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“I don't know, but I feel like if we changed these lyrics it will-” Grian said before being cut off.
“We have been arguing about song lyrics all day” Joel interrupted, seemingly quite annoyed.
“Well I just wanted to make sure the song is good for the concert that's coming up” Grian replied
“Yeah but not every lyric has to be perfect” Jimmy said backing up Joel
A silence took over the room
“I think we all need a break from this” Joel said standing up beginning to pack up his things.
“Wait what-?” Grian asked as he watched Joel pack his things.
“Maybe a break isn't a bad idea” Jimmy admitted looking at the floor.
“I think a break from each other will help in the long run” Joel said finishing up packing.
“If that's what you want…” Grian began “we can take a break”
They all looked at each other sheepishly for a moment before deciding to leave Grians garage. Grian watched his friends walk out and into the side walk.
Maybe this will be good for them
~~~
It's been a few days since the band decided to take a break. The group chat they used to talk in had been completely silent since then.
It was summer, so Grian didn't have school as an excuse to see Jimmy and Joel. Usually, that would've been nice. No early mornings, no homework, no teachers.
But now it just meant there was nothing forcing them to see each other.
This will be good for them, Grian told himself.
It was fine to take breaks.
Breaks were healthy.
Grian didn't blame them for wanting one.
At least, that's what he kept telling himself.
He grabbed his phone from the kitchen counter and checked the group chat again.
Nothing
He sighed and locked his phone.
"Okay," he muttered to himself. "I'm getting coffee."
He didn't really need coffee. He just needed something to do.
~~~
Downtown was busier than usual. Grian walked down the sidewalk with his hands shoved into his pockets, occasionally glancing at the people passing by.
He stopped at the little coffee shop they'd gone to a hundred times before. He ordered his usual and waited.
Once he had his drink, he decided to take the long way home through the park. The weather was nice, and maybe some fresh air would help clear his head.
For a few minutes, it did.
Then he heard music.
Grian slowed. It was faint, coming from somewhere deeper in the park.
A guitar. He recognized the song almost immediately.
His heart jumped.
Jimmy and Joel.
Maybe they were practicing.
Maybe the break was already over.
Maybe-
Grian followed the sound. He rounded a corner and stopped. There they were Jimmy sat on one of the park benches with his guitar, while Joel sat beside him, tapping his fingers against his knee to the rhythm.
They were laughing. Grian stared at them from across the path. For a moment, he felt relieved.
They're okay.
Then he noticed something.
There were only two guitars.
His guitar wasn't there..Neither was he. Jimmy played a few chords, and Joel immediately shook his head.
"No, no, try it again."
Jimmy laughed. "You just want to play it again."
"Maybe."
They both laughed.
Grian's grip tightened around his coffee cup. He didn't know why that hurt. They weren't doing anything wrong.
They were just practicing.
They were allowed to practice.
The break had been from the band. Not from each other. At least... that's what they'd said.
Grian watched them for another few seconds.
They looked happy. Happier than they'd looked in the garage that day.
And suddenly, his mind filled in the blanks for him.
They didn't want a break from the band.
His stomach dropped.
They wanted a break from me.
Grian looked down.
Of course.
He'd been the one arguing about every little lyric.
He'd been the one insisting everything had to be perfect.
He'd probably been driving them insane for weeks.
Maybe they'd just gotten tired of him.
Maybe Jimmy and Joel had finally realized that the band was easier without him. His eyes burned, and he quickly looked away.
"No," he whispered. He shook his head.
"They wouldn't..."
But he couldn't finish the sentence. Because what else was he supposed to think?
Grian took a step backward. Then another. Neither Jimmy nor Joel noticed him. That somehow made it worse. He turned around and started walking..He didn't run. He didn't want them to hear him. He just kept walking, staring at the sidewalk as his coffee slowly went cold in his hand.
His phone buzzed in his pocket.
For a second, hope sparked in his chest.
Maybe it was Jimmy.
Maybe Joel.
Grian pulled out his phone.
A notification from some random app.
Nothing from the group chat.
He locked his phone again.
It's fine.
He repeated the words silently.
It's fine.
The band could survive without him. Apparently, they'd already figured that out. And maybe that was what the break was really for.
Maybe they were just trying to figure out how to tell him they didn't need him anymore.