After opening up with Jason last night, she was a little shy to face him. Besides, it was the weekend and she was too lazy to get up on a free Saturday from extra curricular which she had already fulfilled the quota of hours for the month. Lucky was still in bed accompanying her as she stayed cuddling with Lucky in bed while reading a new crime novel.

Her cozy session was cut short when her stomach grumbled as she checked the time to be past twelve. She forced herself to get up to prepare brunch while she blasted her list of emotional songs which she turned to when her mood was down. She remembered Jason’s band competition was today and set an alarm at four in the afternoon to remind her to prepare in case she forgot time again.

She stepped into an empty house and was grateful for it while her mind wandered to her nightmares. The squeal brought a familiar sense which she had encountered before but her mind couldn’t recall it. As she boiled a pot of water for her noodles, she stood by the kitchen’s window looking out at the mini garden while indulging in her thoughts fighting with each other on whether to confront the truth behind these nightmares through a psychologist.

The sudden vibration of her phone from an incoming call startled her. "Tsk, who is this? So annoying!" Ivy mumbled as she unplugged her ear pieces to answer her vibrating phone.

"Yes?" She asked with an annoyed tone, knowing the caller ID wrote “Ten pound twig” indicating it was Jason. She was too lazy to change his caller identification at first but grew to like the unique name she named him.

"Oh wow! Chilling?" Jason, who was caught by surprise at her annoyed tone, was asking awkwardly.

"Kind of, till you call. So, yes, what is it? I will see you later anyway..." She said while adding noodles into the boiling water.

"Hmm, yes... About that... We have a situation here. Would you be able to come earlier?" Jason asked while trying his luck as he knew he was threading on a thin line.

"Why? Change of schedule? Performing earlier?" She asked while walking to the counter top to fetch a glass of water.

"Well… not really… Just my drummer had severe food poisoning and he is hospitalised. So… I need a replacement..." He paused with fingers crossed.

"So?" She still didn't understand his point as she took a sip from the glass of water while waiting for her noodles to cook.

Jason took a deep breath before explaining in one shot. "I need you to replace him. Just that one song. The one you always accompanied me when I practiced?" He explained calmly and ensured every word was spoken clearly.

"Just one song." Jason pleaded while she was in the midst of finishing her glass of water.

She was still trying to register his point when she finally understood in the midst of swallowing the water she drank but couldn’t help but choke. In mind, she wanted to up front reject the offer as she knew she wasn’t skilled enough for a competition and besides, she wanted to stay low profile about her hobby but the thought of the story behind the song which was still a mystery, made her curiosity grow and eager to accept his offer in the midst of clearing her throat.

"Are you alright, Ivy? Ivy!” Jason panicked a little at the sound of her choke but the urgency of his situation pestered him to dive into desperate measures. “Look, you need to come down now to join in the rehearsal." Jason instructed as he began to fidget more with a feeling she would reject.

"No! This is absurd. I don't let anyone know I play the drums other than Andrew and Sandra. Besides, I am not as skilled as your drummer to be able to join in a competition." Ivy explained while she poured in the sauce packet for her noodles before stirring and off the stove. She walked over to the cupboard to get a bowl to serve her lunch while she placed him on the phone’s loudspeaker.

He knew it was tough to convince her but he had to make her agree as it was the only way to solve his band’s crisis and perhaps make her realise her own potential. He knew she was talented and if only she realised it herself. Hence, leaving him with no choice but back to his old habits.

"Why are you doubting yourself? Look, we could dress you in a guy's cloth and wear a cap. Matter solved. So, let's make this easy, I helped you with your studies, you owed me the favor. Return it here and now." Jason knew he had to pester her to a corner to force her inner self who loved being challenged to shine.

"Jerk!" Ivy yelled in her mind as she rolled her eyes. She knew he was challenging her and she thought about agreeing and screwing the entire competition all the better for being such a jerk.

