Cherry Bomb [H.S.]

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

With Marlowe's back to me as she faces her computer, I sit at my drum set - rolling my neck from side to side. We've been in her music room for over an hour now as she tries to work out the melody to a song she's been close to finishing for her album.

It's been almost a month since we first slept together, and things have been, what I can only describe as, perfect. I can't remember a time in my life where I've felt as carefree and relaxed as I have since being with Marlowe. Not having to worry about my mum is something I've never had the luxury of before. Ever since I could take care of myself, I've had to worry about her instead.

I remember when she first told me that we would be moving to California, I was so excited. I thought that maybe getting somewhere new would help her change - that it could be a new slate for her since her past wouldn't be around her like it was back home. She used to talk about how she was so worried about running into my father, and when I tried to ask more about the situation, she would tell me he wasn't a good man. Since that one time I asked, I've left it alone.

However, once we got to the States, and she realized that she had been scammed, she got even worse. It wasn't until I started school that I finally got a bit of relief from the hell that had become my home.

I've always said that meeting Marlowe was the best thing to ever happen to me, and I still stand by it - especially now more than ever.

Being with her has made that darkness that I've felt so long completely dissipate. I haven't even thought about wanting a drink in weeks. It hasn't even been close to crossing my mind.

"I feel like it should slow down a little bit more here during the bridge," Marlowe comments, and it knocks me out of my head a bit. I look back over to where she's sitting, and I see her pull her guitar back into her lap. "Like this maybe..."

She trails off and starts strumming her guitar in a similar way to how she was earlier while humming what her vocals will be. Once she gets to the bridge, she slows both her strumming, and her humming, down. Looking over at me, she sends me a smile before nodding her head.

"I think that's what it needed. What do you think?"

The grin on Marlowe's lips causes my heart to stammer in my chest, and I give her a nod. "I think it sounds great, Birdy. Do it again, and I'll try to match it with the drums."

Marlowe nods, and she starts to play her guitar again, but this time she sings out the lyrics instead of humming them. I follow her pattern, and once she gets to bridge, I make sure to slow down my tempo like she wanted. Once we finish, I look over to her, and I return the nod that she gave me earlier.

"That's definitely it," I tell her. "Gives the song a little more dynamic."

"That's what I was thinking too."

The sound of Marlowe's phone ringing cuts through the room, and she sets her guitar down before picking up the device. "It's Lys."

Standing up from my drum set, I walk over to Marlowe and press a kiss against her cheek before I exit the room - wanting to give her some alone time to speak with Lys. It's been a while since they've caught up with each other, so I figured I'd head into to the kitchen and grab us some snacks.