Episode 7 - The Sister

"That should be everything!" Ziggy set a second basket of fresh bread on the table, clapping his hands together in satisfaction.

It was tradition on Saturday nights for The Basement to provide drinks and snacks before the show. Afterward, he and Cate served a family-style dinner for bands, crew, and staff, then sent everyone out into the early morning, very full and very drunk. Ziggy had even insisted on having a small kitchen installed in a backroom, specifically to handle the event. The man was undoubtedly bizarre, but he treasured his musicians, treating them like a mother caring for her children.

Amari had always wondered how Zig became such a good cook, but he never asked. Cate was a baker, so perhaps it just ran in the family. He stopped asking Ziggy questions about his past the year he moved in, since every reply was an outrageous and dramatic tale of adventure and despair, and most couldn't possibly be true. It didn't really matter anyway. People are who they are, whatever the reason, and it was fine just to know them, without any complicated why or how.

There was a loud snort from his friend as he walked over, and he gave the boy a light pat on the shoulder. "You should probably fix your expression, hein? I have never seen such a nervous look on your face before. It is quite awkward. You are really that excited to see your new friend again?"

Amari frowned and elbowed the man in the stomach. "What friend? We had one jam session, and a VERY SHORT conversation."

"During which you spilled your deepest, darkest secrets." Ziggy chuckled, always sweet and playful. "Ch'te dis, your expression was a complete giveaway. Complètement evident, tsé?"

"I didn't tell him my deepest, darkest anything," the boy growled, but then he paused to scratch at the side of his head, feeling nervous. "Was it really that obvious?"

The man chuckled again and gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze. "You really are un bébé adorable."

"And you're an annoying old perv." Amari pushed the hand away and backed up against the wall, scowling at his friend's teasing. "Va chier. Fuck off. Go greet your musicians."

With an exaggerated wave, Ziggy went to open the door, leaving him alone to straighten up the kitchen. Only seconds later, he could hear footsteps and voices, cheerful greetings and banter, and Ziggy asking for drink orders.

In truth, the week had flown by, and Amari found himself in the club barely remembering how he got there. He had been full of mixed emotions, so, true to himself, he decided it was best to push everything down and spend the time wandering in a daze. Staying busy made it easier to avoid thinking, but now here he was, with no more clarity than he had that night sitting alone at the bar.

As he picked up the last stray container off the table, he heard footsteps behind him and felt an arm lay on his shoulder, the height difference between the two bodies making Amari a perfect armrest.

"What, you're not startled anymore?" asked the man beside him in that deep, kind voice.

He smiled hearing the familiar sound, but immediately covered it with a frown before turning. "Were you trying to scare me?" Taking a few steps sideways, he released himself from Yangyang's grasp, folding his arms in false anger. "Aftershave and sandalwood. I knew it was you."

"Of course." The man let out a soft laugh. "So, does that mean I can't ever change my aftershave?"

Amari's cheeks warmed and he huffed to cover it. "Do whatever you want."

"Such a tough, punk kid." Yangyang grabbed his arm as more people began filtering into the room, pulling him closer and out of the flow of traffic. "For a tough punk, you blush really easily."

Amari turned his head away and pushed the large hand off. "You don't need to protect me from the other people."

The man snorted lightly, still very close. "Sadly, I'm not that chivalrous. They're trying to get to the table, and you were in the way. So, I guess I was protecting them from you?"

"Xiǎo Yang!"

Amari saw a figure coming toward them from the doorway, probably thinner, but not much shorter than him, arms waving in the air. The arms wrapped around the man, followed by the sound of exaggerated kissing. Yangyang groaned and the newcomer released him, extending her arms out to grab Amari's face with both hands.

"Oh my god, you're right. He's adorable! Look at those eyes, and those little freckles... So pretty."

The boy shifted his gaze toward Yangyang, eyebrows raised and scowling, but the man made no move to help him.

"Yang ge's sister," he responded in a low growl.

Under normal circumstances, he would have already pushed the woman away and rushed to the other side of the room, but he didn't want to make things awkward for Yangyang. Instead, he buried his frustration, looking up and off to the side.

She removed her hands and huffed, verbally pouting at him. "You're right, Xiǎo Yang. What a grumpy kid. He won't even look at me."

"Now, jiě." The voice was sweet, as if he was speaking to a child, and he stepped beside her. "He's shy, and you came in here and attacked him. How should he respond?" Reaching out, he gave Amari's shoulder a comforting pat. "You are correct. This is my older sister, Yinyi. She's spoiled, and doesn't understand boundaries."

The boy bowed slightly in her direction. "It's okay. I'm not good at meeting new people."

He swallowed his nerves and grit his teeth, holding out his hand to the woman. A small gasp escaped the brother and sister, and Yinyi immediately grabbed it, shaking vigorously.

"It's nice to meet you! I'm sure Xiǎo Yang wants to replace my vocals with yours, but I won't hold that against you." She spoke fast and giggled joyfully. "If you're calling my baby brother Yang ge, you're practically family, so you should call me Yin jiě."

"Uh, I don't think I should..." Amari scratched at his head and looked down at the floor, her hands still grasping his.

"Nonsense! You're my little brother now, so I expect you to call me jiě or Yin jiě, understand? Are you singing tonight? I can't wait to hear you."

He slowly shook his head, frowning in Yangyang's direction. "I didn't plan to, no. There's a set list and multiple bands. It isn't really appropriate for me to get up and sing."

"You can sing with us!" Yinyi suggested excitedly, but Yangyang cut anything else off, taking hold of his sister and pushing her toward the table.

"Jiě, you should go eat something. You remember these things. The food always goes fast."

"Oh, true. You two should come and get something too!" She started to reach out for Amari, but her brother intercepted.

"In a minute."

The boy imagined he was smiling at his sister, but his voice was clearly laced with frustration. She gave him a soft "okay" and was gone, gleefully greeting the others around her.

Yangyang let out a sigh of relief, but then found Amari scowling in his direction. "What?"

"What the hell? How much did you tell her about me? I'm pretty, and grumpy?"

"But you are..." The man chuckled at Amari's reaction. "It's not exactly a secret, and my bandmates were there too. We rehearse together multiple times a week, you know?"

Amari frowned, but he was more embarrassed than anything. So far, only Ziggy had ever acted that way, like a father or big brother showing off his little kid, and usually they were together when it happened. He felt a bit shy thinking that Yangyang was talking about him - complimenting him - to the point where his sister was so eager to meet him. It was a strange and uncomfortable feeling. Still, he couldn't really argue against it and sighed in defeat, expelling his frustration.

"Yeah... That's true." He waved toward the long table. "You should get some food too. I've gotta do a final cleanup in the stage and bar area before rehearsal."

"You're not eating anything?" Yangyang sounded genuinely disappointed and let out a heavy breath when Amari nodded. "Alright, but you'll eat with us after the show, yeah? We can talk about less heavy things this time."

The boy frowned, feeling himself shudder at the idea. "Yeah, I don't really wanna do that. I kinda hate crowds of strangers."

"You can just sit with us," said Yangyang, trying to persuade him, but Amari only shook his head. "Yeah. I guess that makes sense." The man knew he wasn't going to win. "Well, we don't go on until late. Second-to-last. So, at least come see me in the greenroom, yeah?"

Amari nodded and as Yangyang turned, he grabbed at the man's arm.

"Uh... thanks. For not telling your sister everything about me."

The man chuckled gently. "Of course I wouldn't do that." His deep voice was comforting and Amari trusted he wouldn't.