Chapter Twenty-Two
Lock had tacked a sheet up on one wall, so the rest of the band could go over the try out with Jackie. Ransom always recorded the try outs, so they could see the whole thing from another angle. Jack had been told to stay upstairs while they went over everything, but Lock was sure he had it.
"God," Ransom whined, seeing Jack on screen. "Lock, I envy you."
"Shut the fuck up," she muttered, hanging upside down off her bed. "There's nothing to envy."
"Right," Connor teased, poking the mark she had forgotten to hide, unlike Jackie.
"He is damn good looking," Cooper said, watching closely. "he'll be good stage presence. . .And you two definitely have good chemistry."
If only you even knew, she thought with an inward smirk.
Lock had been embarrassed that she'd given Jack yet another hard on, barely being able to look at him for a long time that day without feeling her face burn. When he had told her he loved her, she had freaked out. The only time a guy had ever said 'I love you' to her was after or right before they fucking molested her, panting the words in her ear.
"I wish we could have gotten a real guitar solo out of him. . .but he just didn't know the songs," Connor sighed, watching Jack sing.
"But he knew the words," Lock defended him.
"True," Coop nodded. "So I guess if Lock could try teaching him the music for the songs, we'd be back in business. . ."
"I can show him. . ." she muttered.
"Oh, I bet!" Ransom teased. "Show him what exactly?"
"How to play the music for certain songs, you fuckin' perv!" she snapped, sick of the teasing.
"He has one hell of a voice. . .velvety. . ." Con said, trying to break up the fight before it started.
"Yeah. . .If Lock would sing with that angelic voice more often," Cooper gave her a look. "We could blow people away."
"Paired together--you two would be orgasmic," Ransom laughed.
"Good luck getting Lock to use that angel voice," Connor sighed.
"Well," Lock teased, "depending on the circumstances. . .I just might be willing to sing like that more often."
"Bribery?" Ransom snickered.
"Nope. ..just tossing the idea out there," she grinned.
"Well, I've seen enough. . .Time to vote," Coop shut the video camera off. "Lock, we know your vote already, so you sit out."
She sat up, folding her hands in her lap, and waited.
"In favor of Jack joining us," Coop said.
All three raised their hands quickly, laughing at themselves. They turned and stared at Lock, devilish grins on their faces.
"What?" she demanded.
"You get to tell him!" Ransom stuck her tongue out. "But tease him with it first."
"Grow up, you guys," she smirked as she got up.
"Call us and tell us about teasing him," Con grinned, patting her shoulder. "We all gotta split."
Yeah, I just fucking bet. . .she rolled her eyes. They think I'm gonna do somethin' besides tell him he's in the band. . .fucking perverts. . .
"Right. . .talk to y'all later," she smiled.
She followed them upstairs, waving from the door, then decided to go see Jack. She got very serious, as if she had bad news, and walked up to his room. His door was open, music pouring out, and when she peeked in, she smirked. Jackie was working out, shirtless, doing push-ups on the floor. She just stood and watched, noting how the muscles moved beneath his skin, and how effortless he made it look.
No wonder he's got the body he does. . .
Lock cleared her throat, making him jump, and hid her grin. He got to his feet quickly, turning and facing her, his eyes filled with doubt.
"Here to tell me the news?" he mumbled, turning the music down.
"Sit down, Jackie," she whispered, sitting on the bed.
Sullenly, he sat beside her, head hanging down, and Lock battled to keep a straight face. She always enjoyed toying with people's minds, she loved the looks on their faces when they got the real news.
"We went back over the tape," she said evenly. "And the guys wished that you would have know the guitar for the songs they threw at you. . ."
"Fuck," he sighed, running a nervous hand in his hair.
"They did like your presence while playing, your voice, and how we interacted," she almost let it out. "Yet, that one thing kept tripping them up. . ."
"Son of a fucking bitch," he mumbled.
Lock put her lips to his ear, planning on screwing with him just a bit more.
"But," she murmured, leaving him in suspense, and pulling away from him.
"But?" he cocked his head and looked at her.
"IF. . ."
"IF?!"
"Well, they said. . ."
"Lock!" he was frantic for her answer. "Just tell me already!"
"Jackie boy," she smirked, "they want me to teach you the music for the songs, and I have to start singin' like a damn girl. . ." she sneered. "But other than that. . .you're in!"
He laughed, falling back onto his bed in relief, then realizing he'd been played, sat up and glared at her. She put a hand over her mouth, trying to hide the big smile.
"You little brat!" he growled. "Fuckin' teasing me like that! Jesus, Lock! I thought for sure. . ."
"You shoulda seen the look on your face," she burst into laughter, even as Jackie tackled her. "Freakin' priceless!"
"Oh?" he grinned like a devil. "So, teasing Jack is fun?"
She bit her lips together, still finding this hysterical, and nodded. Hazel eyes glowed with mischief, he leaned in close, holding himself up with his arms, and stared into her eyes.
"You know, Lock. . ." he breathed, mouth just out of her reach.
"No, enlighten me. . ." she smiled, mad that she couldn't reach his lips.
