- Guano Apes, Big in Japan -

(A/N:
A cover of an 80's tune for you today.
I just love this sound for Obstruction.
I'm seeing them jumping around to this song on stage.
Also. Look it up on YouTube. There are some incredible bass, drums and acoustic covers of this.)

I was sat in the kitchen with my very own laptop. Oddball had gotten fed up with my lack of decent equipment and had fixed up an old one for me.
I had to type up a report on why I had chosen the culture and visual expression I had for the exhibition.
I suddenly understood Simon's procrastination talent.

The guys were coming around later to play with the recording gear.
The plan was to do a cover of 'Big in Japan', similar to Guano Apes' one. The goal was to find our own sound rather than just doing straight up covers.
I could see us heading for an energetic grungy rock.
Simon's bass-style and Ethan's way with rapid riffs was giving us an edge.
And as long as Oddball had the energy of a banshee on speed, we might even be able to stick it out for a two hour gig.

I felt my face break into a smile as the door opened and Ethan entered the kitchen. The guys were well past ringing the doorbell.
My ever growing farm of butterflies threatened to lift me from my seat when I saw his smile. I felt my eyes going soft as I looked at him.
Even with the perfect, symetrical face, I was seeing something new every day. Just the way his shaggy, messy hair had grown since I first saw him and how it stood on end from him running his hand through it.
He stopped opposite the counter from me and leaned over to look at my work from a sideways upside down angle.

"So you didn't write 'I chose Japan because Ethan is awsome' and hand that in?" He asked in pretend insult.

I laughed.

"As amazingly awsome as Ethan is, they want real influences, references, sources," I grinned.

"Sounds about as dull as economy," he said.

"How are things looking for getting out of that?" I asked.

"To my parent's great astonishment - considering my exeptionally sloppy attitude to practicing - I am on the shortlist," he informed me.

"Yay, Ethan," I cheered falsely.

"I suspect that some embarassing rockers, cheering as if they were seeing Iron Maiden, might have subliminally upped my impression on the judges," he said pointing at me.

"You're welcome," I said while I did a seated bow.

"Well... hearing Oddball scream at the top of his lungs 'Ethan, we love you, man' did kinda boost my ego," he chuckled.

"It should. We spent hours practicing the cheers," I replied.

Just then Oddball and Simon entered followed by Elsie.

"You on that already?" Simon frowned at my report.

"Yeah. It's better when my ideas are fresh," I replied.

My mum had invited Josh and Abby for dinner, meaning I had to clear the kitchen so she could cook. I packed up my work and herded the crowd downstairs.

A few minutes later, Abby came clattering downstairs. She stopped at the base of the stairs taking in the complete Obstruction crew.
She spotted Simon in his washed out t-shirt. And squealed.
Totally ruining the epic bassline Simon was doing.

"Abby! They're working!" Elsie told her off from her claimed spot next to me in the sofa where we were running lyrics.

"Sorry," Abby said and took a self concious seat in an armchair.

"We weren't recording yet," I told Abby when I noticed her embarrassed look.

Elsie rolled her eyes.

"Such a groupie!" She huffed.

"Hey. You're worse than me! At least I keep my posters in my room!" Abby snapped back.

Elsie shot her friend a warning look. Abby grinned maliciously.

"Your locker is like fucking shrine!" Abby continued.

"Hey... We have a cute, swearing fanclub," I cheered trying to break the tension.

"Well... telling the whole class that blonde bassist guys are hot, isn't exactly subtle either," Elsie smirked back to Abby, completely ignoring me.

I looked up to see Oddball's mouth scrunched up to stop laughter spilling out and Simon staring at Abby as if she was an alien.
I hadn't told him about the Simonites. His ego was in no need of further feeding.

"Abby. Elsie. Chill. We kinda need to practice," I said.

The two young girls looked at eachother before they both started giggling and giving out over-exited vibes.
I exchanged a confused look with Oddball who shrugged.

I gave the two girls a look before turning back to the lyrics in front of me. Something about them reminded me of me and Ellen at that age. We used to go into verbal attacks before collapsing in giggles too.

The two girls exchanged a look before Elsie spoke up.

"George," she said in a slow, sweet, suck-up voice.

"It's Oddball, but yeah... What does her highness, princess Elsie want?" Her brother replied dryly.

"Can we be backing singers?" Elsie asked.

He looked at me.
I shrugged.

"Can you hold a tune?" I asked.

"We need someone to do some mad maracas and tambourine on 'big in Japan'," Ethan said, earning himself a beaming smile from Elsie.

I looked between him and Elsie and realised that I was very happy about the age gap. She would grow into her charm and grace, endearing to people in the same way as her brother.
It faintly occurred to me that it might make things a bit strange if she found out that I was crushing on the same guy as her.
I had to laugh a bit at my own stupid mind.
Ethan caught my giggle and raised an eyebrow in question. There was nothing else to do but smile back at him.

Simon opened the drawer of sound effects. We had empty jamjars with dry peas and other home made rhythm instruments as well as a few bought things.

"Maracas or tambourine, Abby?" He asked and flashed the girl a winning smile.
She grinned back, unafraid of his attention.

"Your choice," she shrugged.

I looked in amazement at the little pre-teen as she practically licked her lips at him.

Simon handed her the maracas with a small wink.
He was lapping it up.
He caught my disapproving glare and ruffled my hair as he came over to hand Elsie the tambourine.

"Okay. Elsie. Yours is a 2/4 interval," Oddball instructed.

She hit the tambourine at a beat. Her brother nodded happily.

"Abby. I want you to try a shake-shake-pause," he said to the little redhead, knowing her well enough to not give drum jargon.

Abby tried and received a nod.

