Night's Children: Acteus Reus
AN: I stole the 'sit next to the boy who's the cutest' idea from the movie Donnie Darko. It was just too funny and I'm a creativity-sucking barnacle.
I have NO idea what Sledge's last name is. So I made one up. If anyone does know it, please tell me and I'll correct it.
Chapter Three: Imy Doesn't 'Do' Coping
Or
Art's Male Promiscuity Causes Problems
Art whistled along with the melody of his headphones absently as he draped a dust rag over the spare pieces of furniture within the apartment that he shared with Zahi. Today was cleaning day, and although it was a stretch of the imagination to accept, Art was actually a neat freak. It came with the package of being a servus for almost three decades. He sighed when he came across a pair of Zahi's mud-splattered boots lying on his newly cleaned carpet and made a mental note to talk to the older teen about his messy habits.
The door to the apartment suddenly swung open, and the aforementioned muddy-boot tracker entered their home, groaning tiredly and running a hand through his hair before he began pulling at it in sheer frustration.
Art, immediately realizing that something was off with his roommate and surrogate brother, switched off his beat to hell CD player, "What's up?" He greeted.
Zahi sent him a completely exasperated look, "Apparently, we're broke."
Art's face fell a little, "Broke? As in…"
"As in we have a rent payment to make and only about half the funding to make it." He clarified, shrugging off his coat and dumping it on the ground, treading across the floor with his dirty shoes. Art winced, he had just swept the doorway.
"How can we be broke? What about all the money we've saved up?" Art protested, setting his rag down on the table.
"The money's gone," Zahi muttered, "Almost all of our income was from the gigs we booked as Round Table, and Trysten's-" Both of them tensed a bit at the name, still somewhat a taboo around them, "-paycheck from the coffee house is what paid most of our rent."
Art shrugged, "Then we'll get jobs."
Zahi snorted, "How? By giving them a social security number for a teenager that should have died four hundred years ago and one that might not actually exist?" His face contorted, "Actually, I may even qualify as an illegal immigrant, and I doubt you have any sort of birth certificate?"
Art shook his head, "Nothing. I don't honestly even know how old I am."
"We could steal, I still have the abilities to turn into shadow and manipulate minds," The older of the two suggested.
"No stealing," Art shot down immediately.
Zahi sighed, "Then I guess we're going to have to start auditioning for a guitarist and vocalist."
Art winced, "It's too soon to start playing again, especially not without-"
"Then what are we supposed to do, Art? Trysten left us, and it's time we start dealing with that actuality." His dark eyes seemed to pierce right through him, "It's either we begin booking shows again or we don't eat. Your choice." He cleared his throat, "We can't keep canceling gigs, either."
Art's head hung, knowing that Zahi was right, but not wanting to admit it. A small, naïve part of him kept clinging to the hope that Trysten would walk through the apartment door and everything would go back to normal. But he was beginning to discover that reality was not that simple, "Our last pre-booked show is next weekend at the new club Erebus. Could we find suitable replacements by then?"
Zahi grimaced, "Isn't that the club rumored to be the new neutral spot for both sides of the Followers?"
Art nodded reluctantly, "It used to be The Dungeon, but it's obvious that the club is leaning more towards the Incinti side. Tensions were rising, and so it was relocated." He paused, and decided to take the more optimistic approach, "But if it's a neutral zone there's a low chance of being attacked."
Zahi rolled his eyes, "A low chance for Followers being attacked, the entertainment is still expendable."
The younger boy seemed deep in thought for a moment, before he hesitantly threw out a solution, "I think I have an idea for temporary replacements…"
"Who?" Zahi mumbled absently, cradling his head in his folded arms from where he sat at the table.
"What about Imy and Riley?" Art ventured, "Our fan base is familiar with them, since we used to play at a lot of the same venues, and they can hold their own against Followers if anything goes wrong."
Zahi stared at him, "They have their own band."
"But they can fill in, at least until we're back on our feet." Art reasoned, "It's only one show. Then we can go look for new musicians."
The brunette seemed to weigh this in his mind, "It could work, if only for the one show. Would they be willing to play for free?"
Art smiled, "Imy just sings for the fun of it, and I don't exactly see Riley as the penny-pinching type." He paused, "I'd have to ask them, of course."
Zahi nodded, seeming relatively relieved, "For once, Art, your male promiscuity has finally yielded a benefit."
He colored, "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
Zahi just sent him a meaningful look with an arched eyebrow, "Why don't you call Imy now, so we have plenty of time to look around if they're already booked?"
