We Need To Get Back Moving

- Four months after the bass-breaking incident -

"Any luck this time?" Wallace asked, peering over your shoulder.

You let out a defeated sigh, your shoulders slumping. "Nada. Zilch. Zippo. It's like looking for a needle in a haystack... if the haystack were the size of Texas."

Four months had crawled by since the infamous bass-breaking debacle, and Ramona might as well have vanished into thin air.

Scott remained in a perpetual funk, barely lifting a finger to search for her. So, you did what any good friend would do, and you relocated to his new apartment.

Though "moving in" was a generous term for your minimal presence. Mostly, you just shifted your base of operations for accessing the Virtual World.

"You can't just ignore him, Scott. You know you're gonna have to fight him eventually." Wallace, who was over, stated. "...or sleep with him."

"Muhhh." Scott groaned, sprawled on the couch like a forgotten potato, playing on his handheld console.

"Dude, he won't stop calling until you pick up." You pointed out.

"Or please, sleep with someone, Scott. You're getting very boring." Wallace chimed in, a mischievous glint in his eye. "It's boring to talk to you."

"And how exactly is scoring a one-night stand supposed to magically solve everything?" You interjected, arms crossed in disbelief.

"I'm enjoying the quiet life, Wallace. I don't need to have fun to have a good time." Scott mumbled, eyes still glued to the screen.

"Go have sex with someone right now, then come back and we can talk about that." Wallace suggested with a smirk.

"What's the deal with you and sex? We're trying to fix a problem, not forget about it even if for a little while." You scolded.

"Yeah, and for the record, I don't want sex! Not everything is about sex!" Scott protested.

"You need to move on, Scott. Some hot douchey guy stole your girlfriend. Forget her. Get over it. I'm over it." Wallace declared with the conviction of a preacher at a revival.

"You're not the one who shared intimate moments with Ramona, Wallace." You shot back, crossing your arms in defiance. "And neither am I, but that doesn't mean I'm giving up on finding her."

"Besides, we don't know he stole her. She just... hasn't come back! Yet." Scott interjected, his voice tinged with a glimmer of hope.

"Over it." Wallace insisted, a stubborn set to his jaw.

"On that note, I can confirm she's definitely gone. Vanished into thin air. I've scoured every nook and cranny, and nothing." You shrugged, resigned to the unfortunate reality.

"Anyway, I have moved on! Look at this brand new gaming device Young Neil gave me! It's like the hottest, newest, hottest thing!" Scott exclaimed, proudly displaying the device, only to be met with Wallace's incredulous stare. "What? He gave it to me. Young Neil. He's nice."

"He gave it to you." Wallace raised an eyebrow.

"...For $200." Scott admitted sheepishly.

"That I paid for. At least, half of it." You sighed, shaking your head.

"So, I was going to do you a favor and make dinner, but it appears that all you have in the house is ramen and cereal." Wallace observed, surveying the barren shelves with mock disappointment.

"...the economy..." Scott muttered, as if the state of the kitchen was some profound commentary on global finance.

"Anyway, let's go out! Chicken wings. I'll hook you up. We'll go to Hooters, it's your favorite!" Wallace proposed.

"Wallace..." You sighed, already bracing for the inevitable resistance. "Scott isn't gonna forget Ramona that easily."

"Hooters is your favorite, Wallace." Scott deadpanned.

"Seriously. Get out of the house. Go meet women." Wallace persisted, his eyebrows doing a suggestive wiggle. "You like women, don't you?"

"I've just never been good at that stuff." Scott confessed, his cheeks tinted pink with embarrassment. "...the sleeping around stuff."

"Oh, sweet mercy, you're actually considering it..." You deadpanned.

"Hey, you'll get it, guy. It just takes practice." Wallace offered a supportive pat on Scott's back.

"Wallace, Scott has five bad influences in his life, and you are three of them." You groaned, shaking your head in mock despair.

"Alright, go away. I have a tiny world to save." Scott dismissed, eyes still on the console.

"It's been months, Scott." Wallace reminded him, heading for the door with a dramatic flourish.. "...months. J'accuse!"

- Some Other Night -

"Y'know, you still have a job if you want it." Stephen piped up, skimming through the day's paper. "There's no hard feelings or anything."

"Yeahhhhh..." Scott emitted a noncommittal grunt, his attention glued to the digital battlefield flashing across the device.

"You would maybe have to be awake during daylight hours in order to have a successful career, though." Stephen continued.

"I'm tryyyyyying..." Scott retorted, his words muffled by the plush cushions of the couch.

"So, what's the scoop on the band these days? Post-bass-breaking incident and all." You inquired, eager for some insider info.

"Our album's still going strong, but I've been turning down shows because... well, you know." Stephen explained, a hint of resignation in his voice. "Scott broke his bass like 4 months ago."

"Well, at least the band's still holding it down. Small mercies." You breathed a sigh of relief, grateful for the silver lining. "And hey, worst-case scenario, I can always make a new bass out of video's hardlight. Still, might want to consider investing in a replacement soon."

