Best Defense

Mia and Jason

If you think the performance of The Price on New Year's Eve is the only chance we've had as a dodgy band, then you're wrong. Because the next offer came from Jason. Crystal, her younger sister is getting married next month, and after hearing Jason's exaggerated story about our band, Crystal enthusiastically asks us to participate in her wedding party.

I honestly still feel suspicious. But since we had enough time to practice, I thought there was no harm in comforting the expectant faces of my other friends. So, I agree too. But to do that there is still a price to pay.

For a week I had to be willing to part with Sean, because he couldn't leave the company for long so that the tragedy of Dave's case wouldn't be repeated. And, as it always happens, Sean couldn't have been just a week in Jakarta. It's already the eleventh day and he still hasn't shown up.

After a frustrating slow commute from being stuck in an endless traffic queue, Mia and I finally arrived at the former shoe factory that Taylor had hired for the rehearsal studio. Maggie and Matthew were already there, standing on the circular rungs of the entrance with the same irritated expression.

"Let me guess, we're waiting for Taylor?"

Maggie grimacing. "Fright."

"How long have you been here?"

"Twenty-eight minutes," said Matthew, pointing to his watch.

"Trust me, he counts," Maggie added. "I get the latest reports every minute. It was like standing in the doorway with CNN."

A violent wind blew through, blowing raindrops into the entrance. I started shivering and then buried both my hands deeper into my pocket. "We should have gotten here sooner, but the traffic was terrible."

"No problem, Nope. There's nothing you're missing either. Sam was also late, but that was no surprise... Oh, finally," Matthew announced, looking over my shoulder. I turned my head and saw Taylor running through the puddle towards us. "Look out the clock at home, huh?"

"Ma-a-a-aff!" oceh Taylor's. "Franda, why is it always charming?" He hugged me a glance, then turned to Mia. "Mia, hey, you look cool in those brackets too" she commented, chuckling at my sister in a bunny costume, complete with a hoodie in her hoodie. Mia cuek's. Then Taylor quickly unlocked the double door. Clapping his hands, he grinned at us. "Ready stuff in, guys?"

Taylor laughed but Matthew walked back out to his car, muttering things that were not worth saying while doing so. Mia grimacing. "Matthew, the Insinuating Bastard is coming into action." ketus Mia.

Maggie couldn't take it and immediately gushed at my sister, trying to defend her husband. "Your mouth is just as sharp, even more so!"

Mia raised her shoulders. "I'm not offended."

When all the things got out of the car and moved to the first floor, Sam came. We each grabbed one piece of equipment and walked down a high, dusty steel-roofed hallway, then into the heavy steel door into Taylor's practice room.

I saw a tray with a rose painting that had begun to fade over a closed tea chest, storing a very important kettle, random mugs, coffee, tea, tea, and the sugar bags that seem unconvincing. Small lights were hung around the room and various hooded table lamps lit the floor.

While the others were preparing the equipment, I was making tea, an activity that Taylor jokingly referred to as "The Action of Saving the Vocalist's Face", because being a singer in a band usually means standing with unlimited time while the other band members prepare their equipment.

Taylor's got our attention. "Well, as always, our Jason is as useful as a fart during a storm and hasn't given us any insight into what his brother wants about the songs we should play. So, I chose Love Train and When I Fall In Love as the song for the first dance, the rest you and Sam chose. You guys can?" Taylor asked me.

"The O'Jays and Nat King Cole?" I'm nodding. "No problem."

"Genius!" Taylor snapped her two fingers praising me. "Alright, then we start first. Mia, I hear you can play the saxophone, how about you join in while your slow Jason tries to find this place?" Taylor walked towards the crate of equipment and took out the saxophone from there. Good luck, Taylor!

"First," I told you, my sister's gonna protest. Mia folded her hands in front of her chest. "He's not my Jason. Second, I haven't touched a saxophone since college. Thirdly..."

"Mia," Sam cuts. "You're too serious, son. We're just messing around and there's no harm in trying, right? Talent won't disappear easily from someone."

For the first time in my vision, Mia gave up just like that. With a tense look he grabbed the saxophone from Taylor's hand and immediately tried to play random sounds. I already knew his ability to control that thing, and instantly a boisterous applause echoed throughout the room.

