Laura is out shopping with Rydel. I am hanging with the boys while they are out shopping. "Ross?" I look over at Riker and nod showing I am listening. "We were asking if you wanted to go out?" I shrug, "Sure." I stand up along with them and follow them out to Riker's car. I look around and watch as we all pile into the car. Riker takes off and starts to drive.
I look around and see Riker pulling up to the music store. I look at him confused and they all laugh and get out. We walk into the store and I watch the boys drift off to the instrument that catches their eyes. I drift over to the guitars and look around. Riker comes over as i am starting to see how one plays. "How you like it?" I shrug, "Not bad. It is pretty nice." He smiles and picks up a different one and hands it to me. "Try this one." I hold it and start to play it. I love the way it feels. "This is amazing." He nods and grabs another and starts to play it along with me. I then hear drums going and look over and see Ratliff playing a new set of drums. Rocky is dancing around and smiling. "This is amazing." I nod and look over and Ryland.
The music stops and I look over at Riker with a smile, "I missed this. I say we get some new instruments and pull a band practice." He smiles and nods, "Exactly what I was thinking." Ratliff comes over, "But Rydel is not here." I shrug, "Boys day then." He shrugs, "Fine but if she finds out I had nothing to do with it." We all start laughing and nod, "Of course Ratliff. You had no part of it." We all pick out the instrument we want and buy it. We load the new instruments up in the car and pile back in the car as Riker drives us home.
We get everything set up and just start to jam. No stress, no rules, just playing what feels right.
Few minutes in I smile and look around at everyone smiling and enjoying themselves. I haven't felt like this in awhile. I haven't done this in a long time. I stop and look at Riker who is smiling like crazy. "That was so much fun." I nod, "I know." Rocky looks around at us and smiles, "Why don't we start working on some stuff for the band? I mean we haven't done anything in awhile and I miss it." I see Ratliff nod, "Me too." We all nod and then smile as we get our instruments ready and pen and paper and start to crack out new songs.
I hear clicking upstairs and smile. "The girls are back." We all look up at the ceiling. I hear the clicking hit the steps and smile, "They went upstairs." Riker nods, "We have time to finish this last one before we get busted and Rydel kills all of us." I laugh and help Riker and the rest of the guys pick back up where we left off on the third song. Yes, the third one. We finished two other songs already and are almost done with this one. We haven't had inspiration like this in awhile. We haven't felt this good in awhile.
The song is done five minutes later. We all clap each other and smile as Riker places the three songs in the binder and places it on the shelf. "Good job today everyone." Ryland smiles, "I kind of miss all of this." I throw an arm around his shoulder and smile, "Oh, does our baby brother miss hanging out with his big brothers?" He laughs and pushes me away, "I just meant i…" Riker laughs and shakes his head, "We all know what you meant Ryland." Rocky nods and looks at us and we all jump on top of Ryland in a dog pile tackle and all start laughing. "Okay, okay. Get off of me." We all laugh and look down at him. "Seriously, get off. You are all fat asses." We get off and I gasp, "I am not fat." I fake cry and he laughs. "Oh no of course not, you are very pretty." We all start laughing again and then we hear the feet on the steps and stop. We look over and see the door open revealing Rydel and Laura. We look at them and then burst out laughing.
Rydel looks at us confused, "What is going on with you guys?" We all start laughing harder. She blows air out and looks at Ratliff, "What is going on?" He stops laughing and looks at us. "Guys day." Rydel looks around at us and place a hand on her hip and one foot out farther than the other, "Guys day? Yeah right, what is really going on?" We all look between each other and feel like we are in front of mom. All of a sudden Ratliff burst out, "We were playing." She gasp and looks around, "Is this true?" We all nod slowly and I hear her breath catch. "You had band practice without me." I watch her eyes water and I shake my head, "No. No Delly. We were just playing random tunes and music and then we wrote some new songs we were going to show you. We think you will like them." She looks around, "Basically, you had a practice." I shake my head, "No Delly. You are part of the band and we would never do anything to make you feel like you don't belong. You mean as much to the band as any of us do. We were just messing around and playing around having fun." She nods and sits on the couch. "Show me these new songs."
Twenty minutes later we have played all three songs for Delly and Laura. Rydel stands up with a smile on her face and a sparkle in her eye, "Let me see that." She grabs the papers and walks back to her keyboard and start to play the first song. We look at her and see her smiling wide as she moves on to the second and third one. She stops and looks up at us. "I love these. They are amazing." I look over at Laura and see her smiling. Everyone stops and looks at her. Riker looks around and then smiles sheepishly, "So?" Laura stands up and claps. "They are amazing guys. You should be so proud. I think they will go over great." We all yell out happy and clap each other. I pull Laura to me and kiss her. "Did you have fun today?" She nods, "I always love when I spend time with your family." Riker smiles and comes over and hugs her and then everyone follows. Riker laughs, "We are your family to Laura." She smiles and looks around at all of them. "I keep forgetting about that." Rydel laughs and pulls her to her, "We were always your family even before Ross proposed and if anything ever happens which I don't see happening but anyway, We will still be your family." I look around and everyone nods and I see Laura's eyes fill with tears. "Thank you all." We all do a group hug before letting go and heading upstairs to watch a movie and order a pizza.
After two movies and two pizzas everyone is starting to get tired. Rydel yawns and stands up, "I am going to bed. Night everyone." She kisses Ratliff before going upstairs. Rocky stands up and nods, "Me too. I am exhausted." I watch him go upstairs followed by Ryland. Riker looks at Ratliff then us. "Are you all staying?" I look at Laura and nod, "Yeah, we will sleep in my old room." He nods and looks at Ratliff, "You want guest bedroom or couch?" He laughs and climbs onto the couch and grabs a blanket. Riker shakes his head and laughs, "Goodnight everyone." I reply with a night before looking at Laura, "You tired?" She is leaning against me and nods. I pick her up bridal style and smile at Ratliff, "Night man." He waves me off as I start up the stairs, "Night love birds." I laugh as I open my door and walk into my old room. I place Laura on the bed and watch her grab the blanket and curl up with the blanket. I laugh and take my pants off and turn the light off. I walk over and climb into bed and cover up as I lay my head against my pillow. I lean over and kiss Laura, "Night baby. I love you." She yawns and turns over and lays her head on my chest and throws a arm across my stomach, "I love you too Rossy." I smile and kiss her head before drifting off to sleep with a arm wrapped around her.