Art glanced at the clock that hung in the kitchen, "Actually, I should call her tomorrow. Imy's parents are having some sort of dinner party right now, and I'm sure she's busy being the polite hostess."
OoO
"Imy sit down," Kyle demanded of his irate teenage daughter that was currently pointing accusatorily at her mother from across the table.
"What do you mean she's moving here?!" She cried, her voice effectively demonstrating her horror.
Aria's face was buried in her hands, Tessa's was red from repressed laughter, and Riley's features were mimicking Imy's expression of righteous indignation perfectly, her emotions obviously influencing the empath's.
"Imy, what the hell has gotten into you?" Catty asked, bewildered by the outburst.
"Mom, how could you not tell me that the spawn was going to be my next door neighbor?!"
The aforementioned spawn was smiling a little bit too viciously, Tatum knowing full well the effect of her moving to Los Angeles would have on Imy.
"How could you?!" Contributed Riley, having lost her battle to handle Imy's irate feelings as she too stood up angrily. Realizing her lapse of control, she blushed sheepishly when she felt everyone's eyes on her, "I mean, it's really unfair…to um, Imy." She trailed off, slowly sitting back down, Imy giving her best friend an approving nod.
"Even Riley thinks this is crap!"
Tessa's control fell too, as she immediately began laughing at the outrageous spectacle that was Imy. Her chuckles escalated into loud and rather obnoxious snorting.
Groaning dramatically, Aria buried her face even deeper into her hands. How could she associate with these people?!
"Imy, I don't understand why you're so mad at me…I thought we were friends," Tatum piped up, really enjoying this.
"You just shut up!" Imy declared, "You've been plotting against me ever since I broke that stupid doll of yours in the first grade!"
Tatum rolled her eyes, "Imy, don't be ridiculous." It was true, "I would hardly be so immature as to carry a grudge around for ten years." A malicious glint was in her eyes.
Imy seemed to be the only one that saw it, "Are you calling me immature?!"
"Well, I'm not the one standing on top of a dinner chair," She commented smartly.
"You are calling me immature! How dare you!"
Emily looked nervously from her daughter to her husband, "Perhaps we should leave?" She questioned timidly. Sledge gave an enthusiastic nod. Dwier was silent, but a nasty smile was on his face as he listened intently to the conversation.
"QUIET!" Came the incredibly pissed off voice of Imy's father as he slammed his palms down flat against the table. After Kyle noticed that he now had everyone's undivided attention, he glared poisonously at his only child, "Imy, apologize to Tatum. Now."
"No way!"
"Imy."
"…I'm sorry," Her tone implied that she wasn't, or that her statement should be followed up by 'that you're such a bitch'.
"Apologize to Emily and Sledge," Kyle pressed.
"I'm sorry," This one was more genuine, as she slowly sat back down.
Riley, having Imy's fury somewhat abated, quickly went into action. A thin, gray cloud dispersed and hovered over Kyle, Catty, Tatum, Emily, Sledge, and Dwier's heads, sending out feelings of joviality and pacifism. It worked almost like a switch being flipped on, and the negativity around Imy's parents and the uneasiness around Tatum's family vanished.
"Good save," Mumbled Tessa from beneath her hand, desperately trying to stifle her laughter.
"You are all insane," Aria muttered.
Imy said nothing, but settled for glowering at the floor as she tried to reign in her outrage.
The dinner then continued on as usual, but no one seemed to notice a still rather angry Tatum, who was staring at Riley with an intensely thoughtful expression on her face throughout the rest of the night.
OoO
The next morning for Imy was spent glaring at her ceiling as she lay sprawled across her bed. This was not good, especially since it was a Friday morning and class started in roughly twenty minutes. She was still livid about the previous night, but had managed to restrain herself until Tatum and Co. had left. Then, after saying her strained goodnights to her friends and parents, she stormed up to her bedroom and had proceeded to throw a lamp rather violently across the room.
Deep down, deep down, she realized that she was being as immature as Tatum had accused her of being at dinner. But that didn't quell her ultimate frustration. Tatum was a manipulative, leech of a girl and Imy couldn't stand her. She was so fake, projecting a harmless and naïve persona around other people, but turning into a vicious snake as soon as everyone's backs were turned. She curdled her stomach like sour milk, and it took all of Imy's self control to remain tolerant of her during her family's sparse visits.
