It was early Saturday afternoon and Tyler and Elena went to pick up Tyler’s brother Issac from his part-time job as a music teacher at their local community center. Issac went outside with his guitar to grab some fresh air and then all of a sudden, a car pulled over and started to honk. It was his twin brother and Elena. Elena waved. Issac was surprised and happy that Elena was here. He had a crush on her for about two years. “Hey little brother,” said Tyler. “Get in the car”. Issac got in the car. “I hate it when you call me that,” Issac said annoyingly. “Why? Because I was born shortly before you or I’m the superior?” Tyler chuckled. Issac groaned. He puts his guitar in the trunk and he hops into the back seat and puts on his seatbelt. Elena turned around to Issac. “Hey,” she said. Issac stuttered. “H-Hey.” Tyler sensed something was off with Issac, but he just shrugged it off. “So here’s the thing Issac,” said Tyler. “I have to drop off some car parts for a friend and then I have to head to our high school reunion. Elena is joining last minute but I know your introverted ass doesn’t want to go so I’ll drop you home before our party, I mean reunion.” Issac nodded. “Sick! Let’s go.” They started to head off to Tyler’s friend’s place.

When they arrived to his friend’s place, Tyler went out of the car. “I’m just grabbing his stuff from the trunk then I’ll make my way inside. I’ll try to be quick. Unless this guy wants to stay here and chat.” “No worries,” said Elena. “Take your time.” “Oh he will,” Issac laughed. “I’ll give him 15 minutes.” Tyler slammed his trunk and started heading off to the building.

There was a long silence between Elena and Issac. Issac looked in the side mirror to see Elena. Elena saw Issac too. They both looked away. Finally, Issac broke the silence. “So how come you want to go to the party?” Issac asked. “I didn’t know you’re the partying type.” “I’m not and I don’t think I’ll ever be,” she replied. “I’m only going there because Jane got dumped hard. I’m only there to comfort her.” “Hang on,” said Issac. “Didn’t she date Kevin for like 6 years?” “Yes,” she replied. He nodded. “Ah I see. That’s very sweet of you”. Elena sighed. “Yeah. I guess.” Issac leaned forward to her seat. “Why? What’s up?” he asked. “I hate going to these crowded events,” she said depressingly. “The intense smell of alcohol, the smell of weed, the loud music. It’s just too much for me.” Issac turned his head towards her. “You do know you don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.” Elena turned to him. “Issac. I’m a nurse. It’s my natural instinct to help the people I care so much about.” He sighed. “Yea I hear you on that.” Elena turned away from Issac. “You know what crazy,” Elena said. “That we rarely talked to each other in high school. But we-” “Always find a way to meet each other, spontaneously?” Issac finished her sentence. “Yeah. You almost never said hi. You’re really shy. You’re still a bit shy now,” she laughed. “I remember almost every lunch you just had your lunch in the music room and played the guitar and practiced.” “And I remembered you being shy too. That and you always sit in the music hallway, looking at me and my friends playing music.” Elena laughed. “Well played.” Issac leaned back in his seat. “Well, I hope you guys will have fun at the party,” said Issac. “And I hope Jane feels better too.” Elena sighed. “I hope so too. Because I don’t think I want to stay in that place too long. It’ll drive me insane.” Issac took a deep breath. He’s debating whether he should go to the party to make sure Elena will be alright.

“Sorry guys for taking so long,” Tyler said when getting back into the car. “20 minutes. I stand corrected,” Issac laughed. “Zip it little brother. Don’t make me drag you into this reunion”. “You know what Tyler? Let’s go! All of us,” said Issac. Tyler immediately turned around to Issac. “Wait. Shit! What?!” “You serious?” Elena asked. Issac nodded. “It’s been a while since I last saw everyone,” he said. “Plus, I don’t have work tomorrow so I can let this one slide.” Tyler shook his head. “If you say so. But this is a one-way trip. If you don’t like it there, you either have to walk home, or just suffer for the night.” Issac nodded. “If you say so,” Tyler said when he started his car. “Well, at least I can drink a lot more now when we get there.” Issac seems concerned. “I’m guessing you want me to be the designated driver after the party?” Tyler nodded. “Thanks for coming little bro. You made my day.” Issac groaned and turned his face away from Tyler. Elena looked at the side mirror to see Issac and she smiled.

