Disclaimer! I do not own Lemonade Mouth
Dylan turned off his phone to avoid Lemonade Mouth. To make sure he stayed out of their way, he even went to Kyle's school for his education. Sophia didn't approve of him going there but she couldn't do anything about it. Dylan always found a way around her restrictions.
The week after he started avoiding Lemonade Mouth, Dylan spent his free time listening to The Rebels. It was painful as it brought back memories of L.M. but he felt like he owed his band. After all he couldn't play until the cast was off and the competition was next week Saturday.
Kyle knew the pain Dylan was going through. Being his best friend, Kyle could easily see through the masks Dylan put on around the band in order to make them think that he was happy. So he tried to reduce the amount of time Dylan spent with the band in any way he could. He would lie for Dylan; sometimes claim Dylan had been attacked again etc. While Dylan was grateful for Kyle trying he eventually told his friend to stop. Reducing the time wasn't going to heal the wound nor make the pain go away.
With all the avoiding, Dylan wasn't expecting to see anyone from Lemonade Mouth—least of all Stella. So when she showed up at his house after school, Dylan froze for several minutes.
"Dylan?" Stella said snapping her fingers in front of his eyes. He blinked slightly but still didn't move. Stella grit her teeth and stepped back. "Don't make me kick you in the balls!" Trina giggled from her spot near the door. She had been the one that had let Stella into the house. For some reason, she still thought Stella and Dylan were dating no matter how many times he told her otherwise.
Dylan finally moved when Stella cocked back her foot. "Wait! I was just shocked alright? Don't kick me!" Trina giggled again despite Dylan glaring at her. Stella smirked.
"Good. Now let's talk." She said shooing Trina out of the entryway. Dylan watched his sister go before leading his ex-girlfriend into the living room. He shivered remembering that not long ago they had both stood here happy as could be—just because they were together.
"I thought you weren't talking to me." Dylan said as soon as he was sure Trina wasn't going to intrude. His eyes roamed over Stella, drinking in the sight of her. She looked a little better then she had the last time Dylan had seen her.
Stella sighed sitting on the couch. "I only said it was too hard to be friends with you." Dylan's eyebrow arched upward. From his understanding, that was the same thing as not talking to someone—especially when it came from a girl. "Sit down Dylan" Stella ordered looking up at him. He took a seat on the other end of the couch, apprehensive now. Stella sighed again, scooting toward him until there was less than an inch between them. "Look I hate what's happened probably as much as you do. I didn't want to break up with you but-". Dylan raised a hand to silence her.
"But you didn't know if you could trust me. We've been through this already. New topic please" Stella scowled at him though her eyes were twinkling. Dylan waved her on impatient to have her continue.
"Fine! I came to ask if you'd want to try again." Color blossomed on her cheeks, her eyes darting anywhere but Dylan. "I hate what we've done to our friends with our actions." Dylan's jaw hit the ground. Uncontrollable rage bubbled up inside him.
"We've done? We've done? What the heck have I done?" Stella tried to interrupt but Dylan was on a roll. He began gesturing wildly. "I've done nothing but try to fix things when I messed up but you kept pushing me away! First with Ray and avoiding me then by telling me specifically we couldn't be friends because it hurt you too much. How the heck do we…?" Stella silenced him by lunging through his arms to kiss him.
Her lips tasted as sweet as he remembered. Dylan wrapped his arms around her, deepening the kiss. Stella responded enthusiastically before pulling away, ending the kiss too soon for both of them. Dylan found he had somehow slid down to lay on his back with Stella lying on top of him. He looked at Stella resentfully. "Now my lips are gonna bruise."
Stella burst out laughing. It wasn't long before Dylan joined her. The laughter brought Sophia into the living room, carrying Amy with her. She smiled at the sight of Stella and Dylan laughing, slipping back out before she could disturb them.
When the laughter finally ended, Dylan reached up to caress Stella's face. Her mirth faded as she detected the seriousness in his eyes. "What is it?" Dread began to fill her. "Did you find someone you would rather be with?" Dylan frowned shaking his head.
"I don't know where that thought came from Stella but it's irrational. I couldn't be happy with anyone but you." Dylan took a deep breath as Stella smiled. "However we can't be together right now." Stella's expression fell causing Dylan to wince. "It's too near to the competition and I fear the Rebels will find out. My only real connection to the group is Kyle and my guitar skills. If they think I helped Lemonade Mouth more than them…" He raised his cast. "It'll be a lot worse than just a broken arm."
Stella frowned slipping off Dylan to sit on the ground. "So you're basically saying you're choosing people that'll hurt you over your true friends?" Dylan gaped like a fish trying to find an answer. Stella shook her head, standing up. "You never really changed did you? You still cling to the old, Dylan. Maybe you should consider that letting go could be better?" Before Dylan could say or do anything, Stella walked out the door.
