Reckless Serenade

seven | quinn

vii. in which quinn stevens discovers some surprising news

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"SO," JARED STIRRED another sugar cube into his green tea, propping his chin atop his knuckles as he leaned forward. "Let me get this straight."

"Shoot." I stared blankly at my own tea, watching the smoke rise and disappear from the heat, suddenly wishing I had another cigarette.

"Your erratic behavior, stubborn attitude, and overall recklessness got you kicked out of your own band?" He made quotation marks around each checkpoint of Tanya's list, furrowing his bushy eyebrows.

I heaved a sigh and mimicked her voice, "You're not out of the band, it's just we thought, maybe you just need some time."

"So you're definitely not out of Call Me Rebel?"

"Well, apparently not but-"

"So what's the problem?" I gawked for about a minute before his words finally sunk into my exhausted brain.

"Are you serious?" I asked in accusatory voice, pointing a finger at my mentor. "What's the problem?"

"Did I fucking stutter?" he replied back calmly, the curse floating off his tongue like a fragile leaf. My colorful language originated from this man, and I knew he would beat me if we fought and explosive words were thrown at each other. Unlike what my parents thought, Jared assumed it was perfectly healthy to curse every now and then - it was like instinct.

Not minding when others cursed at me, I always felt like recoiling whenever Jared did. It felt like a shot fired when the curse was targeted at me. Shrinking back, I rubbed the back of my head in irritation.

"What do you mean?" It was hard to control my frustration at the moment. He usually just understood. He wasn't like the others. But right now Jared acted more like my actual father would.

"You're still in the band," Jared raised a hand to stop me from interrupting. "The expulsion is only temporary, love. You'll be back eventually. What if this is for the best?"

"You sound just like Tanya." I spat at him.

"And what if Tanya has a point?"

I abruptly slammed a tense fist down on the table, causing the woodwork to rattle and the liquid in our mugs to splash out of their containers. Tea grazed my fist, burning it though I didn't pay attention.

Jared didn't even flinch, keeping his calm gaze level with my angry one. The man reached forward and scooped up my fist, unfurling it and massaging the tension. Red dots danced angrily around the impacted area, and soon the initial numbness was replaced with a dull soreness.

"What best is everyone hoping for?" I croaked out as a stray lock of hair unhinged itself from behind my ear and fell into my face. I made no move to push it aside, seeing through the thick curtain as they hid my expression from Jared. All signs of anger had left my system and soon I just felt deflated and tired.

Jared took his free hand and brushed away the hair, revealing the broken look in my eyes. Swallowing, I turned away so he couldn't intrepet any more of my hidden emotions.

"I know you're angry."

"Understatement of the century."

"But we just want what's best for you."

"That's what they said." I muttered bitterly. Though Jared was getting older, he sure as hell wasn't getting any deafer. The man immediately knew who I was referring to and simply sighed.