Aston’s lips leave mine and I’ve never seen someone get up so quickly. He jumps off me using lightning speed and stands on the floor at the end of my bed as Dad just plain gawks at him.

“Have you got a boner?” Dad yells and I open my eyes wide in horror as Aston moves his hands to cover his groin.

“No sir,” he lies shaking his head.

“How long’s this been going on?” Dad shouts again and we both shake our heads.

“I’m sorry. Nothing was going on. I swear,” Aston says sounding terrified as Dad laughs at him.

“Kid, I just saw you snogging my seventeen-year-old daughter. To me, that is certainly something!” Dad says still glaring at Aston like he wants to kill him.

I sit up on the bed and fold my arms across my chest. “Dad, we weren’t doing anything wrong!”

“Annie, while you’re under my roof you will abide by my rules. That means no boys in the bedroom… ever! Now get out Aston before your dad hits me because I’ve hit you.”

“Dad, stop it! Aston, you don’t have to leave—”

“Aston, if you want to stay friends with my daughter then you will leave. And you won’t ever think about touching her in any way ever again, not even a hug until she is at least… I don’t know… thirty. Then we can talk again, but for now get out!” Dad yells and I look at Aston, who has not only a terrified look on his face, but his body is stiff as a board.

Aston looks at me and half-smiles and then walks over to the door where Dad is standing and he turns sideways edging past him trying not to get too close in case Dad decides to hit him. He squeezes past my unmoving dad and then takes one last look back at me and smiles. Dad turns his head toward Aston and he jumps and then quickly runs out down the hall and away from me.

“Are you proud of yourself?” I ask and he looks back at me and furrows his brows.

“Annie, you’re too young for this—”

“You can be such an over-protective arsehole sometimes, you know that? That was my first ever kiss and you ruined it! Just like you ruin everything! I hate you! Get out!” I yell at him as I feel embarrassment flooding over me. The embarrassment that we got caught, but more embarrassed by how Dad just kicked Aston out. I can’t help the tears that start to fall.

Dad winces and shakes his head. “You might hate me, but it’s for your own good. And I still love you anyway, but stay in your room and don’t come out until Anna and Johnny have taken their grubby-handed son home.”

Anger surges through me that he has turned something that was so beautiful, so perfect, so right, into something I feel embarrassed and ashamed about.

“Get out!” I yell and pick up a pillow throwing it at him.

He ducks out of the way and huffs. “See, if you can’t act grown up when I tell you off. Then you sure as hell aren’t grown up enough to be doing whatever was happening between you two,” he says and I scream at him.

“Ahhh,” I yell and pick up my water bottle on my bedside table and throw it at him then I follow it with anything else I can find. Some hit, most miss and he just stands there glaring at me as I scream and throw random shit at him. When I get to the last thing I can possibly throw, which is another pillow I throw it hard and it smacks him right in the face.

“Are you done now?” he asks.

I burst into tears and collapse onto the bed. “I hate you!” I say through a sob and he huffs and throws the two pillows back toward the bed.

“Get some sleep Annie, and we’ll talk about this tomorrow when you’ve calmed down,” he says and I turn my back to him and put up my middle finger.

“Fuck off and get out!” I yell and he huffs and then I hear footsteps and my door slams shut. I turn over to see he’s gone and I instantly feel relieved. I can’t believe he ruined everything. Aston will probably never come near me again, just as I realised that him being near me was exactly what I wanted all along.

I lean down and pick up the two pillows from the floor by my bed and pull them up and then rest down on them. I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket, so I pull it out to see a message from Aston. My heart skips a beat and then pounds really fast.

What if he doesn’t want to kiss me again?

What if Dad really did scare him off?

I swipe the screen tentatively and hold my breath waiting for the message to come up.

 

Aston: Best kiss ever! A1 xo

 

Is all it says and I laugh and wipe away my tears from my cheeks. At least he still cares. I hit reply.

 

Me: Sorry about Dad, I’m so embarrassed! A2 xxxx

 

I hit send.

 

Aston: Don’t be, he was just angry. He’s scary when he’s angry. A1 xo

 

I laugh and nod. I hit reply.

 

Me: He’s not scary just a big grumpy old fart. Harmless really. R u still here? xxxx

 

I hit send.

 

Aston: No, just left. Ur dad said that they better take me home before I corrupt u or something. Mum said that Colt was being a dick and he got all huffy. So sorry, if he’s even angrier at u now. I told Mum to let it go, and ur mum was really good about it, but yeah we left so it would stop the arguing. Dad just gave me a high five lol A1 xo

 

I giggle and shake my head, of course, his dad, Johnny, would high five him. I hope his mum, Anna, is okay? I know her and Dad can butt heads sometimes when it comes to us. Anna is more… let us do what we want. Whereas Dad… is all rules, rules, rules. Maybe we just need to learn for ourselves once and a while? I hit reply.

