord, slowly moving across the keyboard. She begins to add complimentary notes to the cord, tapping her foot against the lower pedals. Soon she is playing a complicated piece, her hands in constant motion, not a single note out of key. The audience cheers. An overwhelming sense of pride and gratification radiates from her being.

I am inspired by those who seem to have no voice, no chance to express themselves freely, no opportunities to succeed and present their greatness, but attempt to do it anyway. These people bring laughter, peace, tranquility, and life to those that they touch; a simple brightness in their being.

We exit the lounge after hours of performance. It does not feel as though we have been here for very long. However, the sky is darkening as we make our way to the house.

The entire atmosphere is peaceful and comforting. As the four of us walk together, not a word needs to be spoken to know what each of us are thinking. I watch the brilliant sunset of reds, pinks, and purples.

I am inspired by the sky; in the morning the sun and her cloud companions fill the atmosphere, in the night the moon and stars speckle across the darkness, an early image of who we are, the makings of our entire beings cascaded brightly across the blackness. To think, that all life is due to the universe and it's vastness; it is utterly incredible.

The little hope I have for this world bubbles within the depths of my core, creating an overwhelming sense of accomplishment, simply because I feel this, hear this, am immersed in this presence, in the company of my companions.

I am inspired by those who choose to have a voice, although the circumstances they are in attempt to mute them.

I am inspired by those who take every opportunity they are given as an advantage.

I am inspired by the bright smiles, in the audience and on stage.

I am inspired.