I notice that there isn't a camera in this room. It's got the foam on the walls, the ones that collect sound or whatever. Magnus and Samantha have been with us in this room for a couple minutes now. But none of us know how to start the conversation.

"It must be really screwed knowing that you brought the Pilots guys into this. I assume they have been?" Magnus starts.

I sigh, rubbing my neck. "I never wanted that to happen. To bring them into something like this."

"Well it's not your fault. Clair has a very impure soul. She's very dark. Sarah is the opposite. Good to know you're still in contact with her."

"Did you lose contact with her?" I ask.

"She stopped talking to me after I got Clair off my back."

"How'd you do it?" Sakura asks.

"Restraining Order. Suing her. Nearly putting her in jail." 

"Nearly?" I ask.

"Nearly obviously doesn't seem good enough." He crosses his arms.

"Don't get me wrong. After I was adopted I did change. I became a more chill dude. I am more relaxed and not normally like this. But you brought up a dark topic so I'm going to have a dark reaction." He shakes his head.

I tilt my head slightly. "You seem like a cool dude now. I can see you're very wary. You're keeping your eyes open. It's nice to see you probably have fun later and also be a caring person." He looks at me shocked for a moment. He leans against the wall as if brushing it off.

"Oh, it's fine. Thanks. After being bullied for so long. It still didn't stop so I decided I had to be stronger and show them they won't hurt me."

"But now you bully other people, including Sam!" Sakura rises.

"That's just how it is. You get bullied then you become one."

"It shouldn't be like that." I shake my head.

"Well, maybe my adopted parents didn't raise me the best. I know they haven't. They always give me lessons to learn how to do things on my own. To be independent. And sometimes they gave me messages that I take the wrong way."

"Why do you bully me?" Sam asks.

He stares at Sam for a moment. "I find it easy to pick on you because you remind me of me."

He then lowers his head. "I grew up with a rough mindset. I'll stop, I promise. I just...I found it funny because I do that to hide what I really feel."

"And what's that?" Sakura raises an eyebrow.

"Sympathy. I don't have the confidence to do anything nice because I've never received anything nice."

He coughs and we all remember Samantha is here, who cowers on this new found topic.

"Not so strong now, huh?"

"Shut up!" She hisses.

"Don't speak to my friend like that!" Sakura barks back.

"Hey, hey!" Magnus puts his hand up to stop Sakura. I sigh. Samantha does the same.

"You deserve an apology Kiriana. My two friends still think of you badly but I don't. They're still my friends at the end of the day."

"Can we call it even?" Samantha lends her hand. I look down before shaking a second later. She smiles weakly.

"I misjudged you for liking drums and copied you. I see your post and you have a violin now. Do you still play drums?"

"It's turned into my side instrument and violin has turned into my main."

She nods. "Fair enough. The other girls believe drumming would say you're copying Josh."

"Drums is my backup."

"Heh, cello is my backup." She chuckles.

"Can we talk about what's happening with Clair? Because even though you bullied Kiriana, I still believe there's room for forgiveness." Sakura says.

Samantha instantly looks toward me for confirmation and I nod. She seems relieved. "Okay, she tried attacking me. Bringing me into some bad people."

"Magnus." I ask.

"Do you know who would these bad people be?"

He hisses and looks away. "Really, really. Bad people. Types of guys who want any sort of kid. For whatever it could be and sell them on the dark web."

"Oh god." Samantha shivers.

"Does everyone know what that is?" Magnus asks.

"We don't need an explanation." Sakura says sternly.

"It's best if you don't let Clair get you. I don't want any of you getting hurt." He says.

"We've got a restraining order on Clair at the moment but it's not stopping her so we've got some police watching her and keeping me safe." Samantha says.

"That's exactly what Sarah's done for me." I nod.

"I'll give you guys back up if you need it." Magnus says.

"Thanks bro. It means a lot." Sakura says which makes Magnus widen his eyes. Me and Samantha giggle.

"I'm still getting used to the feeling of this new life. I was so mean before. I'm trying to make a change." Samantha tells me.

"Well, take your time as long as you're doing it right." She smiles at me and I smile back.

"I'll try to tell the other two girls to lay off you."