But now, now she was living roughly three blocks away from the Ormond residence, would be going to Turney High, and going to all the local hangouts Imy went to. She would always be there. The thought alone made her want to punch something into submission.
What's worse, is that she knew her poor attitude towards Tatum had upset her dad. Kyle was still very close friends with Emily and Sledge, and to have his only child constantly bickering with their daughter saddened him. Imy exhaled slowly, she didn't have a problem with anyone in that family except Tatum. Emily was like a nice soccer mom, Sledge was…Sledge, and Dwier was her best friend Riley with a Y chromosome and shorter temper.
"Imy, are you watching the time?" She heard her dad call from downstairs.
Her mouth twisted into a sneer. "No." She replied flatly, rolling over to look at the digital clock. Her eyes widened when she realized she had been spending the last thirty minutes brooding, "Shit!" She proclaimed- now Tatum was making her late to school too!
Scrambling around her room like a miniature hurricane, she quickly raked her jaggedly cut hair into a spiky bun while simultaneously pulling up a pair of fishnet thigh-high socks. She pulled on a tight, off the shoulder white tee shirt and nimbly buttoned a form-hugging suit vest over it. Darting out the door, she realized she had forgotten bottoms of any kind and quickly pulled on a short black skirt, swearing vehemently under her breath as she pulled on her combat boots and snagged her school bag off the floor before darting downstairs.
"Imy, what time is-" Kyle called from the kitchen.
"Can't talk! Running late!" Imy proclaimed as she opened the door to the house and slammed it shut after her.
Kyle blinked slowly before quietly laughing to himself as he helped himself to another bowl of Fruity Pebbles.
The soles of Imy's boots slapped angrily against the concrete sidewalk as she trotted to school, eyes darting to her wristwatch every few seconds followed by another swear. When had her school bag gotten so ridiculously heavy? After a few blocks of straight sprinting, she slowed and tried to raggedly catch her breath. Her gaze yet again went to her watch and she groaned. She was so late, there was no way that she would make it on time.
Her golden eyes widened, well there was one way… but it was risky, her mind being as scattered as it currently was she could suddenly teleport into the middle of a crowd at school. Plus, her mind trailed back to Jimena's chastisement:
"You need to exercise primarily in self restraint. Your powers are a gift from Selene to fight evil, not a toy."
Hesitantly she weighed her options, before another look at the time set her will in stone.
"Screw the consequences," She mumbled before a ring of white light formed at her heels and she vanished in an instant.
OoO
Art eyed the empty seat in front of him not for the first time, his green stare locating on it, before darting up to the wall clock. Imy was fifteen minutes late for class, if she was going to even bother showing up at all.
He sighed, trust his girlfriend to be mysteriously absent when he really needed to talk to her. To his side, he noticed that Aria was staring at the same spot, and he began to wonder if something was really wrong.
"Anderson-Moore," Grunted out their Literature teacher, a beastly woman in her early thirties who took great pride in being able to mutter out syllables drenched with the proper about of skepticism.
"Present," Aria said, giving Imy's empty seat another glance before digging out her notebook and text for the class.
"Bernacki?"
"Here."
"Costigan."
"Uh."
"Intelligible as always, Mr. Costigan," Their instructor said dryly, "Dob-"
The teacher was cut off as the door opened rather violently, a panting Imy standing in the entrance, "Sorry, I'm late-"
"Sit down, Ms. Ormond," The teacher spat in aggravation, "One more tardy and you qualify for a week's detention."
Imy winced, "Sorry, I promise I won't-"
"Not impressed. Take your seat."
Pouting, Imy quickly walked towards her seat, smiling happily at Art who gave a bashful grin back and a half wave to Aria who just rolled her eyes in mock exasperation.
The teacher cleared her throat, "Now, let's see, Dob-"
The door was flung open yet again.
"What?!" The teacher bellowed, not taking kindly to interruptions.
Her anger was quickly snuffed out when she saw it was Turney High's principal who had opened the door, "Mrs. Hunnigan, I have a new student here that just registered yesterday."
Imy's face fell slightly, Crap.
The principal immediately turned on his heel and left after he had dropped the student off. As soon as she entered, Imy felt that old familiar rage manifest itself. Her grip on the pencil began cracking it in half. Alarmed, Art turned to shoot Aria a questioning glance. The curly haired healer just slowly shook her head and gestured to the girl up front.
"Introduce yourself," Mrs. Hunnigan grunted.
A smile that was all teeth, "My name's Tatum McGuire, where should I sit?"
