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"Thank you," she says forainst the front of ht it was tie"

That comment makes Jaxon sad I can see it in his fallen expression and the way his shoulders sort of sluuy I feel so bad for his lately and I so," I say, atte to break the aard tension as I head toward the driver’s side "We have to go pick up so hoer side of the car

She shakes her head, opening the door "Nah, I thought I’d stay here and catch up on some schoolwork I’ve kind of fallen behind the last feeeks"

Probably because she’s been spending a lot of ti, or whatever the hell she was doing that day

"Are you going ho at hi with a leather band on his wrist as twinkle lights sparkle in the background, highlighting the sadness in his eyes "Nah, I’ and his family"

"New York Holy shit How fun" She rests her arms on top of the car door while I debate whether I should just cli to avoid Jaxon getting o there"

"I know you have" He steps for her with this look in his eyes like he’s about to ask her so really important

That’s o, otherwise Tristan’s going to head out on his own to go shopping and, well, I can only iine what he’ll buy for us to eat for Christmas dinner"

"Probably TV dinners" Lea chuckles under her breath "Yeah, we should get going" She waves at Jaxon, who looks crushed "It was nice catching up with you Hope you have a blast in New York" She lowers her head into the car and cliives me the dirtiest look, like I’ve just hit hi it’s because I broke up the conversation, but it’s for his own good I know for a fact that right now Lea’s not looking to get back together with him Maybe in the future, but I won’t say for sure because the future is always changing

After I get into the car, buckle my seat belt, and drive down the road, Lea turns to e favor to ask you"

"It wouldn’t by chance be helping you get back together with Jaxon, would it?" I ask with false hope

"No" She frowns "Nova, I already told you that isn’t happening"

"I knohat you said, but I’e your e the subject "Okay, tell htens up a little "I need you to play with ape at her as I slow the car down for a stop sign It’s fairly late, the sun descending behind the hills, but there’s still enough light that I can see Lea’s face clearly "Band? Since when are you in a band?"

She pulls a whoops face "Oh yeah I should probably explain that part, huh?"

I nod as I press on the gas "Yeah, that would be aweso about"

"Hey, there’s no need to get snippy," she says "I kept it a secret for a good reason"

"And what’s that?"

She bites her thuht left, painting the sky bright orange and pink "Because…" She sighs, lowering her hand onto her lap "Look, I get that you like Jaxon, but he just wasn’t the right guy for me, so I need you to remember that when I tell you what I’m about to tell you"

"I don’t think you need to tellone of your band ue about what you’ve been doing the last couple of months"

She hesitates and then nods "Well, that and I’ve been sneaking off to band practice"

"But what about the football ga?"

"Oh, Brody also plays football"

"Brody’s the guy you’re dating, I’," I say, unable to hide the disdain in my voice Brody? What kind of name is Brody anyway? It sounds like awith me?

She tucks a fallen strand of her hair behind her ear as she slouches in the seat so that she can put her feet up on the dashboard "Yeah, he’s also the guitarist of Moon Glory"

"Moon Glory?"

"Yeah, it’s the name of our band," she says cheerfully "A band in desperate need of a drummer, since our old one decided to bail out on us last week Just up and quit" She throws her hands in the air exasperatedly "Can you believe that?"

"Kind of" I turn the car onto the ht" She sighs and then looks at me with a silent plea in her eyes "So what do you think? Can you be our drummer?"

"I’m already in a band," I remind her "And I like the her feet onto the floor and sitting up in the seat "And I’ve been there for you a lot in the last few months"

"I know you have," I reply heavyheartedly "But I can’t just up and quit when things are going so great right now… I don’t get great a lot"