 

Me: Sounds like I missed out, r u still coming over tomoz? xxxx

 

I hit send.

 

Aston: Yep, of course. Apparently there’s no school. We’re rehearsing all day for some reason. Not that I mind. lol I’ll be there at ten. Try and stop me :) A1 xo

 

I smile and wipe the last of the wetness from my cheeks and hit reply.

 

Me: Okay, looking forward to seeing u. Guess I’ll try to get some sleep. Have a good night.

A2 xxxx

 

I hit send and roll over plugging my phone in the charger.

 

Aston: Night Lennox, sleep well. I know I will now. Might be dreaming of someone, but shhh don’t tell anyone ;) A1 xo

 

I smile and bite my bottom lip and walk over to pick up my Slayed T-shirt to get dressed for bed.

 

***

 

My dream is like a symphony running through my mind. The notes all flowing harmoniously and merging into a fantastic new song. The rhythm is slow, but with a steady beat. There're no words only melody and my heart is jumping along with every chord. It’s blissful and I know this song is going to be a hit. I just need some lyrics. An image of the willow tree floats through my subconscious and I wonder why it’s in my musical fantasy land. But it soon disappears and is replaced by a sea of string instruments making the musical piece even better. The song is slowly concluding and I will for it to be on repeat, but the music is fading and the realm I am in turns black and then I wake up suddenly. My room is still dark as I look at the clock on my table. Three forty-seven a.m. I shake my head and turn on the bedside light and pull open my drawer grabbing my notebook. I pick up a pen and start to write down everything I can remember. The beats, the harmony, the melody, the strings… everything, and later on today I might take Aston under the willow tree so he can help me piece this all together and maybe, just maybe, we can share another kiss.

 

***

 

I wake from the same dream that seems to be on repeat and I feel blissfully happy. Normally I don’t wake on my own, Mum always has to wake me up, but today I feel refreshed and energised. It could be from the dream or probably from the realisation that I do like Aston and that kiss! Oh my God, I never knew kissing could be so amazing. I stretch and yawn as I sit up in bed and look over at the time. It’s nearly nine a.m. the time I’m supposed to get up anyway. I step out of bed with a new found spring in my step and make my way to the bathroom.

I head downstairs after getting dressed in some tight leather pants and a black tank that is slightly ripped across the shoulders and stomach, giving it a real rock and roll feel. I’m sure Dad will hate it. I giggle to myself as nothing can break this good mood I’m in. I walk into the kitchen to the smell of coffee and bacon, and that only enhances my good mood.

“Morning,” I chime out to Mum and Dad, who are at the stove cooking. They both turn and look at me like they’ve seen a ghost.

“What?” I ask as I almost skip to the dining table and sit down.

“Umm… who are you and what have you done with our moody, morning hating teenager?” Mum asks with a giant smile.

“What? So I’m not allowed to get up and be happy for once?” I reply and she shakes her head while Dad just stares at me like he thinks I’m an imposter.

“No, of course, honey. It’s just you haven’t gotten up on your own for… well, since you were about five?”

“Yeah, you’re probably right. I just feel good this morning that’s all,” I say while opening up the paper and look for the comic section.

“Does this have anything to do with the kiss you and Aston shared last night?” Mum asks and Dad huffs.

“Let’s not talk about that right now, okay? I can’t shake the image from my head as it is,” Dad states and I roll my eyes while Mum looks at me. She smiles so brightly and winks at me, then turns back to the stove to finish with the bacon.

Not long after Ella comes down and she’s dressed to perfection like always. We really have polar opposite tastes in clothing. As a family, we eat breakfast together and not long after I’m in the music room waiting for everyone else to arrive. But mainly one person in particular. He hasn’t sent me any messages this morning, but I am bursting to see him. I know Dad is going to be here with us all day today, so I realise that will stop us from having any time together. Ella and Dad walk into the music room as I am tuning my guitar and the doorbell rings.

“I’ll get it. Annie stay here,” he says and I furrow my eyebrows in confusion and shake my head as he rushes out the door.

“What was that about?” Ella asks and I shrug.

“I guess he’s going to be a dickwad today and try and stop me and Aston from having any time together,” I say and she smiles brightly.

“I heard Dad and Aston’s Mum arguing over the fact that Dad found Aston on top of you snogging your brains out,” Ella says with a smirk.

I try to hide my smile as I touch my lips remembering his affectionate kiss. “Yeah, that might have happened,” I tease and her eyes open wide.

“So tell me, how was it? Kissing I mean? Is it as amazing as it is in the movies?” Ella asks.

“Even better than the movies Ella,” I say and she jumps on the spot.

“So what does this mean? Are you and Aston a thing now?” she asks quietly and before I have a chance to answer Aston, Caleb and Dad walk into the music room shutting down our conversation.

