The Hidden Ones: The Spotlight - 3. The Boy with Green Hair

As I finally pulled back into my garage, I walked through the basement still full of my 3 passed out friends and got a good look at the mess we had all made. Crushed beer cans, and red solo cups littered the ground, along with whatever remnants of food people had been eating and even some small piles of puke…it’s a pain in the ass to clean up, but hey, it’s a small price to pay.

“Oh, god damn it” I heard Mike groan stumbling to his feet behind me “I feel like absolute shit.”

“Join the club.” I teased, swapping the heavy glass door for the light screen on in an attempt to get some fresh air into the place “So who’s ready for clean up duty?”

“I think I’m going to add to the mess if I stand up” Blake complained, finally waking up. I saw liz’s eyes flutter awake, but immediately shut once again at the sight of light.

“Let’s get it done” Mike exhaled, wandering out the door and trying his hardest to pick up cups without falling over.

“Hey where’s Ryder?” Blake squinted, finding the strength to sit up.

“Just got back from driving him home.” I let out “We’re going to his show Friday.”

“No” Blake moaned, throwing his head back “I don’t want to see some garage band at a rundown bar.”

I shrugged my shoulders and smiled “Should’ve thought of that before you told him you’d go one day.”

“I thought I was just being nice!” Blake whined, getting to his feet “How did I know he was taking it seriously?”

“Looks like I’m not the only fake one around here then” I smiled, walking out the door to help Mike.

As the afternoon went on the hangover I was carrying seemed to get better as theirs only got worse. Blake and Liz left to try and go rest up, but for whatever reason Mike agreed to help clean up for a little bit longer. He can be a total dick, but I know I can always count on him…I know he’ll always be there for me no matter what.

“You’re seriously trying to be friends with Ryder Sullivan?” Mike poked, starting to break down the tables we had set up.

I slowly nodded my head as I finally saw more grass than cups “Yup, I mean why not? He seems cool.”

“Because he’s weird.” Mike grumbled, more focused on the tables than his words “There’s a reason he has no friends.”

“It’s because he likes to keep to himself…I don’t know why you keep insisting he’s weird” I shrugged “He literally acts just like the rest of us once he starts talking.”

“Doesn’t matter what he acts like” Mike shook “The kids a loser, always has been, always will be…hanging out with him can only bring you down.”

“Why do you have to be such a douche to him? I poked, walking over to help him carry the table “What did he do to turn the whole school against him?”

Mike rolled his eyes at my words and kept his head held high “Do you even need to ask?” he scoffed “he just makes us all feel unsafe, sitting in the back of classrooms, quietly watching us…observing us…he brings it on himself.”

“Or there’s the chance that he’s just paying attention to class.” I replied, frustrated that there was no real reason “Literally most of our junior class just sits in class without talking.”

“Yeah but none of them dress in all black, with dark earrings and that hipster hair of his...he dyed part of it green for fuck's sake!” Mike sighed “If you put yourself into the spotlight like that…just be ready to defend yourself.”

“But that’s the thing…he doesn’t put himself out there…everything you’re describing is the opposite of it.” I shrugged, desperately trying to get him to see my side of things “You’re really going to stand here and tell me that just because he dresses differently he gets picked on?”

“I didn’t make the rules” he stubbornly defended “I just follow them, and they’re pretty clear about Ryder Sullivan staying on the outside…don’t do this to yourself.”

“Do what to myself?” I uncomfortably laughed.

“Torpedo yourself because you have to be friends with everyone.” He pointed out “You really think people are going to look at you the same way if you start hanging out with him?”

“If they don’t, they weren’t a friend in the first place.” I shrugged, sticking to my gut “You know, you could describe Blake the same way people describe Ryder.”

“Teddy…” Mike began in a sigh “People don’t exactly use logic, especially the cliques in highschool, just stick to your lane bro, that’s all I’m saying.”

“Are you going to leave me if I don’t?” I poked, half joking half serious.

He gave me a friendly push as we finally put the last table into the shed “You know I wouldn’t, I just won’t be happy if you do.”

