The Archives of BFF

It was freezing at the Itoni sleeping grounds. Maxwell and Sammatha’s apartment was charming and small. They had a white refrigerator and gas burner tops. It was nothing fancy but cozy indeed.

 

Maxwell was sound asleep when out of nowhere his alarm started to go off. It was 5:00 a.m. Looking across the room, from the window bed he slept on, he notice his sister sleeping in her bed.

 

“Sammatha… wake up,” Maxwell mumble.

 

No response.

 

“Sammatha wake up.”

 

Maxwell sat up from his bed. Quickly he finger combed his long thick black hair. Only in a tank top and shorts, he suddenly observed his skin. His vitiligo was spreading all over his arms and legs. His eyes gazed his arms more deeply until he became very triggered.

 

Looking around the room, he sought for an outfit to wear. However nothing would suit his desires.

         “Sammatha wake up,” Maxwell said softly as he look under her bed.

​

No response again.

With a light touch Maxwell tap her shoulder.

Sammatha immediately woke up in fear.

         “It’s me Sammatha. It’s me. You have nothing to worry about,” Maxwell said hugging her.

​

Maxwell released her and continued to search for an outfit to wear. That when he found a blackish brown turtleneck that his mom gifted him.

​

         “Turtlenecks?” Sammatha sleepily questioned as she sat up.

In Italian he respond, “Mother gave this too me for my birthday last year. Never worn it. Do you think its going to cover my scars?”

​

“Surely the members wouldn’t care to see your wounds,” Sammatha said in English.

         “Easy for you to say. Can you get dress? We need to be at the house before Mr.Smith notice our absence.”

​

So the two got dress for the day. They even pack a sleepover bag as a precaution (for if they can’t make it back to their apartment before nightfall).

 

Awaiting for them was Leo in the parking lot. One of the few people in the group with a car or a driver license.

         “Thanks for the ride,” Maxwell said as the two got in.

         “No problem,” Leo smiled.

         “I get my licenses next week so you will be off taxi duty real soon,” Maxwell added.

​

Leo took a glance at Sammatha through the mirror. He let out a small smile.

         “I don’t mind picking you two up. Your apartment is the near the gym I go to. Sure six a.m. is early but make me more disciplined to workout at four in the morning.”

​

         “Take my brother with you Leo. He need to build some muscles,” Sammatha laughed.

         “Won’t be necessary. Honestly,” Maxwell laughed.

​

Leo laughed as well.

         “I’m glad you two audition to be in Switch,” Leo cheese.

         “Why?” Maxwell questioned.

         “You both are so wholesome and not snobby. Especially you Maxwell. Better than your stuck up Varsity comrades. Humble and chill. I just wish you didn’t speak Italian. Speak Portuguese and we be unstoppable,” Leo joked.

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         “We are half Sicilians from Jersey. Why would we know Portuguese,” Sammatha laughed.

         “How are you from Jersey but don’t have a Jersey accent,” Leo joked.

 

Sammatha was lost of words.

         “No comment. Its complicated,” Maxwell cheese.

 

 

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“Oh so once upon time your brother and Leo were best friends,” the interviewer questioned.

 

The cameraman zoomed in to capture Sammatha’s response.

         “Yes. They were inseparable at the beginning.”

​

Leo said in his interview, “I experience something pretty traumatic before joining Switch so when I heard that Maxwell and Sammatha had went through the wire, I felt relieved to know I wasn’t alone.”

​

In Maxwell’s interview he said, “I don’t ever recall being close with Leo, is something I would probably openly admit in my past. However before everything went south, I considered him my best friend. I was even open to letting him marry Sammatha despite them not finding interest in one another. Allegedly.”

​

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Arriving to the main house, the three parted ways for their unit meetings.

Maxwell briefly paused in front of the recording studio door. Quickly he fixed his turtleneck and tugged his sleeves down to cover his wrist. Then he took a deep breathe before opening the door.

 

“Am I late?” Maxwell questioned.

         “No your on time. We came early,” Jermany smiled.

​

All of Varsity Guys were sitting on stools in a circle, holding music sheets.

“According to an email, our assignment today is to practice our high notes,” Zachary said.

Maxwell took a seat next to Carlos and observe his notes.

​

Theo pouted, “High notes are my worst enemy.”

         “Everything is your worst enemy,” Zachary sighed.

​

Romeo flipped through his sheets and aggressively started marking his parts in a red marker.

         “I don’t mind high notes,” Maxwell said.

         “Of course you don’t. I saw your audition tape. You’re a master at ballads,” Theo sighed.

         “Prove it. Sing song 5A,” Carlos requested.

​

Carlos handed over his sheets to him.

Maxwell was baffled,“Right now? No warm up?”