Mrs. Hunnigan rose an eyebrow, "Why don't you sit next to the boy who's the cutest?" She said acidly, obvious annoyed with having to give an actual answer to a question.
Naturally, this caused all the boys in class, save Art who knew better, to start demonstrating their obvious charm, if for nothing else than bragging rights. Tatum seemed to take Hunnigan's spiteful comment earnestly, for she actually started to evaluate every guy in the class. Imy sneered, typical Tatum prolonging her spotlight.
Finally, Tatum seemed to reach a conclusion, as she started to walk down Imy's aisle. Aria, noticing the direction Tatum's eyes were focused, tensed and prepared for another outburst from everyone's favorite teleporter.
Imy didn't seem to clue in, as she just watched Tatum like a hawk eyes a baby rabbit. When she saw her nemesis finally take the empty seat directly across from her boyfriend, she felt her anger rise, especially when she noted how Tatum started to make cow eyes at Art, while he squirmed uncomfortably in his seat.
The pencil in her grip snapped in half.
This was war.
OoO
"Imy, you're overreacting," Aria said flatly as she forced a forkful of salad into her mouth.
"How is attempting to tackle someone in the hall overreacting?" Imy demanded crossly.
Riley, sitting next to her, sighed, "Repeat what you just said."
"How is attempting to tackle someone in the hall overreacting?!" Imy repeated, too riled up to see the point of Riley's request.
The three girls were sitting outside in the courtyard, the weather perfect for spring. It was currently their lunch hour, and they were sitting on one of the halfway rotted park benches that littered the area in an attempt to make the school look rustic and endearing.
"I don't understand why you let her get under your skin so much, Imy," Aria chastised as she popped the tab for a soda, "Aren't you supposed to be the bubbly one?"
Imy's face contorted in barely suppressed fury, "She thinks my boyfriend's cute! She's moving in on my territory!"
Riley gave a little snort, but hid it innocently underneath her half-eaten soy burger as Imy's wrathful stare zeroed in on her.
Aria exhaled, trying to reason with the girl, "Lots of girls think Art's cute, Imy. It never bothered you before."
"This is different! She's doing it on purpose to undermine me!"
Aria wondered vaguely when she had started to become the mother figure of this unruly bunch of teens, "She didn't know that you're dating Art, Imy. How could she have? It's just a coincidence."
Imy tried to make an argument, but it came out as a series of repressed strangling noises, she turned to Riley for backup, but the girl shrugged- not wanting to get involved. Imy once again swore under her breath for having a complete pacifist as a best friend. Realizing that no one was going to readily agree with her, she tired out and decided to change subjects.
"What time do we need to be at the RockOut tonight?" She asked dejectedly, all the fight gone out of her.
Riley swallowed a bite of her food, "We're on at nine, so probably about seven?"
"So we're all meeting up at Tessa's before? Or after?" Aria asked, still a bit sketchy on the plan.
"After," Imy said, "That way we can start planning for tomorrow at Planet Bang, get the scope of the situation, yadda yadda yadda."
"Sounds good," Aria replied easily.
The two's conversation was interrupted by the sudden appearance of Carlos, who quickly slid in the seat next to Aria and hung an arm around her shoulders, placing a quick peck on the cheek.
"What's up?"
Aria's nose wrinkled, "You smell like seaweed."
He shrugged, "What else is new?"
Imy sighed and absently twirled a strand of her hair, "Have you seen Art? He should have been here by now."
Carlos seemed to be deep in thought, "Actually, yeah. He was walking around with some chick who had red hair- ugh, what was that for?" He demanded of his girlfriend after she had elbowed him roughly in the stomach.
She looked up at him far too innocently, "Hm? What are you talking about?" Her glare said Shut the hell up or I'll aim lower.
Carlos was sometimes oblivious to his surroundings, but he wasn't stupid, "Treatment like this makes me really reconsider my options, Aria." He pouted, then turned back to address Imy, "Why do you ask-?" His question fell short when he realized that there was now an Imy-sized empty space, "Hey, where'd she go?"
Riley looked up from a book she had started reading, "She stomped off angrily in that general direction," She said absently, jerking a thumb over her shoulder.
Aria huffed angrily, "Now you've done it." She muttered, gathering the rest of her lunch up before quickly going after Imy.
"Not a good idea," Mumbled Riley as Aria left, who was well-acquainted with Imy's hotheadedness.
"You're the empath, you should do something!" Aria demanded, halting in her step.
