The rhythm of your throw

There was no one at home, and Kai couldn’t help but be glad about that, because no one would ask why he wasn’t at the last lesson. After finding his favorite white hoodie with the inscription “ANGEL EYES” and blue jeans, he immediately rushed to get ready, but as soon as he put his things in the bag, a downpour started outside — it seemed like the rain had been drizzling for several hours.

-Well, great-the guy said with a hint of irritation in his voice and started sorting through his things. As soon as he took off his hoodie, he received a notification from the security cameras saying that someone had arrived. He walked to the door and saw his childhood friend Phoebe on the threshold. He opened the door.

-Before you start accusing me of something, I’ve got some good news for you-she pushed the guy aside and walked into his room.

-Maybe you’d better explain why you weren’t at school?-Kai shouted, closing the door, following his friend, and sitting down next to her.

- It doesn’t matter, anyway, listen, we have a contest in our city for the best song.

- So what? How does that affect me?

- You’re an idiot, you could perform and win, — she tapped the guy on the back of the head and continued: — There’s a prize of five thousand dollars and the opportunity to record your own song.

- Listen, Fibs, I’d love to, but none of my songs are suitable for contests.

- So write a new one, what’s the problem?

-The problem is, I don’t have any ideas-Kai raised his voice and almost lost his temper, but he pulled himself together in time.

-It’s just… you can’t write a song at the snap of your fingers; you need inspiration, motivation. You need to come up with the lyrics and go through everything the song’s protagonist went through- Phoebe remained silent and decided to scroll through the school chat. Out of the corner of his eye, Kai noticed that guy.

-Do you know everyone at our school?” “Pff, of course.- I wasn’t chosen as the school queen for nothing. I’m in charge of all the events and…

-Got it, listen, who’s that guy?— Kai pointed to the brown‑eyed guy who was standing almost in the center.

-Oh, that’s Mark. We worked on the school play together once. He’s actually a pretty good guy, but he’s almost always at training sessions.

-Uh‑huh. What else do you know about him?

-Well, he’s in the 11th grade and the captain of the basketball team… why do you ask?

Kai was taken aback and started coming up with excuses.

-Yeah, I got attacked again today, and you could say he saved me-the guy stumbled on the last word, because it seemed like Mark really had saved him by drawing the guys’ attention away, but at the same time it looked like he’d just walked in by chance, without even paying attention to Kai.

Phoebe started snapping her fingers in front of Kai’s face.-Hey, Kai, come back to earth!

-What? What?- Kai pulled away from the girl.

-I’m asking what you’ve done this time, what’s got you in trouble? Did you take someone’s girl again?

-No, I’ve never taken anyone’s girl. They left their boyfriends on their own, hoping I’d be with them.

-Hey, calm down, I’m not blaming you, I just asked.”

-If that’s the case, then let’s not talk about it. Phoebe put the phone away, walked over to the table, and picked up Kai’s notebook.

-Now your loyal and smart friend will help you write a song.

Kai snatched the notebook from her and threw it onto the bed.-Let’s not, I can handle it myself.

-Okay, then I’ll go, if you don’t mind. Otherwise, if I don’t pass chemistry, Mrs. Barrett will make me do experiments so that new paragraphs will appear in the textbook.

- Pff, good luck.

-Bye, jerk,-Phoebe said, heading home and closing the door behind her.

Kai lay down on the bed and decided to check Mark’s account. “The song can wait,” he thought, trying to find the magazine, but the search was in vain. At that moment, his mother returned home — a thirty‑two‑year‑old woman in a fur coat, with her hair gathered in a messy bun, carrying an ordinary bag with documents sticking out of it. Seeing Kai, she couldn’t help but shout:

-What are you doing here? As far as I remember, you still have literature and a rehearsal.

“Literature? I thought it was physical education.”

-The rehearsal was cancelled because Phoebe didn’t show up today, and I don’t really need literature.

-If you want to write decent songs, you should attend the classes. I’m paying for your education, I bought you a guitar, and I’ve also spent money on your living expenses…

Mrs. Stone said this to Kai almost every time, in any situation. The boy was used to it and didn’t snap back; he silently gathered his things and went to the backyard, to his makeshift little house, which he had built when he was about ten years old. It was the only place in the house where he felt comfortable. He understood that his mother wasn’t having an easy time either, but getting so upset because he had missed what he considered to be a not‑very‑important lesson was already too much. Besides, he felt that inspiration came more quickly in the rain…

TG:https://t.me/RitmTvoegoBroska [From the author]: due to school, chapters will be released less frequently. Plus, I need to translate them and write chapters in my native language, so if there are no chapters for a while, please don’t be offended. Bye everyone 👋