He picked a different song. A simpler one. "Learn to Fly" by Foo Fighters. Easy tempo. He pressed start.
He plugged in the mic. He queued up "Green Grass and High Tides." He strapped on the guitar, sat at the drums, and balanced the mic on a stack of books.
He looked at the three empty spots on the couch where Mark, Sarah, and Chloe used to sit. He looked at the cheap plastic drum kit. He looked at the guitar with the faded stickers. rock band 4 band-in-a-box bundle
On his twelfth try, he passed the song. Barely. Three stars. The game informed him he had unlocked a new pair of sunglasses for his character.
He bid fifty dollars, held his breath, and won. He picked a different song
He strapped on the guitar, the plastic fret buttons sticky under his fingers. He hit "Play."
Leo leaned forward, breathing hard, and laughed. It was a raw, ugly sound, half sob. In the silence after the song, he picked up the microphone. He didn't plug it in. He just held it. Easy tempo
He tried again. And again. And again.