The party that they were going to was a large Airbnb house that one of Tyler’s friends rented out for the weekend and they were going to split after the event was over. It was a party of 50 people and the parking lot was packed. So Tyler decided to park at the side of the road. Tyler, Elena, and Issac got out of the car, and Tyler locked it. “I’m going inside right now,” said Tyler. “You guys can take your time. Let’s meet back at the car at like midnight-ish.” Issac looked at his phone. It’s 9 pm. He looked at the house. It’s extremely loud and full of people. He started to get anxious. Elena tapped him on his shoulder. “You good?” She asked. Issac nodded. “Yeah, I’m good. I’m just a bit hungry.” She lightly pushes him closer to the house. “I’m sure there’s food in there. Feel free to just hang out with me and Jane. Some company wouldn’t hurt.” 

They went inside the house to take a look at where everything was. There was alcohol. A lot of alcohol. The TV room smells purely like booze with a bunch of loose board games lying around. There’s the dining room where all the singles and couples mingle. There was the living room where beer pong and Jane were. She’s still in shambles from her breakup from a couple of days ago. Issac and Elena went to the kitchen where all the food was. There were still a couple of slices of pizza left. Issac took two and Elena took one slice. They took a can of soda. There’s not much left because only one person brought non-alcoholic drinks. Everything is just beer and hard liquor. Issac seems more anxious than ever. Elena less so. “How you feeling Issac?” He shook his head. “Not good. Not good at all.” She laughed nervously. “Okay. What about we go in and out of the building if we need some fresh air? I’ll go when you go.” “Sure I guess.” “What’s the code then?” Issac panicked a little. “How about ‘let’s get the hell out of here’” Elena nodded. “Sure thing.” She took Issac’s hand. “Jane’s in the living room. Let’s go.”

It was 10 pm and Issac and Elena were still in the living room comforting Jane. It’s been an hour and she’s still losing it. Jane also had a few drinks and she’s starting to get a little bit intoxicated. “Jane. You don’t have to feel bad. There’s nothing wrong with you. He needs to know that he needs to take responsibility for his actions and not blame it on you.” Jane took a sip from her drink. “All the times we spent together for the past 5 years, how is it he still doesn’t get it. Why is he so fucking dense?” Issac nodded. He looked around the room. He saw his brother drinking and chatting to some girls in the dining room and saw the score of the beer pong. It’s almost tied up. Jane looked at Issac directly into his eyes. “Am I the problem?” She said violently. Issac got nervous for a second. “No. No. Absolutely not,” he stuttered. “He’s the problem. Kevin’s the problem.” Elena patted Jane, trying to calm her down. “See? Finally, someone that gets it. Right, Issac?” Issac nodded. “Yup. Yup. Heard.” Elena laughed and Jane continued to calm down. Elena turned to Issac. “Can you grab her some water?” Issac nodded and went to the kitchen.

When Issac filled up a glass of water, he felt a large hand on his shoulders. “Yo Chris! What’s up??” Issac turned around. It was a couple of mildly intoxicated guys. “Wait. What?” “Yeah Chris!” another guy screamed. “You did that crazy stunt during that volleyball tournament!” “Uh yeah, I think that was me?” Issac said while questioning his life decisions. “You want to play beer pong? It’s been a while.” Issac started to sweat. “Um, I’m going to sit this one out, guys. I’m driving tonight.” “Chris being responsible? What a changed man! Anyways, what a bummer. Can you at least commentate on our game? We miss your commentate skills!” The other group of guys cheers, trying to encourage Issac. Issac groaned. “Fine. Just a few. I’m a little rusty.” Issac and those intoxicated men went to the living room. “What did I get myself into,” he thought.

