After getting to know the group, Mylo asked.
"So what's this week's challenge—"
"Oooooh, this week's challenge is fun, is very fun." Risu babbled out. Inhaling sharply, she continued. "This week is a group challenge, as of course you've seen as we're a group. So it's Friendship!!!" she beamed at the group, a wide childish smile on her face.
"Friendship?" Mylo raised an eyebrow.
Risu gave a vigorous nod, her eyes beaming at the challenge. "Yeah, friendship. So he said, 'Look within to the friendships you hold, and make a song, young and bold'. The line was so coool. So when do we start, now, tomorrow, how do we make the song…" she fired rapidly.
He chuckled, "L…let's calm down first okay."
"Oh," she blinked, shifting back to her seat. An embarrassed smile on her face as she played with her hair,. "Sorry, I tend to talk a little too much when excited." She chuckled, her voice straining slightly.
'A little?!' Cali thought incredulously, the corner of her mouth twitching.
Mylo chuckled, "No, it's okay. Thanks for the info Risu."
Risu relaxed in her chair, relieved. She nodded with a smile.
Nodding, he turned towards the group, "Okay, I wanted to hear your thoughts on which direction we should sing the song." He asked.
"Childhood friends!"
"Hmm, close friends."
"Snore!"
The rest turned to the sleeping boy.
"Why bother, just sleep on it." He drawled, his figure sprawled on the floor
Risu furrowed her eyebrows, "Huh, it's no time to sleep mister, why you still sleeping?"
"Huh, who's this brat?"
"Brat! I'm not a brat."
"Hmm, sounds like what a brat would say." He picked his ear casually.
"Why you…"
"Will you two just shut it already?!" Cali snapped, "Ugh, how did we end up in this group?" she mumbled, running a tired hand down her face.
Mylo opened his mouth to distress the situation, but was cut off.
"Huh, she started it." He jabbed a thumb at Risu.
Risu's brows furrowed, "No, I did not."
"Yes you did."
"No I didn't."
"Yes you—"
"Okay!" Mylo blurted rather loudly. Realizing what he said, he waved his hands frantically, "S…sorry. Okay, why don't we all just come back tomorrow and discuss the idea." He suggested.
"Sure, no biggie. I'll be here after school." Risu said.
"Brat." Noah mumbled to the side.
Risu gritted her teeth at the remark, but chose not to reply.
"Wait." Risu quickly called before there dispersed. Her phone out, "Let's form a group chat together."
"Oh, sure." Mylo typed his number. He glanced at Cali, gesturing to Risu. Cali groaned out. Mylo gave a pleading expression. She groaned once more before finally conceding.
Risu bounced on her feet. Turning, her smile tightened. "Yours?"
Noah stared at the phone, then Risu. "Nah, I ain't getting on an FBI list."
Her jaw tightened, "Why you…"
***
After the two finally separated, there all bid each other goodbye. With Mylo escorting Cali home on his insistence. Though, it was just to the warehouse.
"There were quite interesting." Mylo commented.
Cali scoffed, "Interesting is a strong word. Ugh, why did we have to be in a team with girl who seems to have no off switch and a guy who can't even stay awake." She glared at him, pointing an accusatory finger. "This is your fault. You just had to come late."
"Sorry," he scratched his head, "Besides, they're not that bad. You just have to know them, remember when we first met."
"Well, you're different. Those two…" she huffed, groaning out, "I don't even know where to begin?"
"I…it'll be alright." A yawn escaped Mylo's mouth.
She glanced, concern at the boy's tired form, "Hey, try to get some sleep. You hear me?"
"Yeah, I will. Thanks."
After escorting her to the warehouse, Mylo took a cab back home. He went to his room, trying to ignore the scent of Mary's favourite dish—his favourite—but failing.
He plopped on his chair and just stared. His eyes slowly closing. He shook his head, blinking back exhaustion as he rubbed his eyes.
