~Jack

"What are we even gonna do?" I absent mindlessly beat out a rhythm on my drum set, admiring my drumsticks as I twirled one in my hand. "We won't have time to make up a completely new song, but I know a good song we could do a cover to." Mark showed me a video on YouTube. The song was called Stand By You, and the drum part seemed simple enough. I listened to it twice before trying it myself. I listened to Mark's deep smooth voice over my playing, the lyrics seeming to pour out of his heart. Everything felt perfect as I felt the music flow around me like I was in water. Until I could hear my parents start to argue upstairs again. Their shouting matches have grown longer and more frequent in the past several months, worrying me. I wouldn't be able to live on my own until February when I would turn eighteen, the only problem being that I would have to find a job. "You think I should leave?" Mark pointed upstairs. "Probably a good idea, they're always in a bad mood after they fight." Mark nodded, leaving through the back door with a wave. I sighed as my parent's shouting grew louder while I placed my drumsticks on the stool I sat on behind my drum set. I couldn't wait for Friday, which happened to be tomorrow. Not only would I hopefully get over my fear of playing in front of crowds, but I would finally ask Signe out. I only prayed that nothing would go wrong.

Time skip

         "Thanks Ma for renting a truck for me to use!" I hugged her as I loaded my drum set in the back, making sure to securely strap it down so it didn't jostle as much. "Good luck." She smiled wearily, kissing me on the cheek goodbye as I drove to school. Mark was already on his way to school in his car, promising to text me if we were good to preform. Just as I parked, I received the confirmation text from Mark. I released the breath I didn't even realize I was holding in as I unloaded my drum, Mark helping me carry everything inside and setting it up inside the cafeteria. He was dressed in a black suit like me, except his tie was red while mine was green. There was a large black stage similar to the one at my old school set up where we placed all of our equipment. Mark was borrowing a mic from the school since he didn't have money for his own yet. It wouldn't be long until everyone would start showing up, including Signe and Amy. We had told them that we would meet them at the school since we had a surprise for them. They were a little disappointed, but were excited about the surprise much to my delight. As I finished adjusting the volume of the amps, people started filing in, some pointing at us and whispering. Mark seemed confident as always as he tapped the mic taped to his face to make sure it was on. I nervously scanned the crowd, spotting Amy and Signe talking and laughing in the front row. "Could I have your attention everyone?" Mark said in the microphone. The people ignored him and kept talking, irritating me. "Hey!" I yelled impatiently. Instantly all eyes were locked on me as I gestured for Mark to continue. He nodded in a precaution as he cleared his throat. "So we're a band called Uliuli Banna, which the first word is our in Korean and the second is in Irish meaning band. This is our first gig, so we hope you enjoy!" A few applauses could be heard in the crowd as I started playing, listening carefully for Mark's voice.

"Hands, put your empty hands in mine." He held out his hands towards Amy, which she gladly took as she was lifted onstage. "And scars, show me all the scars you hide. And hey, if your wings are broken, please take mine so yours can open too, 'cause I'm gonna stand by you." He twirled her in his arms. "Oh tears, make kaleidoscopes in your eyes." He trailed a finger down her cheek. "And hurt, I know you're hurting but so am I." He pressed a hand to her heart, then his.

"And love, if your wings are broken, borrow mine so yours can open too, 'cause I'm gonna stand by you, even if we're breaking down, we can find a way to break through, even if we can't find heaven, I'll walk through hell with you, love you're not alone, 'cause I'm gonna stand by you." As he began repeating the chorus, I felt my palms grow sweaty as I turned on my mic. Once he finished, I handed the drumsticks to him as he helped Amy get off of the stage.

"Yeah you're all I never knew I needed." I sang into my mic, taking Signe's hand as she stepped onstage. She looked beautiful, her caramel brown hair curled and her lips a luscious red color. She was dressed in a tight medium length blue dress that accented her eyes, along with short silver heels. "And the heart, sometimes it's unclear why it's beating." I was surprised how well of a job Mark was going with keeping the rhythm at a steady tempo. "And love, if your wings are broken, we can brave through those emotions too." Signe sang along with me, almost making me stop. I had no idea she knew the song. "Cause, I'm gonna stand by you." She sang harmony, her voice going up higher. I had never heard her sing before, but now I wished she would never stop.

"Oh truth, I guess truth is what you believe in. And faith, I guess faith is helping to reason. No no no love, if your wings are broken, borrow mine so yours can open too. Cause I'm gonna stand by you, even if we're breaking down, we can find a way to break through, even if we can't find heaven, I'll walk through hell with you, love you're not alone." She continued singing with me, making me smile as we danced. Eventually, I felt Mark tap me on the shoulder, signaling that I had to go back to the drums as he brought Amy back onstage. "I'm glad you like the gift." She kissed my cheek as I picked up the rhythm, getting back into the flow as Mark and I sang the rest of the song.

"I'll be your eyes, 'til yours can't shine, and I'll be your arms, I'll be your steady satellite, and when you can't rise. Well I'll cry with you on hands and knees 'cause I'm gonna stand by you." I started clapping along with Mark, Amy and Signe, which encouraged the crowd to do the same as we repeated the chorus for the last time. "Cause I'm gonna stand by you." Mark and I concluded the song as I stopped playing at the last line. Cheers erupted through the crowd as I switched off my mic before Signe hugged me. "Best surprise ever!" She exclaimed. "But you missed." I raised an eyebrow. "What?" She frowned. "You missed." I passionately kissed her on the lips, feeling her tense up before relaxing in my arms. We were interrupted by something flying past us, nearly hitting Signe in the head. There was a hush that fell over the crowd, everyone muttering in confusement. Immediately I start looking through the crowd to see who threw something at us. Suddenly a piece of cake landed on the front of Mark's suit, icing trailing down the front as it fell onto his shoes. I felt my fingers curl into fists when I spotted the person responsible. Anti. He was smirking, cup of punch in hand before he tossed the contents towards Signe. "Look out!" I stepped in the way, the punch ruining my suit as it soaked through to my chest. I started to climb offstage to go give him a piece of my mind when I felt Mark grab my hand, concern shining in his eyes. Realizing that I was only repeating history, I felt all of my anger drain away as I hastily disappeared into the bathroom, locking myself into a stall as tears silently trailed down my cheeks.