When (he)arts Prevail

32

Kaylee parked her car near Brian and Mike's studio after work, feeling extremely tired but equally excited. First, it was Friday, which by itself was already good, and secondly she was finally doing a session with the band the boys were helping produce.

She reached the door of the building with her best equipment packed in a shoulder bag. Even though Brian and Mike were her long time friends, Kaylee viewed this opportunity as a real job and so she would act as professional as possible. David, the receptionist, greeted her with a smile, already having met Kaylee in other encounters. He didn't stop her as she walked past him towards the main studio room where Brian said they would be.

Her stomach tightened with nerves. She'd come here more times than she could count, yet today she was not visiting as a friend, but as a hired photographer, and the anticipation was killing her. She wanted to do a good job.

Chatter and faint noises of instruments met her ears as she approached the door to the room, which was wide open. She poked her head in first, hesitant, before knocking lightly on the opened door. Several heads turned at the sound of her knuckles hitting the wood. Her eyes found Brian's first and a smile split across his face upon seeing her. She smiled back, albeit more shyly, and crossed the doorway when he motioned her inside.

"Come in, silly head," Brian told her, meeting her halfway into the room and quickly wrapping his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close to his side. "Guys!" he called over the noise as some of the guys settled back to their discussions. There were so many of them, Kaylee didn't know how they all fit in that small room. "This is Kaylee. I've told you about her. She'll be taking some shots tonight. Do her magic. You should all treat her respectfully lest she take awful pictures of your ugly faces."

Kaylee chuckled at that.

"You didn't tell us she was this pretty," someone said as they came from the recording room in the back. Brian's body tensed beside Kaylee. The guy snaked around people to come forward, away from the shadows, and the guitar in his hand was the first thing that caught Kaylee's attention. The second was the way he moved around, making it hard for Kaylee to discern if he was confident or just purely arrogant. Nevertheless, he was extremely handsome, his dark blond hair tied up in a knot behind his head and his dark clothes giving him a certain appeal.

"She's off limits," Brian warned, not loosening his hold on Kaylee, not for an inch. Kaylee furrowed her eyebrows slightly, glancing up at Brian. Yet his eyes were narrowed on the guitarist as he approached.

"Come on, Brian, my man," the guy continued with a sly smile while managing to get between Kaylee and Brian and stealing her away from him by also circling his arm over her. With care, he placed the guitar on the couch closest to them. "You know I'm harmless."

Brian reluctantly stepped away, muttering, "You're anything but."

"I'm Alexander." Kaylee's gaze dropped to Alexander's extended hand. With a bit of hesitation, she accepted his invitation, placing her hand in his, and he shook it lightly. "Pleased to make your acquaintance," he added, giving no hint he would move away. Kaylee tried not to feel bothered by his closeness.

"I'm Kaylee, but you already know that."

"And it's a beautiful name. A nice match to the face—"

"Alright," Brian cut off, his voice strained. "Then we have Richie over there, vocals," he went on, pointing to a man out in the back who looked a bit older than the rest, probably in his 40s. He waved at Kaylee. "Thomas, drums." Thomas looked the youngest, his face clean with no evidence of any beard, and his appearance straight out of a punk rock band. "And finally, Dave, one of the best bassist players I've ever encountered." Dave, too, appeared older, mostly due to his baldness and long beard. He brought his hands together in a silent thank you at Brian's words.

"What about me?"

Kaylee's grin widened at Mike's voice and his dimples made a full show on his face when he drew near her for a hug. Alexander had no option but to release Kaylee to Mike and she finally let herself breathe in her friend's embrace. "How're you doing, big daddy?" Kaylee asked, moving away from Mike but making sure he stayed between her and Alexander. Despite his attractiveness and good looks, Kaylee didn't feel like getting too cozy with this new guys this soon.

"Good. Trying to fulfill all my pregnant wife's crazy cravings."

"Good luck on that, my friend," Richie laughed. "That's a crazy mission for sure. I know all about it."

Alexander plopped down on the couch where his guitar was. "You should've used protection, boys."

"I'm surprised you're even familiar with that word."

Alexander threw Brian a crooked smile. "I like to play but even I know where to place my odds."Kaylee raised her eyebrows at Mike in a silent question at the tension between her best friend and Alexander. Mike only shook his head with a shrug before pinching his fingers in front of his pants to depict a small amount.

Small dicks.

Kaylee doubled over with laughter.