Guys, I wrote some shitty song about my shitty life.
"It's shit," Malcolm said as he looked at the song I wrote. We both sat beside each other on the stairs.
"But why?" It looked looked good to me! It even had such an awesome rhyming scheme!

"What are you, a fifth grader? This sounds so childish,"
"Well, I could add some swear words in there,"
"That's not what I meant," Malcolm picked up his bag and began leaving.

"Wait,"
"What?" He looked at me. Seriously, what the hell do I want? Just leave him alone!
"Actually, I want to...join the music club," Yes people, this is how you fuck yourself.

He looked into my eyes, "What can you play?"
"Yeah that... A bit of violin and keyboard," You guys know how good I am. My neighbours at victims.
"Come with me," He walked and I followed him.

"Hey Malcolm," We met some jocks in the way. I hid behind Malcolm.
"Who is that?"
"He wants to join the club," Malcolm said and they laughed.
"Good luck, buddy,"

Well, they were friendly. Maybe not all seniors are bad. Or maybe just because Malcolm was there, they were nice to me. Nevertheless, I followed him. There was a separate music room in the fourth years building. Malcolm had the keys to the door.

We walked in and I looked at the walls covered with graffiti. The floor was carpeted and there were instruments, wires, amplifiers everywhere.

He walked towards the keyboard, "Well, play me something," I walked towards the keyboard and looks the keys. He switched it on and stood beside me. The keys seemed to come towards me and hit me on my face.

I don't know anything.

I looked at him and he looked back at me with his arms crossed. I looked back at the keyboard. Anna knows how to play it. After she was fairly good at it, she just kept it in my room. I just played around with it sometimes. I can't play any song on it.

I'm useless.

"Did you lie when you said you could play it?" Malcolm asked.
No, I never lie.
"I said I know a bit of it,"
"Then, play me a bit of it."

So, I played some very random keys and made a tune out of that. I thought I was doing great until he stopped me.
"What are you doing?"
"Erm...Playing?"
"Playing what? There's no tempo, no scales, I don't even know the chords that you're playing."

...I don't know so much about music. He took a deep breath, "Do you know how many keyboardists are there in the school? About fifteen. And all of them have been playing for years."
I looked at the keyboard.

He picked up his bag, "Go home, kid. This ain't your cup of tea."
"Well, then teach me how to play the keyboard!"
"Dude, I'm a bassist,"
"Then, teach me how to play the bass!"

"And why should I?"
"Why shouldn't you? You're my senior!"
He looked at me, "You can't learn an instrument in a year and that's the maximum time I can give you."

He went away. Well, that happened. And today, it's 21st October. Ten days to halloween. It's a Wednesday morning. Everything is as peaceful as it could be.

I was sleeping soundly into my warm and cozy bed with bread crumbs lying around my pillow and a few packets of chips lying on the floor. A baseball bat lay near my bed. The clock was ticking and I was asleep.

As soon as it began ringing, I picked up the baseball bat and smashed the table clock. Now the room was quiet. Until mom came in.

"KATE! WAKE UP!"
"Just five more minutes," I mumbled as I snuggled into my bed. Mom looked around, "WHY IS YOUR ROOM SO DIRTY?!"

"It's called creativity"
She smacked my head, "Come have breakfast and leave for school," Mom left. I was slowly getting down from my bed, when my hand slipped and I landed on the floor.

So, I did one thing which anyone of us would do. "MOM! I THINK I CAN'T GO TO SCHOOL TODAY!" I dragged myself towards the kitchen while holding my shoulder.

"Why?!"
"I fell on the floor and broke my shoulder!" I said.

Mom pointed at the door, "Eat and get out," She started doing the dishes.

"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU MOM! YOUR SON IS DYING AND HERE YOU ARE WASHING DISHES! WHICH ONE IS MORE IMPORTANT? ME OR YOUR DISHES?!"

She looked at me for sometime
"Dishes," She continued washing the dishes.
"What the—"
"I'm going to give you a chance to eat and leave till I count till ten, then you'll run to school. The bus left long ago" She said.

"Can't you drive me to school?" I said.
"I don't run a taxi service!" Mom shouted.

You won't believe, I brushed, took a bath, ate my breakfast and ran outside my house within the count of ten! Good thing school's near to my house, but running to my school is so tiresome my lazy ass just can't do it!

I finally reached the school door. I was breathing as if I had suffered from a severe case of asthma! I was late. Mr Dickson shouted at me for coming late. Good thing he doesn't remember what happened last week.

I took my books and rushed to the mathematics class. I sat with Jaden who had saved a seat for me. 

"Okay now. I've given you some assignments. Have a look at the sixth question of the first assignment. Can anyone solve it and tell me the answer?" Mr Patrick asked. I don't know what problem do teachers have with me—They'll only point me out in the entire class.