Riley sighed and shut the cover of her book, sending Aria an arch look, "You want me to calm Imy down? Not even my powers can do that right now." She slowly started packing up, however. Aria, noticing that Riley was going to catch up, then immediately went after the teleporter.
"Hey, wait-" Carlos sighed and turned towards his foster sister, "What did I say?"
Riley just shook her head and said dryly, "You'll understand girls when you're older," Before heaving her messenger bag over her shoulder and following Aria.
Carlos blinked heavily for a few moments, before absently muttering, "God I hope so, because they're all freaking nuts."
OoO
"And this is the school's library," Art said, awkwardly scratching the back of his neck, "It's got, er, books and stuff." He supplied helpfully.
The girl, Taylor or something like that, looked back at him helplessly, "Where's the cafeteria?"
Art's eyebrows furrowed together in confusion, "I thought I'd already shown you that-"
"I must have forgotten."
Art coughed into his hand, "Oh, well, it's that way." He said, pointing towards the opposite end of the hall.
"Could you take me there yourself? I have a horrible sense of direction," She coaxed, going as far as to bat her eyelashes.
Art winced slightly, he had been showing the new girl around the school for most of the lunch hour, at his principal's instruction. She needed someone to be her guide, and she chose Art. He didn't understand, he hadn't been overly friendly to her, in fact he was pretty sure he hadn't said two words to her aside from his listing the rooms as they passed by them. Sighing, he then muttered, "Sure."
Taylor seemed to be an airhead, he'd completely believe she couldn't find her way back to the cafeteria.
"Thanks so much!" She said, giggling slightly. Art cringed.
"Sure, no problem," He mumbled.
"Tatum," Came a grunt from outside of the library.
The strawberry blonde haired girl swerved on her heel and her eyes narrowed, "What do you want, Dwier?"
The moody boy stood there with his hands jammed in his pockets, impossibly deep voice sounding tinged with annoyance, "You're supposed to show me around."
Tatum rolled her eyes, "Art's showing me around."
Art let loose a breath of relief, finally an out! "Actually, I'm more than happy to show-"
"Dwier already knows where everything is," Tatum cut off smoothly.
Dwier blinked, "No, I don't." He said flatly, joining their party with a rather snide look at his sister.
Art just smiled, liking the irritable platinum haired boy more by the second, "Hi, I'm Arthur, but you can just call me Art." He said amiably, holding out a hand.
Dwier grunted, meaning that he processed the information. His eyes narrowed in on the proffered hand as if it was something contaminated.
"…okay, then." He said, quickly withdrawing the hand of friendship, "I'll show you guys where the cafeteria and courtyard is-" Art was yet again cut off.
"Art! Thank God we found you first!" Cried Aria as she sprinted over to him, Riley in tow, "Oh, hi Tatum, Dwier." She added as an afterthought.
"Hello." Tatum said through gritted teeth, not happy that there were more people intruding upon her time with the cute boy.
Another grunt from Dwier.
Art immediately tensed, seeing the frantic look in Aria's eyes and the slight concern in Riley's, "What's up?" He asked conspiratorially, "Are there…you know, 'F' words?"
Aria shook her head frantically, "Worse, Imy's-"
"YOU!"
Aria winced, "-not in a good mood."
Imy strode up to them, biting the inside of her cheek and clenching her fists at her sides, she poked Art soundly in the chest, "What the hell is your problem?!"
Art looked for help from either of his girlfriend's fellow goddesses. They didn't appear to have any.
"Hi Imy." Dwier said in a softer tone than usual.
Imy smiled brightly at the younger boy, "Hi, Dwier," Before immediately replacing her 'angry face' as she stared at Art, "Well?"
Art's features were the portrait of confusion, "I'm…sorry?"
"Imy, leave him alone," Tatum piped up, now thoroughly aggravated due to her rival's presence.
"You! YOU!" Imy's angered brain couldn't come up with an insult, so she just settled for a glare.
Aria nudged Riley on the side, "Now would be a good time."
Riley surveyed the scene, before resolutely nodding. After a few seconds she made a repulsed face.
"What is it?" Aria whispered.
"There's enough puppy love in this five foot radius to smother all of Los Angeles," She said disgustedly, before refocusing. Slowly, gray tendrils- invisible to the normal eye, wrapped around Imy, not removing her angered emotions, but distributing a sense of level-headedness to allow her to cease her outburst.
Imy inhaled deeply, then took a step back from Art, a lot more sedate than her previously raving attitude, "Art, can I talk to you for a second?" She said flatly.
