𝔅𝔞𝔟𝔶, 𝔬𝔫𝔢 𝔪𝔬𝔯𝔢 𝔱𝔦𝔪𝔢 || 𝔨. 𝔥𝔞𝔪𝔪𝔢𝔱𝔱

.14.

A month later.

James initially wrote me a list of the things I would need. I actually had everything and if I was missing something I could just buy it.

But that wasn't the only thing that annoyed me.

This month, Kirk and Stacy have become closer. About two weeks ago she proudly told me about her date with him. I don't remember how much ice cream I ate afterwards. But he seemed happy with her so I just took it.

Even if it bothered me.

I've had a lot of time to think this month and I've come to the following conclusion. However he managed it, I fell in love with curly.

Every minute I had to think of his beautiful smile. I saw his bright brown eyes in front of me every minute. How he literally beamed when he played the guitar. Everything about him was perfect in my eyes. It didn't even bother me that he drank so much.

Although I'm not really any better.

The only one I told about my feelings was Cliff. He had become like a little brother to me. We had talked on the phone so many times about the stupidest things. He makes me feel like Noah makes me feel. Safe.

I just didn't tell James anything because he has a very cheeky mouth. He usually speaks before he thinks.

Now I'm standing in front of the studio and waiting for the others to come. I was way too early but I just couldn't sit at home. I don't know why I was so excited, but I just hadn't done anything with James and Lars for a long time, so I'm all the more happy to spend time with them.

I looked up from my vans and saw Kirk just walking up. Like me, he pulled a suitcase behind him and if I'm not mistaken he was also carrying a backpack.

"Couldn't sit still anymore either?", he asked me and put his suitcase next to mine.

I just nodded. Only now did I realize that this was the first time that we were alone. Otherwise someone else was always there. Maybe that's why I'm so nervous.

I sat down on the steps in front of the studio and exhaled deeply.

"It might not be the best moment, but what we had there...I can't forget it. I don't want to forget it either. But can we still risk a fresh start?", I just started talking.

I have no idea where that suddenly came from. But everything I said was true. I just couldn't forget our night together. It feels so unreal but since then I've had tingles in my stomach just looking at him. At first I wanted to try to hate him. I never wanted us to get closer. But what can't all change in a few months.

"A reboot? Doesn't sound so wrong after all.", he said and held out his hand to me.

A warm smile formed on his lips. I got hot right away. I felt my face start to burn and my heart beat faster.

"I'm Kirk Hammett. I'm pleased to meet you."

"I'm Olivia Park. I'm pleased to meet you too."

We just had to laugh.

No idea why. But it felt good. For that moment I had no doubts, no worries and most importantly no negative thoughts.

After a while we pulled ourselves together again. Beside me, Kirk sighed. What did he have?

"Is something bothering you or worrying you?", I asked him.

He looked at me with a tired face. As if he hadn't slept too much tonight. He didn't look really cheerful. Maybe he could get some sleep during the bus ride. If he could fall asleep on bus rides.

I could'nt do it.

"Nothing important. Stacy just got way too excited yesterday. And that's just because I was talking to an old friend from school.", he explained to me.

At least then I knew what it was about. Stacy was someone who gets jealous easily. Unfortunately, she didn't see her mistakes and was far too arrogant to admit her mistakes. I found that out early on. Specifically, her relationship with James. That's why he was so confused when Stacy wanted to come along. The two have had a very complicated relationship since then.

"I warn you in advance. Stacy can get jealous very quickly. You have to take care. The last time she yelled at someone so much that he had to go to a mental institution."

"Well that sounds like I don't have to worry. I'm just being sent to rehab.", Kirk said in the most sarcastic tone I've ever heard.

It was like we were made for each other. We just complemented each other.

However, he wasn't interested in me at the moment.

I looked ahead again in the direction of the street and saw a female person moving quickly towards us. Just by the way she ran towards us, I recognized that it was Stacy and slid a bit away from Kirk. I didn't want to start an argument. I was far too tired and drained for that.

With a smile on his face, Kirk got up and walked towards her.

Thirty agonizing minutes later, everyone had arrived. We just waited for the bus and then we could start. These were the longest thirty minutes of my life. And also the worst of my life.

At that moment I was really happy to have taken my Walkman with me. Sam was kind enough to lend me some of his cassettes too. Including two albums by Metallica. Kill 'Em All and the new one called Ride the Lightning. I'll definitely listen to them.

The bus was finally here and the driver seemed to be a good friend of Bob's. James, Lars, Kirk, Cliff and Stacy were already inside while I stood outside and stared at the cloudless sky again.

I've always done this. Before every car or bus ride, I stood outside and looked up at the sky. I don't know why I did that, it just had a calming effect on me. I didn't really care who would sit where as I'll probably be sitting next to James.

As I had guessed, Kirk sat a little further up the front with Stacy. Cliff and Lars sat a little in the middle and had a deck of cards with them. James was sitting across from the two of them so I sat down next to him.

"Are you playing? The loser has to take off a piece of clothing."

"I play along but forget your punishment.", I sounded more annoyed than I intended to sound.

It was probably because Stacy's relationship with Kirk bothered me. But at this table I wouldn't say anything about it and just endure it. I just couldn't tell James and Lars yet. The two of them didn't even have their own love life under control so they couldn't help me.

Lars came up with the idea that we play in a team. However this is supposed to work. So Lars and Cliff played against me and James. How exiting.