"Can you also tell them, to stop bugging me?" Sam asks.

She thinks for a moment. "I was only bugging you because they were but you're with Kiriana and...Sakura?"

"Yep."

"Okay yeah, I'll lay off you but if they don't then I'll stand up for you."

"They've been your friends since the first day you met. Try to not lose them if you do."

"I dunno Kiriana." She rubs her neck.

"I'm really starting to get vibes that they're toxic friends. Especially since my adopted family is really quite wealthy."

"If they don't like it then they can leave I guess. I don't want to be used when I'm already being hunted."

"That sounds really bad." Sakura crosses her arms.

"It is. But I've forgiven Samantha. It may take a bit of time to call you my friend."

"I know that but thanks for the reminder. Bleh." All of us have a small chuckle with her weird bleh which seems to brighten the mood.

"So, what were you guys on about asking me after about music?" Magnus questions.

"You have your own band, right?" Sakura asks.

"Ehh..." He shrugs.

"We've been in a very dark place lately. Always fighting and arguing with each other. The dudes in my group trying to show who's better. Bad kids. Drinking alcohol and smoking then competing who's better than everyone."

"Are you one of those guys?" I ask.

"I have been known to be a couple times when my head wasn't in the right place. But normally it's the other guys. If you're gonna look for advice to create your own then you're out of luck because I'm not helpful for that right now. Hell, leaving the group is on my mind at this point."

"Is it really that bad for you?" Sam asks with surprise.

"If you include fired arguments, band member competition, disagreements and lack of skill then go ahead. But that's only a small fraction. We used to be a good group but what made us go bad is something I'm trying to figure it out." He shakes his head.

"Well maybe, if you wanted to. Leave your group and join ours." Sam suggests which Sakura quickly whacks him in the stomach.

"WHOA CHILD! Don't be vicious to that small boy."

"S-smol?" Sam stutters.

Sakura chuckles nervously. "Just do what you have to do mate. But if we do create our band, can you not compete with ours?"

"I'll keep an eye on my group members in case they get any ideas. I'll say some stupid excuse and stop them from battling you. Don't worry." He nods.

"Now is that all? I wanna do something fun!" He quickly picks up a new attitude and leaves the soundproof room. Samantha then turns to me confused. "He's a jazz dude. He'll probably try to be funny with some of the instruments he plays."

I chuckle. "Have you ever seen me play violin?"

"Have you ever seen me play drums?"

"No." "Nah."

"Hmm, I wonder if we could play a song together. How good are you with picking up a pace?" Sakura reckons.

"I'm good with it. I'm currently practicing a Fall Out Boy's song with Sam for our assessment."

Sam chuckles and rubs the back of his neck. "As much as I like TØP, Fall Out was my first inspiration."

"Huh, P!ATD was my first inspiration." Sakura grins.

"Whoa! Different inspirations! Mine was Imagine Dragons. That famous song 'Radioactive.'" Samantha grins.

"So we all have different inspirations. Imagine Dragons, TØP, P!ATD and Fall Out Boys. That's unique." I giggle, Samantha giggling with me.

"Let's go see what the hell Magnus is doing."

We all agree with that and leave the room and enter the big music room.

Woer woer woer!

The notes go lower three times as Magnus plays the trombone. "Damn boy stop playing." Sakura sighs.

"Nah!" He says like a child. "Well, pfffpth." Sakura tilts her head.

He puts the trombone down and shrugs. "I'm sad Vine died."

"Vine died long ago dude." Some guy says.

"Nnnm! Did I ask you?" Magnus huffs. I assume this is one of the dudes in his band he's making as they both wear an unknown symbol wristband. One that would look like a band logo.

"No, but I'll answer anyway."

"Mind your own business."

"Whatever dude." The guy enters a small room and shuts the door.

Magnus sighs. "When are you guys doing your assessment?" I ask.

"Magnus and his group are working on a Mega Mix of Twenty One Pilots songs. Me and Sam are two other guys are doing a Melanie Martinez and Hasley mashup for a couple of their songs." Samantha explains.

"I find it very ironic that Sam and Samantha are working together." Sakura stifles a laugh.

"My full name's Samuel but if you call both of us Sam then it's a little weird." He grins.

