I never could have done this without my support of my beta and wifey, Arenee363, and my super-fuck-awesome beta, wisdomous. Leannelrh, there's a good chance I'd never have even opened Word to start this without you.
I have to dedicate my first chapter to my loves that support me in our pervtastic WC's almost every night. You ladies are the cake to my inner fat kid.
I do not own Twilight or any of the yummy (and slightly annoying) characters in said book. They all belong to that Meyer chick. Also, there is quite a bit of potty mouth in all of my chapters. Sorry if it bothers you.
I shall see you below!
But I do own a pink iPod, an obscene amount of movies, and lots of cupcake supplies.
BPOV
June –3 Years Ago
"FUCK!!"
We were going to be late for 3rd Strike's biggest show yet, all because I couldn't find my damn shoe. Just one little fucking shoe. That damn dog better not have run off with my heel again.
"Alice, find that dog and see if he has my other heel please!" I yelled to Alice as she paced back an forth from my room to the living room and back again, I'd be surprised if she wasn't wearing a trail in my parent's ugly blue carpet. She hated being late, especially to a show. God forbid Tripp should play one song without Alice there drooling at him from across the room.
3rd Strike was a band that a few boys in our class started when we were all freshmen, and now that we were seniors, they had a pretty good following around town. Tripp is the rhythm guitarist and is currently Alice's soul-mate; she has a new one every month. It was a damn shame Tripp seemed oblivious to the whole thing. He was nice to us long before we started to go to every show, and only grew more and more excited to see us as the years went by. Of course, count on me to be difficult and fall for the wannabe badass lead singer, Lucas. There had never been a better way to describe him than 'whore'. Did that ever stop me from wanting to jump his bones? Fuck no.
The rest of the band went through quite a few changes before Garrett, Emmett, and Charles secured their places as the drummer, the lead guitarist and back up singer, and the bass player. After Alice and I accepted these new additions we never missed a show. We even went all the way to Nashville with them over spring break one year.
I was far too busy reminiscing about the past four years to notice the shoe flying towards my head. Damn that bitch had good aim.
"Thanks a lot, whore!" I yelled. All I got in response was a cackle.
I slipped on my heel and walked out to stand in front of the full length mirror with Alice. We had on our 'Ass. Required' band shirts that Alice ripped up, tied, safety pinned, and God knows what else. The boys really got a laugh out of these shirts. 'Assembly Required' was the name of their first E.P. Emmett had laughed until he cried when he discovered you could abbreviate 'assembly' to 'ass.' It didn't take much with that group.
"Damn, Tripp is going to lose his shit when he sees us in these shirts! We make this band look good." Alice beamed back at me in the mirror.
"We're not in the band, sugar-tits. But I know what you mean." I smirked back at her.
Fifteen minutes later we were strutting into the bar where our boys were playing. Yeah, we strut, wanna fight about it? Because when we channeled our badass sides…it was over.
The bar was once described as having a mafia/vampire motif; it was one of our favorite places to visit. The walls were covered with crimson velvet hangings; gothic inspired wall lamps cast off dim light over the black tabletops and black leather booths. They used to exclusively book jazz bands until they found the huge following that rock backs had. Because of the high-end nature of their food and clientele, it was the most sought after venue in town. Bands usually only played here three or four times before they were picked up by even bigger venues out of town.
The band was in the middle of their sound check when we rounded the corner and they stopped to tackle us with bear hugs the moment they saw us. It really is one of the best feelings in the world to realize you are so loved by fools like these; you really can't help but to feel a little cocky about it. That was why we could be badass when we went out. No one wants to fuck with the band's chicks. We took full advantage.
"Good to see you too, loves. Damn, put me down before you mess up my outfit!" Alice squealed and giggled as she playfully hit Tripp while he spun her around.
"Speaking of outfits, you guys look like shit." I said with the sweetest smile I could muster.
"Let us dress you guys!! Oh please let us dress you just one time!" Alice was practically on her knees begging.
"Fuck. No. Alice. We will not be made to look like bunches of wusses by letting a couple of chicks dress us. Now, come with me to get some drinks." Tripp winked and her and laughed as he held out his hand to her.
