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31
Jade
Derrik sings a lyric that I wrote down while I sit behind the mixing board. In the last couple of days, I’ve been re-recording some of the songs I liked that Jimmy Richards stole. Being back in my home-away-from-home studio, I’ve wanted the guys around a lot more. EJ recorded a couple of fantastic sessions on his guitar that inspired a few new lyrics. I still don’t know if I’ll ever release this stuff, but it feels great to be getting some of my own ideas out of my system again. And, surprisingly, it’s even better that my brother and the boys are around me. I thought I needed a clean slate to record this stuff, but it turns out, I’ve been bubbling over with new songs and rhythms since they’ve been around.
“That’s amazing, Derrik,” I tell him over the speaker. He gives me a thumbs-up.
“Dude, no way!” Maddox says, entering the room with EJ. He’s carrying two brown paper bags, and EJ holds a tray of soft drinks. “How can you even say that?”
EJ laughs, shutting the door with his foot. “Because she’s hotter, that’s how.”
“The guys are back with the burgers,” I tell Derrik in the studio. “Want to take a break?” Nodding, he takes off his headset and comes out to us. “Who’s hotter?” I ask them.
Maddox scoffs. “This guy thinks Charlize Theron is hotter than Scarlett Johansson.”
Derrik laughs, entering the room and hearing them. “He has a point.” He sides with EJ. “Have you seen those perfume commercials Theron is in?”
Maddox shakes his head. “Two words: Black Widow. Not the Avengers movies, though, no. I’m talking Iron Man 2 Black Widow. RDJ said it best; ‘I want one.’”
All of us burst into laughter, and Derrik starts dispensing the burgers and fries out. Taking a French fry, I bite a piece then point it at EJ. “How would Skye feel about this conversation, EJ?”
Derrik and Maddox both glance over, their interest piqued. Surprisingly, EJ doesn’t even hesitate. “We have our lists already picked out.”
Maddox scoffs. “You put Charlize Theron on your celebrity freebie list. Seriously?”
“Dude! She’s hot!”
Another round of laughs floats between us. Digging into our lunch, EJ and Maddox continue to bicker back and forth on hotter actresses, while I scribble down new pieces of lyrics that pop in my head.
My brain’s been Austin-free recently, except for the occasional memory that pops in. What makes it difficult is that they aren’t bad memories. I wish they were because it’d make it easier to hate him and want nothing to do with him again. But they’re good memories. Like the time I met his mom, or when we went undercover on the beach. Little things that had nothing to do with the music industry at all. They were simply moments I started to feel something I hadn’t felt in a long time. With him. And I wish I could forget them because when I do remember what he did to me, it makes it all the more painful.
Finishing our lunch, we decide to work on a few more songs for our record, and Maddox ventures into the studio to lay down some more drum tracks. Derrik and I argue about the placements of lyrics, and EJ chimes in that there aren’t enough guitar hooks. Maddox wants a harder sound in one of the songs, and I tell them I think there should be a softer edge to another one we’ve been toying around with. All in all, it’s like any other day creating music with my family—arguing, exchanging ideas, and humorous bickering about what sounds better.
After a few more hours, we leave the studio, walking out toward the parking garage. The arguing about who’s hotter has started up again, only this time it’s between Halle Berry and Selma Hayek. EJ chooses Hayek while Derrik picks Berry. Maddox refuses to choose. “They’re both too hot. You can’t choose between them, it’s unconscionable,” he tells them, making us all laugh.
My laughter comes to an abrupt stop. Austin leans against his shiny Range Rover; he’s dressed in his usual jeans, Vans shoes, and a white T-shirt that’s covered with a gray hooded sweater. Chewing on his lips nervously, his eyes meet mine, and he offers a small wave.
“No way. Hell no.” Maddox steamrolls his way over to him.
“Hold on.” Austin lifts his hand in defense, while Derrik and EJ get between the two. “I didn’t come here to fight.”
“She told you to drop it, douchebag,” Maddox yells at him. “What about that don’t you understand?”
“Maddox,” I call over to my brother. It’s not a harsh command because I do wish Austin would just leave.
Maddox glances over his shoulder, eyeing me carefully. I nod that it’s okay, then meet Austin’s gaze. “What do you want?”
“To explain things. Please, I didn’t mean—”
“I don’t care what you meant or didn’t mean to do. You stabbed me in the back. And not only that, but you did it by playing on my emotions. You’re lower than garbage.”
I’m happy I’m finally able to say the words, but they hurt. Not only because they remind me about what he did, but because he looks gutted after he hears them. I force myself to not feel any pity for his feelings, though. He did this.
Reaching in his pocket, he walks closer, and Maddox straightens his shoulders. Derrik stays in front of him, keeping his hand on my brother’s chest just in case. Austin pulls out a small device that looks like a black rectangle. “This is yours.”
He holds it out, but I don’t move. EJ takes it, eyeing it for a moment, before glancing back at me.
“I don’t want anything that has to do with you, Austin. Not anymore,” I tell him.
