The Scars She Left Behind

Chapter Three

"Which one do you like more?" Summer says holding up two dresses. One was a short black dress with spaghetti straps while the other was a dark blue strapless that was a little bit longer. I certainly liked the black one, but I decided to mess with her a little.

"How about you go in nothing." I smirk and she throws the dresses at me rolling her eyes.

"You're no help." She groans taking back the dresses and smoothing them over.

"I'm kidding! The black one, definitely." I smile up at her from my position on her bed. She smiles at the black dress in her hands and puts the other one back before turning back to me.

"Do you mind?" She says to me. I mentally roll my eyes at her for still being shy about changing in front of me even though we have seen every last bit of each other.

"No, I don't." I smile up, making her roll her eyes at me. "I've seen you naked." I point out. She exaggerates a sigh before smiling sweetly in a begging way.

"Please." She gives me her famous pout, making me instantly give in to her request.

"Fine." I say placing my hands over my eyes. "Now I can't watch you undress." I laugh jokingly.

"Thank you, and no peaking." I simply nod at her and continue to peak through my fingers anyway.

Suddenly she throws her shirt at my head before gasping. I guess I've been caught.

"Really, Bry?" She tries to be stern but fails miserably by laughing.

"I'm sorry that I couldn't resist looking at my beautifully naked girlfriend." I put my hands up after moving the shirt from my vision.

She pushes me back on her bed and yells at me, but all I could focus on was her stood over me in just her underwear. She notices me staring at her chest and hits me over the head playfully.

"You're such a boy." She groans, but still smiling, slipping her dress on.

"Your boy." I grin up at her innocently.

"You're lucky I love you." She says fixing her hair, peering over her shoulder to smile at me.

---

The boys had arrived at my house for band practice. We were playing at tomorrow's high school party that was hosted at, of course, Jaden's house. We often played for the parties and we got a lot of hype for it at school. Music is my only form of escape from the terrible reality that is my life.

My parents let us use the garage for practice, we kept everyone's instruments in there unless someone takes theirs home to practice on their own. Writing songs however was more of a group effort.

We mostly covered songs, we did try and write a few songs but we're still working them out. I sometimes write songs but I don't count them as any good, it's more like shifty poetry to me which is just cringe.

I plug my guitar into the amp and strum a few times to make sure it's still turned and ready to go. Ash then tunes his bass and Ryland plugs his guitar while humming a song. Reese sits down at the drums tossing his stick in hand a few times.

I play lead guitar. Ryland is on vocals and only plays half the time because he gets way too into the songs. I used to sing a little for the band but I haven't recently besides backup vocals here and there with Ash.

"Everyone ready?" Ash pipes up after a minute. Everyone says a yes before Reese starts counting down for the first song of our practice set.

All thoughts escape my mind after I strum the first chord. My skills have heightened over the last few years due to it being the only thing that gets me by.

Reese starts working up the beat leading into the guitar solo. I start after he hits the symbol, fully letting myself go to the music. All too soon it ends but it leaves me feeling lighter than before. I smile as we finish up the song, looking forward to the next.

We play two more songs, going back over the parts we still needed to smooth over.

After practice, we all migrate back to my room. Practice takes a lot of energy from us all, so we normally chill in my room and play video games to wind down.

"Oh, my fuck — what are you doing?! Bro!" Ash screams at Reese as he kills his player. "That is so not fair." He slams his controller down on my bed. Everyone laughs at his expense, he was such a sore loser.

"Maybe you just suck at the game." Reese teases back after he gets his laughter under control. Ash was not happy with his response and lunges across the bed, tackling him to the ground.

It wasn't out of the unusual for those two to be going at it on my bedroom floor. They often got into playful disputes with one another.

"Oh, get a room you two!" Ryland yells. I look down to find them on the ground hugging it out after their argument. Reese sticks his middle finger up as they both get back on their feet.

We've been together since middle school. We had formed the band the summer before our freshman year and ever since, nothing could separate us. Music bonded us closer together in so many ways.

"You're just jealous." Ash sticks his tongue out.

"You guys are children." I give into the conversation, all three turn to give me a look as if I was stupid.

"But you wouldn't trade us in." Reese points out smugly. I know he's right, but I try to play it off like it wouldn't matter.

"Nah, you guys need me." I say back earning some glares. One by one they come at me, pushing me back on my bed.

"We need each other." Someone corrects me somewhere in the pile.

I push with all my strength, trying to break free. Sometimes these boys were a lot to handle, but Reese was right. I wouldn't trade them in for anyone else.

♡