Bandom One-shots book 3

Think About You ! Part Two !

The tension in the room lingers after I finish the song. Izzy's standing there, arms still crossed, but now there's a flicker of something different in his eyes—something softer, something warmer. It's like he's letting me in for once, and damn, it feels good.

I set my guitar down, my hands still buzzing from the strings, and look at him, trying to gauge what's going on behind that mask of his. I've always known Izzy has layers, but hell, it's like peeling back the skin of an onion sometimes—slow, deliberate, until you finally get to the heart of it.

"I didn't know you could write stuff like that," he says, his voice just above a murmur, like he's trying to figure me out.

I shrug, trying to act casual, but there's a nervous energy in me now that wasn't there before. "Yeah, well, it just kinda came out. Sometimes I get lucky."

Izzy glances at me, his eyes narrowing just slightly, almost like he's sizing me up. "You serious about this? Or is it just a song for the album?"

I don't know why, but his question hits harder than I expect. Maybe it's because we've been doing this for so long—writing songs, making music, living out of hotel rooms and shitty bars—and it's never really felt like there's been much weight behind any of it. We're always pushing forward, doing the next thing. But with this, with this song, it feels different. It feels like I'm giving him something real.

I nod slowly, trying to keep my composure. "It's for you, Izzy. You've always been there, even when I didn't deserve it. And I guess... I guess I needed to say it."

The room is quiet for a moment. Just the hum of the lights and the sound of the guys in the background, messing with some riffs, fills the silence. But it doesn't matter. All I care about is the guy in front of me.

Izzy's gaze softens, and he steps forward, close enough now that I can feel the heat of his body. He reaches out, but instead of pulling me in or going for some big romantic gesture, he just lightly presses his fingers to my shoulder, his touch barely there, but it's enough.

"You're a pain in the ass, you know that?" he says, and there's a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

I snort, rolling my eyes. "I'm not the one who's been avoiding my feelings for the last few months."

Izzy raises an eyebrow, like I've hit a nerve. "You're not wrong," he mutters, before dropping his hand and stepping back, running his fingers through his messy hair. It's the Izzy move—guard up, a little too cool for anyone to get a read on him.

But I see it. I see the way his eyes linger on me for just a second too long, the way he's holding back. I've known Izzy long enough to know when he's trying to hide something, but maybe this time it's different.

"You gonna be okay with this?" I ask, suddenly unsure of myself. My voice feels tight, like I'm putting too much of myself out there for the first time.

Izzy looks at me, his expression unreadable for a moment, and then he sighs, almost like he's been waiting for someone else to ask. "You're gonna have to trust me, Duff. We both know it's not gonna be easy... but I'm here."

The words hang in the air between us, heavy but real. Izzy's not one for promises or declarations, and for him to say that... well, it means something. More than I'm willing to admit to myself just yet.

"I didn't think this was gonna be easy," I say, trying to lighten the moment, but my heart's pounding in my chest. I'm not sure if I'm nervous or if I'm just afraid of how much I've let this moment mean. But with Izzy, nothing's ever clear-cut. Nothing ever makes sense right away.

"Yeah, well, we've never been the easy kind, have we?" Izzy's voice is quieter now, almost intimate in a way that sends a shiver down my spine. He steps closer again, his gaze never leaving mine.

I can feel the tension building, the space between us closing with every breath we take. And in that moment, I realize this is real. This is more than just two guys playing in a rock band. This is us—the chaos and the beauty of it, all tangled up together.

Izzy reaches for me again, but this time, instead of a casual touch, he grabs my wrist, pulling me toward him. He's not rough, but there's purpose in his movements, like he's trying to show me something without saying a word.

I let him pull me in, and before I can even process what's happening, Izzy's lips are on mine. It's nothing wild, nothing over the top—just a quiet, simple kiss that says everything that neither of us has been able to put into words.

When we pull apart, there's a brief pause, and for a second, neither of us knows what to say. But I know we don't need words. Not right now.

"I guess that's a yes?" I ask, smirking.

Izzy's expression softens, a rare look of warmth in his eyes. "Yeah, it's a yes," he says quietly.

And I don't know what comes next, but for the first time in a long while, I don't feel like I need to have all the answers. Not with Izzy.

It's a few weeks later, and we're back in the studio. The energy is different now, more focused. We're pushing forward with Appetite, trying to carve out something new in the midst of all the madness. But in the back of my mind, that song—Think About You—keeps playing, keeps reminding me of the way Izzy looked at me that night. The way he kissed me like it was the only thing that made sense in the world.

The guys are getting more excited about the tracks we've got, and every time we play through the rough versions of the songs, I can't help but steal glances at Izzy. He's still the same guy—laid-back, cool, always a little on edge—but I know something's shifted between us.

Maybe it's the song. Maybe it's just us finally being honest with each other. But whatever it is, it's real, and it's here. And for the first time, I feel like I can finally be all in, without holding anything back.

I can see it in his eyes when he looks at me—he's here, too. Whatever the future holds, we're in it together. And that's all I need to know.

~Think About You ! Part Two ! ~