It was their second game of beer pong and Issac is surprisingly getting the hang of commentating. “And the second game, Jermy tossed the ball and he sinks it in like the basketball that sinks during the Toronto Raptors and Philadelphia 76ers. What a game that is. Harold is speechless!” “It’s Hector, Chris!,” Hector yelled. “Whatever Henry,” Issac said jokingly. He looked behind him to check on Elena and Jane. Jane is nearly calmed down and Elena looks exhausted. Elena looked at Issac and smiled. Issac smiled back. He realized he had forgotten to hand Jane her water. “Okay, guys that’s it for me. Nice to catch up with you guys!” Issac fistbumps the guys. “Nice to see you, Chris! Hope to see you around!” as they continue playing. Issac went over to Jane and handed her the water. “Here’s your water Jane,” he said. “Thanks, Chris!” Jane laughed. Issac groaned and Elena giggled. “Anyways, I’ll be back. I’m just grabbing some fresh air,” Issac said as he headed off. He’s working his way to the front door when he sees a staircase that no one is there. He decided to head there to get away from all this alcohol and loud noise. Elena saw him heading upstairs

Upstairs is a wide hallway with a bunch of doors. There’s one door that has a doorknob sign “Do not enter.” Issac decides to take a peek. He turned on the light. It was a music room with a piano, electric candles, and a bunch of guitars. He started to geek out. He looked at all the different guitars and basses. “So many different styles and colors,” he said. He picked up a guitar that had a glowing shine that reflected from the light of the room. “Perfect,” he said. He sat on the piano chair and began tuning the guitar. He tried to tune it, but he thinks that it still might be off. So he opened his tuning app on his phone and tried to tune it again. All of a sudden, he felt a touch on his right shoulder. He quickly turned around, thinking it was one of those intoxicated guys again. It was Elena.

“Hey. Hey. Don’t worry. It’s me,” Elena said. She was holding two cups of tea that she brewed.  Issac was relieved. “Hey,” said Issac. “What’s up Chris?” she giggled. He groaned. “Not you too.” Elena gave him his tea and looked around the room. “You know we’re not supposed to be here,” she said. Issac nodded. “I know. I just want some peace and quiet from all the noise downstairs. Plus I found a room filled with guitars.” He gave her the guitar that he just tuned. “Here you give it a try.” Elena shook her head. “I don’t play guitar,” she sat down on the piano bench with Issac. “Why don’t you play a song, Issac?” He seems surprised. “You sure,” he asked. Elena nodded. He started to play and sing “Future Days” by Pearl Jam.

“If I ever were to lose you
I’d surely lose myself
Everything I have found dear
I’ve not found by myself
Try and sometimes you’ll succeed
To make this man of me
All my stolen missing parts
I’d no need for any more

I believe
I believe ’cause I can see
Our fut”

He began to sutter but still kept playing. Elena leaned over to Issac’s left shoulder. “Don’t worry,” she said. “You’re doing great.” Issac took a deep breath. “Thanks,” he said. “This reminds me of the good times back in high school. Only this time, you’re here in the room instead of the hallway.” She laughed. “I guess so,” she said while she opened the piano. “Here. Let me help you.” She started to play “Future Days” too. Issac turned around. “You didn’t tell me that you play piano,” he said surprisingly. She nodded. “I’m too embarrassed to tell anyone. I’m not that great at it.” Issac disagreed. “Elena! What are you talking about?” he said. “You’re doing amazing. Keep playing.” She looked at Issac in the eyes. She remembers of his beautiful blue eyes and Issac remembers of her hazel eyes. Elena nodded and started playing. Issac joined in immediately after. All the noise from downstairs slowly fades away when Issac starts to sing

“If I ever were to lose you
I’d surely lose myself
Everything I have found dear
I’ve not found by myself
Try and sometimes you’ll succeed
To make this man of me
All my stolen missing parts
I’d no need for any more

I believe
I believe ’cause I can see
Our future days
Days of you and me“

Halfway through the song Elena and Issac felt very comfortable with each other. Elena laid her head on Issac’s left shoulder and Issac leaned to her as well when he finished the song.

“All the promises at sundown
I’ve meant them like the rest
All the demons used to come ’round
I’m grateful now they’ve left
So persistent in my ways
Hey Angel I am here to stay
No resistance, no alarms
Please, this is just too good to be gone

I believe
And I believe ’cause I can see
Our future days
Days of you and me
You and me
Days,…
You and me