Cody
Sitting down on the couch, you could feel the tension.
"What happened Mark?" Rachel asked, going to sit beside her husband.
"I received a complaint from a group of boys and girls that Jordan and Cody were extremely rude to them," he said, staring me and Jordan down. I immediately knew who he was talking about and rage starting to build up inside me, "That you both forced them to leave."
"Okay, that is technically true, but-" Jordan started, he words stuttering.
"No buts," he said, authority evident in his voice, "You disrespected customers, and swore at them too!"
"We were only try-" I tried to explain but he just cut me off, same as Jordan.
"Don't even try to lie," he said, "this just earns you two, two more chores tomorrow, and a double shift at the restaurant. Do I make myself clear?"
"You see-" Jordan tried again but Mark only seemed to get angrier.
"Did I make myself clear?" he asked, demanding.
I just nodded and said yes, fighting the urge to roll my eyes or punch him in the neck. Jordan nodded her understanding as well.
"Alright, well," Rachel said. I could tell she felt the awkward tension set over the room, "I will go get dinner started."
When she left I stood up, walking to my room. I locked the door, striding over to the vase and pulling out a mini vodka. I drank the whole thing in one shot, the liquid burning down my throat as I swallowed. Fuck him, fuck the dousche bags who complained, and fuck everything.
I wanted to take my anger out on something, but I didn't want to end up with an injury like last time. I didn't want to scare Dustin either.
Dustin.
He reminded me so much of Tom. And that only made me homesick. Not homesick of my present life, but my old life. Before my career took off and management started to control everything. Before I moved to the US. When Alli and I actually talked without bickering.
Alli.
Before she dressed like a teenage prostitute. Before she changed. Before she started dating guys, little flings that last a week tops. Before she started hanging out with the whores of Hollywood. Before she would call me a dick everyday.
Me.
Before I started to care of clothing labels and parties. Before I gave up something I loved just to live the pop star dream. Before I lost myself in the chaos of it all. It was like I was standing, idle, in the middle of a huge crowd of people having a food fight. Anything they could throw, they were. But it wasn't touching me at all. This was the life I have been living, taking over my mind and putting myself in a place where I didn't understand anything going on.
I didn't feel the need to drink anymore.
My life was controlling me, and I was tired of it.
Jordan
I can't believe that little... I can't even think of a word for the dousche who told on us. He was at fault here, not us. In fact, all of them were. Those whores that were with them were probably sleeping with those guys right now.
I shoved into my room, closing the door behind me. These frustrations were fighting to make their way, so I let them. I screamed into my pillow, but I felt my throat start to sting. I stopped, sitting up and swallowing. Sure enough, my throat felt scratchy and raw.
How did this come on so sudden?
Oh well, it will probably go away.
All I wanted to do now was shower and sleep. I didn't care that it was only seven o'clock. Sighing, I grabbed some sweats out of the dresser, taking them with me into the bathroom. I turned the knob of the shower, watching as the water came down with a hiss and began to tug off my clothes.
Standing in the shower, I didn't rush or anything; just let it pour over me. My mind didn't fill with pointless thoughts, just melodies of random songs. I started to hum along, but it soon turned to singing. I had one stuck in my head, one of my favorite.
watch?v=Mny0J1XgTGg&feature=player_embedded
As I sang, I started to dance and sway my hips, really getting into it. The water began to run cold as I started on the next song.
watch?v=OpNbTlehSHU&feature=player_embedded
I stepped out of the shower, making sure to keep my voice from going to loud and everyone hearing. I was basically full out singing and dancing while I slipped on my sweats. As I combed out my hair, I started using the comb as my microphone. I was getting to the end of the song when I heard a knock on the bedroom door.
I stopped singing, opening it to see Cody standing there. I could feel the flush build in my cheeks, spreading like a wild fire. He chuckled, "Having fun?"
I tried to fight to lump in my throat and nodded. He only laughed more, walking away and then returning seconds later, a guitar in hand.
"What's that for?" I asked, pointing to it as he walked in.
He sat on the bed, while I took the seat on the floor in front of him.
"Mind if I join you?" he said, it was as if he ignored my previous question.
"You've already made yourself comfortable," I said, slightly annoyed, but in the back of my mind, I liked the company. In a few ways, he reminded me of TJ.
"Touché," he chuckled. He turned his attention away, strumming something that sounded familiar. It finally clicked in my mind and I started to hum along.
watch?v=TJrBB7-eh0&feature=player_embedded
(I know it's not guitar, but whatever)
He looked up at me, smiling slightly, and started to sing, "Upon the hill, across the blue lake, it's where I had my first heart break, I still remember how it all changed..."
He nodded to me to join in. Eh, what the hell?
"Don't you worry, don't worry child," we chorused, "see heaven's got a plan for you, Don't you worry, don't you worry now, yeahh."