"Mr Roberts,"
"Yes, Mr Patrick?" I said.
"Will you please solve question six for us?" He said.
"Do I have to?" I picked up the assignment. Jaden snatched the assignment from me and passed me some other paper as he whispered "This one, not that! That is my shopping list,"

As you can see, I was clueless. Why are we even studying trigonometry? I mean, I'm waiting for that one day when I'll use it in real life.

"Mr Patrick, the answer might take some time" I said.
"It's okay, we have plenty of time," That shameless man said with his poker face. Mr Patrick is the only person I've ever met who has completely dead facial muscles, after Malcolm.

I can't understand, why can't he still figure it out? Cause all I—all—ALL I'M—...All I'm doing...is wasting the class' time.

"Mr Roberts, I did this to check your attention in the class. We have already done that question ages ago, this shows that you never give a damn about my subject," He said.

"Sir, are you a mind reader by any chance? I mean, such accuracy!" I said.

Everyone started laughing to this.
"Do you want to be thrown out?"
"Am I given an option?"
"Answer me,"
"No,"
"Then sit down,"

I sat down and looked into my notebook while Mr Patrick got busy solving the assignment with other students. I looked at the blank sheet of paper. My mind began to wander at different places.

The blank pages were tempting to look upon. I picked up my pencil and began writing my thoughts.

"Your heart's shape
Is an escape for the alone
A place I can call my own
A place where I've found home"

Well, is it bad too? I'm not very good at judging my own works. Maybe I'll ask Malcolm. I narrowed my eyes as my bangs rested upon my eyelids,

"You can't learn an instrument in a year"
I know.

The bell ran and everyone got up.
"Wow, you wrote it, Kate?" Jaden peeped inside my notebook.
"Yeah,"
"It's so good!"
"It's just fine. I want to learn how to play the bass. I feel like I lack the skills and abilities required,"

"It's your choices that matter," Jaden picked up his books, "Cause you're far more than your abilities,"
"Oh Jaden..." We both began walking to our lockers, "But I can't learn an instrument in just one year,"

"But atleast you'll start something you truly love." Thanks Jaden. I needed this, "I'm going,"
"Where?" He asked.
"To the D wing,"

I ran and entered the D wing.
"Hey, it's that shortie again,"
"How ya doin', kid?"
All the seniors were there in the halls since they were changing classes but I just ran through them.

I was only there for one person.
"Kate?" I stopped and turned. Malcolm stood beside the water cooler with his water bottle in his hand. It had been a few days since we last met. He looked just as Gothic as always with all his makeup and clothes. He wore a black wig.

Now was the time. I won't back away, "TEACH ME THE BASS!" Everyone turned and looked at us. What the fuck are you doing, Kate?! Seriously, the situations I put myself into.
"No," He walked back into his class but I grabbed his hand.

"PLEASE!"
"What the hell?" He pulled back and so did I. Everyone was staring at us, hooting and cheering us. Malcolm was stronger than he looked but I wasn't going to lose. Not this time!

"What the hell is your problem?!" He groaned.
"My problem is you not agreeing to teach me!"
"You can't learn an instrument in a year!"
"But atleast I'll start something I love. I never said I want to master it in a year, just teach me what you can and I'll carry on!"

I felt his strength fall and pulled him out of his class. "It seems," I looked into his eyes, "I have won,"
"Whatever," He slapped my hand and went back inside.
"Aw man, Malcolm! Look how nicely our junior asked for your help,"
"Yeah, help the cutie,"
"Shut up and leave me alone,"

"Boo! You stink,"
"What an ass,"
"What's going on here?" A teacher entered the class, "Are you a senior?" He asked me.
"Oh no, I'm a freshman,"
"What are you doing here then?"

"Hey teach, he came to ask Malcolm for a favour!"
"He wants him to teach him the bass!"
"Malcolm refused,"
"Stingy,"

"Malcolm, is it true?" The teacher asked him.
"It is," Malcolm gridded his teeth.
"Then, what's the problem teaching him?"
"I'm busy,"

"I guess you can spare an hour for a Junior who wants to learn,"
"But sir—"
"I taught you how to play it when you were a freshman. What if I said I'm busy?"
"You're the music teacher. That's your duty,"

"And you're a senior. You know your duty too,"
"But—"
"Don't worry kid. I'll see that he helps you. Go to his place after school and he'll teach you,"

"What the—"
"If you refuse or I hear any complaints from this kid, I won't be writing your LOR for your college,"
"This isn't fair!"
"It fucking is!"

Malcolm glared at me.
Oh no. I wanted it but not like this!

-To be continued

Malcolm Bevery
All I Want is you baby