Under the Grit

Kiss Me

Evangeline and Arthur pulled up to Sean's place just before midday, the sun sitting high in the sky, casting sharp shadows along the street. The drive over had been mostly quiet, the air between them still thick with everything unsaid from the morning. Evangeline glanced at Arthur as he parked, noticing the subtle tension in his jaw, though he'd been nothing but calm and kind to her the entire way.

Sean's home was modest, with a few cars already parked out front. Arthur stepped out first, circling around to open her door before she could get out on her own. His hand rested gently on her back as they approached the front door.

"Sean's probably still setting up," Arthur muttered, more to himself than to her, as he knocked.

The door swung open to reveal Sean, grinning like he'd been waiting hours for their arrival. "There he is! Finally decided to show up, eh?"

Evangeline offered a small smile, feeling a bit out of place, but Arthur's presence beside her kept her grounded. "Yeah, yeah, I'm here," Arthur muttered with a smirk, giving Sean a playful shove as they stepped inside.

Sean grinned wider as he regained his balance from Arthur's shove, then turned to Evangeline with a playful smirk. "Well, look who finally made it to a rehearsal. Hope you're ready for some noise," he joked, giving her a quick nod of greeting.

Evangeline smiled, feeling a bit more at ease. "First time for everything, right?"

"Let's hope we don't scare you off," Sean chuckled, stepping aside to let them in. "Come on in, we're just about to get started. Make yourself comfortable."

As they stepped inside, the house felt warm but cluttered, with the faint scent of tobacco and old wood filling the air. The living room was modest, mismatched furniture scattered around a worn coffee table. A couple of empty beer bottles rested on the surface next to some scattered music sheets. In one corner, Charles was already tuning his bass, his brow furrowed in concentration. John leaned against the wall, his guitar slung over his shoulder, quietly talking to Lenny, who plucked a few stings on his bass.

The space buzzed with the low hum of preparation, and though the room was casual and unpolished, there was an underlying excitement. Arthur's hand rested lightly on Evangeline's back as they walked further into the room. "This is where the magic happens," he said with a quiet grin, leaning down to her ear.

Sean plopped himself down on the couch, grabbing a pair of drumsticks and giving them a few test taps against the edge of the coffee table. "Get ready for a show, lass," he winked. "Might even let you play a tambourine if you're lucky."

John scoffed, shaking his head as he adjusted his guitar strap. "You obviously haven't heard her sing."

The room fell silent for a moment, with Sean blinking in surprise. Lenny and Charles both glanced up, exchanging curious looks, though they didn't seem as taken aback.

Sean leaned forward, his eyes narrowing playfully at Evangeline. "Sing, eh? Is that so?" He tilted his head, drumming his fingers on the edge of the table. "Well, I'm not one to turn down a little competition. How 'bout it, lass? You gonna show us what you've got?"

Evangeline felt her face flush, glancing at Arthur who gave her a subtle smile of encouragement.

Evangeline hesitated, her cheeks flushing under the sudden attention. "I don't know," she mumbled, glancing around at the expectant faces in the room.

Sean grinned, clearly amused by her shyness. "Ah, c'mon now, don't be modest. I bet you're just bein' humble."

Arthur, still standing beside her, gave her a reassuring nudge. "Ain't no pressure, Evangeline. You don't gotta sing if you don't want to." With a smirk he added to the group, "She'll surprise you, though."