I think about it for a moment. Magnus...

"You said your group ain't getting along." I say.

"What is the assessment going to be like?"

"Like a music show. It's not one of those play in front of the class assessments."

Oh god.

"We're playing in front of the school and in front of anybody who wants to watch." He shivers.

"I have a horrible feeling they're going to back out at the last second and I'll be the only one on stage like they did with the last assessment."

"No way!" I say wide-eyed.

"Yeah..." He sighs. "I don't want that happening again..."

Magnus definitely seems to still be him, but he's different too. I want to help him. Maybe I can ask the guys back home for some advice.

"That's not sounding good mate." Sakura shivers.

"Yeah, I know." He quickly pulls on a smile. One I know is fake.

"When's the assessment?" I quickly ask, knowing he's going to change the topic.

"On next Friday."

My eyes widen. That's the day before we leave to Paris!

"I wanna have fun with my new friends. Sakura, Kiriana. What are you guys like with your instruments?" He claps.

Me and her exchange glances. "As much as we want light moods, you're not changing the topic that easily."

Magnus groans childishly which makes me hold in a laugh from the attention he gathers from us. I know for a fact that if his group backs out, it'll fail Magnus too. It only makes sense that way and I don't want Magnus to fail at something he seems currently hyped about.

"What kind of Mega Mix is it? All songs? Vessel? Trench?"

"There's three from each put into a Mega Mix of six minutes. Because that's the max."

So four times three. Twelve songs. Magnus may not totally be screwed. I look toward Sakura. She notices a glint in my eyes. Once she realizes, she nods.

"What songs?" She asks him.

"Self Titled. Friend Please, Addict With A Pen, Taxi Cab. Vessel. Holding On To You, Guns For Hands and Car Radio. Trench. The Hype. Bandito and Neon Gravestones. Blurry Face. Stressed Out. Tear In My Heart. The Judge. That's the list."

"Unusual mix of songs but it's something we can deal with."

"Wot."

I chuckle. I then turn to Samantha and Samuel. They catch a glimpse of what me and Sakura are up to.

"You need back up? You'll have it."

"No, that's not what I meant." He shakes his head disappointed.

"Too bad!" Samantha cheers loudly.

She clacks the drumsticks together. "She can be a backup drummer. Sam if you trust him, piano. I'll be back up singer and or ukulele if needed and there's always Violin covers on YouTube. Or if you need to, Kiriana can do drumming and Samantha Cello. Depends on what you prefer."

"Cello or Violin?" He raises an eyebrow.

"Yea. You're choice. If you need the back up then we'll provide."

Magnus rubs his neck awkwardly.

"Do you trust your team?"

"Not really." He says dryly.

"Then there's your answer. What do you want?"

"Violin will probably be easier to deal with and bring up on stage if back up is needed." Magnus says thoughtfully.

"Great. Samantha has the drums."

"You could try to kick me off it anyway and that wouldn't work." She pouts.

"My precious."

* * *

Me and Sakura left the school and Magnus said he would send the script. We can only hope he won't go back on his word.

"Are you gonna be okay with the possibility of playing on stage?" Sakura asks me.

"I'll deal with it. Hanging around Twenty One Pilots has really helped me so if I give myself a moment then I'll be fine. It's not like I'll be the only one up there."

She smiles with pride. "Next question. What are you gonna tell them cause don't you leave Saturday?"

"Yeah, we do. That's what's worrying me."

"I'm sure if you talk to Tyler about it then it might be okay. You could pack your bags at some point and spare time for the show."

I nod. "We're all in the same boat. I just need to practice."

"Hey, you probably won't be singing. Do you think I could come over and practice with you?" She asks.

"I'll talk to Tyler about it. See what I can do." 

She nods and we stop. "Well, I gotta go home that way. I'll message you tonight."

"See ya Sakura."

We both hug and say our goodbyes. I look around in case if anybody's following me. Knowing Clair is hanging around. My eyesight is good so when I'm satisfied, I walk into the house.

"Hey, Kiriana! How did it go?" Tyler asks.

"It went well. His name is Magnus and he's on our side now. A lot went on but there's one big chunk of information I need to tell you that I want to take part in..."

~2507 Words~