"So when Izzy starts the chorus, you both find those rhythms," Ethan said.

They nodded, serious with responsibility.
I had to smile.
Without them Oddball would still have had the rhythm section covered.

Before we could get going with the actual recording, my mum came downstairs looking worried and upset. There was a trace of anger on her face.
I wondered for a second if I had forgotten to hoover or something, but my mum rarely got angry over things like that.
I had my freedom as long as I cooked three dinners a week and kept the house relatively clutter free.

"Izzy. You need to come upstairs," she said seriously.

I nodded and followed her up into the hallway where Josh was mustering all his personal trainer muscles while trying not to look too threatening.
Outside the door was a man in his fifties.

He turned from scowling at Josh to look at me. His face brightened and softened.

"Elizabeth?" He asked.

"This is Izzy. Now you've seen her," my mum said sharply.

I heard the faint bass through the floor.
Studying the man in front of me I saw he studied me too. I couldn't place it but there was something faintly familiar about his face.

"Izzy?" He asked.

"Are you here to get a portrait done?" I asked unsure of if I was supposed to shake hands or somehow greet him.

"Portrait? No. I came to see you," he smiled.

"Why?" I asked with a growing suspicion in my gut.

"Izzy," my mum said quietly.

"Emily, could I have a moment with my daughter. Please?" The man asked.

I felt a panicky heartbeat rise into my throat.

"Your daughter?" My mum spat with a sarcastic laugh.

"Well she is," the man said.

My face felt numb and my hands were suddenly shaking.
The sound of bass and guitar through the floor became my anchor to reality. I suddenly wanted an Oddballhug more than I had ever wanted anything.

"If that is true, where were you when she was growing up?" My mum said with more venom than I ever knew she had in her.

I turned to see Josh put his arms around her and whisper something in her ear. I smiled gratefully at him, but he was completely focused on my mum. I soaked up Josh's safe, caring vibes before turning back to the visitor.

He was looking at me with a smile and a tilt of the head. He was still stood outside with us inside.

"Hello, Elizabeth... Izzy," he said.

"Who are you?" I asked, needing to have the information out there.

"Izzy. This is Scott Holland," my mum said quietly.

The name rang a loud bell and I recalled my 18th birthday when my mum had shown me my birth certificate and a series of photos of herself with a man some years older than her.

I took a few steps back, supporting myself on the wall. The music from the basement had stopped. They were probably discussing melodylines and riffs. I wished they would make sounds again. Give me something to hold on to.

The man looked at me.
Not an astronaut.
Not a war hero.
A man in plain jeans and flannel shirt. With almost the same eyes and upper lip as the ones I saw in the mirror every day.

"I'm your father, Izzy," he said.

I pulled my breath hard.

"No. I don't have a father. Mum is my family," I said trying to block out the rush of thoughts.

Memories of all my fantasy fathers washed over me. Seeing my friends with their dads at sports arrangements.
Asking Mark to be my father on my fifth birthday when Simon had offered to share his as a birthday present.
I looked up at the expectant face and the flowers he was holding out for me.

"Flowers?" I asked sceptically.

"For you," he said.

I shook my head.

"Look. I recently got divorced. I have two sons. A bit older than you," he started.

"So I'm no longer your dirty little secret?" I asked with more sarcasm than I intended.

He gave me a dry smile.

"I saw you with the band in town before christmas. You guys are good," he continued.

My mouth felt dry.

"I want to get to know you," he said.

I frowned and shook my head.

"No," I replied and left the hallway.

In the kitchen I sat heavily at the counter, rubbing my face, trying to calm my shock and decide if I should go back into the hallway or the basement.

Suddenly, a pair of arms wrapped around me from behind.
I turned and buried myself in the warm scent of Ethan.
He rubbed my back and rested his chin on top of my head.

"I think you need to leave," my mum's voice said from the hallway and I heard the click of the doorjamb as she closed the front door.

I didn't make a single move untill I heard the sound of a car pulling out of the driveway.

"That explains why there's only you and your mum," Ethan mumbled.

I nodded.

"I'm sorry, Izzy. I haven't seen him for 19 years," my mum said from the dorway to the hallway.

I turned out of Ethan's hug and looked at her.

"He has no rights to just turn up like that," I said as I stood up and walked to her.

She kissed my cheek like she used to when I was upset.

"I love you, mum," I said quietly.

"I love you too, Izzykins," She sighed as she hugged me.

"We're still the best team going," I said.

She chuckled.

"We didn't have a lot, but you still turned into the best daughter I could have asked for!" My mum said.

"I had the best mum," I grinned.

"Everything okay?" I heard from the basement stairs.

I looked over to see Oddball and Simon.

"Izzy's dad showed up," Ethan muttered.

Simon's eyes widened and he sprinted over to me and my mum.

"You told him to fuck off, right?" He asked.

My mum sent him a stern look.

"Sorry," he mumbled.

"He left," I replied.

"Good. You don't need him," Simon mumbled and pulled me in to kiss the top of my head.

A few seconds later, my earlier wish for a comforting Oddballhug came true as my mum, Simon and I were enclosed by both Oddball and Ethan in a weird bundle-hug. I heard Josh chuckle as he joined in too. My mum and I looked at each other with a smile.

"I guess our family doesn't have to be blood," she smiled.

(A/N:
What do you think?
I enjoyed writing this chapter. The characters are so easy to write.

Just to let you know... I'm taking a short Obstruction break.

My lectures are starting up again and I have decided to write a one-shot short for the Wattys romance competition.
Watch out for that.
It will be Snowboard related.
Working title for that is "Slopestyle".

I am also playing with the idea of an Obstruction spin off. .. but that will have to come later.)