Pricked

Chapter 12: Keep Getting Better, Okay?

A/N: Whelp, her it is guys. Sorry for the technical problems. Enjoy!

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Chapter 12: Keep Getting Better, Okay?

“So, On the way back we’re going to have to listen to Taylor Swift. You might not like her, but you’re gonna have to get used to it because she’s ‘the thing’ as far as Veronica and Cloe are concerned,” Rachel told me as she switched the track and we pulled out of the parking lot. “You do know who Taylor Swift is, right?”

“Yeah,” I nodded. “Phew! For a second there I totally thought you were going to say no- I would have felt so sorry for ever suggesting you be in a band with those two.”

“What makes you think you’ll still want me?”

“Huh, what do you mean?”

“You haven’t even heard me play yet.”

“Please, you’ll be great.”

“You say that now,” I mumbled.

“Yeah, I do. And I’ll say the same thing later tonight.” I sighed and looked out the window- I really wasn’t trying to undermine my abilities, but I hadn’t played in forever. “We’re here!” Rachel exclaimed pulling up behind the silver car that the other girls were driving. Victoria’s house looked like a little cottage house; it was adorable. The white paint accented by the brown boards crisscrossing the front. It even had a little garden with white roses in the front.

“Isn’t her house just precious?” Rachel asked.

“It’s adorable!” Sammy exclaimed.

“Veronica’s mom is really into gardening and being eco-friendly. It’s pretty chill.”

Cleo and Veronica led us around the side and through a wooden door that was already open. I could see the pristine kitchen as we stepped inside and Cleo opened another door underneath the stairs. “The basement’s down here,” she told me as she gestured towards the stairs.

“Are we underneath the ground now?” Lily asked.

“Sort of,” Veronica replied. “Since my house is on a hill it kindof is, but the garage that’s apart of it has windows. Half of the cement floor was padded with a large rug that had drums and amps situated on and around it. “So, what do you think Katherine?”

“It’s pretty cool,” I admitted. The record labels and posters plastered to the walls certainly gave it some character and the red couch looked especially comfy.

“So then, let’s get started,” Rachel said as she snapped open the case to a red electric.

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“So, what did you think?” Cleo asked me as she shut the side door behind her, “Do you still want to be in our band?”

“You mean, you still want me?”

She laughed, “Of course we still want you! We wouldn’t have kept you here so long if we didn’t. I mean, you’re not exactly the best player I’ve ever heard, but you’ll do- you can get the job done, and that’s all that matters.” She unlocked the car with a quick press of the key that lay in her hand.It was dark, a little after 9 o’clock, and everyone else had gone home. Cleo was going to bring her back to where the Silvers lived, before bringing Victoria’s car back. Apparently Cleo was staying with Victoria’s family for a little while her family was out of town.

“So, what do you think of everything?” Cleo asked a little timidly as we hit the road.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, we don’t really accept new people around here- at least not very often. We kind of just stick to the groups that we formed when we first met, so it’s neat that you got let in. I’m just kinda wondering what it’s like for you. Do you enjoy it or, I don’t know, just what do you think?”

“It’s better than anything I’ve ever had.”

“You mean that?” she looked at me hopefully. I didn’t understand why it meant so much to her whether or not I liked her friends, but she acted as if it meant the world to her.

“Yeah.” And I did mean it; I’d never known anything like the friendships I’d found with them.

She smiled gleefully. “Well, I’m glad to hear it. You should really talk more often you know- I think it’s unhealthy to not talk to people or something. It’s probably a disease.”

I did a sort of double take ‘A disease? Really?’ and shook my head- these girls were crazy. Veronica and Cleo were practically sisters, but Veronica was definitely the smarter of the two.

“Welp, here you are,” Cleo said as she pulled to a stop. I opened my door and hopped out onto the Silvers’ driveway. “Hey Rina?”

“Hmm?” I turned back.

“Just… keep getting better, okay?” I nodded, my guitar playing would get better in time- just needed to practice.

“I don’t mean with the guitar Rina.” I cocked my head, then what did she mean? “And don’t forget those bags in the back, it was hard one to get you to buy that much.” I smiled, barely containing the bubble of a laugh that threatened to escape my mouth. Taking the numerous bags I walked back around the car and up to the front door, which swung open before I could even knock.

“Did you have fun? Ohh, what did you get!” Mary’s excited gaze was practically jumping as she ushered me inside, waving at Cleo, still in the car behind me. And my life was good. And she loved me I think- Mary, that is. She was kind to me and wanted me to live. She was like my mom, I caught myself thinking as she tore open the bags to get at what was inside, except happier. She was filled with energy and exuberance. Maybe my mom once had that in herself as well, but that was probably before I was born.

Paul was in the kitchen reading more of the paper with a cup of what smelled like coffee in his hand. He was slumped over in his chair and when his droopy eyes swung over to me I saw a hint of blame in them.

“She wouldn’t let me sleep until you were home,” he explained. I raised my eyebrows in surprise. He let the paper fall onto the table and hauled himself up. “Don’t wake me up- I’m sleeping in tomorrow.”

I glanced over at the clock- it was almost ten. No wonder Paul was tired, he was usually in by 8:30 or 9. “Oh sweetheart, look at this!” Mary bumbled as she stepped out of the living room holding up a white blouse that I had purchased. “Isn’t it just darling!” Paul grunted, pushing past her to go up the stairs to their bedroom. “Well that was rude. Don’t mind him darling, he’s just a little cranky- didn’t get to bed early enough I suppose.”

“Well, come on, what’s your favorite thing that you got?”

“I-uh, I don’t know,” I replied honestly.

“Really? Well, are you going to model everything for us?”

“Model?”

“Ya, you know, show us what everything looks like on.”

“I guess?”

She clapped her hands together gleefully. “Wonderful! I’ll help you carry it up to your room and you can show us everything tomorrow, alright?”

“Okay,” I replied, not totally understanding the whole ‘modeling’ thing, but willing to go with what Mary wanted as long as it meant I could follow in Paul’s footsteps and go to sleep in my bed.

Once settled in my bed my mind wandered back through the day’s events. I found myself lingering on what Janae had said about Derek’s group. Were they involved in drugs? Was Derek involved? What was there interest in Dee? I just didn’t understand, but I wanted to. I thought of Derek, his dark brown hair and how it would fall into his eyes when he leaned forward, his eyes and how the rich honey tones could seem so endless. He was so nice to me, with his sly smile and nickname. I blushed slightly, pulling the covers further around me- why was I even thinking about this, it was stupid. But I needed to ask him... for Janae’s sake, about Dee and just what kind of deals he was involved with.