Memories That Fade Like Photographs
Chapter 3
“So are you coming to band practice, Kay?” Jack asked and I looked at the three guys and Kara looking at me with hopeful looks. We were standing in the school corridor at the end of the school day, and they were all getting ready for band practice and Kara especially wanted me to go so she can hang out with another girl.
“Where’s it at?” I asked while glancing out a window facing the school’s parking lot, and I saw Chase and Jasey looking around impatiently.
“Rian’s,” Alex said simply.
“I have to go home first, but I promise I’ll be there at 4 or 4:30,” I promised them while looking back out at my brother and sister. Chase saw me and motioned for me to hurry up, and I motioned back telling him I’d be there in a minute.
“Ok see you then. Rian’s parents won’t be home yet, but text me and I’ll meet you upstairs and show you where they practice,” Kara told me and I nodded while still staring at Chase and Jasey.
“Ok. I have to go now, but I’ll see you guys later,” I said hurriedly then rushed outside to my impatient siblings; once Jasey saw me, she sat in the front seat, and Chase just stood outside the car glaring at me.
“About damn time! I was going to make your ass walk home if you didn’t get out here any sooner,” Chase growled and I flipped him off before sitting in the seat behind Chase. He got in the car and quickly started it up before driving out of the parking lot and started the first five minutes of out drive back to our house in a comfortable silence before Chase had to interrupt it.
“How’s the boyfriend, Kay?” Chase teased me and I blushed.
“He’s not my boyfriend,” I mumbled and Chase glanced at me for a moment with shocked written all over his face.
“And why not?” Jasey asked shocked as well.
“Well for one, I just met him yesterday,” I started.
“That hasn’t stopped you before,” Chase interrupted and I shot him a glare.
“Fuck you, Chase,” I told him before continuing, “Secondly, I don’t think he likes me. His best friends say he does, but I doubt it, and besides, I kinda learnt about his reputation today, he explained that he wasn’t like that to me, but I still have my doubts.” I thought back to mine and Alex’s earlier conversation in the hallway; I wanted to believe him, but I did have some doubts because I haven’t known him as long as Rachel had and she seemed like she really wanted to protect me.
“What’s his reputation?” Chase asked confused.
“According to this one girl in my biology class, he’s the school’s manwhore and he probably just wanted to sleep with me,” I admitted quietly.
“Seriously?” Jasey asked surprised and I nodded sadly.
“To be honest, it didn’t seem like that’s all he wanted to do when I saw you guys hanging out today after school,” Chase said seriously.
“Are you just saying that because you want me to be happy, or are you actually being serious?” I asked him.
“I’m being serious, Kase. Why would I lie to you so you’d get hurt by him?” he said while still looking at the road.
“That’s true, thanks Chay,” I said calling him the nickname I gave him after he started calling me Kase. He pulled into our driveway and Jasey and I got out quickly and walked into our spacious house. Jasey went straight to her room while I just stood in the foyer for a moment and looked around at our new home.
“What are you doing, Kay?” Chase asked confused once he walked through the half open door.
“What?” I said distractedly before realizing what he said, “Oh just looking around. I still can’t believe we had to leave New York just because of mom,” I said with a sigh and Chase looked at me sadly.
“I know you didn’t want to leave, but maybe Maryland will be good for us,” Chase said while hugging me.
“Yeah I know. At least I’m don’t have to deal with Brody constantly begging for the forgiveness I’d never give him, and I’ve already made five great friends here in Lutherville,” I said into his shoulder as I was still hugging him.
“You’re lucky; you know that right, Kaylie? Most people can’t get such great friends that easily,” Chase told me seriously once he let go of me.
