Chapter 02


Benji paused for breath. Joel took it as an opportunity to speak.

"Benj, I'm sorry, I've just..."

"I DIDN'T SAY YOU COULD SPEAK NOW! I'M NOT DONE YET!" roared Benji. "I DON'T WANT TO HEAR YOUR PATHETIC EXCUSES, SERRIE THIS AND SERRIE THAT! I. Just. Want. You. To. Turn. Up. ON TIME!! I thought the band meant something to ya, Joel! We haven't got TIME to wait half-an-hour for the lead singer to SHOW UP for rehearsal. Goddammit, Joel, we are going on TOUR with Lit in a MONTH! ONE MONTH!!"

"Uh, Benj?" asked Billy.

"Yeah. 'Lil Billy," said Benji flatly.

"Uh, seeing as Joel is here now, can we start?"

Rehearsal did not go well. Joel sang the wrong words twice and kept missing the key completely. Benji's fingers shook with hurt and anger, and as a result some rather odd sounds were coming out of his electric guitar. Confrontation-hating Aaron lost the rhythm again and again. Billy, who was sharing a house with the twins, was now nervous and distracted. Only Paul, solid dependable Paul, was able to keep it together; tapping out the rhythm with his foot when Aaron lost it.

Joel was pissed off with his twin brother. What right did Benji have to yell at him like that?! OK, so he'd been late for rehearsal- and not for the first time either- but still. Serrie had asked him to go and choose a puppy with her, and Joel hadn't been able to say no. And, Benji's remark about Serrie had stung, too. So what if Joel chose to spend more and more time with her? That was his right, wasn't it?

Benji was equally pissed off at Joel. Lately, Joel had been spending so much time with this Serrie girl. Benji hadn't liked her from the beginning- she was so touchy. And it felt like she'd taken over his twin's life. Joel never seemed to have a spare hour anymore, not for the band, not even for Benji himself. Benji felt like he was losing not only his best friend, but also a part of himself, and it hurt.