"Fine, ten pound twig! I will get there!" She hung up as she quickly gobbled down her lunch. She pondered on how drastically Jason could change overnight from a person whom she started to trust to a total jerk she first hated him for. As she grabbed her keys while leaving her dishes in the dishwasher, she dragged herself on a short fifteen minutes drive to the field in town where Jason texted her the address and which entrance to enter earlier.

Jason knew he pressed on her furious button and he would need to calm her down later to ensure she didn't screw the whole performance. He was getting nervous as he paced up and down under the tree backstage which faced the entrance of the car park.

"Dude, rehearsal is starting in the next fifteen minutes for us! Where is the replacement?" Will, the electric guitarist and also the leader of the band asked as anxiety kicked in.

"Chill, chill am getting her on the way." Jason said as he got even more nervous while trying to buy time. He paced up and down even quicker.

"A lass? You're sure she can do it?" Will folded his arm in disbelief while asking in sarcasm.

"Yes! Yes, she can. I practiced with her many times before this though she was just playing the accompanying beats to my bass but she can fill in Nick's place. Besides, Nancy is the one who needs to keep it together." Said Jason while trying to affirm himself and Will as they eyed Nancy, the lead singer and also the drummer, Nick’s girlfriend, who was sobbing occasionally while being comforted by the other band members.

"She better make it on time and get to the rehearsal!" Will said before running over to check on Nancy. The other bands were one by one taking their turn to rehearse and although the occasional music eases Jason’s anxiety a little but he couldn’t keep his cool thinking of ways to manage Ivy when she arrived.

Ivy could hear the sound checks from the car park. She had a hard time navigating her way from the jam as the crowd began to grow while she honked on them to move quickly. Soon, she found the backstage entrance as the car park she was told to park in was meant for band members only. She instantly spotted a worried Jason who was all dressed up like a rocker at the entrance. The cool sight of him somehow eased her annoyance a little so she decided to give him a cool greeting.

"There you are! Hurry, come with me!" Jason pulled her straight to the back stage as he grabbed some leather jackets for her to try on while changing caps on her messy hair bun. He let her listen to the practice demo version of their song cover while she was dressed.

“Listen over and over to the beats and familiarise. We are playing in that order.” Jason explained quickly before he disappeared to the dressing room leaving her with his mobile and ear piece. There wasn’t any chance to retaliate in the whole chaos as she listened closely to the beats and tried to plan her fill-ins on the drum beats while he dressed her up and gave her Nick’s drumsticks when he was done.

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"Remember just play like it was in the practices with me." Jason said hastily while looking right into her eyes before he ran up on stage with the other band members taking their position as she nodded.

At the first note of the keyboard as an introduction followed by the singer’s gentle yet haunting voice on half of the first verse, she counted along as Jason’s bass and the electric guitarist joined and felt more relaxed when she took her cue to her first beat on the first chorus. They continued on to the bridge and chorus before they ended their rehearsal.

Her performance surprised herself as she went off hastily to the back stage. Anxiety unexpectedly caught up with her as her mixed emotions were made of proudness, happiness and fear at the same time.

"Hey! Good job up there!" Will praised as the band members approached her who was kicking sand and tiny stones on the ground while calming her nerves. She gave her thumb up.

"Yo! That was great!" Tom, the electric guitarist, praised her as she winked and smiled, accepting their compliments.

"Thank you." She mumbled while they walked away with Jason nowhere to be seen. She felt a little disappointed as she turned around facing the car park and looked down on the ground to kick a stone off the path.

"You were cool..." Jason teased standing aside while watching her for a while when she reacted to the band members with a drink in hand as he walked over to her. She was caught off guard when she heard him as she looked up and smiled.

"Thank you." Her smile grew wider as her confidence was boosted at the sight of him.

He passed her a can of calamansi drink he bought for her and she noticed the scratch on his wrist. She remembered last night and it could have been because of it.

