Hex

Chapter 8

"Damn it, Vienna!" Finn groaned, dropping his guitar and letting the straps catch it. He spun in a circle, trying not to lose all of his shit at me.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," I said softly. This was my third mess up on the lyrics of Creep by Radiohead. We were working on some covers, this song being one of them, but I just couldn't focus today.

     It was really early in the morning, and I kept messing up the verses. I could already tell this was going to be an off day.

"Sorry isn't going to fucking cut it. We've been practicing for almost half an hour and haven't made it through the full song once. The fuck's wrong with you?" Finn yelled. The other band members stayed silent, as he accosted me.

"Finn, chill," Bishop said, stepping closer to him. He put his hand on the other boy's chest, as a warning.

"No, no, it's my fault. Um, one more time, I can do it this time."

"Oh can you? What makes this time different than the twenty times before?" He said sarcastically, before turning from me to look at the rest of the group. "Can't we replace this bitch yet?"

"Finn, come on, man," Zane said. "Don't fall apart on us now."

"All of you are siding with her? Really? Even you, Danny?" He asked, whirling to Danny, who was seated at the counter. He blinked his wide eyes and said nothing, face pale white. "Fucking ridiculous. She's been here what, a month? Yeah, nah, I'm out." He stormed out of the apartment, slamming the door behind him, like an irrational teenager.

"I'm sorry, guys. I'm just distracted, I guess. Didn't know he would blow up like that." My cheeks flushed, and I stared at the ground, tucking my long brown hair behind my ears.

"It's not your fault. Everyone has bad days," Bishop said earnestly.

"What's his problem now?" Danny asked, spinning in a circle on the bar stool.

"I think it's Valeria," Zane answered. "She went out with that new bartender from Finnegan's last night."

I groaned exaggeratedly. "You're kidding me. He can't care if she goes out with someone else if he's too much of a weeny to ask her out!"

"Tell that to him," Danny scoffed.

"No, wait, don't. I like your pretty face just the way it is," Zane winked.

I rolled my eyes. "But for real, I don't want him to be mad at me or leave the band." I pouted, looking around at the boys for some assistance.

"He'll get over it," Danny said, brushing it off.

"Unless....." A thought dawned on me, and man, was it good.

"Uh oh, I don't think I like the sound of that," Bishop said.

"I think I have a plan!" I singsonged, prancing around the room.

"I definitely don't like the sound of that," he scoffed.

"Just go along with it!" I sang, grabbing Bishop's hand and dragging him out of the apartment, grabbing my jacket and purse on the way out.

     "You sure this is going to work?" Zane asked, surveying my handiwork in front of us.

     "Nope. But it's worth a shot."

     Bishop, Zane, Danny, and I stood in the kitchen. In the dining room, we had set the kitchen table, complete with a tablecloth, candles, and a vase of roses. The lights were dimmed, and smooth jazz mood music played in the background, inspired by the Hope House.