Tyler waited impatiently for his brother to get off the 2 hour late flight from Orlando. It was 7pm, by the time he got home and helped everything get situated as they were like old times, he'd already be to late to go to his band rehersal. The 3rd time that week, he thought, they're gonna kill me! As he totally lost all connection with the world around, his mind was eating him away with all the bullshit he was going to get from his best buddies that night. That's probably why he didn't realize the 10lb duffle bag which was surging full speed at his head.
SMACK!!
Tyler let out a loud groan. The bag had hit him square in the face, causing him to lose his balance bringing himself, a garbage can, and the old lady next to him crashing to the floor.
Various gasps, snickers, and two familiar rings of laughter filled the waiting area, as the scene took place. After the birdies had stopped spinning around his head, Tyler looked up to find his brother and friend laughing uncontrollably. Embarrassed he got up, and made a few poor excuses for apologies to the granny he had just tackeled, extending his hand to help her up. The women just swatted him away, shaking her head in disgust.
"You crazy teenagers! Always causing trouble where ever you go!"
"Sorry ma-am," he squeaked, his face a full blown tomatoe red.
As the women walked away with a new reason to hate kids all over, Tyler looked at his brother with a lethal face.
"That wasn't funny Josh! I could have given her a heart attack!"
JC just grinned and tried his best to hold in the laughter that wanted so desperatly to come out. Seeing his little brother with such a sincere face after he had just knocked over a 90 year old grandma was more than he could bare.
"Did you see his face J!!! That was classic! Not only did he take out a garbabge can, but a grandma as well!!"
JC looke over at his friend, who had hatched the brilliant welcoming suprise. Tyler rolled his eyes, as his brother gloated.
"Whatever," Tyler mumbled and added, "Hey, Justin I didn't know you were coming too."
"Of course," the curly haired brunnette replied. "Who else would come up just to catch magical moments like those!"
With that he flashed Tyler his million dollar smile.
"Yeah, ha ha, very funny. Can we just get outta here? Your two hours late. I should have just left your ass here, NOW I know that would have been the SMARTER thing to do!"
Tyler shook his head in regret and bent over to pick up the fallen garbage can.
"Yeah, lets go guys, I can't wait to get home and catch up on some sleep," JC yawned at the thought of his comfy bed and warm blankets.
The trio made there way through the airport, stopping at luggage claim. They gathered all the bags and made their way to the parking garage which stored Tyler's new 2000 navy blue Ford Explorer. They packed their bags into the spacious trunk and hopped in quietly. Tired and anxious to get home, they made their way out of the airport, and onto the highway for the 45 minute ride home.
"He's late again. He's been late THREE times this week!" The frustrated drum player whined, pacing back and forth in the congested garage.
"Shut the fuck up Johno. Damn, all you ever fucking do is complain. Yeah, no shit he's late, we're all waiting here, sweating are asses off in this God damn garage!" The pist off bass player scolded.
"Oh no, here we go. Good job Johnny you got Chase angry and bitching," Emily remarked sarcastically. She slowly got up from the corner she was sitting in, wiping off her leopard print skirt from the dirt and dust which was on the floor. She ran her fingers through her waves of dark brown hair, and locked her eyes with John who was starring intently at her with his browns.
"You know what Emily, go home. What are you doing here, you have no purpose," John shook his head confusely from his drum stool sending his ear lenghthed brown dreds flying right and left.
Before Emily could shoot back with a comeback, Chase interupted.
"Please, we all know why she's here." Chase's black eyes burned deeply into her greens. "You think just because you butter Ty up you actually have a chance with him, am I right? Hmmmm, yes. Sorry sweetie, but you ain't gettin' any where near his pants!"
Emily looked up at Chase, her large eyes widened in disbelief. No way he had just said that to her she thought.
"Oh no! No way, you just said that," her voice quickly raising, "you jealous bastard! You wish you were anything like Ty. You wished I had a thing for you, that's why your saying that. You're just jealous of him! You want everything he has. You want his spot as lead guitarist and vocal, god knows you would love it if I were after you, you..."
"Oh God! Do you hear yourself! You're nothing but a concieted bitch! You're a dumb concieted bitch!"
Their words were heating up very quickly. Johnny just stared in amusement.
"Fuck you!" Emily screamed.
"You wish, you cheap ass, skanky whore!" Johnny shot back!
"Guys..." a whisper from the corner spoke up.
"Well at least I have talent!" Emily ruled.
"Guys..." The whisper slowly getting louder.
"Oh, I hardly call sucking dick a talent!" Chase followed.
"Guys!!!!" The faint little whisper from before had suddenly turned into a rage of anger.
Emily and Chase stopped arguing and looked over at their third guitarist Billy. The rim of his hazel eyes were deep red in color, and he was breathing heavily. His light brown hair was dripping with sweat as if he had been running a marathon.
"Stop it," he eased with a quick calming voice. "Stop fighting. It's hot, we're all a little edgy, but he's going to be here. Tyler will be here.
They all nodded at Billy's reassuring words, but a little startled by his sudden outburst.
"So Ty, new car?" JC question finally breaking the long silence which had occupied most of the ride home.
"Hmmmm," Tyler's concentration suddenly being broken.
"Oh yeah, yeah it is. I bought it just a couple of weeks ago. It's not the greatest car, but it's useful and it fits my band equipment and buddies."
With the mention of his bandmates he felt a heavy wave of guilt wash over him. He glanced at the clock on the dash board. 8:36, and he was still about fifteen minutes away from home. He hadn't expected the plane to be so late, and the traffic to be so heavy. The weather wasn't helping any either. It was a typical warm, rainy, summer evening in Maryland. He had thought about calling the guys but he was sure they were already in Chase's garage or house. And since his phone bill had been cut that month there would have been know way of reaching them anyways. Therefore there would be no point.
"Oh, yeah, so how is your band going?" JC asked trying to keep up conversation.
Tyler was half concentrated on the road and half lost in the thought.
"Tyler?" he asked realizing his efforts were failing.
"What...oh, the band. Uh, it's going, it's going, well." he stutterred a little, the question bringing more and more guilt in discomfort.
JC wasn't convinced. "Are you sure?"
Tyler let out a sigh, "Well, I was kinda suppose to meet them for practice an hour ago, so I don't know how they're going to take this.
"Well, can't you just tell them truth? You had to pick up Justin and I from the airport and the plane was late, and it will never happen again. I'm sure they'll understand," he reassurred.
"Are you sure? I mean even if this is the third time this week?" he asked hopefully.
"Uh, yeah.., Sure I'm sure," JC's voice dropping most of it's assuring tone. "Don't you think so J, J?" He trying to get back up from his friend, he turned to find Justin curled in a ball in the back seat quietly sleeping. "Ok, then," he looked over and smiled at his little brother.
Tyler forced a week smile, secretly hoping that his brother is right, and that everything is sure. The wave of guilt was still there, engulphing him into an ocean of worries. His friends were civil. They would understand. Wouldn't they?