“Your wrist…” She mumbled which took his attention to last night as well.

“Small matter… It will heal.” Jason shook it off to not bother her state of mind. She suddenly recalled the terrifying nightmare and could clearly recall their bracelets were tangled, the slap she got from him to get her senses back and the shrilling scream which woke her to the warm embrace of Jason. Jason patted her head to comfort her.

“I’m sorry…”She looked down with her eyes closed as the terrors from last night were overwhelming.

“It’s alright… I made a promise and Lucky will always be at your service too…” He held her hand to comfort her as he was worried she would be overwhelmed by her nightmares again.

"Never knew you were capable of that?" He asked while sipping his own soft drink to change the topic and lighten the mood instead of pursuing further to get her to seek medical help.

She came back to her nervous self when she heard the change in topic. "You mean drumming?” He nodded at her question. “Sort of. Well, I hope I don't see anyone I know here tonight. Who knows what will happen in college on Monday.” She let go of his hand and took another sip of her drink.

“Kids these days and their peer pressure.” He teased as he chuckled.

“Pretty archaic right?” Ivy played along as she sipped her calamansi juice.

"Stop underestimating yourself. You can do much more, trust me. I’m just curious… you performed as though you practiced often. How?" Jason asked while she looked at him when he winked at her. She rolled her eyes at his non stop teases.

"Drums are about coordination… Practicing the air… If I practice to keep them there, it won't take me long to get used to them again…" She smiled while thinking to herself about the mystery of the beautiful haunting song’s backstory if any or was she just overthinking. She wanted to ask but held back when Jason patted her head and messed her hair which annoyed her. She smacked him for teasing her but he continued on with both of them and ended up in giggles which calmed both of their nervous self down even more.

Will called them in for a briefing moments later as Jason walked Ivy over to the back stage. “Haven’t introduced everyone to you... The guy on the keyboard was Tom. Will’s on the electric guitar and Nancy the lead singer. Nick the drummer is whom you replaced.” Jason explained as she nodded.

“Alright, cool…” She replied as she finished her drink and aimed at an opened dustbin successfully as though she was scoring a three-pointer at basketball. They band members caught her in the act and burst out in laughter as she smiled and winked at her success before skipping closer to join their briefing.

The crowd was growing later that night. They were the last few bands to perform as Ivy patiently waited with anxiety she struggled to keep in control. She even skipped dinner with the team members.

She had a make-over by the make-up artist and it was the first time Jason ever saw her that way. He couldn't help but to not acknowledge what a beauty she was.

"Remember, you set the mood because you're the drummer. Keep thinking back at the free will feeling you had during practice with me. Don’t feel too much pressure. You will be alright." Jason calmed her down before they went up on stage. She eyed him nervously as she nodded and gave a shaky smile.

"It's not important whether we win or not. Performing is what matters. Go up there and enjoy like you did during practice." She nodded at his encouragement as he patted her head gently on her reverse cap which covered her hair bun slightly.

She couldn't believe she would ever have the chance to play the drums live on stage as she enjoyed performing and synchronizing to everyone’s rhythm. Eventually, she fell into place with the tempo easily and her confidence made her more outrageous with her fill-ins on the drum beats. Jason found it easy to play with her rhythm as everyone got into the right mood for a slow built-up tempo song.

She was excited and proud of herself after the performance that she wanted to have a hearty meal. Unfortunately, most stores around the field were sold out and her gastric pangs started to kick in.

"Hey, aren't you eating?" Jason typed over his phone to show her while the last band performed. She shook her head as she pointed at the stores and shook her hand indicating they were sold out.

"Awww... We will get something to eat after the results?" He typed the next line as he put a thumb up and she agreed.

She noticed Nancy had left right after the performance. She was impressed with her performance and immediately fell in love with her strong and high pitch voice which suited a rock song a lot. It was a great performance and she really hoped she didn’t disappoint all of them. The occasional gastric pangs were getting agitating as she patiently waited for the announcement of winners.