​

Carlos shook his head. “JV Guys need 30 minutes to do some Do Re Mi. Varsity Guys sing on the spot.”

​

Maxwell hesitated to sing the first line of You.

         “Stop can I see you. Morning came today and I can’t wait see your…”

​

         “More passion. More energy,” Zachary demanded.

​

Maxwell clear his throat a bit and continue on to the second line.

 

“I can’t wait to see your heart. The world keeps spinning. And-”

 

“Stop,” Zachary said.

         “What did he do wrong? It sounded good to me,” Theo said.

“Maxwell, you are too flat,” Romeo said in his heavy British accent. (It was a very strong accent in the early days of Switch).

 

         “Too flat? If that flat then you are going to hate my version,” Theo complain.

 

Maxwell gave the song another try. However this time he sang with so much power and soul. Everyone was in awe as Maxwell squeezed his eyes shut while his voice carry the entire song to the finish line.

 

         “Woah,” Jermany said taking his glasses off.

         “So this is why you got into Varsity Line huh? Where was this energy when we were recording the album,” Carlos questioned.

​

Maxwell’s self esteem was boasted by 150%.

         “We only had a week to record the album. I didn’t get enough time to even adjust being in the booth for the first time,” Maxwell said cheerfully.

​

Opening the door was Mr. Smith.

His energy was rather off and cold.

​

         “Hi Mr. Smith. We were just working on our hi-notes-”

​

         “Silence Zachary!”

​

Zachary looked at Romeo in awe.

         “Excuse me sir -”

Romeo nudge Zachary to zip it.

​

         “Carlos, what song is the unit practicing right now?”

 

Carlos struggled to find the words. Zachary wanted to chime in but Romeo kept nudging him to be quiet.

“Song 5A. You. Maxwell had just sang the high notes with perfection. Sir.”

 

“Sing the chorus Maxwell,” Mr. Smith said coldly.

 

Still feeling confident in his sing capablities, Maxwell sang his version. It was like the Heavens were opening by how angelic Maxwell’s voice was.

 

Yet it was interrupted when Maxwell found his face on the ground.

Everyone in the room was frozen in their spot, questioning what had just happen.

 

“YOU WILL SING THE ORIGINAL VERISON OF THE SONG! NOT TO HOW YOUR HEART DESIREs! UNDERSTAND!”

 

         “Yes sir,” everyone said at once in fear.

 

Leaving the room, Carlos rushed to the door and lock it.

 

Jermany adjusted his glasses before helping Maxwell to his feet.

The side of his face was bleeding from the impact he face on the hardwood floors.

 

         “Are you okay?” Zachary said getting eye level with Maxwell.

                  “Don’t tell Sammatha! Don’t tell Sammatha! Don’t tell Sammatha,” Maxwell said freaking out.

 

In full haste, Maxwell ran into the booth. There he started crying as he crawled into a ball.

 

The rest of Varsity Guys slightly looked over the screen in despair.

         “I thought Mr.Smith was a change man,” Theo sighed.

 

Jermany shook his head, “Ever since he got promoted, his anger and pride is now unstable. Anyone of us could be the next victim.”

 

         “Surely Mr.Smith won’t put his hands on me,” Zachary thought.

         “Why cause your lead singer?” Jermany question.

         “Yeah actually,” Zachary shrugged.

         “And what about your sister Lily? She is a JV Girl. Does the protective shield apply to her as well?” Carlos asked.

​

Zachary humble himself, “Let’s not leave the room until he [Mr.Smith] leaves.”

​

Romeo took another glimpse at Maxwell. Tapping on the mic he said, “We are here if you need us Maxwell. Everything is going to be alright.”

Then he released his hand from the button.

         “You don’t know that,” Theo said.

         “We’ll make it alright,” Romeo said.

​

Suddenly a knock came to the door. It was rapid.

         “Guys… Open please!” David cried in panic.

​

Carlos quickly rush to unlock the door.

Coming inside David sat on the floor. He was covering his cheek in pain.

         “Bloody Mr.Smith thought it was a bright idea to strike me in my sleep,” David said.

​

Carlos glanced out the hallway to ensure Mr. Smith wasn’t in sight. Then he lock the door once more. Even took it a notch to pull the studio couch in front of the door.

​

“He got Maxwell too,” Zachary said.

         “Mr. Smith can eat a bag of dirt. So I miss Varsity Line practice. I had the runs all night,” David sighed.

Looking around the room David asked for the first aid kit.

         “We don’t have one,” Theo said.

​

         “We need some. Matter fact lets build a hospital,” David said.

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David pulled out his cellphone and sent out a mass group message to all BFF household resdients.

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[Mr. Smith is on rage mood. Be alert. Avoid him.]

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         “Oh I would sue him. Call the cops. But that contract…” David sighed.