"We are ready! Love Train's. Calculate when it starts, Matt." Taylor snored.

Matthew wears earphones while Sam and I do the same, watching him wait for a knock. "Two, three, four..."

Eleven o'clock past ten we took a short break, and just then Jason came carrying a large box of doughnuts, making everyone present rejoice and forget about his delay. When Mia, who had a very small stomach, was able to consume more food than Taylor and Matthew at once, smuggling the second doughnut out of the box, Jason grumbled loudly. "When I thought you'd keep your weight, love."

O-o. The poor jason...

There are many things I have memorized about my sister since the first time she was born into the world, but the most important thing is to recognize the danger signs when she is angry. Shit for Jason, he still has to hone his skills on this. While he was teasing Mia, the rest of the band slowly fell silent while waiting for the inevitable consequences.

"Oh, so? So, you have the right to make discriminatory and offensive comments because of what? Because you're a joker? Oh, wait.. We can't call you that, can we?"

Jason let out an agitated laugh. "Wow, Mia, you can't be joked around, can you?"

Taylor and Sam grimace as Maggie and Matthew put on anxious faces. Jason lives history.... Prepare yourself for Mr.'s second attack. Parker.

Feeling ignited, Mia ruffled her waist and prepared to advance for the war. "Oh, I can take a joke, Jason. I'm looking at one of them!"

"Well, wait a minute..."

"I'm sick of your stupid attitude to everything, your whiny attitude to our affairs, your unreliable nature. I tried to hide everything from them, and for what? So you can dump him back in my face because you think my teasing will make you look like a hotshot?"

For the first time, Jason's expression did not shrink by Mia's words. Real anger was now flashing in his eyes. "And you always make decisions, right? Make you feel important? You consider yourself higher and grander, Miss Ice Beams, but it's not at all."

"good. Outer. Now!"

We watched in shock as Mia pulled Jason's shirt and led him out the door into the dusty hallway of the shoe factory.

"Geez, he's gone now" Taylor said as we all went to the door to eavesdrop. "I've never seen that angry Judes Mia."

We could hear Mia's unacceptable tone echoing along the hallway, followed by Jason's heavy thump. During the full five minutes of the fight the two sides that did not want to lose were replying to each other, getting louder until, after the last clash from Mia, there was silence.

"Mia killed him" said Maggie, concern rang out among her laughter.

We waited. Still don't hear anything. "Maybe I have to go there." I suggested.

Taylor opened her mouth to answer, but the door slowly began to open and we all hurriedly returned to where it was.

The change in my brother was dramatic. Lost already his burning offence, replaced by a peaceful smile. As we entered, we realized Jason was walking with nothing less than something behind Mia. And they join hands....

"Well, it's done," Mia smiled as she patted Jason's hand. "didn't you, honey?"

Jason seemed clearly shaken, nodding while daydreaming.

While we watched them with their mouths wide open, Mia then pulled the nape of our drummer towards her for a passionate kiss. Matthew and Taylor whistled while Sam, Maggie, and I clapped.

When their mouths were apart, Mia brushed her hair. "There question? No? Goody! Let's rehearse again."

At seven in the evening, we waved to the happy couple at the shoe factory and returned to Taylor and Sam's house. The others were still dumbfounded given this unexpected development.

"I never expected it" Taylor said, offering a large bowl of nachos and cheese.

"I already know." I said as I took a handful from the bowl. "Do you think I don't recognize my sister?"

Sam assented. "I am the same. But I didn't think they'd make out like that."

"That's our Mia," Matthew laughed. "Never do anything half-and-half." her smile deepened as it caught my gaze.

We were still chatting for some time then suddenly Taylor spoke while looking behind me. "If this, I've guessed."

Unasked, we all followed his direction. And at once I squealed in excitement, scattering the nachos in my hands and immediately galloping to the door.

With a burning feeling of pleasure I jumped up, climbed up my husband's large body and wrapped my feet around his waist. I kissed the whole corner of his face that I missed so much for eleven days.

She laughs. "I miss you too, Franda" she said as she hugged me.