“Thanks Chase,” I told him before we both started walking upstairs to our separate bedrooms across the hall from each other. I could hear Fall Out Boy’s Take This to Your Grave playing in Kaylie’s room which was located beside mine and I let out a content sigh as I opened up the doors leading to my balcony; it was only 35 degrees outside, but I love the cold weather. I decided to unpack a few more boxes of random items from New York. At the bottom of the box, I found a picture of my uncle Billie Joe, my cousins Joey and Jake, Jasey, Chase, and I all posing together by the pool in Billie’s backyard last year when my dad decided to take Chase, Jasey, and I to visit his brother when my mom had to go to Europe for a week for her job. I smiled at how Jasey had became so tan for spending hours outside Billie’s house tanning; Chase and I were slightly tan, and all of us were making weird faces at the camera. I placed the picture on my corkboard that I had hung up yesterday, and then glanced at the clock to see it was 4:20 and decided to head over to Rian’s house.
I put my flats back on and skipped out of my room. I knocked on Chase’s door and he told me to come in so I quickly opened the door and saw him lying on his bed while scrolling through a random website on his laptop. “What’s up, Kase?” he asked while shutting his laptop and sitting up and looking at me.
“Can I go to Rian’s house? He and his friends are in a band and they wanted me to go to their band practice today,” I explained to him.
“Go ahead. Have fun, and I’ll text you later when you need to get home,” Chase told me and I thanked him before nearly running into Jasey as she was walking out of her room.
“And where are you going, Jase?” I asked while assessing her hoodie, skinny jeans, and Uggs.
“Well, I was just about to ask if you can take me to my friend’s house,” Jasey explained with a smile.
“So you did make friends?” I asked happily and she nodded.
“Sure, just let me ask if I can borrow Chase’s car,” I told her before walking back to his room. “Hey Chay, Jasey wants to know if I can take her to her friend’s house, so can I borrow your car?” I asked him nicely.
“Sure, just bring it back and don’t damage it at all, or else I’ll have to kick your ass,” he told me while tossing his keys at me that were on a stand beside his bed.
“Ok let’s go!” I called out to her while pulling out my phone.
To: Kara (:
Hey Kara, I have to go drop my sister off at her friend’s house so I’ll be there a little late
We were getting into Chase’s car when I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket.
From: Kara (:
Ok just text me when you get here
“Where does she live?” I asked Jasey while pulling the car out of our driveway and she gave me the directions. We got there in about ten minutes and I told her just to text Chase when she’s ready to go home before driving back to my house and running up the stairs to give Chase back his keys and tell him I was going to Rian’s house. I pulled out my phone when I was opening my door so I could text Kara.
To: Kara (:
On my way
As soon as I was about to knock on Rian’s door, Kara opened it smiling. “Hey, thanks so much for coming, I hate being the only girl here!” Kara exclaimed while hugging me. “They’re downstairs, come on.” I followed her down the stairs and could hear the guys practicing loudly. I sat down on the couch beside Kara and watched the guys get really into their music, and I had to admit, they are really good.
After another hour, the guys finished and sat down either on the couch beside Kara and I or on the floor in front of the couch. “What’d you think, Kaylie?” Alex asked hopefully and I couldn’t hide my smile.
“You guys are amazing! You’re definitely going to make it big someday!” I exclaimed while Jack gave me a huge hug as he was sitting beside me.
“Seriously?” Jack asked.
“Seriously guys. I wouldn’t lie to you,” I said smiling.
“Thanks Kay,” Alex said sincerely and I smiled at him. Alex and I were just looking at each other for a moment before we heard a cough and quickly looked away to see everyone smiling and Jack trying not to laugh.
“So, uh, do you guys want to order pizza and watch a movie?” Zack asked after looking between Alex and me with a smile on his face.
“Sure,” I replied while smiling.
“I get to pick the movie!” Jack yelled while running up the stairs.
“Should I be concerned?” I asked while looking at every one still in the room.
“Yeah,” they all said simultaneously and I laughed before jogging up the stairs after Jack to see what he picked out.
“Kaylie, I can’t figure out what to watch,” Jack whined while holding out Home Alone and Finding Nemo.
“Hm,” I said looking between the two before smiling widely, “I love them both, but Home Alone for sure.” Jack laughed at me before putting the movie in just as everyone else was walking upstairs.