“That’s okay, I’m not happy with most of the stuff you do.” I teased in a laugh.

Mike stuck around a little bit longer to help out and clean up. I don’t know why he does the stuff he does. He’s not a bad guy by any means, he’s just….immature. He doesn’t understand people or anything different than him…if he could just open his eyes to whats around him…truly give others a chance…maybe he could be different…maybe he could grow up.

The following week was nice. I spent more time with everyone, went to lacrosse practice, studied a bit…just the normal teenage things. Summers are nice in highschool, no big stress about the next year, or crazy things coming up about your future. You just hang around and figure out who you are, and who you’ll be.

“Going out?” My dad poked, as I started to get my stuff together

I nodded my head doing my best to lace my new sneakers “Going to Shortways to see a friend’s band.”

“Oh yeah? Which friend?” He asked, taking a seat next to me on the couch.

“Why do you even bother asking?” My mom sighed “You know you’re not going to remember anyone outside of Mike, Blake or Liz, and isn’t Shortways a bar?” She sternly let out “I don’t like that.”

“I will too remember it” he childishly let out “And don’t worry our son doesn’t drink.” He sarcastically let out, taking a closer look at me.

“No never!” I laughed, finally getting my shoes on.

My mom tilted her head and took a closer look at me “Especially not last weekend when we were gone, right?” She pressured “I mean surely the 50 kids Mrs. Waters from next door said were over weren’t drinking, right?”

“No” I jokingly denied “Of course they weren’t” I smiled, knowing my parents didn’t actually care. As long as everyone was safe…as long as it stayed control…well I was pretty much allowed to get away with whatever.

“Good” my dad laughed “Now get out of here before your mom actually gets mad.” I raised my eyebrows and opened the basement door but before I could my dad called out “wait what was the friend’s name? And what type of music is it?”

“Ryder” I yelped back “and I’m pretty sure it’s a rock band!”

“My kind of kid!” He smiled “Take a video or something for me! And have fun! Nothings better than some good ol’ rock and roll!”

“Sure thing Dad!” I giggled, rushing down the stairs before he could grab me once more. I’ve always been more into pop music than rock, but my dad did his best to feed me a steady diet of bands like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Nirvana, Led Zepplin…anything he deemed as classic or essential to listening to. I’m sure Ryder plays much different music, but who knows? Maybe I’ll like it!

Blake shook his head as he climbed into the car “Why are you dressed like that?” he judge in a groan.

“What do you mean?” I laughed looking down at the bright summer colors I was wearing.

“You’re going to stick out like a sore thumb” he complained, with a quick shake of his head “Plus you’re dressed a little too…nice…odd that the 2 gay kids are suddenly…”

“Knock it off” I shut down before it could become something “I mean sure, Ryder’s kind of cute…” I confessed, never being afraid to speak my mind “But his personality is so ugly, I could never date someone so…so…”

“Angry” Blake laughed

“Angry” I repeated, but that’s still not the right word for him. I mean sure there’s anger there, but it’s more of like fed up angry than hateful angry. I guess he’s just had enough of the way things are, and frankly, I don’t blame him.

As we finally got to the old hollowed out barn turned bar, I couldn’t help but be shocked at the growing crowd inside “This place is actually pretty lit.” I shrugged, stepping out of my car.

“You sound like a dad that’s trying way too hard to be cool” Blake muttered, leading me inside “but yeah, Ryder said it’s one of the last bars in Jersey that has a rock night…guess people don’t really have a choice but to come here.”

“Well alrighty then” I smiled, as we grew closer to the door “Do you know when he comes on?”

“Wouldn’t say, just said he plays here every Friday.” Blake shrugged, giving me a curious look as we stepped inside. There were only like 20 people, but damn did they look into it. I honestly just expected a few people there for drinks, but believe or not, they were actually there for the music!

“Holy shit” Blake let out, pointing towards a nearby wall “Is that his name on that sign?”

“That’s not funny” I exhaled, but as my eyes looked towards the wall I realized it was “No way! That totally says Ryder Sullivan!”

