8 Chapter 7 : Music Store Stop!

[Finn POV]

I texted fifteen people and all but one have either ghosted or blocked me, bloody hell that has got to be some kind of record. To be fair I was expecting this, just I didn't expect the one who did respond to have done so.

The annoying bit is Haley probably has about as much notes as I have...fuck. I'll just get the homework topics for whatever needs to be submitted. Should make the teachers give me a chance if I show up with some homework done.

Now my other colossal bastard of a problem, I stared at the broken strings of my guitar. In hindsight this really doesn't surprise me, I didn't use it at all for two months and then starting belting with it. The strings were weak as fuck. Not to mention changing the tuning every 10 minutes...

And this song is STILL NOT DONE!!

Something just feels off, the lyrics are everything I want to convey but the guitar just is not right. The tone of the song ain't right. It fit the other one so why not this?

AH fuck it, I gotta get this fixed first. It's already 5:30 PM, I'll get this fixed and go over to Haley's place. I want to thank Phil too, man gave such ridiculously simple advice that really worked. Sometimes I wish my old man could be like that, but I guess it is what it is.

I packed up my guitar into its case and went to the garage, then I got on my drug mobile. By that I mean my bicycle, the only form of exercise I had for two months of cycling my way to buy weed. Now that was a fucking stupid time in life.

After a cycle trip that lasted 30 minutes I made it to local mall, which has "Jeffery Musicals". It was where I first got my guitar in the first place, It's owned by this 70 year old fossil that calls anything anyone plays garbage. It became an unspoken challenge to make the old coot say something positive. Everyone keeps failing miserably.

"Sup old man, I need the strings on my guitar changed." I've known this old man for a long time because I've been coming here since I was eight years old. I've practically grown up in front of him, and as much of an annoying old man he is he can be pretty nice sometimes.

"Ah Finn, decided to play the guitar again huh? I thought you quit."

"Ya well life happened, I'm back on the grind now though." the old man was never known to mince words so I was expecting this very direct line of questioning. He just stared at me for a bit and let out a sigh.

"Well I'm glad you're back on the road, now hand over the guitar. I need to treat it for the amount of neglect you inflicted on the poor thing." with that he grabbed it out of my hands and uncased it.

"Holy mother of god, you didn't even look at it did ya? there is still dust on the damn fret board!"

Shit! Pissing of this old man is always going to lead to a very long day of nagging.

"Anyway I'm gonna try out some guitars while you fix that one up, I'm trying to finish a song but it isn't coming right." I went to the Yamaha section and picked out the F310, not a crazy guitar but quite solid.

Like that me and gramps were in our own worlds surrounded by the sound of guitars, I kept trying different chords and even different keys but it didn't have the feel I wanted. The lyrics were good but the guitar needed to be haunting for the song to really pop.

As I kept getting more and more annoyed I felt someone smack my head with a newspaper, I turned and saw gramps standing there with my guitar ready.

"Play it and check how it feels brat." I guess you really can't teach an old dog new tricks...

I started playing and it sounds as good as a new guitar, which is pretty damn impressive since this one is five years old.

"Sounds great gramps, thanks!" with that I started packing up, I looked at the clock and it was 6:20PM now. I've got to get to Haley's by 7PM.

"Oi brat, change the key to a B flat and try." As I was about to zip the guitar up, gramps hit my head with the newspaper again. B flat?

"All the chords your using would sound deeper in B flat, I'm assuming you want that dark and gritty feel to it yeah? I've seen enough in my time to know B flat is the best place to start for those."

I stared at gramps for a good second, I've been coming here practically my whole life and I've never seen him give advice to anyone on how to play. I guess the old man does have a soft spot for me after all.

"You know what's right gramps, let's try it out!" with that I removed my capo and and started to strum a Bb(B flat) for four strums and then switched to an Eb, then a Cm and a F. The sound was starting to match the image I had in my mind.

Then I found the finger style pattern that matched, in that second everything came together to create such a haunting melody that sent chills down my spine. It captured the lyrics of the song like it was made for it. I got lost in the melody while perfecting it, the transition between the pre chorus to the chorus was where the goose bumps needed to hit, and my god did it.

"OLD MAN YOU'RE A GENIUS!!" I snapped my head towards gramps and stared at him with reverence, he led me right to the answer so damn easily!

"Alright, now that you got it. Get out" He just turned around and went back to the cashier table.

"Shit I'm gonna be late, It's already 6:40PM!" I practically screamed out as I packed up and ran out "Thanks gramps!".

[Jeffery POV]

As I saw the brat run out, I let a smile creep onto my face. The brat is back playing music now huh? He was fucking atrocious at making songs before, but that melody just now was raw and haunting. I didn't expect THAT when I said use B flat.

Keep surprising me kid, and maybe one day I'll tell you that you're actually good.