We all laughed as they walked away to "get drinks." We all knew they were going to flirt in front of everyone else; Tripp should never be allowed to lie, he's horrible at it.
"So what songs are you fine men gracing us with this evening?" I asked, as Lucas slipped his arm around my waist.
This boy was going to be the death of me. I never once doubted that. I was helpless against his man-whore ways. He was well aware of this fact and took advantage of it as often as possible.
"You'll just have to wait and see little one." Emmett joked as he picked me up and threw me over his shoulder.
"You're such a pig, let me down!!"
"No way hot shit, I like it when you wiggle against me like that."
My little fists were useless against his broad shoulders. Such a caveman. I was finally saved by Charles, who walked back into the room with a big ass bucket of beer. Not that we were legally old enough to drink here, but the owners really adored our little group and the boys brought in a lot of business. It was the least they could do.
I used to get so mad when they picked on me for being little, especially when Alice was a good five inches shorter than me! I guess it was something I grew to love because the one day they didn't pick on me, I thought they were mad at me.
Alice and I slid into the biggest booth the bar offered and were promptly smooshed by the guys squeezing in. I swear, if I didn't love these boys as much as I did, I'd try to beat them all up. 'Try' being the important word.
"So, what's up? When do we get to see the set list? You guys know how we hate your little surprises, like that time you broke out into…" As soon as Tripp saw no foreseeable end to Alice's questions he shut her up with a kiss on the lips. There is a good chance she died for a second before she attacked his face. Their public display of affection was received by loud catcalls and a round of applause by the rest of us. It was about damn time they stopped pussy-footing around each other. They crawled out of the booth for some privacy, and knowing Alice it would be in the least private place in the bar…like at the bar.
"Ok, but in all seriousness…what are you guys playing tonight? We really don't need a repeat performance of 'That's Why Mommy Left Us.'" I giggled slightly as I remembered the shocked faces of the crowd while Alice and I nearly pissed on ourselves laughing.
"Daddy buys whores and robs liquor stores! He touches little boys in the back of the bus…and that's why mommy left us!" The boys belted out the lyrics of the infamous song in unison while I flushed a deep crimson. I can't take these fools anywhere.
Garrett finally had mercy on me and slid me the set list. They were finally getting enough of a fan base to play a good deal of original songs mixed in with some of our favorite covers. They always made it a point to ask me what went over best with the crowd, since Alice was too busy dancing to notice, and they were too caught up in the excitement of playing for a crowd.
"No fuckin' way! You guys are not covering this song!" I bounced up and down in my seat as I pointed to a song on the set list; I loved it when they pulled songs out of left field to shake everyone up.
My lovely boys were primarily a rock group but they loved to learn random covers that no one would expect them to play. The first night Tripp broke out into 'Ride Wit Me' by Nelly, the crowd went nuts. We had to scare away quite a few over-anxious girls that night.
I was studying the set list so intently I didn't even realize when Lucas slipped his arm around my shoulder until he pulled me basically onto his lap.
"Umm, can I help you, darlin'?" I smiled down at Lucas as a slow deep burn started to crawl across my face.
Then he did that thing he does because he knows what it does to my lady bits. He brought his lips within centimeters of my ear as he spoke. I shivered at the closeness.
"You just looked so cute over there with your tongue all poked out of the side of your mouth. Thought maybe it would like some company…" he trailed his sentence off as he licked the skin right behind my ear. The soft moan that escaped my lips couldn't be helped even if I wanted to. He swiftly took advantage of my weakness and nipped at the spot he had just licked, the resulting moan was neither soft nor unnoticed by the rest of the band at the table. My heart felt like it was beating in my throat as I sucked in a few shaky breaths.
"Sweet baby Jesus in his golden fleece diapers, what the hell is wrong with you and Tripp, Lucas? Can't you two keep your dicks in check until after the show? I know Bella and Alice are hot and often jump around in front of us with barely-there-shirts that say our name but…umm…fuck…I totally lost my train of thought." Emmett said rolling his eyes.
I had to give it to Emmett; he started off strong and then lost it as soon as he said 'jump.' He stared at my boobs and when I flipped him off he just laughed his loud infectious laugh before he clarified, "I like this train of thought way more." The bastard waggled his eyebrows at me.