As we spoke his name an older man in front of me turned and laughed “Wait, you guys actually know Ryder Sullivan?”

“Yeah” I cautiously let out, peering over to Blake “Why?”

“That kids lighting it up right now” The man remarked as if we should’ve known “His band is the reason these people are here.”

“Ryder Sullivan?” Blake let out in disbelief “kinda short, kinda scrawny, long black hair in the front?”

“Yup” the man confirmed “His band is Society…I mean I guess not everyone’s here for him, but god damn if he’s not drawing a crowd.”

“When does he go on?” I poked, shocked by what I was hearing. Ryder? The kid who barely talks to anyone, and gets bullied mercilessly performs in front of 20 people? No…there’s no way.

“They close out the night” The man shrugged “Trust me, you’ll know it when they’re on.”

I looked to Blake and shook my head, as we both tried to get a grasp on the man’s words. The first few bands weren’t that bad, yet they all seemed to be missing something. Some just sounded immature, while others were trying too hard. Every now and again the crowd would whip up into a frenzy, but for the most part they just couldn’t get into what was going on at the small stage in front of the barn. The later it got the more restless the crowd seemed to grow. It was as though they were waiting for something…and well, they were losing their patience fast.

Suddenly as the 2^nd to last band of the night got off the stage, all the lights shut off except for one small light in the center of the stage. Before I knew it a heavy guitar sound filled the air, much louder than any of the bands before them. The growing crowd seemed to rush the stage, forcing me and Blake with it. I looked up and saw the familiar slim figure from the hallway standing in the light, microphone in hand, green streak glowing under the bright stage light.

As he put the microphone up to his face, I saw that this wasn’t the kid I had just met, no…this was someone completely different “Are you guys ready?” He screamed in a low growl. The crowd met him with a roar of their own, but I could tell he still wasn’t satisfied “I said, are you guys fucking ready?!” He growled even deeper. Once more the crowd responded to his words as the space between people only grew tighter “Let me see a pit open up…right there!” he pointed towards the center of the room, faintly waving his hand as though it was heavy. Before my very eyes a large circle cleared out, just as he had ordered “Faster!” he encouraged in his low growl, as people began to whip around in the circle “Stronger!” he boomed, still not happy “Alright, let’s fucking go!” he exclaimed.

I felt the drums start to boom in my chest as the heavy guitar turned into an actual song. Before my very eyes I saw Ryder become someone I never knew he could be. Every movement he made seemed to be precise and powerful, as he swayed along to seemingly invisible lyrics in his head, and the second he opened his mouth to sing…I was left breathless. A strong voice flowed out, yet at the same time there was a sweetness to it. The restless crowd seemed to go ballistic as he gave them all he had. His voice flowed through people in a way I can’t even describe, they just connected with him…his pain…the weight he’s been carrying around the hallways… it came to life in the form of music on that small stage. He bounced around stage, from side to side, dancing, head banging, singing, shouting…anything he could to keep the crowd moving…and god damn did they love him.

“I’m not feeling it tonight!” He shouted, as the first song ended “Im not seeing it…I want everyone here to fucking bouncing!” He shouted beginning to jump, and just like that everyone followed his command. The second song hit much harder and heavier, as people fought through in an effort to get closer, to get a chance just to be near him.

As his set went on people only seemed to get crazier and crazier. At the most, there was probably only about 30 of them…but god damn Ryder had it feeling like there were 100. He held some kind of power up on that stage…one I couldn’t describe. His voice was strong like Kurt Cobain’s, yet at the same time soft like you would hear from one of those older metal bands.

“This last one…” he breathed, in an attempt to catch his breath “This one goes out to a friend that’s here tonight…” he exhaled, still breathing heavily “I don’t exactly have many of those, but he finally got his ass here…Blake…this one’s for you.” Blake smiled, and swayed his head, clearly enjoying the show…and now enjoying the fact that the kid he had given a chance…well he didn’t seem all that weird after all. “Blake bud, here’s one from your favorite band. This one’s called Smells like Teen Spirit.” The classic song seemed to ignite the room as if Nirvana was actually there that night. People pulled and ripped at one another, as the song really hit it’s stride…and Ryder…well I’ve never seen anyone more in their element. He kicked up his presence to 100, and didn’t back down. He was all over, jumping, singing, grooving, just like at the very start. It was as though he was unaffected by the last 9 songs, as though he could go on forever.