I smiled as he just strummed and looked into my eyes as we sang.
"There was a time, I met a boy of a different kind," I sang softly, "we ruled the world, I thought I'd never lose her out of sight."
He quickly took over, "We were so young, I think of her now and then, I still hear the song, reminding me of my friend."
He wouldn't break eyesight with me and I didn't want him to. I felt the corner of my lips tug into a smile and it was mirroring on his own. He started to sing as I harmonized, "Upon the hill across the blue lake, it's where I had my first heartbreak, I still remember how it all changed, my father said."
"Don't you worry, don't you worry child," Our voice melted together again, "See heaven's got a plan for you. Don't you worry, don't you worry now, yeahh."
"Woaahhh, woahhh," I bellowed as Cody echoed me. I couldn't help but giggle.
"Don't you worry, don't you worry child," we mixed our voices again, "see heaven's got a plan for you. Don't you worry, don't you worry now. Yeahhh." We repeated the chorus once more before singing out the last words, "Don't you worry, don't you worry child..."
"I love your voice," I smiled.
"I was gonna say the same about yours," he returned, "but thank you."
"Thanks to you too," I reached out for the guitar, "can I see it?"
He nodded and slid the guitar off his lap, passing it to me.
"Do you play?" he wondered, slipping off the bed and onto the floor in front of me.
"Yeah, kind of," I nodded, rubbing my thumb over the strings and hearing the familiar ring that came with it.
"What do you know?" he questioned.
"Some stuff, but I like to try to write my own names. There is a song I have been writing on and off for a while, well back when I was really into music," I sighed, knowing the reason I stopped, but quickly shooed it out of my mind.
"Can I hear it?" he asked, his eyebrows slightly raised.
"A little, I guess," I sighed, "it's not fully finished though, so of you-"
"-It'll be great," he smiled, giving me a weird tug inside my stomach, but I ignored it again.
I took in a deep breath and started to slide my fingers along the fret board to the first chord. I hesitated to start, but was soon plucking along to the familiar song.
watch?v=vTMwLMRvLm4&feature=player_embedded
"Well, I don't know how and I don't know why, but when somethings living, no you can't say die," I sang soft, trying to make sure I didn't mess up or get too into it.
"You feel like loving but you start to cry, I don't know how and I don't know why. Well, I don't have many and I don't have much, in fact I don't have any but I've got enough. Cuz I know those eyes and I know that touch, I don't have many and I don't have much."
I started into the chorus and finally looked up to meet Cody's curious eyes. I almost stumbled on the first word as I felt so innocent, with my guard's starting to fall down.
"But, oh darling' my hearts on fire, oh darling' my hearts on fire, oh darling' my hearts on fire, for you..."
I stopped playing, not being able to tear my gaze away from Cody's. That tug came again and I realized it was butterflies. Why was I feeling butterflies?
Though, now that I look into them, I notice how truly beautiful his eyes are. I couldn't help but gaze into them, and he seemed to be doing the same with mine. I realized what I was doing and tore my gaze away, my cheeks feeling as if they were on fire.
"Sorry," I mumbled.
"For what?" he asked. I couldn't look back at him, but I could only feel my blush growing stronger if possible.
"N-Nothing," Damn it, now I'm stuttering.
Cody
I couldn't help but notice how gorgeous her eyes were. They were like chocolate diamonds and emeralds pressed together into two dazzling crystal; her eyes. I thought I saw something in her eyes. Hurt? Fear? I couldn't tell because when it was there, it left and she had quickly averted her head.
"Sorry," she mumbled, and I couldn't help but cringe my eyebrows together.
"For what?" I was confused.
"N-Nothing," I could tell she was embarrassed, but she was so cute when she blushed.
WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?!
Am I developing a crush on her? No, no, I can't be.
I tried to distract myself, so I glanced at my watch. 11:13.
Didn't want to get in even more trouble.
"Um, I should go," I said, getting to my feet. She looked up at me finally; her blush had subsided and her hair was crying naturally into waves. I offered her my hands and she set my guitar on the floor, grabbing my hand and pulling herself up.
"Well, goodnight," she gave me a quick smile, but was averting eye contact.
I decided to be a bit bold, not out of love but of comfort, and pulled her by the chin with my fingers. I got her to make eye contact with me and I leaned in, gently kissing her forehead. I wrapped my arms around her, whispering, "Good night. It's okay to show yourself."
She went frigid beneath my hands, but soon relaxed into them. She nodded her head, "Thanks."
I inhaled through my nose and slowly let it out, "Anytime."
I let her go, leaving her to go to bed. I snuck through the hallway, luckily being quiet enough so I wasn't caught past lights out. I reached my room and made sure to shut the door quietly.
As my head hit the pillow that night, I couldn't fight the feeling I had in the pit of my stomach. I knew that feeling all too well.
Butterflies.