Just when the announcement for top three winners began, she heard Jason’s band’s name, “Burning Ember” announced and it was unexpected for everyone as they all were asking to clarify if it was their band name announced before running up on stage to collect their trophy. She wanted to stay behind but was soon pushed forward by the other team members up to the stage. She was so grateful for the stunning sunglasses and cap which she decided not to wear in reverse anymore, which made her disguise a success.

The band members left immediately after the prize giving ceremony and headed straight to the hospital to visit Nick to celebrate. Jason offered to pack food for everyone with Ivy and he ensured she finished hers while he drove as he could tell she must have had gastric pangs from her grimaces.

When they reached Nick’s room, they saw Nancy was asleep by his bedside. They decided to leave them alone quietly. They saw Will and Tom at the lobby and went over instead.

"Yo, bro! Dinner." Jason greeted them.

"Hey! Man, we are starving! Thanks!” Will said as he grabbed the paper bag of food. “Hey, drummer lass! Good job and thanks! You're cool!" Will complimented with his thumbs up.

"Thanks." Ivy smiled shyly as she took a seat next to Jason.

"Thanks for helping us out! We owe you one, claim it from Jason. Don’t worry if he doesn't repay you, find us anytime." Tom said while slurping his pasta.

Ivy giggled and nodded as she was still enduring the pangs of her subsiding gastric.

“How’s Nick’s condition?” Jason asked. “He’s resting. Better. Will be discharged tomorrow…” Will explained in between his chews as Jason nodded and turned his attention to his phone instead.

"I didn't know the lead singer was dating the drummer." Ivy whispered to kill her curiosity to Jason who was checking out the photos he took earlier in the event.

"She was my ex." She gasped in surprise as she raised her eyebrow, thinking he was joking since he was speaking so nonchalantly without looking at her.

"That's also a reason why I stopped joining the band but it was an important sign up this time." He smiled and held her hand with his free left hand while scrolling. "Thank you." He said, finally looking into her eyes which were still shocked.

"I'm sorry. I wasn't ..." Ivy finally understood he wasn't joking and was trying to link his excuse to the backstory of the song. Jason put a finger on her lips as he noticed her grimacing at her gastric pain.

"You're alright? You have been doing this funny grimacing face all night…” Jason asked as he removed his finger while Ivy was again surprised with his reaction for being caring suddenly as she raised her eyebrow and withdrew her hand from his. Soon, she realised it was to tease Will and Tom who were eavesdropping. “Are you in pain?" Jason asked loudly. Ivy smacked him lightly while she giggled at his tease.

"Pain? Who? What happened again?" Tom leaned in at them knocking into Jason who was close to bumping into Ivy's face who was staring back in shock with her big eyes. He managed to hold her arms to prevent himself from going further near her while remaining at a distance as she moved further away. He turned to face the guys when she looked away as he released her.

"Just gastric. It's subsiding. I will be fine." Ivy said to everyone as she reassured them while blushing at the awkward situation earlier.

"You should have eaten more… “ He pinched her nose while both Will and Tom watched suspiciously leaving Ivy blushed.

"She had gastric pain but it's subsiding and late dinner you see. We will leave you both to send the food to the lovebirds. I gotta send this young lass home first." Jason said as he stood to leave followed by Ivy.

"See ya, Jason! See ya and thanks, sweetie!" Will teased and wink.

"Hey, no tackling business here!" Jason turned and warned jokingly as the boys ended up laughing leaving Ivy blushed even more and quickly scurried away in embarrassment.

Nancy was standing by the aisle for a long while after Jason and Ivy closed the door as she watched the entire circumstance take place. She knew there and then Ivy was important to him even if he didn’t know it yet. His actions had betrayed him. It stirred a pool of jealousy in Nancy as she snarled at Ivy thinking of her next plans.