It's A Black Line Not A Slack Line

CHAPTER #17

[Jesse's POV]

We had been looking for prom dresses the whole day and now Alexis and I were running late for a party of a friend of Bryan. Actually, we were late to pick up Jeremy, when we'd arrive at the party didn't really matter. 

"Of course we had to go to H&M as well. I mean, sure we'll get a prom dress there." I accused the girl who was putting on lipstick while we were driving through the town. 

She shot a look over to me "I told you I needed a new pair of jeans as well. We'd be in time if you wouldn't have changed your outfit three times." 

The day had been rather shit. Prom was next week and we didn't find a dress today, just two more "options" as Alexis called them. In total there were five dresses she liked, but god was she indecisive and now we were both annoyed as hell. At least my finals were over and graduation would be soon as well. I pulled up in front of Jeremy's house, who was already waiting outside and got in the backseat. 

"How you doing?" He asked as he sat down and I took the opportunity to talk with him about all the things I could think of which Alexis finds boring. "Dude, did you know that it usually takes four weeks for a song..." I began and saw her rolling her eyes and getting her phone out. She hated facts about the music industry.

During the evening, I lost her in the crowd and started to chat with Zach and some girls I didn't know. Pulling the "I'm in a band" card works 85% of the time usually, but this one girl seemed really uninterested and was about to go somewhere else, when I carefully tapped her shoulder. 

"What?" The nameless one asked and I didn't take my hand off her.

"You look so tense. Aren't parties supposed to be a good time?" 

She shrugged her shoulders "I don't know, my friend dragged me here. I'm Candice by the way." 

With a smile I replied "Nice to meet you, I'm Jesse. Do you want to grab a drink maybe?" 

Candice was rather curvy and had a nice bum which I studied as I walked behind her into the kitchen to grab something. I was just playing a bit around, right? We both did a shot of something I didn't know and then took a red solo cup filled with beer each. 

"So why don't you like parties?" 

We were upstairs and leaned over the handrail, watching people playing games in the living room. Candice thought about it for a moment and tugged a strain of her hair behind the ear. "Because there are always these guys who think playing in a band is the shit and trying to get you drunk." 

I chuckled and almost not noticeable got a bit closer to her. "Being in a band kinda is the shit." 

She grinned at me and my eyes could make out Alexis downstairs, who was just walking inside again, talking to Bryan. I took a gulp of my beer and thought that she's such a pleasure to look at, no one could ignore her. It was a blessing and a curse because I caught at least five guys starring at her as well. 

"Jesse?" The voice of the girl besides me cut through my thoughts. I guessed she had said something, but just I noticed that the strain of hair was in her face again. Slowly, I reached out for it and tugged it away again. 

"I didn't know people like you go to parties." 

"People like me?" I questioned and stroke over her arm with the back of my hand before placing it on top of hers. 

"People who look like douche bags but are actually adorable." 

I wanted to reply something, but then I heard two voices coming upstairs and looked to the right, where Alex just got around the corner. I put the cup on the handrail and Candice and I faced her. My girlfriend didn't say anything – barely looked at me – and walked down the hall. The drummer followed and asked if we'd want to join the usual squad, before following the girl.