Die In California

69

Devyn's POV:

The following two weeks can only be described as complete chaos. I spent most of my life at the new tattoo shop, getting it all ready for its temporary opening day. Meanwhile, the boys were mostly at their studio, unnecessarily scrutinising their work, and promoting the album on social media.

I'd have loved to get the studio completely decorated and furnished, so that the album release date could be the official opening day. But I knew I wouldn't be able to completely finish it to my ideals before the date - it was impractical. So the plan was to get it as decorated and furnished as possible, at least so it looked good and worked. As long as it was functional, I could do all the rest later.

My days somehow usually weren't spent alone like I'd imagined they would be. Although JP was at the studio more than the tattoo shop, he always made sure to send me help in the form of his friends and family. Some I knew, others I'd never met in my life. But they all made sure to chip in!

And, without my knowledge, JP had even gone as far as contacting my friends from LA through Instagram. Paisley and Alice came down to surprise me at the studio one day, when I was working on repainting the walls. They found me covered in white paint splatters, tiptoeing through open pots of paint as I tried to paint a mural on the back wall. Their laughter was the thing to announce their presence to me.

We hadn't seen each other in a long time, so it was more than a nice surprise to see them - which I thanked JP greatly for. They stuck around to help with the decorating, and then set up each bed and work station for opening day. We'd decided to cram in more beds that I'd normally want, since I'd miraculously managed to get more artists involved (with the generous help of my artists in Cleveland).

Sketch and Jay were busy in LA at the time, but they made sure to shoot me a text promising to come down and help out at the official EST flash sale. We needed as many hands as we could get; we all had a feeling the studio would be packed, and we'd be rushed off our feet. Especially if fans knew the boys were going to be there!

JP and the boys did put in their own hard work though. They'd come down to see me whenever studio sessions finished early, or if I was working late, JP would usually come down with some food. It was oddly therapeutic, and somehow restored our relationship during a time of high stress.

One particular night, I'd been working on the floral mural I'd been painting on the statement wall at the back. I was at a point where I couldn't stop for the evening, leading to a pretty late night once again. But I was used to it at that point.

JP came down to surprise me with a few boxes of Chinese food to share, and a mint chocolate chip milkshake from my favourite diner a few blocks away. Made with ice cream of course. He sat on the floor with me while I worked, and told me all about his day, as well as playing me snippets from the music he'd been working on.

Although the boys were mostly checking over the new album and making minor (unnecessary) alterations whenever they were in the studio, their minds were already beginning to wander to the next album. Apparently a few beats had been made, and a few stray lyrics had been scribbled down already. I just knew they wouldn't be able to help themselves.

"D'you remember our first date?" JP dreamily glanced over at me with a shy smirk on his lips as he stirred his chocolate milkshake with his straw. I swear he was turning into a white girl more and more every day.

"I do." I smiled back, bashful, then turned to focus on the wall." You called me to go to the diner in Toledo, without our friends for once. Then I had to ask you if it was a date, cause you suddenly became a pussy." I teased.

JP shook his head and rolled his eyes in annoyance, but the fond smile that danced on his lips told a different story. "I guess I was." He finally quietly admitted, though at first I couldn't believe it. He was actually telling me I was right instead of putting up a fight?!