"C…can't afford to sleep, not yet." He drawled out, his eyelids heavy.
Giving himself a slap, he shook himself awake, 'Sleep can…Sleep can come later. I need to read for this week exam. Can't afford to fail.' he forced his gaze unto his books as he began to study.
***
Mylo yawned, rubbing his eye. 'Day one done.' He thought as he walked out of the exam centre. 'I need to go back and read.' Then his eyes widened as he remembered. 'N…no, I have practice. I have to go.' He ran a tired hand through his hair.
Hailing a cab, Mylo plopped unto the chair, eyes immediately closing to get some rest.
Moments later, Mylo was abruptly woken by a firm shake. Blinking back his exhaustion, he glanced around, realizing he had arrived.
He turned towards the driver, who was still asking whether he was okay. Mylo offered a small smile, "O…oh, sorry sir. Thank you." He apologized, getting off the taxi.
Stifling a yawn, Mylo trudged into the building.
It was a miracle that Cali had even agreed to allow the two to practice there. but dealt with the decision to practice in the theatre with more people or here with just the four of them, the choice was rather obvious. Though, she was quickly regretting such decision.
"Woah, a warehouse. It's this way you guys usually practice? How long have you guys practiced here? Is this where you made the song?!" Risu's fired one after the other.
Cali resisted the urge to tape the girls mouth shut.
"Sheesh, can't someone get some sleep around here." A lazy voice spoke, sprawled on the floor was of course Noah.
Risu glanced towards him, "I'm just curious. This was the place where the song was made." She snapped her head back to Cali, "How'd you guys make it? Was it tiring to make it? Was it easy?"
Before she could shut the girl up, her eyes met the approaching Mylo. She let out a sigh of relief at his arrival.
"Oh, hey Myles. Can I call you Myles? Sorry I just like giving my friends nicknames. Are…we friends." She asked, the lasts words muttered.
Mylo smiled, "Yeah, you can call me Myles. And of course we're friends." He answered, sitting next to Cali, who leaned against him.
Risu beamed at that.
Facing the rest, "Well, let's begin. So any ideas for which direction we should sing the song?"
"Childhood friends!" Risu beamed out.
"Close friends." Cali commented.
Mylo turned towards Noah. The boy just shrugged, "Any, doesn't really matter."
Mylo paused, blinking at the suggestion, "Well, okay. Let's try to see how we can work on all together." He glanced around, seeing no disagreements, he continued. "Okay, then, let's begin."
The group got to it, but of course, not as smoothly as Mylo would have wanted.
"Huh, brat, is it a lullaby we're singing." Noah commented.
"Lullaby!" Risu's jaw tightened, her hands balling into fists.
"Can the two of you just stop fucking arguing!" Cali snapped at the two.
The argument dulled to a low, throbbing static as a splitting headache arrived. He massaged his temples, hoping to relieve some pressure. Was he doing something wrong? Why couldn't they all work together?
He sighed again.
An alarm beeped loudly, jolting Mylo awake. His hands blurred, frantically searching for his phone. Gazing at the screen, eyes widened. 5:00 pm. He had to go home and study.
Mylo scrambled to his feet, bag slung over his bag. "S…sorry guys, I have to go. We'll continue tomorrow." Without waiting for a reply, he left.
Reaching home, he collapsed unto his chair. He rubbed his eyes, stirring himself to stay awake. 'Dammint, was my departure too sudden. But we weren't making progress.' he sighed, 'We can still do this, I'll try to think of a way for us all to work together. But…' he glanced down at the books on his desk.
The desire to sleep slowly overpowering him, 'Maybe just for a few minutes' but then, out of the corner of his eye, his gaze landed on a picture.
It was one that there had taken a long time ago, when he was just turned thirteen. He, his brother, sister, and finally their father.
His father's indifferent face gaze seemed to pierce right through him. That seemed to remove any feeling of sleep.
Letting out anther sigh, he started studying.