"Us Mercers," he teased her mercilessly, "are fantastic revenge seekers. . .I'll get you back, I swear."
"Uh huh, sure," she rolled her eyes. "Whatever you say, princess."
"Fine," he kissed her very lightly, "don't believe me."
He got off of her, an evil grin on his face, and she actually felt a chill. What had she gotten herself into now? He went to the door, but turned and looked at her.
"Oh, before I forget," he gave her his usual grin. "Take my blanket with you. . .That's the something else I came up with. . ."
"Don't you need a blanket, Jackie boy?" she asked.
"I have some extras. . .Just try it, all right? If it don't work, we try something else. . ."
"All right," she muttered, taking the blanket off his bed. "I'll try it. . ."
What'd he do to it?
"Just figured that my scent would comfort you," he said quickly when she gave him a look.
DUH! Idiot. . .
"Oh. . . Yeah. . .thanks. ." she went back to her room.
She tossed his blanket on her bed, then locked the door to change. It had been another emotional, taxing, day, and she was far past ready for bed. Unlocking the door, she crawled into bed, wrapping the black blanket around her and lost herself in Jackie's smell, falling into a nightmare free sleep.
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Jack finished his work out, thinking of how to get Lock back for her little prank earlier. He decided a smoke might help, pulled on his coat, and went outside.
I've got to be careful with how I get her back. . .he thought, taking a hit. Not too damn physical . . .I don't need blue balls or some shit. . .this is to get her back. . .
"Hey, fairy," Bobby walked up to the screen door. "So, you in the band or what?"
They shared the smoke as Jack explained how Lock broke the news, telling Bobby he had to get her back. His older brother laughed, shaking his head, and sat in the wicker chair.
"Where's Stray right now?" he asked.
"Sleepin'. . .It's been a day. . .I gave her my blanket, to see if that'll help her sleep. . ." he collapsed into the cold leather chair.
"That's a good idea," Bobby yawned. "How's she doin' now?"
"Well, she's stayin'. . .or at least that's what she told me. . ."
"Still can't believe you actually told her you loved her," Bobby snickered. "You got balls, Cracker Jack."
"I meant it!" he got defensive. "I do fucking love her!"
"I know that, you little bitch," Bobby elbowed him. "I've known that."
"Big brother psychic shit?" he laughed. "Jesus, you got it all!"
"You bet your queer ass I do," he teased. "By the way, I know how you can get her back."
"How?"
"Fuck it up a lot when she teaches you how to play the guitar for the songs. . .then, just as she's about to give up on your hopeless ass, play it perfectly. She'll flip."
"Bobby," he laughed, "you're a fuckin' evil genius!"
"I know," he replied casually. "C'mon, let's split one more smoke 'fore we go in."
Hey talked, laughing together, and Jack felt like life was perfect. He even had the urge to write, his song writers block was gone, and he grabbed his lyric book as soon as he was in his room. He lay on his bed and scribbled the words as they flowed.
Haunted by these
Moonlight eyes,
Seeing all the
Things they hide.
When pain is love and
Love is pain. . .
How much can a
Soul sustain?
Laughter like starlight,
Glittering echoes inside
My head and
Voice like diamonds,
Whose beauty can't be shed. . .
I'm in love with you,
But darlin',
I fear that your past holds
You back from me. . .
So just let it go, girl, let it go!
Release those demons from your soul. . .
Set it free, babe, just set it free!
Whisper that
You love me. . .
Angelic lips pressed to mine,
Nightmares stand no damn chance,
When I hold your hear with these
Gentle hands. . .
So in love. . .so lost in this. . .
Everything I've ever dreamt of,
Just walked in and stole my love. . .
Laughter like starlight,
Glittering echoes inside
My head and
Voice like diamonds,
Whose beauty can't be shed. . .
I'm so in love with you, and
I know you love me too. . .
Though the words evade your tongue,
Believe me baby,
Waiting for you is all the fun. . .
Jack flexed his hand, working the cramps out and more lyrics flowed in his mind. He turned the page, grabbed the pencil back up, and wrote down a second song.
Dancing with the shadows in your mind,
Trying to forget all the times you lied.
Hiding from your demons in the light,
Continuing to keep on with the fight--
That rages on inside yourself,
You scream at the world that
You need help.
You believe no one hears you,
You think no one cares.
You forget the simple fact
That I'm always here.
We'll dance together in the shadows of our minds,
We'll try to forget all the times we've lied.
Hide together from our demons in the light. . .
Stand together in our fight. . .
Sleep bore down on him, he closed the book, and set it aside. Yawning loudly, he grabbed an extra blanket from his closet and climbed into bed, falling asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. A smile formed on his sleeping face as he dreamt of being on a stage with Lock.
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"OK, Jack," she sighed in frustration. "One more time. . ."
She'd been trying to show him the guitar for one of the songs, the last hour and a half had been nothing but him fucking up. In the start, she'd had plenty of patience, but now she wanted to give up. She winced as he hit the wrong note, the sound making her skin crawl.
"Sorry. . .I'm tryin'. . ." he sighed.