Dylan swore loudly, bringing Sophia and Trina into the room. "What happened?" Trina asked. Sophia nodded her agreement while she shifted Amy's weight. Dylan just looked up at his family. Sophia read the torment and anger in his expression before she handed Amy to Trina.
Leave us for a little while will you Trina? She signed to her younger sister. Trina looked from Dylan to Sophia. When Sophia persisted, Trina walked out of the room playing with Amy. Sophia turned back to Dylan.
Now what happened? Dylan shrugged. He was trying to wrap his head around what he had done. Of all his screw-ups this had to be the biggest one of all. Sophia waited patiently, sitting next to him on the couch. Dylan sighed heavily before he spoke.
"I messed up my second chance with Stella." His voice shook, revealing his frailty. Sophia pulled him into her arms gently stroking his back. "I can't believe I was so stupid" Dylan muttered into Sophia's shoulder.
Sophia pushed him back so he could see her hands. You'll find a way to fix this Dylan. You found a way to fix it with everyone else. Dylan was already shaking his head by the time she finished. Sophia frowned slapped him across the face. Find a way to fix it Dylan or I'll step into this mess you've created. Dylan could tell she was serious from the expression on her face.
"I'll try" Sophia nodded giving him one last hug before she walked out of the room. Then Dylan put his head down and began to cry. He had no idea how to fix things with Stella. He was afraid that he wouldn't be able to either.
GroundBreak came a few days later. Dylan spent those days trying to fix his mistake, not sleeping and barely eating. When he showed up at the contest his pale complexion gave Kyle worry.
"Are you alright Dylan?" He asked putting a hand on his friend's shoulder. Dylan shrugged nodding tiredly. The rest of the Rebels ignored Dylan no longer considering him important. His usefulness was used up in their eyes.
Dylan milled about as the band got ready going over the thousand or so failed ways to earn another chance with Stella. Kyle stayed by his friend, watching Dylan pace the room. When the competition started, Kyle dragged Dylan with the band despite his protests.
Lemonade Mouth took the stage first starting out with Determinate with a large roar of approval from the crowd. They went through their old songs with Dylan watching them carefully—more specifically watching one girl in particular. Kyle noticed Dylan staring and he leaned over to whisper in Dylan's ear as a new song began to ring through the air.
"I-I don't know what you want" Stella sang glancing over at the Rebels "But I know what I want. I-I want you baby. I want you baby. Can't you see baby? I want you" Dylan perked up, pulling away from Kyle. From the look in Stella's eye, he knew this wasn't just any song. It was a message to him.
This was the song the band had played while he'd been showing them what he could do with a guitar. Scott was doing his best to recreate the lasting chords Dylan had played but the sound was rough. Dylan smiled at the unrefined notes. Scott was good but he couldn't copy Dylan's style.
The song began to wind down its sad echo bringing many of the crowd to tears. Dylan took a small step forward hesitating. He knew what he wanted to do but he couldn't make himself do it. Kyle helped him out giving Dylan a shove that tossed him onstage. Dylan stumbled his way into Stella's arms.
Without a word, Dylan slammed his lips onto Stella's. She resisted at first but eventually she melted into his embrace. The rest of Lemonade Mouth gathered around, cheering wildly. When Dylan broke the kiss the only thing he said was "I'm letting go" Stella smiled placing her head on his chest.
They all remembered they were in the middle of a competition and the band turned to bow to the audience. The audience reverberated with praise as Lemonade Mouth walked off. The Rebels quickly took their place.
Backstage Dylan was lost in the various hugs, slaps, punches and kisses he received. Mo came close to kicking him but when he didn't attempt to defend himself, she hugged him instead. Olivia kissed his cheek and Wen slapped him on the back. The other band members must have hugged or punched him but Stella stole his attention away with a long passionate kiss.
They were eventually pried apart by the rest of the band. Stella kept a tight grip on his arm as if afraid he was going to slip away the moment she released him. The band waited for the Rebels to finish. Before they went up the stairs, Mo turned toward Lemonade Mouth. "No matter whether we get a trophy today or not we still win because we got our friend back." The band nodded with wide smiles.
They headed up the stairs, Dylan trying to hang back. Stella tugged on his arm. "Come on" She said impatiently. Dylan protested trying to release Stella's grip.
"No. I'm not in the band Stella. I'll wait here." Lemonade Mouth stopped looking back to see the hold up. "I promise I'm not going to disappear. I've learned my lesson." Stella laughed at Dylan tugging on his arm again.
"You are a part of the band. Now get up the stairs before I have to carry you" Mo shouted down to them. Dylan sighed dramatically though there was a large smile on his face. Walking on stage with Lemonade Mouth holding Stella's hand, Dylan thought I've finally found a place where I belong.