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I used to dream of what being a musician would be like. I never regretted leaving the band. At the time, I made the choice I thought was best for me. But now? With the opportunity presenting itself again, can I refuse?
“We can get you a keyboard,” Cal says, one side of hismouth curling up into a half smirk. He knows I’m close to saying yes.
“Shouldn’t you . . . I don’t know . . . vote?” I ask.
“Kai! Willa! Can you come here for a second?” Cal yells over my shoulder. I turn to see them both walking towards us.
“We haven’t even started sound check yet. What could you possibly have to complain about?” Willa asks, and I snort. I love my brother, but he can be a real diva.
“I want Belle back in the band. She wants us to vote,” he explains.
“Wait! You didn’t even let me decide yet,” I try to protest, but he ignores me.
“Hell yeah! My vote is yes!” Willa yells and then throws her arms around me.
“I vote yes,” Mav says quietly.
“Obviously, I’m a yes. Kai?” Cal turns to Kai, waiting for his answer. His features are frozen and a muscle in his jaw is ticking. His eyes find mine, and I can see the conflict warring behind them.
“You all voted yes. My vote doesn’t matter.” Kai turns and walks away.
Willa watches him go, looking like a disappointed parent.
My first instinct is to decline the offer because of Kai’s reaction. He was part of this band from the beginning and if he doesn’t want me to be a part of it with him, I won’t be.
But the submissive Belle, the one I was beaten down into being, she’s slowly leaving.
Defiant Belle has arrived, and she’s here to stay.
“I’ll do it.”
ten
BELLE
Watchingthem on stage is surreal. Cal offered me tickets to their Boston shows during their first ever tour, but I made up some excuse about why I couldn’t go. I don’t remember what it was at this point. Then I met Brad, who said that punk rock wasn’t a real genre of music. Now that I’ve been able to distance myself from him, I think my brother’s success threatened him. Or possibly that three of the members have penises.
Shattered Halo brought down the house. It may have not been a sold-out show, but the audience more than made up for it. They ended with the song I wrote. I’ve heard it played on the radio a ton but seeing it in person and not being involved in that was strange.
I was second guessing agreeing to play with them again right until the first slap of Willa’s sticks. The crowd aspect still scares me, but the thrill of playing outweighs it. Plus, Maverick wasn’t wrong. The songs are missing something. They might need keyboards and female vocals. At least I can offer that.
“What did you think? We’re good right? We’re going to be amazing with you!” Cal asks excitedly the moment he finds me backstage. He’s sweaty and the excited bouncing he’s doing is sending the sweat everywhere.
“Gross, Cal!” I complain, trying to get away from the sweat shower.
“You’re coming to the pub with us, right?” Willa asks, coming to stand next to Cal. She looks like a total badass. She drummed in a lacy red bralette and high-waisted black jeans. I don’t know how she kept everything in.
“Yeah, I’ll meet you in your dressing room,” I assure her with a smile.
“Belle! Come on. You have to tell me what you think!” Cal whines. There are people all around us, backstage passes hanging from their necks, trying to get his attention. The security team is keeping them away, but I can’t figure out how he’s so unbothered by them.
“She thinks you’re an idiot and is probably wondering why your nipples are always showing,” Mav remarks as he walks past us and winks.
Cal looks down at himself with a frown. He’s wearing a black shirt he cut the arms and half the sides off of, so the sides of his chest are on display. Nipples too, depending on how he’s moving.
“Women love this look!” he shouts at Mav’s back. There are quite a few shouts of agreement coming from the women near us.
“I’m going to go meet up with Willa.”
