Call it Fate, Call it Karma

Break Time

The start of rehearsal went not-so-smoothly. All the guys were sat in a circle on the floor in the living room, taking a break after running through a few songs. Ryan came in 15 minutes late, but made up for it by bringing coffee. He thought I wasn't coming though, so he only got 6 cups. Once he'd noticed my presence, he started freaking out and apologising rapidly. It was quite hilarious. He tried to forcefully offer me his cup after I had already refused it several times, so I told him to calm the fuck down, sit down and shut up. I even told him I hated coffee to make him feel less bad. Albert snickered at my lie so I had to elbow him in the ribs to prevent my cover from being blown...and that ended up turning into some sort of pathetic wrestling match, in which everyone joined in to create a dogpile of immaturity and fun. Julian mumbled profanities to himself in the corner as all of this went down.

"Lighten up, Jules!" I said to him with a shake of my head once I'd managed to escape from underneath Albert.

"Break time is over. We're never gonna get work through the setlist if you guys keep fucking around like this." he said through gritted teeth, then turning to me with dark eyes. Not the sexy kind...the kind that could send chills down your spine if you weren't used to his broodiness. "Jade, please be serious about this."

"I knew this would happen. I don't know why I bothered coming." I sighed, standing up off the floor with pursed lips. "Not to sound passive aggressive or anything, but I'm gonna head home so you guys can get shit done. Sorry, Julian."

"What, no!" Fab yelped as he grabbed my wrist and pulled me back down.

Nick came back from the kitchen with a beer in hand and raised a brow. "Jade, don't leave just because Julian's being a dick."

Julian looked up at Nick and snarled in his usual moody way. Nick chuckled and threw a cigarette at him before flopping onto the couch over Albert's lap.

"Guys, it's okay." I shook Fab's hand off my wrist with a slightly forced laugh. "I'll just go for a walk or something."

"Man, you're an asshole." said Nikolai in his usual hushed tone as he leaned closer to Julian.

"Say something, Jules!" Fab exclaimed. "She's gonna leave!" He leaned over to tug on Julian's shirt, but Julian only shook him off with a roll of his eyes.

"Chill, guys! I appreciate the concern, but I see where Julian's coming from. Look, I won't leave...I'll just, uhh," I scanned the area and nodded. "...I'll just hang out in one of your bedrooms...yeah." I hastily walked over to the door of Fab and Nikolai's room with everyones eyes following me, and I disappeared inside without saying another word. Needless to say, I probably made it seem more dramatic than it actually was, because Fab was sitting on the edge of the bed beside me within 2 minutes of it happening, trying to hug me and repeatedly asking me if I was okay.

"Fab, I'm fine. I swear." I reassured him with a soft smile. "You warned me it'd be a serious rehearsal and I was being stupid. Tell everyone not to be mad at Jules."

"I don't like seeing you excluded like this."

"Fab...for the last time," I said, grabbing his shoulders and gently shaking him. "I. Am. Okay."

"Are you sure?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Are you sure you don't wanna get back out there and work before I kick your ass?" I mocked him, giggling.

"Alright, alright! I'll go!" he laughed, then hugging me one more time before he finally backed off to the door. "Theres a stack of records in the closet. Go nuts."

I gave him a two finger salute with a goofy smile. "Will do!"

Once the door closed, I fell onto the bed with a sigh. It was weird being alone in a room when all my friends were only in the next room and I couldn't really go hang with them. I thought to myself that I probably needed more friends...possibly some female friends. I could vent to them about how frustrating guys can be sometimes, and they'd agree. Then we'd make ourselves all pretty and go clubbing or some shit.

I shook my head as I laughed to myself, walking over to the stack of records. I flipped through them with a blank stare until I let out a frustrated groan and lay on the floor. I was bored as hell and wanted nothing more than go and goof off with the guys, but I knew I couldn't. Why did I even bother to come?!

With a frown, a jumped up and left the bedroom, where I entered the living room and didn't bother to say anything until someone asked.

"What's up, Jade?" asked Albert, resting his guitar on his lap.

"I'm going home." I said bluntly, walking over to the front door. "I'll see you guys later."

Before opening the door, I turned around and locked eyes with Julian. He did nothing but quickly revert his glare to a notepad. I wanted him to say something so bad...but he didn't. I blocked out everyone else's voices as they begged for me to stay. I was just focusing on Julian, thinking to myself, 'Come on, say something...anything?' but he continued writing things down on his notepad. It was like I didn't exist. I huffed and stormed out the door, accidentally slamming it a little too hard. Great...now they'll think I'm mad at them all.

My new plans for the evening were to see if Adam was free. He was my only other friend in the whole of New York, after all.