“We are society!” Ryder breathlessly let out “Until next Friday, rock the fuck on!” He shouted, making his way off stage, and into a backroom. Blake and I turned to one another, and immediately made our way towards the black door.

“Come on” Blake pleaded with the bouncer guarding the door “I swear were friends with Ryder, I was the kid he was referring to!”

“Yeah, I’m sure you were.” The bouncer dismissed, looking us both over.

“Can’t you just open the door and ask him?” I whined, really wanting to reach out to him.

“Too much effort” the bouncer grunted, turning to the door.

“Ryder!” me and Blake both shouted “Ryder! Ryder!...” we continued, until finally the young figure from the stage peeked out the doorway.

“Let them through” he nodded to the bouncer, keeping the door open with his foot. The bouncer reluctantly moved to the side, as me and Blake made faces as if to say “told you so!”

“Holy crap man!” Blake yelped, grabbing onto him “Why didn’t tell me you were that good?!”

“I’m not that good.” Ryder shrugged, doing his best to stay grounded “This is just the last rock bar in jersey, and people have been drinking…it’s really not that hard to get them going.”

“The other bands couldn’t!” I argued, staring into his dark brown eyes “You…you were unbelievable.”

“Stop” he sighed, uncomfortable by our barrage of compliments “It was my band, really.”

“No it wasn’t…” I laughed “I mean they were good, but you…people are coming for you!” I shouted, as Blake began to shake him lightly “The stage presence you have…I’ve never seen anything like it!”

“Maybe you need to start listening to better music than” He shrugged, finally breaking free of Blake’s grasp.

“Is that Blake Ramsey?” A voice in the room shouted, waving Blake over. Blake called something out before walking over and talking to one of the other musicians.

“Why’d you come tonight Teddy?” Ryder exhaled, taking a good look at me “It’s clear you don’t like this music…you were sticking out like a sore thumb…are you that desperate to make everyone like you.”

“Not everyone, just you” I teased, giving him a gentle push “I’ll be back here next Friday…hell maybe I’ll bring my Dad.”

He let out a long groan, as he threw his head back “Don’t start coming every Friday” he protested “and why your dad?”

“He loves rock” I giggled, actually carrying a conversation with Ryder without either of us yelling “Given I think you’re a bit too heavy for him, but he would’ve adored your cover of Smells like Teen Spirit”

“It wasn’t even that good” Ryder humbly argued “My voice got all cut up, and I was tired…”

“Didn’t look or sound like it” I interrupted “You sound like Kurt you know?”

“Cobain?” he poked, not believing I would now the name

“No, the other Kurt from Nirvana” I teased, with a smile.

He narrowed in his eyes, and softly moved his mouth “You googled their singer.”

“Are you kidding?” I laughed, realizing the level of fake Ryder believed me to be “I was raised on rock music! My dad’s a total hippie!”

“Yeah okay” He discounted, as his attitude slowly started to return.

“Go ahead, ask me anything!” I laughed “He took me to concerts all the time as a kid!”

“Alright fine” he tilted his head, as I saw his eyes go back to their normal irritated self “What’s the best live rock song you’ve ever seen?”

“Oh Shout at the Devil” I waved, without even thinking “It was wild, there was fire shooting everywhere!”

I couldn’t help but uncomfortably shift as Ryder hit me with another skeptical look “What band is Shout at the Devil by?”

“Motley Crue” I quickly answered, starting to mirror the look he was giving me “I’m not lying to you.”

He shrugged his shoulders, but his reluctance to openly talk didn’t fade “Blake put you up to this.” He decided, taking a seat on the nearby couch.

