Found her

Chapter 22 | Racing Jacket

L U C A S

I throw the sheet music across the room with a huff. Jonah pokes his head inside, his eyes widening at the mess I made.

'Sir, is everything okay-'

'Jonah. Call my mother and tell her to pick Lexi from dance. I can't drive.'

'Sir, I doubt you'll be-'

'Damn it! Jonah. Just do it!' I curse, resting my head against the wall. 'And I need two pills, for headaches. Fuck!' I grab my head and I can feel my brain pounding through my skull.

I close my eyes and head towards the refreshment table of my recording studio, I grab a beer and slump on my couch. I pop the can open and drown half of it in one go, relishing the feel of the liquid going down my throught.

'Tsk, tsk. Alcohol is never the answer.' A familiar voice from behind me says, and I can feel the grin on his face.

I turn around to see Matheo with his hands in his pockets, a toothy grin plastered on his face. 'Hey, primo.'
[Cousin]

I groan. Matheo has this thing, he never tells me when he's coming over, and I hate it. 'I'm too tired to be mad at you.' I stand up, and grab another drink.

'Cool, cool. I doubt Camilla will be happy if she sees you drunk.'

'I don't care.'

He raises his eyebrows. 'What crawled up your ass this morning?'

'Matheo, I know you're my best friend, but I won't hesitate to put a bullet through your skull.'

'Woah there, soldier. What's wrong?' He takes a cautious step towards me.

'The song. It- I- Fuck. It's not good enough.' I sigh, kicking a bottle cap that's on the floor.

'Let me hear it.'

I look up, Matheo looks dead serious.

'Yeah... Yeah, alright.' I say, hesitantly.

I walk over into the recording studio, avoiding all the rubbish and paper on the floor, and sit in the stool behind the mic. Matheo sits in the chair outside, a glass panel separating us both. He shoots me a thumbs up and starts the music.

The song talks about love, denial, betrayal. It talks about how a person can easily hide behind a happy interior, when on the inside, they are struggling. It talks about never feeling understood, never being accepted.

It's a song based on Sadie.

I want to show the world how serious mental illnesses are, mostly anxiety and self harm. The song is deep, raw, enchanting.

But not perfect. It has to be perfect. Like her.

The last line is entirely dedicated to her: 'Whoever your prince charming in the future will be, you'll always be my princess.'

I breathe, closing my eyes as the last beat of music ends, and I look over to Matheo. He's saying something but I can't hear him, because the room is soundproof. I open the door and look at him pointedly.

'Well?'

He looks confused. 'Well, what?'

Motherfu-

'Well, what did you think? Of the song?'

He stalks over and stands right in front of me, before stomping on my foot. Hard.

'What is wrong with you?!' I exclaim indignantly.

'What is wrong with you. That song was amazing, your best yet! Why isn't it released?'

I freeze. 'It's good?'

He groans dramatically. 'Lucas, you're my cousin, and my best friend, but right now I want to punch you so bad-'

'Hey!'

'Lucas...' He says, softer now. 'I hate giving you compliments, because your huge ego doesn't need more inflating, but that song was mwah.'

I grin, my mood lifting. 'Did you just say mwah?'

'You know what I mean.'

'Mwah!'

'Lucas.'

'Hey, Mum!' I yell, running out of my basement, Matheo on my heel.

'Lucas, don't you dare!'

I bound up the stairs, still grinning. I burst into the living room, both Matheo and I out of breath. But I still embarrass him.

'Mom.' I say, panting. She looks up from her modeling magazine, looking unimpressed.

'What did you two do now? Break a vase, a window, or maybe burn the basement down. Oh! Wait, please don't tell me you broke the mic again. Lucas, cariño, I know you're like, a millionare or whatever, but those things are very expensive.'

Our grins fade. 'No.' I say pointedly. 'Matheo said mwah!' I said, bursting into a fit of laughter. Even Lexi, still in her dance tutu and leotard, joins in.

Matheo crosses his arms over his chest. 'Not funny. I came over to ask for your racing jacket, and instead, I'm here being bullied.'

Mom smiles. 'Lucas, go give your cousin your racing jacket.'

I nod, and head up to my room, Matheo trailing behind me.

'Why do you need my racing jacket?'

'I have a date.' He says simply.

I stop in my tracks, and Theo bumps into me.

'A date? What is she this time, a goldigger like last time? Or a cheater like the one before?' I ask, raising my eyebrows.

'She's actually a high school student.'

'Young?'

'She's fifteen.'

'You're sixteen. Does she know you're homeschooled?'

'As a matter of fact, she does. We bonded over biology.'

The only person I know who actually likes biology is Matheo, and Jaxon's sister.

No.

'Does she have a brother?' I ask, smiling knowingly.

'Yep. She's keeping us a secret for now because he is very protective.'

My smile widens.

'Where did you meet?' I ask, knowing very well who this girl is.

'At one of my mom's fashion shows.'

Here's the funny thing, our dads, who are brothers, married our moms, who are sisters. Theo's father is my father's partner in the modeling agency. Plus, both our mothers are models. Well, my mother isn't one anymore, but they both used to work for my father.

I remember Joanna saying something about going to Emilia's fashion show.

'Why are you smiling like that?'

'Nothing. Nothing.' I rummage through my closet. 'I can't find my racing jacket.'

We look around for another ten minutes, turning my closet upside down. We even asked Maria if she washed it, but she just replied with a shake of her head.

Theo slumps on my bed, groaning. 'What am I going to wear now?'

'I have a whole closet you can pick from.' I say, just as the doorbell rings. I walk down to get it, seeing my mother still in the same position, the same magazine propped against her knee, a coffee mug in her hand, Maria beside her telling her opinions about the dresses Emilia was wearing.

'I couldn't find the racing jacket.' I announce, walking over to the door, and opening it, a huge smile breaking on my face.

'Lost something?' Sadie asks, a grin on her face, wearing my red racing jacket.

I'm sure she's my favourite person.