“You did what?” both Siren and I asked Lil’ D. one sunny spring day in May, hey look and alliteration and a rhyme, man I’m good. It was less than a month until she graduated and Lil’ D had already moved in, sharing one of the bedrooms with her sister, so I was beginning to grow more accustomed to her everyday antics. But this was more than just a bit unexpected.

“I said I got us a gig,” repeated Lil’ D.

“Yeah, but how?” I asked.

“And where?” added Siren.

“Well I was in the Prom planning committee and we were trying to decide who to hire for the musical entertainment,” explained Lil’ D.

“You didn’t?” asked Siren in disbelief.

“I did,” said Lil’ D, a bit ashamed. “You’re not mad at me, are you guys?”

“No, not mad,” I said.

“But you should have asked us about this first,” Siren said finishing my thought.

“I know,” said Lil’ D. “I’m sorry Ryle, I knew your Senior Prom was the first place you played, so I kind of suggested it as a joke, but then when Dr. Walker asked me about the band he gave it his approval right then and there.”

“Just like that?” asked Siren.

“Just like that,” answered Lil’ D. “And they’re going to pay us eight hundred dollars to perform.”

“Wow,” I said. “They’re not as cheap as they used to be.”

“So does that mean you’ll do it?”

“We’re going to have to clear it with Billy first,” I said. “But I don’t see why not.”

“Yes,” Lil’ D cheered with joy. “I’ll call him now.” She then ran off with her cell phone into the other room. A few minutes Siren and I heard squeals of glee through the wall.

“I guess you’re going to have to rent a tux,” Siren said with a smile.

“So what kind of tux you thinking of getting?” Billy asked me as we sat in the Men’s Warehouse in the Cambridge Side Galleria, waiting to get fitted.

“Just a normal one I guess, Regular coat, bowtie, vest. Last time I went all out and got a fancy old timey one with long tails and a top hat,” I said. “But I think I’ll just get a more low key one this time.”

“No get one of those again,” said Billy. “That sounds awesome, I think I’ll get one like that too, we should try and look like me match after all, speaking of which do you know what color dress Siren is wearing?”

“Why?” I asked.

“Cause you should have your tie and vest match your date’s dress,” explained Billy.

“Ah, I see.” I replied. “Well she said she was just going to wear the same dress she wore two years ago, so green, a darker green.”

“Most have been quite a site,” said Billy.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Well for you to remember the color of her dress after all this time, especially seeing that she wasn’t even your date, it must have made quite the impression on you.”

“Yeah, I never thought of it like that before, but I suppose you’re right.”

The night of the prom came and Billy and I waited outside the Boston Back Bay Hilton, it seems our school likes Lil’ D’s class more than they did mine. We had all our instruments set up and ready in the banquet hall, we were just waiting for the girls to show after they went back home to change. I spotted them driving up in their father’s sedan they borrowed for the evening. Siren parked it in front of the hotel and a valet came to park it for her, again Brookline High must really like the class of 2009.

“You look really nice tonight,” I told Siren as she walked up to where we were waiting.

“You don’t look so bad yourself,” she said while straightening my tie.

“Why don’t we go inside then,” suggested Billy.

We walked into the ballroom seeing it fully decorated for the first time. A long banquet table to rival anything Charles Pub ever had was laid out on the side of the room, small round tables on the other side each containing elegant blown glass centerpieces. The stage set up on the far end of the room completed the frame of the dance floor, and when I looked up I didn’t see the high vaulted ceilings because they were entirely covered by red and blue balloons. I couldn’t help but say what Siren and I were thinking.

“Damn they really like your class Lil’ D.”

“Yeah they do,” she answered. “But then again our class is twice as big as yours was so, we had a lot more money to throw around.”

“Yeah just still,” said Siren. “Look at this place.”

“It certainly is fancier than anything we had back home,” added Billy.

“Well, anyway,” I said, looking at my watch. “We should probably should probably get on stage and do our last sound checks, people will start showing up in half an hour.”

“Yeah you got a point, said Lil’ D. “Good thing you and Billy know how to mike a drum set, cause I sure as hell don’t. I just know how to play ‘em.

“And I’m a bit ashamed to admit this, but I’ve never sang into a microphone before,” said Siren. “Well not in front of this many people anyway.”

“You’re not getting any last minute jitters are you?” asked Billy.

“No,” Siren said hesitantly.

“Don’t worry about it,” I said. “Just think of this like that day in the subway, they’re just people passing by. If they stop and listen that’s awesome, and if they don’t, well fuck ‘em.”

“Not exactly how I’d put it,” said Billy. “But all the same anyway.”

Eight o’clock came and the students began to enter the ballroom, hoping to have a night of magic and romance, and possibly just a little bit of rock, because we brought enough to go around, hmm I should write that down, something cool to say to get the crowd fired up, but I wasn’t to worried about it, we planned for plenty of things for Siren to say to the crowd. I turned my head to look at Siren, she seemed a bit nervous, but I had faith that she could pull off the duties of a front man, or is it front woman, stupid political correctness.

