Beneath The Surface

Chapter 21

Jamie

That's how it started.

We have a band meeting or practice pretty much everyday, but it's mostly us just screwing around.

Jaydon's pretty cool. He loves comics and nerdy shit, too. He's not as emo as the rest of us, though and I can't help but think we may drag him down.

Derrick is still a big question mark for me. It's been about a week and a half since I joined the band and I still know nothing about him, but I guess it's because he's the oldest. He doesn't talk much and seems like more of the silent and brooding macho guy, though I know he must be so closed off for a reason.

"Hey, Jamie," Mason calls as I step up to Adrien's driveway on this warm Friday afternoon.

Adrien stayed home from school today because Micheal's been pissing him off a lot lately. He didn't want to get into a fight with that dumbass and I can't exactly blame him. Another fight and he'll be in some serious trouble. He just has such a terrible temper.

I walk up to my cousin and we do our secret handshake as always.

Mason's been my friend since we were little. Richie's his uncle, as well as mine, and he and his wife adopted Mason when his parents passed. When my mom died, he offered me the job at his store to keep me busy and keep my mind off her.

"What's up?" I ask while fist-bumping him.

"Not much," he says, a cigarette hanging out of his mouth.

"Where'd you get that?" I ask, motioning towards it.

"Oh, Derrick brought a pack." He takes the pack out of his pocket and waves it in front of me.

"Want one?" he asks.

"Can't really sing if I'm smoking."

"Right," he slides it back into his jeans.

We walk inside and Adrien's standing by the door to greet me.

"Hey, cutie," I blush as he kisses me.

"Hey."

We walk into the garage, hand in hand. His free hand reaches up and places a lit cigarette to his lips.

"Ugh, what's with you people and smoking?" I ask, slightly irritated.

He rolls his eyes as I take his cigarette in my two fingers. I place it between my teeth and look up at him.

"God, you're so sexy when you do that."

He wraps his hand around my waist and takes the cigarette from me with his free hand and pulls me closer to him. I stand on my tiptoes and plant a kiss on his lips.

He kisses me back and Jaydon complains from his drum stool. I smile against Adrien's lips and pull away, popping a strip of spearmint gum in my mouth.

He snuffs out the cigarette in an ash tray, taking the hint.

I smile to myself, grateful that he notices the hints when I make them.

I go sit at the piano and start pressing a few keys as the rest of the guys slowly join in. Adrien sits beside me on the bench and strums his guitar rhythmically and I begin singing.

I honestly love this so much. I feel more at home doing this than anything else. Not to mention we sound great.

"And I'm so sorry,
But not really,"

"So sassy," Adrien says quietly, making me giggle.

"Tell the boys where to find my body,
New York eyes, Chicago thighs..."