PERFECT PIECES {18+}

♡Niko♡

I smashed my drumstick on the kit, swapping between the mid and high tom then down to the bass before hitting the crash cymbal. My foot hit the floor tom, music pounding out through the room in a song that Leah had written. She sung, her voice on perfect pitch as she strummed lead guitar. Leo was on bass, his voice joining mine as we backed up Leah's vocals. We were playing better than we had in weeks and it showed. Something that made the passion flare in my blood, the music filling my head with calm, my soul buzzing the longer the song drifted. It was about Leah's ex, a girl who had been her everything and then moved away leaving Leah empty and broken. It was an alternative rock ballad that fit perfectly with our brand, especially when Leah sung it, like the words were etched in her heart and she was wearing it on her sleeve. We could all relate. Leo had been nursing an epic crush on Leah that was mostly unrequited and I had Taylor, the one that got away.

A smirk hit my lips as I thought about her, my eyes going to her as she sat on the sofa in the corner of Leah's garage, grinning, her eyes alight like they always got when she watched me practice. It almost felt like she'd never left, now that she was back where she belonged.

Pierce was at football practice keeping an eye on Sofia who had cheerleading. It was the only time we had to practice without her finding out we were undermining the bullshit she thought we were doing to appease her. She thought she was on vocals but there was no way I was letting that scratchy, irritating voice near our songs or our brand. So as much as I wished I could've spent my time with Taylor in bed, worshipping her body and making up for lost time, I couldn't let the band down just to get my dick wet, especially when they were so accommodating about the Sofia thing.

Taylor tapped her hand against her bare thigh to the music and I played harder, giving her the beat to move too, loving that she was so into it. She always had been. It had always been her at track with me in the bleachers taking photos while she trained, then we went to my practice. Until she stopped coming, started working, then Sofia had found her moment, taking advantage of Taylor's need to work and leave me alone for those shift days. I missed the beat and cursed, forcing my head back into the song until it was finished.

Leah grinned, catching her breath as Leo strung a couple of last chords and Taylor clapped. I chucked my drumstick up in the air, catching it before spinning it through my fingers and smashing them both down on the bass as Leo hit his last chords. She clapped louder and I pushed my hair back with a wink in her direction. Her face was light with her smile, her eyes watching me with that intensity they used to have. Like her soul recognized mine as much as mine did hers. Like it had never known the distance that had been there for so long.

"That was amazing." She breathed and I smiled.

"Thanks, nice to see you back cheering us on, it definitely helped." Leah laughed, putting her guitar back on it's hook on her wall. Leo put his next to it as I tucked my sticks in my back pocket, standing and stretching out my arms that were aching from playing all afternoon. I caught Taylor's eyes raking over me, fire in them as she took in my open shirt, low black jeans and smirked at her. She quickly looked away. We had agreed to stay as apart as possible since the Bulgari's could threaten anyone for information so the less people that had to keep the secret, the less people who could fold on them. Not that he doubted his band, he trusted them but he also didn't want to risk them becoming a target.

"It was cool to see you playing again, you guys have definitely gotten better." Taylor said, smiling widely.

"Yeah, except I fucked up the last page." I shook my head, hating that I got distracted.

"Allgood man, I fucked up the last set. We'll get it before the gig." Leo said as Taylor raised her brows, looking at me.

"What gig?"