Words. {Day6}

4.

"Wow I'll be damned!" Wonpil managed as Lacey walked in carrying Jae's acoustic guitar with both hands. She smiled awkwardly at the guys who filled the backstage area.

Brian rushed in saying, "Jae why'd you make her carry this? What if she dropped it?" He took the guitar from her swiftly, giving her a warm smile.

"Then I'd say, 'LACEY WHAT THE HELL! I'm telling mom and dad.'" Replied Jae matter- of- factually.

Lacey chuckled, "and I'd say, 'I thought you were my big brother, pussy.'"

All the guys made various sound effects as Jae clutched his shirt and fell to his knees dramatically. "Struck down by an infant. God it hurts me! What did I do to deserve this hatred!? Lord have mercy!"

"She's scary." Dowoon murmured as he shuffled past, twirling his drumsticks.

Jae rolled his eyes as he tuned his guitar, "She's not usually so fire and ice..."

Lacey frowned as she sat on the floor in the corner. "I'm right here you know."

"I'm aware, but you're being a bitch so we would rather talk about you than to you." Jae said sweetly as he blew his sister a kiss.

Wonpil laughed as he hugged himself, "what a loving family environment."

Brian stayed quiet as he tuned his bass. He glanced at Lacey many times, occasionally looking at the black book she stared at so intensely. Catching his gaze, Jae whispered, "told you she's not all that."

Seeing Lacey look up momentarily, Brian elbowed Jae's arm aggressively whispering back, "you're not giving her much of a chance to even be herself."

"What do you mean 'not be herself'? You've been hearing her speak haven't you?" Jae replied.

Brian frowned, "I think she's just trying to keep face."

Jae shrugged, "this is how we always are so." He wandered off suddenly, leaving Brian standing by himself.

"Not sure that's a good thing..." he muttered. He had this feeling that she wasn't really 'herself' today. That something was off. He just didn't feel like Lacey's personality truly came equipped with such unforgiving thorns.

Sungjin entered the room then and began to speak, upon seeing Lacey he stopped, came over, and ruffled the girl's hair playfully. "Hey kiddo, long time no see."

Lacey smiled, a very real smile. "Yeah, long time." Rubbing the back of her neck shyly she murmured, "don't mess up!" And gave the older boy a forced smile.

In a playful gesture Sungjin slowly fake punched Lacey's jaw, "never. Someone has to be better than your brother. If not his head might over inflate and explode."

Lacey shrugged, "might be too late."

Sungjin glanced over at Jae as he and Wonpil were apparently having a very hilarious conversation. "Nah, it's never too late." With that he left. Sungjin and Jae went way back. They may not've been the closest of friends all the time, but Sungjin had always been around. He felt kind of like that random uncle you forget exists- but does indeed exist, to Lacey. He was a weirdly comforting figure to see in a crowd. It made her feel a bit more at ease after her visit with Duchess about twenty minute prior. Lacey felt bad about the impression she'd been giving off all night... but if she was honest she couldn't handle Jae's teasing. They'd always had very offensive senses of humor and typically it didn't bother her. But she felt like she was at an all time low and the only way to hide all the pain was to shield herself off completely. Seeing that the five boys were nearly ready to play their set, Lacey made her way out into the bar and found a table near the front of the stage. It was a booth off to the side already equipped with mozzarella sticks and a coke. She assumed the table was taken until she saw a paper with her name on it in big gold sharpie marker.

Lacey approached the table slowly and sat down on one of the comfy booth seats. She looked at the paper folded on the table and examined it.

LACEY
I promised I would save you a seat, luckily our shows never sell out so I could save you a good one! :) -BRIAN

Lacey smiled to herself as she tucked the paper under the napkin dispenser on the table. She genuinely wondered how this Brian guy had come to be interested in her, no matter what type of interest it was. It's not like she was ever around her brother and his weird nerdy band friends.

The lights dimmed in the audience and brightened on stage. Through the whole show she couldn't help but be more jealous of her brother than ever. Not only was he really living his dream, but he was so happy while doing it. She wiped the tear falling down her cheek.