Two for Tragedy

8. Tensions and Teasing

On the ride back to the hotel, the van was filled with a quiet hum of satisfaction from the successful rehearsal. Jo, still riding the high of the music, glanced around at her bandmates before breaking the silence.

"So, Bill invited us to hang out in his room tonight. He said it'd be nice for everyone to get to know each other better," Jo said, her voice casual but hopeful. She knew it would probably help ease some of the tension between the two bands.

Aaro let out a harsh laugh, immediately dismissive. "There's no way I'm hanging out with those wannabes," he said, leaning back with a smirk, as if the mere suggestion was beneath him.

Jo's mood shifted instantly, her expression hardening as she turned to him. "Would it kill you to stop acting like a jerk for once?" she snapped, her eyes narrowing. "We're all stuck on this tour together. Maybe try to not make it harder than it already is?"

The rest of the band exchanged glances, sensing the sudden tension in the van. Aaro opened his mouth to argue, but Jo's sharp tone had shut him down. He grumbled something under his breath and turned his head towards the window, clearly annoyed.

Aleksander, sitting next to Jo, broke the silence that followed. "I'll come," he said, shrugging casually. "Might as well see what they're about."

Jo glanced over at Mikael and Niko, raising an eyebrow. They both hesitated for a second before Mikael shrugged. "Yeah, I'll come for a bit," he said, not overly enthusiastic but willing. Niko nodded in agreement, adding, "I'll check it out too."

Aaro scoffed loudly, shaking his head in disbelief. "Oh, come on, you're all going?" He rolled his eyes dramatically. "Fine. But I'm only coming if there's food."

Jo shook her head, half-amused and half-frustrated. "You're unbelievable," she muttered, though a small smile tugged at her lips despite the irritation.

The tension from earlier melted slightly, and the rest of the drive was filled with idle conversation, the looming dinner with Tokio Hotel on everyone's minds.

They finally arrived at the hotel and made their way upstairs, dragging their feet a little. It was clear from their body language that no one was particularly eager for this hangout. But they did it for Jo. She was the leader of Requiem of the Fallen, and despite their grumbling, the band always did what she asked them to.

Jo reached Bill's door and knocked lightly. For a moment, there was silence, and then the door swung open, revealing Bill, all smiles. His energy was infectious, and he looked genuinely happy to see them. "Hey, you all made it!" he exclaimed, stepping aside to let them in.

The room was spacious and modern, like Jo's, but with both bands squeezed inside, it felt a bit cramped. Jo perched herself on the armrest of an armchair where Aaro had already made himself comfortable, arms crossed and looking like he'd rather be anywhere else. The rest of the band spread out awkwardly, trying to find places to sit or lean against, while the silence hung heavy in the air. It was clear nobody knew quite what to say.

After a few moments of uncomfortable quiet, Jo decided to take the initiative. She cleared her throat and, trying to sound casual, asked, "So, um, how do you guys all know each other?"

Bill, always quick to jump in and fill a gap, smiled and launched into the story. "Well, Tom and I started out playing small gigs just the two of us," he began, gesturing towards his brother. "We did everything on our own at first. We met Gustav during one of our gigs, and eventually, he introduced us to Georg. We just clicked from there."

The band nodded, politely interested, and then Bill turned the question back on them. "What about you guys? How'd you all meet?"

Jo shifted slightly on the armrest. "The boys all went to the same school in Finland," she explained, her eyes scanning her bandmates. "Aleksander actually started the band. They had everything but a singer. I saw they were looking for one and decided to audition. They, uh, must have liked me," she said with a small smile, "because I ended up moving from France to Finland to join them."

Bill's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Wait, you're French? I didn't know that!"

Jo laughed softly, amused by his reaction. "Yeah, I am."

Bill grinned mischievously, his eyes flicking over to Tom, who had been sitting quietly, observing the conversation. "Well, Tom's definitely gonna like you even more now that he knows you're French."

The playful comment hung in the air for a beat. Tom snapped at Bill, his voice sharp. "Seriously, Bill?" he muttered, glaring at his brother.

Aaro, sitting beside Jo, wasn't amused either. His jaw clenched as he looked from Tom to Bill. Though he and Jo weren't really together, Aaro had always been protective of her, and something about Tom's reaction rubbed him the wrong way. He crossed his arms tighter, his posture stiffening. Jo was more than capable of handling herself, but Aaro was jealous.

"Well, that got awkward," Gustav joked, trying to lighten the mood again, though the tension still hung in the air. 

"Anyway," Jo said, a smirk barely hiding her annoyance, "I'm really not interested in guys who think a cute smile can win anyone over."

The room fell silent for a moment as everyone processed her snarky retort. Tom's expression shifted, a mix of surprise and annoyance crossing his features. Aaro shot Jo an approving glance, appreciating her quick comeback.

Tom leaned forward, a teasing smirk on his face. "So you think I have a cute smile, huh?" he said, clearly trying to get under her skin.

"Hardly," Jo snapped back, rolling her eyes. "But I'm sure you've gotten a lot of practice flashing that grin at all your little fans. They probably eat it up."

"Oh, come on!" Tom laughed, undeterred. "Who wouldn't want to get to know me better? I'm irresistible."

Jo crossed her arms defiantly, her eyes narrowing. "Irresistible? Please. I'm not falling for your player routine. I've seen better attempts at flirting from high school kids."

Meanwhile, the others were watching the scene as if they were attending a tennis game.

Tom leaned back, a mix of surprise and irritation flashing across his face. "If you would give me a night, you'd see what I mean," he replied, his voice dripping with confidence.

"Watch it, kid," Aaro interjected, his tone serious as he shot Tom a warning glance.

Jo raised an eyebrow, her expression a mix of mockery and challenge. "If you're only irresistible for just one night, that's pretty disappointing. No wonder you're always chasing after a new girl each night—clearly, no one wants to stick around for more than that."

Tom opened his mouth to retort, but the playful atmosphere had shifted, and he found himself at a loss for words. Jo felt a sense of satisfaction wash over her. It wasn't just about standing her ground; it was about sending a clear message: she wasn't one of his conquests, and she wasn't going to let him forget it.

Bill tried to diffuse the situation. "Alright, alright! Let's steer away from the personal jabs, shall we? Why don't we order some food now? I think everyone is a bit cranky because we're hungry."

After ordering pizza and enjoying a surprisingly lively meal together, the atmosphere in Bill's room began to shift. Laughter and teasing had filled the air, but as the last slice of pizza was devoured, the bands gradually began to drift away to their respective rooms.

Jo was the last to leave. As she turned to exit, Bill gently pulled her aside, his expression earnest.

"Hey, Jo," he said, his voice low. "I just wanted to say I'm really sorry about how Tom acted. He can be a lot to handle sometimes."

Jo shrugged, trying to brush it off. "It's not your fault, Bill."

"I know, but still," Bill continued, his brow furrowing slightly. "I'll try to talk to him about it."

"Thanks, I appreciate that," Jo replied, offering him a small smile and stepping back, the warmth of the moment lingering as she turned to head back to her room. As she entered her room, the door clicking shut behind her, she couldn't help but wonder how the dynamics would unfold in the coming days of the tour.