Read Online My Year of Epic Rock by Andrea Pyros - Free Book Online Page B

wrong with playing music? You like music, right?”
    â€œYeah, I know, but like, is it too showy?”
    â€œShowy? I don’t really know what you mean by that.” Dad did look confused.
    â€œI don’t know. I just feel funny about it. Like I’m asking for attention.” I shrugged. I couldn’t quite even explain what I was feeling. Normally I just did stuff because Brianna was doing it and made me do it with her. I couldn’t think of the last thing I decided to do on my own.
    No wonder I felt like a turtle without a shell.
    Dad nodded. “Well, it’s always hard to start something new. You think about all the things that won’t work. Or that could go wrong. But it’s just music. If you don’t like playing together, you can stop. Are these nice kids?”
    â€œYeah, they’re totally nice, Dad. Actually, they’re all the ones who sit at the peanut-free table in the cafeteria.”
    Dad didn’t intend to hurt my feelings when he asked, “What about Brianna? Won’t she be in the band too?”
    But it did.
    â€œShe doesn’t like me anymore, Dad.” When I said “Dad,” my voice broke, and I started crying.
    â€œHey, hey, don’t cry, honey.” He put the computer down on the coffee table so he could pat me on the back, sort of awkwardly. “I’m sure that isn’t true.”
    â€œNo, it is.” I rubbed my eyes. “She doesn’t want to hang out with me at all anymore.”
    â€œWhat happened?”
    â€œI don’t know. It was the summer and she was in Italy and she saw Shelley there and now they’re best friends or something, and they act like I’m just the loser who follows them around.”
    Dad didn’t say a word.
    â€œAnd she won’t ever text me back and now they’re planning a party together,” I continued, still crying. “And they’re calling it ‘Sheliana’s Massive Halloween Party.’”
    â€œOh. That sounds awful,” he said, shaking his head back and forth, like someone died.
    â€œIt is!” I said.
    â€œSheliana is a thoroughly ridiculous name.” He said it very seriously, but I knew he was teasing me.
    I cracked up a little through my tears and drippy nose. “It is sort of stupid.”
    â€œI’m sorry, Nina. That sounds disappointing.” He patted me on the shoulder. “Have you tried to talk to Brianna?”
    â€œDad! I did, like twenty times!”
    â€œOkay, okay. Good for you for trying. Sometimes things happen with friends and it’s hard to know why. I know how much Brianna means to you.”
    â€œNot anymore,” I said.
    â€œI’m sure that’s not the case.”
    â€œIt is! I hate her.” I rolled my eyes.
    â€œThen go wail on the drums to get rid of all your righteous anger.” Dad pretended to do a drum solo.
    He is a goof, but it made me smile.
    â€œYeah, maybe you’re right. I could try it once and if it’s the worst ever, I don’t have to go back.”
    â€œWould you need to bring your kit to rehearse? Where are you guys thinking about doing this, anyway? School?”
    â€œNo, that new kid, Shane McCormick, says his dad has a studio in their house. They just moved here.”
    â€œWait, McCormick. Is his father Thomas McCormick? The Thomas McCormick?” Dad sounded all excited.
    â€œWho?” I had no clue what he was talking about.
    â€œThomas McCormick. I heard a rumor that he moved up here this summer. He’s quite a well-known indie record producer. That’s incredible.” Dad looked impressed.
    â€œI don’t know if that’s Shane’s dad. He said his dad had some music job. I’ll ask, but I’m not even sure if anyone will remember that we talked about this by tomorrow.”
    They were probably all joking and they’ll drop the ball and never mention it again.
    I could hope, couldn’t I?

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