Art gaped at Imy, then turned and realized that Riley was raising her eyebrows at him. He gave a dry swallow, "Promise not to be violent?"
"…"
"Right, then," Art said carefully, allowing his girlfriend to grab his hand and drag him off.
"Wait, he was supposed to show me the-" Tatum protested, but was cut off as Aria grabbed her forearm with a little more force than necessary.
"Riley and I would be more than happy to show you the rest of the school," She said sweetly, "Isn't that right, Riley?"
Riley shrugged, "Not really."
Tatum threw her arms up in the air, "Never mind," She cried a bit too melodramatically before she stormed away in a manner very similar to Imy's, "Stupid Imy, taking the spotlight…" She said under her breath.
Groaning, Aria turned to Dwier, "Do you need any help?"
Dwier stared at her levelly, "I think I'm going to figure it out on my own."
"Smart," Riley agreed.
OoO
"What were you doing with her?" Imy asked crossly as soon as they were out of hearing range.
Art's eyes widened, "Just showing her around school…wait, that's what this is about?"
Imy huffed and crossed her arms, "She happens to be my most hated nemesis since childhood, but oh, you ditching me to give her a private tour isn't a big deal. No, not at all."
"Imy, I wasn't ditching you, the principal asked me to do it." He said clearly. "What's the matter with you today? You're not normally like this."
At that statement, plus the genuine concern in her boyfriend's stare, all of Imy's rage seemed to deflate, she sighed bitterly, "It's just…I'm…" She tensed, not used to saying the next statement, "I guess I'm jealous."
Art's eyes widened, "Of me? I'm flattered."
She groaned, "Don't joke."
"Now I'm offended."
Imy couldn't help the small smile that crawled up her face, "It's just that Tatum's always been better at everything, and I guess I'm still pissed off at the fact that she's living here now, going to the same school and everything." She pouted, "Liking the same guys…"
Art gave an understanding smile and pulled Imy into a hug, "Imy, if I got worked up over all the guys that were better than me and crazy about you, I'd go nuts." He paused and looked at her, "'Sides, you could probably kick her ass any day, she seems rather girly and ditzy."
"Aw," Imy cooed appreciatively, "How do you always know what to say to cheer me up?" She mumbled, burying her face in his chest and inhaling deeply.
A faint trace of a blush was on his face, "Habit, I guess."
The bell, signaling that lunch was over, rang and Imy pulled away, "Are you coming to The RockOut tonight?"
"Of course," He said, then mentally kicked himself, "I have something important to ask you…"
"What is it?" She asked, tensing and wondering what kind of question he was going to pose.
"Will you sing for me?"
Imy's eyebrows furrowed, "Right now? Art, that's kind of weird-"
He groaned, "No, not right now. I meant for Round Table."
"Oh," Her confusion flitted away and she mentally berated herself for her stupidity, "I can't quit my band, Art-"
"It's just for one show," He amended hastily, "We need you and Riley to fill in for…to fill in so we can play at our last pre-booked show and pay our rent."
Imy blinked slowly, "Where and when?"
"Next weekend, at Erebus." He said.
"Erebus?" Her ears perked at the familiar name, "The new club for Followers?"
"Yep."
She smiled, "That's perfect, actually. We were supposed to book a show there ourselves so we could infiltrate the place and check out Absinthe-"
Art interrupted, "Absinthe? You know they're going to be trouble."
Imy nodded, "Which is why we'll need all the help we can get." She paused and rubbed her chin thoughtfully, "Do you know if they're playing the same night?"
Art shrugged, "I could look into it. Honestly, Zahi and I were more concerned with actually having a full band."
Another bell sounded, signaling that the two were now late for class.
She grinned reassuringly, "I'll ask Riley, I'm sure she won't mind, and I'll talk specifics with you and Zahi tonight?"
The drummer smiled, a huge anxiety taken off his chest now that they actually had a roster, or at least a vocalist. "I'll be there."
Quickly, Imy smirked and pressed her lips against his before rapidly turning around and going to class. Dazedly, Art grinned and sighed.
"Girls are freaking nuts."
OoO
Poor Art hehe. I love tormenting the nice guys.
There was going to be a RockOut scene in this chapter, but it's getting a bit too long for that, so it'll be in the next one. Thus, the end of 'normal' scenes and the beginning of Daughter stuff : )
Up Next: The RockOut, a severely awkward moment for Aria, and Twiggy gives an eloquent Shakespearean soliloquy in a dead language
…okay, maybe not the last one.
!nym!