Alice finally managed to float her way back over to me right as the band was about to start their first song. She looked guilty. I couldn't help but giggle as I imagined Alice plastering herself to Tripp's body as stunned patrons gaped at them with open mouths. The girl had no shame.
"Oh my God, what did you guys do?!" I pointed my accusing finger at her and she just laughed. The opening chords of 'Fight for Your Right to Party' by the Beastie Boys, saved her from having to answer.
We sauntered towards the stage to claim our spot below Tripp and Lucas. As we reached the stage, patrons, stoked to hear the party anthem rushed us. This was one of the many things we loved about 3rd Strike; they didn't do any of that 'we'll take it easy and work into a harder set' bullshit. They dove head first into the stuff that made you want to get up and move.
They ended the energetic set with their version of Machine Head, which earned them a loud round of applause and a few squeals from the girls. I hurried off to grab us a round of shots, which was our tradition between sets. We let Em toast this time, because it was sure to be inappropriate and it was just better to get it out of the way before he got drunker and louder. I smiled widely at my friends as they laughed and walked towards me. They were responsible for the best times of my life so far. I felt like the luckiest girl in the world to have these freaks in my life.
Everyone grabbed a shot and held it up as we waited for Em to decide what he was going to grace us with this evening.
"Here is to dancing like no one is watching, singing like no one is listening, and fucking like its being taped!" A few near-by people hollered as we laughed and threw back our shots.
Alice and Tripp were whispering and giggling in the corner like a couple of twelve year olds and all I could do was shake my head and smile. I knew how long Alice had lusted after Tripp, and I knew that it had grown into something more as we got closer to them. I turned around to see Charles going over some chords with Garrett while Em hit on a waitress. I don't know why he tried anymore, considering every waitress this place has ever had in the last three years has turned him down on more than one occasion.
As I was about to walk to the bar to get a new round of beers I saw Lucas standing by the door; he waved me over. Oh shit. Why, why does he want to be alone? Strength in numbers! My conscious was screaming at me. You know what happens in scary movies! The cute little girl always gets lured away and BAM! She wakes up dead! There was no way I was paying attention to something as annoying as my conscious when Lucas was looking like that, and looking at me that way.
Lucas held the door open for me, just to goose me as I walked by. I let out a loud surprised squeak and flipped him off as I walked to the bench outside. Sitting down I watched as he walked up to me slowly and stood right in front of me. I was eye to cock with him.
"Umm, as much as I'd like to be friends with the anatomy in front of me, I'm not yet. So I'm gonna need for you to move it away from my face." I laughed and pushed on his hip. He chuckled and sat down next to me, instantly slipping his arm around my waist and pulling me closer to him. Did he know it was fucking June? It's way to hot for this nonsense.
"You kind of left me hanging earlier, and that was terribly mean." He gently nuzzled his nose against the wisps of my annoying curly excuse of hair that had escaped the ponytail I had it in. I giggled quietly but pushed him away. I had to stand my ground. For a minute, anyway.
"As I remember it, you attacked me and Em was my savior." I stuck my tongue out at him.
"Is that how it was? Are you sure it wasn't you teasing me by poking out that tongue of yours and biting your lip? I'm pretty sure that's what happened, little shit head." He gave my side a gentle squeeze and I thought back to when I was biting my lip; I had really been trying to quit that.
"No sir, it was all you. I'm the helpless victim, didn't you know that?" I made it a special point to whisper it against his ear as softly as I could without breaking into a fit of giggles.
I was treated to Lucas swooping me up and throwing me over his shoulder. What is with these guys and the cavemen tactics?
"Mind telling me what the hell you're doing?" Addressing someone's back is awkward, in case you haven't had this particular experience.
"I'm taking you to my truck so I can strap you in and take advantage of you, of course." He laughed and smacked my ass hard. I flailed a little until I accepted that my only options were falling on my face or giving in and letting him think he had his way.
Getting dropped into the seat of an Explorer really doesn't feel good, and now I knew that. True to his word, Lucas reached over and buckled me in; I was starting to get scared. And by scared I mean really excited. Fuck, he sure did take his time walking around the front of his car. We were going to have to be back inside for the second set before he got his ass in here!