"Yeah, me too!" she growled, getting up and heading for the door. "I fuckin' give up!"
"Lock, wait!" Jackie pleaded.
"No, I'm done!" she grumbled. "I will lose my damn mind if I hear one more-!"
The song flowed smoothly from his guitar, cutting her off, and she realized that Jack had his revenge. She was so pissed at him, he'd made her suffer for an hour and a half, and she could just kill the little bastard. He smiled smugly as he finished, clicking the amp of and putting his guitar in the stand. She glared at him, pissed yet proud of Cracker Jack: Mercers were good with revenge.
"You shoulda seen-," he began with the same smug grin.
"If you value your life," she growled, stalking over to him and getting in his face. "You will not finish that!"
"The look on your face!" he laughed. "Priceless!"
She growled, shoving him back on the bed, pinning him down, and looked for the marker on his head board. He laughed and struggled, trying to push her off of him, but she was quick to pin his hands beneath her knees. He squirmed, trying to regain his hands, but it was in vain. She found the black, permanent marker, and grinned. He was in for it now.
"Lock?" he eyes the marker. "What're you doin'?"
"Jackie boy," she taunted, uncapping the marker, "you picked the wrong girl to play the 'Revenge Game' with."
"That's a permanent marker. . ." he whined.
"Good observation," she smirked, unbuttoning his black shirt.
"I'm not a damn sketch pad!" he cried out when he realized what she was doing.
"Are now," she gave him a deviant grin, moving the shirt out of her way.
"God dammit," he snickered as he tried to free himself.
She ignored his whining, focusing on her new 'sketch pad'. Slowly, she began to outline 'fairy' across his chiseled stomach, using her own style of graffiti, and Jack tried hard to not squirm. She filled it in, feeling accomplished, and looked up into Jack's hazel eyes.
"What's it say?" he asked, trying to look.
"Fairy," she smirked.
"Hell, not you too!" he groaned, dropping his head back.
"No, not me too, Jackie boy," she laughed, knowing he didn't like that nickname used by anyone aside from his brothers.
She moved to under his 'Evelyn' tattoo, drawing a heart shaped padlock. She put a keyhole on it, smiling as Jack let out a tortured giggle, and drew a chain down to his side. Jack squirmed as she drew on his side, whining that it tickled like crazy.
"Stop moving, Jackie!" she commanded with a snicker. "You're gonna make me mess up!"
"Man," he whined, stilling his body, "I don't like playing the 'Revenge Game' with you."
"Then you shouldn't have decided to make me listen to you hittin' wrong notes for over an hour," she taunted, moving to his other side. "Now, quit bitchin' or I'll draw on your back too."
He restrained a squirm as she wrote 'Cracker Jack' down his right side, from chest to hip, and she couldn't help but laugh. She knew how ticklish he was and she abused it horribly, threatening to just make it worse if he struggled. He laughed in victory as one hand broke free, but soon realized that she let him go.
"Dammit!" he smirked. "How long am I gonna be your little art project?"
"I'll be done when I'm done," she smiled, putting a tic-tac-toe grid on his forearm.
"You do realize that this means war, don't you?" he mumbled.
"I figured," she put a small kiss on his nose. "But remember, I'm pure evil."
"There are rules, Lock," he smiled.
"I don't give a fuck," she laughed, scribbling on him. "I fight dirty."
"Mmmm," he nodded in agreement. "But these are rules we have to follow. . .catchin' my drift?"
"Fine," she sighed, releasing his other hand. "What are they?"
"Well, for one: if someone says 'stop' and means it, the attacker stops," he said firmly.
"Jesus, Jackie boy," she was a little scared now, "what the fuck kinda war are you planning?"
"It's just a precaution. . .Say for instance," his hand gently tickled her side, "that I get you back by means of tickle torture, you say 'stop' 'cuz you can't take it anymore or whatever, and I have to stop."
"Mmmm," she laughed, slapping his hand off her side. "Go on."
"Second, don't do anything that can really hurt the victim."
"So I guess shoving you off the roof is out, huh?"
"Definitely," he grinned. "No death, maiming, or serious pain allowed."
"All right," she nodded, writing 'Jackie boy' on his arm.
"No involving friends or family," he grinned. "That's a big no-no."
"Spoil sport," she stuck her tongue out.
"Attractive," he snickered. "Oh, and no fucking with personal shit: hiding CDs, movies, guitars. . .you get it?"
"That one I agree with. . .I'd very seriously kill you if you messed with my stuff."
"That's it for now. . .I guess we can add rules as we come across stuff. . .Deal?"
"Deal," she released him entirely, her art complete. "I wanna get a picture of this. . .if you don't mind. . ."
"Hmmmmm. . ." he feigned real deep consideration, sitting up.
She squeaked in surprise as he kissed her, his hands holding her face still, and his tongue exploring her mouth. She pulled back, giving him a sarcastic eye roll, and climbed off him.
"I guess," he was just as sarcastic, "I don't mind."
Songs: They are again, my own. . .first one is called "Moonlight Eyes" and the second one is called "Dancing"