“Hello Warriors!” Siren called out to the crowd. “How are you doing tonight?” If she was nervous she certainly wasn’t showing it. She then went into the band introduction we’ve been practicing for tonight. “You might recognize some of us here tonight. On drums, representing Brookline Class of 2009, you know her as Diane MacKenzie, but we like to call her Lil’ D.” A spotlight then shined on Lil’ D. Yet another thing we didn’t have two years ago. Lil’ D then played a spirited little drum solo. “On the guitar, hailing from Shrubshire, England, Mr. Billy Bluejeans.” The spotlight then shined on Billy as laid down some particularly tasty riffs. “And representing Brookline Class of 2007 on bass we have Riley, ‘Ryle’ Aaronson.” The light then hit me and I played my little bit of funky freshness. “And I’m Sarah MacKenzie, but you can call me Siren, and together we’re Bleve 186!” She then paused for a sparse smattering of applause. As always it seemed we’d have to win over the crowd. “Well let’s get the festivities started then. First we’d like to play a song from one of our namesakes, hope you like it.”

Billy, Lil’ D and me then broke into the opening of Blink 182’s All the Small Things, and when Siren joined in when the lyrics started I could see some of the people in the audience starting to turn our way. When we finished the song there was a lot more applause and it definitely wasn’t smattered. Again I glanced at Siren and saw nothing but joy on her face. There wasn’t a bit of doubt in any of my new band mates, this was going to be a good show.

After about six songs we took our first break of the night, again the music during the break was covered by an ipod on shuffle. I jumped off the stage and then helped Siren off as well, we figured while we had the break we’d have a little snack seeing as our class was too cheap for hors d'oeuvres, but before we got to the table we were stopped by Dr. Walker.

“Good show so far,” he told us. “Who knew our school had so many talented alumnus.”

“Thank you sir,” replied Siren.

“Now, now. There’s no need to be so formal anymore,” he said.

“Ok then, Bruce,” I said.

“Okay, not that familiar,” he replied, then taking a slip of paper from his coat pocket and handed it to me. “As always if you accidentally play one of these songs I’ll let it slide.”

“Hey we know that song,” said Siren pointed to one of the songs as we looked over the list. “We should play that one.”

“We’ll make you proud Dr. Walker,” I added.

“You already have,” he replied. We then started to make our way towards the buffet table again, but Dr. Walker intervened one more time, this time stopping only me.

“It’s a shame what happened to Valefor,” he said.

“I used to think like that,” I said, I then looked towards Siren, and then at Lil’ D and Billy sitting at on of the tables and added, “But not anymore.”

We once again took to the stage and played our second set, about half way though this one we decided to play the song on Dr. Walker’s list, and like Siren said, it was a song we knew, in fact it was the first song we ever played together, Aqualung. The song started normally with no problems. Ms. Garnet and her cadre of cronies stood in the back, their main goal remaining making sure the dancing didn’t get too risqué, and then the lyrics started they soon realized not only was this song not on their approved list, but it wouldn’t be added anytime soon. Just like two years ago they made their way to the stage, but again Dr. Walker stood in their way, always standing for the side of rock.

The night went perfectly, Lil’ D played her drums like a seasoned pro. Billy proved to be a man of his word, again playing his guitar with as much skill as he said he had in that article, and Siren, well she sang beautifully. The Prom may have ended, but our night was far from over. We were too pumped up with our performance high to let the night end now, and even though we had over fifteen times more money to celebrate with than last time we still choose to celebrate the same way, a couple pizzas from Brookline Spa.

“That was wicked awesome!” exclaimed Lil’ D. “Never knew performing could be so fun.”

“Fun doesn’t begin to describe it,” added Siren.

“Exhilarating,” said Billy.

“Hey there, now that’s a ten dollar word,” I replied.

“And I can’t believe they let us play Semi-Charmed Kind of Life,” added Lil’ D. “I mean it’s a song all about heavy drug use and oral sex, but it just so damn happy sounding no one ever notices. Now to completely change the subject, do you think we’re ready to start playing shows now?”

“I think that goes without saying,” said Billy. “We sounded incredible tonight.”

“I’ll give my friends down at Charles Pub a call then,” I said

“You do that, but for now let’s just celebrate,” said Siren.

And celebrate we did, the next few hours were spent watching movies, eating some excellent pizza and just generally hanging out, talking about what to do next, but all good things must come to an end, and as our performance highs faded and we saw what time it was we decided to call it a night. We each retreated to our respective rooms, Billy opting to spend the night on the couch. I sat alone in my room, and even though it was considerably late I still wasn’t ready for sleep. About fifteen minutes later I heard a gentle knock at my door. Even though I thought everyone else was asleep I checked my door anyway, it was Siren, apparently she wasn’t ready for bed either.

“Hey, what’s up?” I asked her.

“I couldn’t sleep, and I saw your light was still on,” she said. “Do you mind if I come in for a while?”

“Yeah sure, come in,” I said a bit hesitantly. I then asked the familiar question, “So, what do you want to do?”

“Well,” she started. “We could make out.” I began to quickly laugh at her repeated joke, but saw that she wasn’t laughing this time.

“Oh, you’re serious this time.” Siren then sat on my bed and patted the empty space next to her, beckoning me to join her. I then said what I could see was becoming a bit of a catch phrase. “Sure, why the hell not.”