My eyes meet Aston’s and he glances at me giving me a very quick, awkward smile but then he turns away from me and looks down at the ground. My heart is racing at seeing him and somehow today he looks even more gorgeous than I’ve ever seen him before. The hairs on my arms rise up and that tingling shoots straight through me making my breathing increase slightly. I notice my palms are sweating and I rub them on my pants, just in case Aston wants to grab my hand, which I hope he does.

“So we’re just waiting on Chad, then we can rehearse and I can tell you all your exciting news,” Dad says as Aston walks straight past me without acknowledging my presence.

I furrow my brows as I watch him pass me. My heart races faster as I get an awkward feeling in my gut. I feel like something is off and even though I want to be near Aston so much it hurts, it seems he’s doing everything in his power to not be near me at all. I frown and look at Ella, who shrugs and winces apparently picking up on the weird vibe emanating throughout the room.

“Right, so if everyone wants to start getting their instruments ready while we wait,” Dad says breaking the awkward tension. I huff and strap my guitar on while continuing to tune it as Aston picks up his bass and wraps it around himself. I wish I was his bass guitar right now, being so close to him and those abs.

Someone clears their throat and I realise I was staring at Aston’s stomach. I look up to see Dad staring at me and I roll my eyes and continue tuning, but still taking sideways glances at Aston, who isn’t looking at me at all. I feel uneasy. Maybe he doesn’t want me anymore? Maybe Dad scared him so much he realised I’m not worth the fuss? Either way I’m not feeling anything from Aston right now other than the cold shoulder, so I have no idea how this rehearsal is going to go.

The doorbell rings and we all look at Dad to see if he is going to answer, but he looks at me and then to Aston.

“Ella sweetheart, will you go let Chad in please?” he asks and we all raise an eyebrow at him in confusion.

“But I’m tuning my guitar?” she replies.

“You have all day to do that, just go answer the damned door,” he says sounding frustrated.

“Okay sheesh, don’t get your panties in a twist,” she says unstrapping her guitar and walking out of the room.

“Don’t talk to me like that, Ella,” Dad calls out, he seems really on edge. I wonder if this is all because he obviously wants to be around me all day to make sure I don’t make out with Aston again. Which by the looks of things isn’t going to happen because, at the moment, he doesn’t even want to look at me.

This sucks!

I glance over at Aston, who’s purposely avoiding me. This is not how today was supposed to go… at all. He was supposed to walk into the room and come over and wrap me in his strong arms and hold me tightly. Maybe even lean down and kiss me softly, but instead I’m being rejected and I have no idea why? I feel maybe he’s regretting what happened last night and that he’s changed his mind and realised that I’m really not worth it. I swallow a lump in my throat and try to fight back the tears threatening to fall as Chad walks in with Ella. Dad smiles as Chad talks about some new brand of hair wax he is trying out. His hair looks exactly the same as it always does a blond mess, more like a nest. I’ve never met anyone who looks so scruffy in all my life, even I at least try to match my clothes.

“Okay, now that we’re all here I can announce what is happening today and tonight. Today we’re rehearsing and then tonight, a band has pulled out of a three band concert, so Rob has lined up your first live and paying gig—”

“Holy shit!” Caleb and I both yell out in unison.

“Seriously?” Ella asks while Chad stands there with his mouth open looking shocked. I don’t look over to Aston because if he still doesn’t look at me I’ll be heartbroken.

“Yes seriously. So today I am going to coach you about performing live. Even though I know you’ll be fine, it’s different having a large audience to play to instead of your family.

“We can handle it,” I say honestly. I know we can. We’ve all been around large crowds so performing in front of them will be easy as.

Dad pulls us in for a long talk about stage etiquette and how to work the crowds. He talks about living in the moment and blah, blah, blah… I tune out after the first hour because he’s boring me and I have the attention span of a goldfish. So my mind wanders to Aston and to what he is thinking. We’re all sitting in a horseshoe shape and Aston is two people away from me so I can only just see him, but I wish I knew what he was thinking. He looks so intense and I don’t know if that’s because he’s taking it all in or because he seriously doubts everything. Me, our friendship, the band? I have no idea and I wish I could just get a second alone with him to figure out the broody depressed look on his face.

It makes me uneasy and even when we break from Dad’s pep talk and we start to practice Aston doesn’t come near me. We always lean on each other, but every time I turn my back to him letting him know I’m waiting for him to back up into me, he does nothing but look down at the ground and play his bass. He’s still rocking it and we sound great, but my enthusiasm and energy isn’t at its normal peak.

Dad hasn’t left the room all day and whenever I’d leave the room he would follow. I know he’s trying to make sure Aston and I aren’t alone together, but I honestly don’t think he needs to worry about that because Aston is avoiding me as much as humanly possible. He hasn’t said one word to me. Not even a hello, and I have this aching feeling in my gut that things are not okay between us, and that whatever we shared last night was the end of our friendship. And that thought is killing me right now.