I threw my hands up and once more laughed “Why? Why can’t you accept that we might just have something in common?”

“Because…” He began, looking over at Blake “Out of all the concerts you say you’ve been to…Shout at the Devil is the best song you’ve seen live?”

“It’s a kick ass song!” I defended, taking the seat next to him “Sorry my taste doesn’t meet your criteria, I’ll do a…”

“No” he interrupted with a quick shake of his head “that’s not…it’s…I…they’re like one of my biggest inspirations.” he blushed, keeping his eyes to the floor.

“Really?” I smiled “Why?”

“forget it” he shut down, worried he had said too much “I-uhm…just…thanks for coming.”

“Ryder I’m not leaving until you tell me.” I stubbornly insisted, giving him another playful shove.

He thought about it for a few seconds before letting out a deep breath “Bands aren’t like them anymore…they’re not crazy or wild…The Crue just had an type of aura about them…you didn’t mess with them…they took whatever the fuck they wanted, and never apologized for it.”

“So you want to be wild?” I teased with a smile.

“No...I don’t know…I just want to have the presence they had…I want to be known the way they are…I want to be a rockstar.” He confessed as his blush only grew stronger.

“Want to be?” I encouragingly nudged him “you are one.”

“No I’m not” he dismissed, still not looking at me.

“Man you rock this place every Friday night…you go up there and you make people freak out…who cares if it’s not Madison Square Garden!” I smiled “You’re still putting on a show…you’re still a freakin rockstar.”

A small smile grew on his face, but he quickly fought it off “Just stop” he stood up “just…I don’t need your pity.”

“It’s not pity” I confusingly let out at the change of attitude “I genuinely think you were great…I lost my like of rock a long time ago, but for the first time in years I was having fun at a rock concert…you can change music, you can revive…”

“Shut up Teddy!” he yelped, beginning to walk away “Just…stop.” He shook in a sigh as his voice trailed off.

“Ryder” I called out watching him walk out of the small room and into the dark parking lot, still not understanding what the hell just happened.

“What did you say to him?” Blake poked, walking back over.

“I don’t know” I shook “We were just talking, and I said that he’s a rock star and maybe he can change music…then he just freaked out…”

“You’re so stupid” Blake exhaled “He’s not like you or me…or anyone you know…he’s been picked on since he was little, most of the time he can’t tell when someone’s being supportive or just making fun of him.”

“that’s crazy…”

“Is it?” Blake interrupted, shooting me the same irritated look Ryder had given me “Imagine being beaten on over and over and over…after a while you lose touch of whats real and what’s not…then suddenly the most popular kid in school comes up to you and tries to be all buddy buddy…it doesn’t even make sense to me or liz…why the fuck would it make sense to him?.”

I rolled my eyes, still not understanding what was happening “So I can’t be nice to him because people like me?”

“No, you can’t be nice to him because the people who pick on him like you…how does he know you’re not just taking the piss here.” He shook “You gave him a few beers, let him sleep at your house, and now you think you’re friends…he probably thinks you’re mocking him.”

“That’s a hell of a lot of effort just to tease someone” I stubbornly insisted.

“People have gone through much more just to embarrass him…how are you so blind?” Blake stood up, and shook his head “Let’s go, it’s getting late.”

I let out a long groan and nodded to Blake, but before I could leave I waived over one of the guitarists in Ryder’s bands “Hey man…can you do me a favor?” I softly asked, as the slightly older teen nodded his head “Tell Ryder Teddy says he’s sorry, and that he wasn’t trying to make fun of you…tell him I’ll leave him alone from now on.”

The guitarist gave me a weird look but agreed to do it anyway. I guess I don’t know why I’ve been trying to force a friendship with Ryder. Sure, part of it has to do with me wishing my school was perfect…but I guess party of it is because I just find him interesting. He’s mysterious, and secretive…I never know what he’s going to do next. Everyone I’ve ever met has always been so predictable…so normal…and then there’s him. The kid who will go a day without talking to 1 person, then scream into a mic in front of 20…I guess I just couldn’t help but try to get to know him.