“Pizza should be here in about ten minutes,” Rian told us before sitting in the recliner and Kara sat on his lap. Zack and Jack sat on the couch which fit three people, but Jack stretched out leaving the only available place to sit was the loveseat beside Alex, which I was nearly positive Jack did on purpose.
We were about eight minutes into the movie when I heard the doorbell ring. “I’ll get it,” I said jumping up and grabbing the money on a table beside the door. I opened the door and gave the guy the money before getting the pizza and thanking him. “Who wants food?” I yelled from the kitchen and it didn’t take long for everyone to jump out of their seats and run into the kitchen, well all the guys ran, Kara, on the other hand, slowly walked in muttering “Boys,” which caused me to laugh. I quickly grabbed two pieces for me before the guys could take it.
After we got our food, we all walked back into the living room to continue the movie. Once the movie was over, everyone said they were spending the night at Rian’s since it was Friday, so I decided to text my brother to ask since I was too tired to walk back home even though I lived next door.
To: Chay
Chay, can I please spend the night at Rian’s with Kara, Jack, Zack, and Alex?
I waited a moment then felt my phone vibrate.
From: Chay
Sure, see you tomorrow, and be careful tonight if you know what I mean;)
I laughed quietly and blushed in embarrassment at what he wrote which caused Alex to give me a weird look since he was sitting beside me.
To Chay:
Ugh I hate you Chase…and don’t worry, I’ll be extra careful ;P
“Ok I can stay,” I told them with a smile and Kara let out a relieved sigh.
“So, another movie?” Rian asked and everyone agreed so he got up and picked the next movie, which, was a horror movie.
“Seriously Rian? I hate scary movies!” I exclaimed while burying my head in my hands.
“It’s not that scary, Kay,” Rian told me while rolling his eyes before we all turned towards the TV screen.
Its official, Rian Dawson is an asshole. The movie isn’t scary my ass, I thought bitterly. Kara had her head in Rian’s shoulder to shield her eyes from the screen, while I, on the other hand, had my knees pulled up to my chest and my head buried into my knees.
“It’ll be ok, Kaylie,” Alex whispered into my ear which made a chill run through my body, so he wrapped an arm around me and pulled me closer to him. I laid my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes as I took in his scent with a small smile on my face before falling asleep not even halfway through the movie.
“Where’s it at?” I asked while glancing out a window facing the school’s parking lot, and I saw Chase and Jasey looking around impatiently.
“Rian’s,” Alex said simply.
“I have to go home first, but I promise I’ll be there at 4 or 4:30,” I promised them while looking back out at my brother and sister. Chase saw me and motioned for me to hurry up, and I motioned back telling him I’d be there in a minute.
“Ok see you then. Rian’s parents won’t be home yet, but text me and I’ll meet you upstairs and show you where they practice,” Kara told me and I nodded while still staring at Chase and Jasey.
“Ok. I have to go now, but I’ll see you guys later,” I said hurriedly then rushed outside to my impatient siblings; once Jasey saw me, she sat in the front seat, and Chase just stood outside the car glaring at me.
“About damn time! I was going to make your ass walk home if you didn’t get out here any sooner,” Chase growled and I flipped him off before sitting in the seat behind Chase. He got in the car and quickly started it up before driving out of the parking lot and started the first five minutes of out drive back to our house in a comfortable silence before Chase had to interrupt it.
“How’s the boyfriend, Kay?” Chase teased me and I blushed.
“He’s not my boyfriend,” I mumbled and Chase glanced at me for a moment with shocked written all over his face.
“And why not?” Jasey asked shocked as well.
“Well for one, I just met him yesterday,” I started.
“That hasn’t stopped you before,” Chase interrupted and I shot him a glare.
“Fuck you, Chase,” I told him before continuing, “Secondly, I don’t think he likes me. His best friends say he does, but I doubt it, and besides, I kinda learnt about his reputation today, he explained that he wasn’t like that to me, but I still have my doubts.” I thought back to mine and Alex’s earlier conversation in the hallway; I wanted to believe him, but I did have some doubts because I haven’t known him as long as Rachel had and she seemed like she really wanted to protect me.
“What’s his reputation?” Chase asked confused.
