Band practice was dismal. But mostly because I couldn't find my contacts or my guitar pick. And Vader was missing. Again.

It was only about a week after I found him and Claire making out at the movies. After that, Claire had pretty much disowned (disboyfriended?) Derrick, leaving him for me. In return, she took Vader.

"Where do you think he is this time?" Layne asked Plovert after they pulled away from their lengthy kiss. Oh, yeah. They got together too. "Or what do you think Claire's doing to him?"

"I think she's using him as her own personal doll for shopping," Plovert replied, tugging Layne's messy ponytail. The three of us shuddered at the thought of being dragged by Claire through the mall, holding tons of shopping bags, and having to try on clothes.

It sounded like torture.

"I heard she's trading him for a pet monkey," Layne mused, standing up and dragging her feet to her keyboard.

"Well I heard he's trading her for Jessica Alba," Plovert yawned. He got up and assumed his usual position at the drum set.

"Well, I heard—"

"Will you guys shut up?!" I finally screamed. It hadn't occurred to me that I was clutching Vader's bass when I realized I'd just thrown it across the room. Shit. "He's coming. He's probably just late." I squeezed my eyes shut and grabbed one of the chocolate chip cookies Mrs. Plovert had left for us.

"Right," Layne agreed after a short silence. "He'll probably come soon."

Vader's brunette head popped into the garage, his chiseled face in a taut line. He looked worried. Or angry. Or both. "Hey guys," he greeted us cautiously. Nobody said anything; we simply stared. Vader took a deep breath and took a single step into the room. "Claire's here. She thought she could join."

I scoffed. Claire joining us? But she has no musical ability at all! "There's no room in the band," I stated simply, snagging another cookie. Yum. "We have enough people."

"She'll be the singer," he declared, as if I hadn't said anything. "She's in choir, you know."

"But Massie's the singer!" Layne argued. Thank god for best friends. "And she's way better than Claire." She glanced at me and we air high-fived.

"Just listen to her." Vader turned back to the house and grabbed Claire's hand, leading her into the garage. Was she blind now or something?

"Hey guys." Claire smiled "sweetly" at us and held up an imaginary microphone. Retard. "I'm gonna sing Bubbly, which we'll learn to play in my band, okay?"

I could hear three distinct popping noises. My jaw dropped, as did Layne's and Plovert's. We all exchanged confused glances. Her band? Bubbly?

Since when was Colbie Caillat rock?

Claire cleared her throat. "It starts in my TOES, something about my NOSE," she managed to screech out. It was partially in tune. Sort of. "Wherever it goessss I always knowww. That you make me SMILE—"

"Vader!" I cut her off, grabbing his arm. "Let's talk. Claire, help yourself to a cookie."

Claire grunted in response. She was eying the cookies as if they were poison.

I led Vader to the corner near the garage door (as in the big one) with Layne and Plovert on my heels. "Listen," I hissed. "I will not have Claire in our band!" Layne and Plovert nodded. "You know how much I—we—dislike her!"

Vader shrugged, a bored look crossing his face. "She's usually a better singer." Stupid girlfriend defender.

"No, she's not." Layne widened her eyes. "I was in choir with her, and she's the one who helped pass out papers. Not a singer. Because she sucks."

"Take that back," Vader snapped. "She's a great singer and I'll prove it!" He turned around to get Claire to sing again, but she was gone.

"Come on, Vader, we need to work on the music for the Thanksgiving Bash at the Westchester Country Club." I grabbed a binder off one of the shelves and started thumbing through the pages. "We've decided to do Sweet Child o' Mine, Back in Black, Daytripper—"

"Whatever." Vader started heading for the main door. "I quit."

"Y-y-you what?" Plovert stuttered.

"I said"—Vader threw his hands up—"I. Quit. The. Band." Plovert and Layne stood speechless in disbelief. I walked up to Vader and grabbed his shoulders.

"You can't quit," I gasped, on the verge of tears. "You helped make this band. You…you can't!"

"Watch me," Vader replied, staring icily into my amber eyes. He turned on his heel and walked out.

On us.

His band.

AN: Sorry ((again)) for the long wait for an update!! R&R please :)