Family Ties. (A The Strokes Love story)

Chapter 30

Albert's PoV

"You okay?" Nikolai asked, his eyes shifting over to me. I looked warily ahead to see June and Julian holding hands.

It didn't even hurt to see her with Julian; I was happy that she was happy. I just felt so guilty about doing that to her.

June was my first love, and possibly my only. I could just never imagine loving anyone else as much as I loved June. And I broke up with her.

"Man, I feel like a dick." I confessed, sighing. Nikolai offered a slight pat on my shoulder in comfort.

"Well, you're not, for the most part. Although it was a dick move, June is clearly happy to be back with Julian. And everything seems to be back to normal." Nikolai answered, looking forward.

He had a point.

"But mom and Ste-..I mean, her mom and Julian's uncle who is also June's stepdad don't know."

Nikolai scratched his nose awkwardly as we passed two girls who winked at us.

"Well, Julian and June aren't related through blood. They are through marriage...but still, everyone's gonna know she married her 'cousin.'" He noted.

That was also very true. June's mom at this point, still thought that June and I were together. She basically forbade any kind of relationship between her and Julian, so their relationship was a secret.

She would have to fess up eventually, and that's what I was going to explain to her later on after the concert.

"Yeah." I replied, my thoughts taking over. We turned a corner, and down the block was a huge stage near the ocean. Several people around our age were there, some smoking, some drinking, girls balancing on top of guy's shoulders, some groups of friends sprawled on towels and blankets.

Very Woodstock-ish.

June squealed, and jumped into Julian's arms. I smiled faintly at them.

The stage had makeshift curtains that were blowing crazily in the wind, failing to hide the band that was setting up.

"Hey! Over here!" Nick beckoned, waving his hand over to us.

Nikolai jumped ahead, and I followed close behind him. There were tons and TONS AND TONS of people there. I couldn't walk five steps without tripping over someone, or kicking someone or bumping into someone. I finally made it to the spot that June and Julian saved for all of us in one piece.

Julian sat with Nick, talking and joking with each other. I didn't realize how little Julian and Nick talked anymore, more than likely because of this huge thing that happened recently. They just didn't have time to talk.

They were best friends, and it finally started to seem like they were rekindling again.

And as I thought more, I silently got jealous that both Julian and Nick were able to maintain their friendship and their own relationships simultaneously.

"Albert, why are you just standing there?" Fab asked loudly, causing everyone in our group to look at me.

What killed me was that June looked the most concerned for me. Then, she smiled and patted the empty spot next to her.

I sat next to her, and I almost could literally feel the awkward barrier between us. Julian was laughing and joking with Nick.

"Hey, Albie," she greeted. She sounded happy, and even looked the part, but I could tell something was wrong.

"Hey, Ju Ju." I replied, the nickname not rolling off my tongue as easily as it used to. It kind of bothered me.

"Ready to rock?" She asked, her question accompanied with a small laugh.

She was so fucking cute.

I half-smiled at her, and nodded.

For a second, I saw that same glimmer in her eyes. The last time I saw that glimmer was when we were together. She would look me in the eyes and stroke my cheek, or run her fingers through my hair.

But to think that there was someone else who her love really belonged to would always haunt me in the back of my mind.

"Ever been down here, June?"

"No, this is my first time, but I love it here so much." She gushed.

I watched as she fixed her ponytail. She began to say something else to me, when Julian squeezed her wrist gently. He looked up at her, and she smiled at him, running her finger under his chin.

I had to look away, and I felt Nikolai nudge me with his elbow lightly.

When I looked at him, he grinned  sympathetically towards me.

"Just relax, man. We're gonna stand up, and the band's gonna play, and we're gonna party." Niko encouraged, his voice full of optimism, yet somewhat quiet.

"Yeah, you're right." I said, grinning. Fab punched my shoulder playfully.

"We've got your back, Albert." Nikolai said with a nod.

Fab then jumped onto my back, laughing and burying his head in my shoulder.

"We love you Albie!" He said loudly.

The curtains blew off the stage suddenly, causing the cheap fabric to fly over the audience wildly. A lot of people screamed and ran, and when one curtain came towards us, June and Fab screamed, Nick got sand in his eyes and mouth, and Lad, Nikolai and I jumped out of the way.

"Shit." The lead singer of the band on stage cursed into the microphone. Suddenly, the crowd's focus went from the flying curtains to the band. The crowd suddenly cheered.

"Hey. I've got just one question for y'all tonight."

"ARE. YOU. READY.."

"TO ROCK?!"

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

We walked back on the boardwalk, after the concert. Everyone was all riled up, with sore throats from screaming and loud singing.

Fab and Nova, his new girlfriend danced along the boardwalk as they sang a tipsy, higher pitched version of Smells Like Teen Spirit.

Nick, who was carrying Lad on his back laughed loudly and started singing along with them.

Julian was horsing around with Fab, mischievous grins on their faces.

June swung her arms by her sides, walking beside me.

"So when we get back to the hotel, I'll change and then stop by." She said, and by the tone of her voice, I could tell that was the reason she felt so uneasy.

"June. It's not anything too bad." I told her, giving her a playful shove. She shoved me back lightly.

She smiled, and wrapped her arm around my torso.

I slung my arm over her shoulder, and walked with her like that the whole way back to the hotel.