“According to this one girl in my biology class, he’s the school’s manwhore and he probably just wanted to sleep with me,” I admitted quietly.
“Seriously?” Jasey asked surprised and I nodded sadly.
“To be honest, it didn’t seem like that’s all he wanted to do when I saw you guys hanging out today after school,” Chase said seriously.
“Are you just saying that because you want me to be happy, or are you actually being serious?” I asked him.
“I’m being serious, Kase. Why would I lie to you so you’d get hurt by him?” he said while still looking at the road.
“That’s true, thanks Chay,” I said calling him the nickname I gave him after he started calling me Kase. He pulled into our driveway and Jasey and I got out quickly and walked into our spacious house. Jasey went straight to her room while I just stood in the foyer for a moment and looked around at our new home.
“What are you doing, Kay?” Chase asked confused once he walked through the half open door.
“What?” I said distractedly before realizing what he said, “Oh just looking around. I still can’t believe we had to leave New York just because of mom,” I said with a sigh and Chase looked at me sadly.
“I know you didn’t want to leave, but maybe Maryland will be good for us,” Chase said while hugging me.
“Yeah I know. At least I’m don’t have to deal with Brody constantly begging for the forgiveness I’d never give him, and I’ve already made five great friends here in Lutherville,” I said into his shoulder as I was still hugging him.
“You’re lucky; you know that right, Kaylie? Most people can’t get such great friends that easily,” Chase told me seriously once he let go of me.
“Thanks Chase,” I told him before we both started walking upstairs to our separate bedrooms across the hall from each other. I could hear Fall Out Boy’s Take This to Your Grave playing in Kaylie’s room which was located beside mine and I let out a content sigh as I opened up the doors leading to my balcony; it was only 35 degrees outside, but I love the cold weather. I decided to unpack a few more boxes of random items from New York. At the bottom of the box, I found a picture of my uncle Billie Joe, my cousins Joey and Jake, Jasey, Chase, and I all posing together by the pool in Billie’s backyard last year when my dad decided to take Chase, Jasey, and I to visit his brother when my mom had to go to Europe for a week for her job. I smiled at how Jasey had became so tan for spending hours outside Billie’s house tanning; Chase and I were slightly tan, and all of us were making weird faces at the camera. I placed the picture on my corkboard that I had hung up yesterday, and then glanced at the clock to see it was 4:20 and decided to head over to Rian’s house.
I put my flats back on and skipped out of my room. I knocked on Chase’s door and he told me to come in so I quickly opened the door and saw him lying on his bed while scrolling through a random website on his laptop. “What’s up, Kase?” he asked while shutting his laptop and sitting up and looking at me.
“Can I go to Rian’s house? He and his friends are in a band and they wanted me to go to their band practice today,” I explained to him.
“Go ahead. Have fun, and I’ll text you later when you need to get home,” Chase told me and I thanked him before nearly running into Jasey as she was walking out of her room.
“And where are you going, Jase?” I asked while assessing her hoodie, skinny jeans, and Uggs.
“Well, I was just about to ask if you can take me to my friend’s house,” Jasey explained with a smile.
“So you did make friends?” I asked happily and she nodded.
“Sure, just let me ask if I can borrow Chase’s car,” I told her before walking back to his room. “Hey Chay, Jasey wants to know if I can take her to her friend’s house, so can I borrow your car?” I asked him nicely.
“Sure, just bring it back and don’t damage it at all, or else I’ll have to kick your ass,” he told me while tossing his keys at me that were on a stand beside his bed.
“Ok let’s go!” I called out to her while pulling out my phone.
To: Kara (:
Hey Kara, I have to go drop my sister off at her friend’s house so I’ll be there a little late
We were getting into Chase’s car when I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket.
From: Kara (:
Ok just text me when you get here
“Where does she live?” I asked Jasey while pulling the car out of our driveway and she gave me the directions. We got there in about ten minutes and I told her just to text Chase when she’s ready to go home before driving back to my house and running up the stairs to give Chase back his keys and tell him I was going to Rian’s house. I pulled out my phone when I was opening my door so I could text Kara.
