Left For Dead

Echo’s POV
“So yeah…uhm…” I said looking down at my hands. Why was this so hard for me? I needed to make a good impression on them, but all I could do was stutter and make stupid jokes. “I went to high school with the guys of all time low, they’re kind of all my friends, but Alex is my best friend.”
Does this make me sound like I’m bragging? No right? I mean they asked knew I knew Alex. “He kind of persuaded me to make music.” I said.
When I looked up I saw them all listening interested to me and I blushed.
“Do you play more instruments?” Shannon asked. I had learned by now that she was the drummer. She had long red hair and a goofy smile. I couldn’t help but feel at ease with her.
“Yeah, I play bass, obviously, and I play guitar. I also sing a little bit, but I’m not that good.” I said.
Ally, the lead singer, leaned forward in her seat. “Would you be able to do backing vocals?” she asked. I had the feeling like they were suspicious of me. I mean that wasn’t weird, they needed to start over with a complete stranger. I wondered if the last bassist betrayed them or something. That would make it all even worse.
“Yeah I guess so. I mean I never did that before…but I could try.” I said and then it fell quiet. For the third time already. This was so not going well at all. I actually felt sorry for them for having to have someone in their band they didn’t like. Their manager basically decided for them.
Somehow I got myself through the really awkward meeting, I don’t know how but I did. I was sitting in my car now and I quickly dialed Alex’s number. I practically always let him know when I had done something important, but I just needed to really talk to him now, so a text message wouldn’t do.
“Hey Echo, how was it?” he said picking up the phone.
“I think it went bad, Alex…I don’t think they like me.” I said.
“Why do you think it went bad? What happened?” he said and I heard Jack and Rian talk in the background.
I took a piece of my ponytail in my hair and swirled it around my finger. “I don’t know. I was just awkward, like always.” I said.
He sighed. “Did you tell a ‘yo momma’ joke again?” he said like he was disappointed in me.
“I couldn’t help it, okay! I make stupid jokes when I’m nervous!” I said defensively.
He chuckled softly. “It’s going to be okay, alright?” Alex said calmly. “You’re an amazing musician, so they won’t kick you out of the band and I think they just need to get used to you.”
I let go of my hair. “You didn’t need to get used to me…” I said softly.
There was a short silence from the other end of the line. “No, I didn’t. But the guys did and they love you now! Just wait out warped. I’m sure they will love you too after.” He said.
I sighed. I was looking forward to warped a lot. I had been there a few times before, but to perform there myself…it kind of was a dream of me. He was right. I needed to wait this out.
“Thank you, Alex.” I said while I started my car. “I really needed this.”
“it’s okay. Me and the boys are ordering pizza tonight at Zack’s place. Wanna join?” he asked.
“Why do you even still ask?” I said as I drove away from the parking lot. “I’m always there when pizza is involved.”

