A Love Like War

I woke up with a stretch and shoved Lucas from my side. For a moment, I was trying to find myself. I was confused, but when I looked at the time I panicked.

I jumped off my bed and threw on some jeans and an old grey T-Shirt with a star in the middle before throwing on my Chuck Taylor’s and grabbing the B.O.B form off my dresser. Thanks to Alex, I have no car.

I opened my closet and grabbed my Anti-Hero Sexual Edition skateboard and ran down the stairs and out the house, eating up the road as I skated towards the Old High School.

I totally forgot today was the deadline for the band forms and now that we qualify, we have to practice our ass off. I pushed myself off harder. As soon as the apartments were in sight, I stepped off my skateboard and ran up the hill and onto the dirt trail.

I ran for about a mile before jumping off the ledge and running into the parking lot and pass the busy band members. I ran to the table and slam the form down, brushing my hair back in one quick movement.

The lady from yesterday scans the form, looks up at me, and smiles.

“Congratulations, A Call To Arms are now qualified for Battle of the Bands.” I thank her before turning away to go home when I hear the voice. Shivers run down my back and a smile form its way on my face.

“What are you doing here?” I ask Aaron as I turn around to see him smiling at me.

“I figured you would be back to return the form, so I thought I would come and hope I would run into you.” He tucked a piece of hair behind his ear.

“Well, you’re in luck. Here I am,” I said. I swear, this boy cannot be any cuter.

“Are you excited?” He asks as we began walking back through the trail I came from. Aaron’s body language gave off such a happy mood, it made me forget Alex set my car on fire. It made me forget that All Time Low was probably going to majorly kick our butts in Battle of the Bands.

It was nice to forget.

“I am so excited. If my band wins this, we can finally be put out there. If it wasn’t for All Time Low, we would already be out there.” I sigh and just think about if all of Baltimore knew about A Call To Arms. Gigs, parties, the whole package if only more people knew about us.

“All Time Low? Are you talking about the guy with the bushy eyebrows who called you babe?” Aaron snickered a little.

“Ugh, Alex. yeah. Unfortunately, I grew up with him, so I can’t really shake him no matter how hard I try.” He laughs, his hair jiggling in little shakes.

“He seems like a handful.” We climbed up the path onto the dirt trail.

“If you think that’s bad, you should’ve seen last night,” I say with a laugh.

“Poop on your lawn?”

“Nope.”

“Shaved your dog?”

“I wish.”

“What did he do?!” he laughs harder.

“He set my car on fire.” Aaron stops and stares at me open-mouthed.

“No!”

“Yes!”

“I would hate him too.” He says matter-of-factly. And after that, we walk in silence. Every now and then, I would catch him staring at me and it made my cheeks flourish with color.

“So, how many members are in your band?” he asked me.

“Well, there’s originally seven of us. But, we had to cut one for qualification and it made him mad and he left. Our keyboardist.” He nods.

“So, you play guitar and scream.” I shrug my shoulders.

“Gotta work on clean vocals if I want A Call To Arms to win.” I mumble.

“I could help you, ya know. Because Hands Like Houses, Lights, and Tonight Alive have all won the Battle in the past. I mean, that’s if you want. But, singing beautiful vocals with a raspy screamer voice isn’t as hard as it sounds.” He says as if that was obvious. I paused and stared at him. Of course he would want to help. Then steal our music.

“Right.” I said.

“I do! we only have five members and you have six. As a good Christian, I feel it in my bones to help you so you can crush that dick of your enemy Austin,”

“Alex,” I corrected.

“Who cares?!” he says with a laugh. It lowered my guard down a little, but what do I know about Aaron other than the fact that he’s in a band. “Hey, tonight, there’s a party at the bar on Greene Street tonight as a celebration of the Battle of the Bands. All the bands that sign up are going there and perform, drink a little, smoke a little, and it’s going to be fun. Are you going?” he flashed me a smile.

“I mean, I guess. To see what our competition is. But I am not performing.” By now, we had reached my house and we were just standing in front of it like weirdoes.

“Well, good. So, I’ll come back and pick you up and I’ll have my band with me.” he said.

“No, you don’t have-”

“Think of it as a sorry gift for your car being totaled,” he said taking a glimpse at the melted chunk in front of my yard.

“Whatever you say.” I playfully rolled my eyes at him and gave him a light shove.

“Be ready at nine! And have your band ready too!” he called as he ran down the street. I still remained in my spot, staring at where he was previous staring at.

“Well, no wonder why your last name is Strange,” and just like that, the moment was ruined. Not by Alex (Surprise, surprise), but by Hannah herself.

“Shut up Usey.” I replied walking towards my house.

“He doesn’t like you. None one does.”

I don’t know what made Hannah hate me as she does. She claims because Alex is too invested in me. that the fact I’ve known Alex longer, I was going to back stab her by dating him which newsflash, I didn’t.

But let her believe what she wants.

“Gee, way to add subtlety on top.” I rolled my eyes. She spends almost every night over here and majority of it is to have sex with Alex and gawk at Zack.

“Shut up. You’re going to lose to Alex. All Time Low is better than your band.” she snaps.

“Wow. Says the ex-guitarist herself. You’re just mad because we kicked you out and made me the guitarist because all you did was not sing us up and gave our spots to Alex in the first place!” I yell. “All Time Low was not better than us. you just cheated out your own band for a booty call! Does Alex know? I bet not because that’s one secret you kept from him. We used to be best friends Hannah. But, now I see where your true nature lies.”

She glares at me and for a moment, I saw that she knew I was right. Well, mainly because I am right. But then, anger flicks through her eyes and in three quick strides, she had a fistful of my shirt and hovering me a few inches off the ground.

“Wow. Been working out lately?” I asked with a smirk as she continues to glare at me.

“You son of a-”

“Hannah! What the hell are you doing?” Alex. “What is she talking about you gave up their spots?” Hannah released her grip on me and I scrambled to get in my house. I close the door and breathe a sigh of relief when I heard the yelling traveling across the street.

Today was chaotic and tonight is just going to be worse.

Notes