To: Kara (:
On my way
As soon as I was about to knock on Rian’s door, Kara opened it smiling. “Hey, thanks so much for coming, I hate being the only girl here!” Kara exclaimed while hugging me. “They’re downstairs, come on.” I followed her down the stairs and could hear the guys practicing loudly. I sat down on the couch beside Kara and watched the guys get really into their music, and I had to admit, they are really good.
After another hour, the guys finished and sat down either on the couch beside Kara and I or on the floor in front of the couch. “What’d you think, Kaylie?” Alex asked hopefully and I couldn’t hide my smile.
“You guys are amazing! You’re definitely going to make it big someday!” I exclaimed while Jack gave me a huge hug as he was sitting beside me.
“Seriously?” Jack asked.
“Seriously guys. I wouldn’t lie to you,” I said smiling.
“Thanks Kay,” Alex said sincerely and I smiled at him. Alex and I were just looking at each other for a moment before we heard a cough and quickly looked away to see everyone smiling and Jack trying not to laugh.
“So, uh, do you guys want to order pizza and watch a movie?” Zack asked after looking between Alex and me with a smile on his face.
“Sure,” I replied while smiling.
“I get to pick the movie!” Jack yelled while running up the stairs.
“Should I be concerned?” I asked while looking at every one still in the room.
“Yeah,” they all said simultaneously and I laughed before jogging up the stairs after Jack to see what he picked out.
“Kaylie, I can’t figure out what to watch,” Jack whined while holding out Home Alone and Finding Nemo.
“Hm,” I said looking between the two before smiling widely, “I love them both, but Home Alone for sure.” Jack laughed at me before putting the movie in just as everyone else was walking upstairs.
“Pizza should be here in about ten minutes,” Rian told us before sitting in the recliner and Kara sat on his lap. Zack and Jack sat on the couch which fit three people, but Jack stretched out leaving the only available place to sit was the loveseat beside Alex, which I was nearly positive Jack did on purpose.
We were about eight minutes into the movie when I heard the doorbell ring. “I’ll get it,” I said jumping up and grabbing the money on a table beside the door. I opened the door and gave the guy the money before getting the pizza and thanking him. “Who wants food?” I yelled from the kitchen and it didn’t take long for everyone to jump out of their seats and run into the kitchen, well all the guys ran, Kara, on the other hand, slowly walked in muttering “Boys,” which caused me to laugh. I quickly grabbed two pieces for me before the guys could take it.
After we got our food, we all walked back into the living room to continue the movie. Once the movie was over, everyone said they were spending the night at Rian’s since it was Friday, so I decided to text my brother to ask since I was too tired to walk back home even though I lived next door.
To: Chay
Chay, can I please spend the night at Rian’s with Kara, Jack, Zack, and Alex?
I waited a moment then felt my phone vibrate.
From: Chay
Sure, see you tomorrow, and be careful tonight if you know what I mean;)
I laughed quietly and blushed in embarrassment at what he wrote which caused Alex to give me a weird look since he was sitting beside me.
To Chay:
Ugh I hate you Chase…and don’t worry, I’ll be extra careful ;P
“Ok I can stay,” I told them with a smile and Kara let out a relieved sigh.
“So, another movie?” Rian asked and everyone agreed so he got up and picked the next movie, which, was a horror movie.
“Seriously Rian? I hate scary movies!” I exclaimed while burying my head in my hands.
“It’s not that scary, Kay,” Rian told me while rolling his eyes before we all turned towards the TV screen.
Its official, Rian Dawson is an asshole. The movie isn’t scary my ass, I thought bitterly. Kara had her head in Rian’s shoulder to shield her eyes from the screen, while I, on the other hand, had my knees pulled up to my chest and my head buried into my knees.
“It’ll be ok, Kaylie,” Alex whispered into my ear which made a chill run through my body, so he wrapped an arm around me and pulled me closer to him. I laid my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes as I took in his scent with a small smile on my face before falling asleep not even halfway through the movie.
11/19/13