*

Followed by Alex’s advice, I was now tuning my bass in the same studio a few days later for band practice. I had practiced left for dead’s songs at home until my fingertips started to fall off. They at least wouldn’t kick me out if I played their songs well, right? Well, I guess they were ‘our’ songs now instead of ‘their’ songs. It felt weird to suddenly be in a band.
“Okay guys, we have only a few times to practice before warped.” Ally said as she turned to us all. “so I kind of expect you all to also practice at home. This is what we’ve dreamed of our entire life, girls. We have to kill this!”
From the few minutes I had been in here with these girls, I knew what role they had in the band. Ally was the leader. She was the best performer, had the most amazing voice ever and could give incredible pep talks.
Shannon was kind of the mother of the group. I had learned she was the oldest and she was very funny. She was also one of the most unusual people I knew.
Vanna is one of those people that either is very enthusiastic and upbeat or calm and reserved. She was also an amazing guitarist. I don’t think I have heard such a good female guitarist before.
“Of course we’ll kill this! Relax, Ally.” Shannon said from behind her drums. I stared at her red-orange hair that fell on her shoulder. If you squinted your eyes it looked like her hair was made of flames. I was so fucking jealous of her for that.
“Yeah! Of course we will” Vanna said while she was tuning your guitar. “Do you remember that time in high school? You know, that performance we did? We had barely slept that night and we still killed it!”
They all three started laughing. “Yeah! That was the day after that sleepover! That was the night we ate donuts on the rooftop! Well…Vanna mainly ate them all.” Ally said and her head was red of the laughing.
The nosy person I was, I started to wonder what happened that night. I started making up scenario’s in my head. I guess I would never make up for the memories they had with each other.
“I was already a donut lover back then.” Vanna said and she whipped her blue hair over her shoulder.
“I don’t really like donuts.” I said desperately trying to join the conversation. Within three seconds I discovered that wasn’t a good thing to say as they were all staring at me like I had gone mad. “they’re always so greasy, they usually slip out of my hands.” I tried defending myself. But I couldn’t repair the damage I had done.
It was quiet for a while as they were all trying to look away from me. Ally was the one to break the silence. “So…Shall we practice now? Shall we start with ‘look away’?’’ she said and we all nodded.
I tried to cover up the fact that I was about to cry, by searching the tabs for this song on my phone. Why did I always say stupid things like this?! I always got nervous and then said stupid things like this. This was why no one liked me.
The truth was, I did like these girls, I just didn’t got along with them. They were so nice and funny and I was the odd one out. The weird kid that couldn’t be figured out. And even if I would’ve been a social person, I still wouldn’t have been able to make up for the memories they had had together. I would never be able to replace their last bassist.
I tried to focus on the strings of my bass, but it was almost impossible. My mind kept dozing off.
After we were done practicing most of the songs we were going to play at warped, I decided to speak up. “What was your last bassist like?” I suddenly asked.
They all looked up surprised. Vanna put done her guitar and then walked my way. “Her name was Lauren. She used to be in high school with us. We kind of were best friends through high school and after that too. We were the weird kids of the school.” She said and she chuckled at her last words.
“Yeah and I was the biggest weirdo.” Shannon said grinning and she put down her drum sticks. “People made fun of me for being friends with girls four years younger than me.”
I smiled. They had a nice background story. They were the kind of friends you’d always see in movies. The kind of friends to have sleepovers and to tell each other everything.
“Why did she leave?” I asked. And for the second time today, they fell absolutely quiet. For a moment I feared I had said something wrong again. I suddenly remembered that they might felt betrayed by their last bassist. I really needed to think before saying things. “Sorry you guys don’t need to tell.” I added, turning red.
“No, it’s okay. You have the right to know as our new bassist.” Ally said and she smiled at me. “She bailed on us a few weeks ago, just before we got the letters for warped. She was accepted to a university or something. She just called or manager that she quitted and we’ve never seen her again.”
Ouch. That was harsh. “Oh, I’m sorry.” I said looking down at my feet.
“Yeah, it was kind of horrible considering she was our best friend!” Shannon said a little louder than normal. “We would’ve understood if she had just explained to us that she had gotten the opportunity to go to college. But no, we had to find out through our fucking manager!” she yelled a little at her last words and her eyes were filled with fire.
Vanna put a hand on Shannon’s shoulder to calm her down. “Easy Shannon. She’s not here to hear it anyway.” She said calmly.
“Was she good?” I asked and I feared the answer. I didn’t want to fight up to the expectations of an amazing bassist.
“She was amazing.” Vanna said. “and she was also a good singer, so she did backing vocals too.”
I sighed. Ally saw it and awkwardly put a hand on my shoulder. “Don’t worry, Echo. You’re just as good.” She said.
I smiled at her and for a few seconds I had felt part of this group. I mean a real part of this group. I knew this wouldn’t last for long, but hey, at least they thought I was good enough to stay in their group.
When I came home, I searched live performances from ‘left for dead’ on YouTube. There weren’t a lot and they didn’t have tons of views, but they had a small fan base. Most of the comments said that they were sad that Lauren had left the group. I guess that meant that they were close to their fans.
The live performances were awesome. Lauren was even better than I had expected. I felt a little fear rise up in me, but quickly put it away. I just needed to go into this blindly. Thoughts off and just do it. I would see later where it would bring me.
Well, I kind of knew where it would bring me. It would bring me to the stage of warped, one of the largest traveling festivals. Basically the dream of every alternative musician alive.

Notes

heyy guys!

sorry it took so long for me to update this! I have been really busy XD but this my chapter in Echo's POV hope you enjoyed it

kisses from Nicky ( and also from Kenia, Shannon and Alejandra)