"Actually, I did get offered a show at Cameron House on Monday. And, I mean, you two could come." Stephen announced, with a tiny spark of excitement.

"I'm game. Not so sure about Scott, though. He's been in hermit mode lately." You remarked, shooting a glance at him.

"I'm not sure how much longer I can take being a rock star." Scott confessed, his gaze still fixated on the screen as if it held the secrets of the universe.

"Oh, come on, man! It'll be a blast!" You hyped up, your enthusiasm bubbling over. "Think of it as your chance to unleash your inner rock god. Slow and soulful or loud and rebellious. It's your call."

"You really think it's a good idea?" Scott's skepticism was palpable.

"Think about it, man. We could be the next big thing in hard rock or even metal." You joked, am encouraging grin spreading across your face.

"That doesn't sound like a bad idea." Stephen chimed in, nodding in agreement.

"Okay, fine. I'll do it." Scott relented, a hint of reluctance lingering in his tone.

"Alright. Now, let's start planning out the set list." You declared, a sense of accomplishment washing over you as the pieces of the plan fell into place.

- Cameron House, Monday -

"Isn't this nice? Look at us, ready to rock the stage once more!" You exclaimed, a grin spreading across your face like wildfire.

"I missed this, too." Stephen agreed.

"Not so sure on this 'outlet for self-expression' thing..." Scott sighed.

"You'll know it works. Take it from me." Kim stated.

As you set up the gear, a wave of nostalgia washed over you. Despite the months apart, the instruments carried the scent of memories, each chord a thread woven into the fabric of your shared journey.

It all began with Scott's audacious proposal and your impulsive agreement to become the artist.

"Wait, does Scott still know how to play bass?" Kim quipped, raising an eyebrow.

"Ha, I never allowed him to get rusty." You retorted with a chuckle.

"They forced me to play a bass they made with video." Scott grumbled, a hint of playful indignation in his voice.

"'Forced' might be a slight exaggeration." You countered, a smirk playing at the corner of your lips. "Let's go with 'strongly encouraged'."

But then, amidst the hustle and bustle of preparation, a snippet of conversation caught your attention, causing both you and Scott to perk up.

"He's opening his club soon," Monique mentioned casually.

"Whose club?" Sandra inquired, her curiosity piqued.

"Gideon's," Monique clarified, dropping the bombshell like it was hot gossip.

Before you knew it, you and Scott were sliding into the booth at Monique's table, your eyes wide with disbelief.

"Wait, hold up. Gideon's opening a club?" You echoed in unison.

"Oh, hi guys! You haven't heard about the Chaos Theatre? I'm excited!" Sandra exclaimed.

"Spill the beans, Sandra. We're all ears." You urged, leaning in with rapt attention.

"I'm telling you, Gideon's opening a club. He's been working on it for months. They just finished construction, and now he's just got to stock it up." Sandra explained.

You exchanged a knowing glance with Scott, the silent communication saying it all. This was the breakthrough you'd been waiting for, the breadcrumb trail leading straight to Ramona. It was go time.

"Y/N! Scott! Sorry I'm fashionably late!" Knives bounded over, her keyboard slung over her shoulder like a musical backpack.

"Well, well, if it isn't the birthday belle herself!" You smile, pulling her into a warm hug. "Happy eighteenth, Knives!"

"Thanks a bunch, Y/N!" Knives giggled, returning the embrace with gusto.

"Kn-Knives?! When did you turn eighteen?" Scott spluttered, his disbelief evident.

"Last week, like Y/N said. But... I do have some other news." Knives confessed, her tone shifting to a more serious note.

"What's up, Knives?" You inquired, a sense of concern tugging at your heartstrings.

"I'm moving away soon! I applied to McGill and UBC and I'm graduating in three months!" Knives revealed, her voice tinged with both excitement and sadness.

"You mean... you're gonna stop being a high schooler?" Scott interjected, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise.

"I'll be so far away from all my friends, but I feel like it's the right thing to do, you know?" Knives admitted, her eyes flickering with a mixture of anticipation and apprehension.

"That's incredible news! We're so proud of you, Knives!" you exclaimed, a warm smile spreading across your face. "And hey, with my newfound mastery of two-way video portals, distance won't be a hurdle. We'll stay connected, no matter what."

Knives beamed at the prospect, any lingering worry melting away as she enveloped you in a tight hug. "Besties forever, huh?" She chimed, her laughter echoing through the room.

"Absolutely. Always have been, always will be." You reassured her, returning the embrace. "But hey, now I've got another friend to watch over. And I intend to do just that."

"Ramona? Have you managed to track her down yet?" Knives inquired, her curiosity piqued.

"Not yet, but we're hot on her trail. It's just a matter of time." You explaned, determination flickering in your eyes. "And Scott, you can't keep dodging the Gideon issue forever. The showdown's on the horizon, and when it happens, I'll be there to see you and Ramona find your happy ending."

"Alright, everyone. Time for our show." Kim declared, snapping everyone back to reality.

"But for now, let's give 'em a show they won't forget. Ready, team?" You rallied, gesturing for Scott and Knives to follow.

- And then, the night was yours once again -