Relapse (Phan)

NINE

"Are you ready?"

"Uhhh, yeah!" I said, propping my phone up between my ear and my shoulder as I shimmied into my jeans.

"I feel like that's a lie," Jason laughed from the other end of the line.

"No really, I'm ready!" I giggled back insistently.

"Okay, well read or not I'm on my way," he replied.

"Alright, I'll see you in a few," I said, hanging up the phone. I dug through my drawer for socksâany socks. I pulled out a purple and a checkedâwhateverâand stuffed my feet into them before throwing on my shoes, grabbing my keys, and making a dash for the door. It was already dark and my hands were freezing as I stood on the curb waiting.

Jason pulled up not too long later in a small blue car

"Hey," he grinned at me as I hopped in the passenger seat.

"Hi," I said, trying not to sound nervous. We drove for a few minutes in silence befpre he spoke up.

"What's wrong?" he asked, concerned.

"Huh?" I asked, pulled back into reality, "Nothing."

"You're being so quiet," he said, placing a hand on my leg, "What's up?"

"I'm just kinda nervous," I admitted, biting my lip. Jason just smiled encouragingly.

"You're nervous?" he chuckled, "I'm freaking out!"

"You are?" I asked, a smile breaking across my face.

"Of course!" he said, "What if we're terrible? What if you hate us?"

"I'm sure you'll do great," I said, blushing.

"I hope so," he said.

"I'm just really awkward," I admitted.

"Aren't we all?"

"I guess," I shrugged, "I justâI dunno."

"Hey, it'll be okay," he encouraged, "The band's really cool: you'll like them. You don't even have to talk to anyone else. Just sit up front and watch."

"Will they like me?" I asked, still unsure, "The band?"

"Of course they will!" he smiled, "What's not to love?"

"I don't knowâ"

"Hey," he interrupted me, "do you trust me?"

I stared at him for a minute. "Yes."

"They'll like you," he promised. "It's right up here."

We parked the car around the corner and Jason grabbed his guitar out of the back seat. I followed him in the staff door to a back room where his band was sitting, tuning their instruments.

"Hey guys," Jason greeted them as we entered, "This is Phil."

"Hey!" a girl with purple hair and a lip piercing jumped up and hugged me unexpectedly, making me freeze awkwardly.

"Uh, Phil, this is Stace," Jason laughed as she let go of me.

"Nice to meet you," I nodded.

"You too," she smiled, the corners of her thickly-lined eyes crinkling.

"That's Ben; he plays lead," Jason pointed to a guy who was tuning his guitar. He smiled up at me, but didn't say anything. "And that's Jay, the drummer," he said motioning to a blonde guy who was wearing a beanie.