the car. I know you’re pissed at me for ditching you….” She runs her hand through her curls. “You have to understand, though: I need to get a scholarship. I gotta get out of here, you know? My dad’s been acting weird again these past couple months, and his new girlfriend isn’t helping matters….” She trails off. “Just know that it’s not personal, okay? I love you, obviously.”
“I get it.” I feel like a self-centered bitch. “I’m sorry. I love you too.”
“I know.” She glances at her watch. “I hate to cut this short, but I gotta get to the thing, okay?”
I nod and motion for her to lead the way.
I’ve been trapped in this room for about ever with Conor, Matt, and fucking Rosaline, who apparently now goes everywhere with Matt. When I walked in with Conor earlier, Rosa’s eyes opened so wide I’m surprised they didn’t pop right out of her head. It’s been thrilling thus far, sitting here, watching my best friend make nice with my ex-friend and my ex-girlfriend make out with the same ex-friend. It’s like one of those stupid CW shows Gwen likes so much come to life, and one of the main reasons I haven’t been to one of these practices in months. I’d rather be at home, listening to my dad’s TV blaring from his bedroom upstairs, eating a frozen dinner alone, than here. I’d rather be anywhere but here.
Matt’s being a total bag of dicks too, big surprise. Whenever I remember how once upon a time I was under the impression that we were friends, it makes me feel like a moron, not to mention question why I even wanted to be friends with him in the first place. He’s a tool who’s currently kissing his girlfriend with his eyes open and glancing at me to see if I’m watching. The whole thing is creepy as fuck. Rosa really picked a winner there.
I’m gathering my stuff, getting ready to tell Conor that I’m bailing, when the door to the room creaks open and this beautiful girl pops her head into the room. She does a quick survey of the setup, which, let’s be honest, is a total mess and super–amateur hour, and then her eyes fall on me.
“Hey.” She waves from the doorway.
I raise my hand in a halfhearted hello in response.
“This the band audition? For the drummer of Proper Noun and the Noun?”
I nod.
“Nice!” She pumps her fist and walks into the room, then glances behind her. Another girl trails in a second later. She’s dressed in tight black jeans and a ratty-looking T-shirt and is clutching her bag in both hands like it might defy gravity and take off into outer space at any moment. Her dark hair hangs in front of her face, but when she blows it off and glances around the room, I realize it’s the girl from drama class earlier today. The one with the great smile, who made me feel like a human being for a minute. What is she doing here?
The first girl comes over to me, all confident and oozing sex, and sticks her hand out.
“Lucy,” she says.
The couch I’m sitting on is so old that it takes me a few seconds to struggle my way out of its bent coils and stand so I can properly greet them. I glance at the second girl to make sure she didn’t witness my complete lack of coordination, and of course she’s staring right at me. We lock eyes, and she raises an eyebrow and smirks. I bite my bottom lip and look away as fast as humanly possible.
“Hey. Zach.” I shake the Lucy girl’s hand, which is weird because I haven’t shaken another kid’s hand, like, ever, but I’m barely concentrating on her even though she’s a total smoke show. I can’t help glancing over at her friend again, hoping she’ll make a move to introduce herself.
“So…this is the band, huh?” Lucy surveys the room and doesn’t seem too turned off, which is a miracle. If I were her, I’d make a break for it. All the guys in the band are just milling around, ignoring that