"Damn Beavis, took you long enough to get in the car, huh?" I asked when he finally sat down. He just smiled at me and took my hand in his.
"You know, my dearest Bella, you could make things a lot easier if you'd shut the hell up for more than five seconds." Yeah, he was getting his shins kicked later. I made it a point not to make another sound as I snatched my hand out of his and sat there with my arms crossed over my chest. I didn't even have them crossed in the good way that gives me more cleavage than I know what to do with. I was pushing those bitches down just to piss him off. He had the nerve to sigh all dramatically at me. That's my thing.
He took my hand again.
"Now Bella, let's not make this harder than it needs to be. I actually did have a reason for bringing you out here. We graduate in four days and I know we've kind of talked about what we're all doing afterwards, but I think it's pretty obvious what the band is going to be doing, and I'd really like us to be on the same page here.
I also know that you plan on going to school for pastry arts and Alice is running off to do God knows what. The band is not okay with this. I am not okay with this." He made a point to look me in the eyes and give my hand a light squeeze. Oh hell, he's really serious, and I'm not sure I've ever seen this side of him! I should write this down later…
"Tripp has already talked to Alice and among other things, he's asked her to stay around and help us out. And, I'd really like to know if you'd officially date me. I know it's asking a lot and it's nothing secure but we're more than willing to pay for the help you guys do."
I could tell he was going to keep rambling, but I was more concerned with that fact that he was blushing. That, and I almost choked and died on my own fucking spit cause he shocked the hell out of me. I held up my hand to him in the middle of him going on about…stickers?
"My dearest Lucas, please stop talking, because now you are the one making things way more complicated than they need to be. Did you bring me out here to sit in your hot ass car and ramble on for like, ten fucking minutes just to ask if I'd be your girlfriend?" I was proud of myself; I didn't stutter or blush once. I'd have to write this down also.
He looked down at his free hand, which was currently messing with a loose thread on his jeans, and then he glanced and the hand that was entwined with mine. He looked up at me with maybe one of the prettiest smiles I've ever seen from him before he nodded and said, "Yeah, I guess so." His gaze was making me edgy and it took me a full minute to realize it was because this was the first time I ever saw him look nervous and unsure. How cute.
I laughed. Hard.
"What the fuck Bella? You're really going to sit there and laugh in my face after I just told you how I felt about you? Never mind, I better get inside anyway." He withdrew his hand from mine surprisingly fast and started to shift his gaze everywhere and anywhere but on me, which quickly sobered me up. I stroked his jaw line, which was currently straining and flexing, very gently until I reached his chin and turned his face towards me.
"You are such a dumb boy some times. I need you to realize that like, five minutes ago if you expect me to be your girlfriend for much longer." I smiled at him and watched his face as he processed this information. It really was cute watching him go from being hurt to being confused and finally settling on a big shit-eating grin.
Unbuckling my seatbelt I leaned over the center console and gave Lucas the first real kiss I'd ever given him, and up to that point, it was the best kiss of my entire life.
We walked back into the bar holding hands and sharing enormous grins. I'm sure we looked just like the cats that ate the canary. Ask us if we cared. We would laugh right in your face. As we reached the band table I saw Alice in Tripp's lap with the same big ass grin. A small part of me wondered if they had this planned. A nice hard slap to the ass from Garrett stopped me from pondering it for too long.
The boys, our boys, walked up to the stage and climbed up. Alice and I walked up to the stage arm in arm and looked up at our new boyfriends and our old friends. The first song of the set, and the new song that we were most excited about, suddenly felt very fitting. An expectant crowd gathered around us and we grinned with the secret knowledge of the coming song, no one would expect it, and it would be amazing.
Just before they hit the opening notes, Lucas looked down at me with a smile and a wink. Alice and I watched as the new set started, performed by our new loves, kicking off a new chapter in our lives, and it all began with In the Air Tonight.
AN: Oh hai!
I hope you enjoyed the first leg of their journey together.
Please to be checking out Second Chances by leannelrh. She's awesomesauce.
Playlist:
Ride Wit Me by Nelly
Fight for your Right by The Beastie Boys
Machine Head by Bush
In the Air Tonight by Phil Collins
Let me know what you guys think so I can make sure the rest of the story is kickass for you.
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