Snapshot

Chapter 6

“I don’t like that line,” Kaden protests, balling up a piece of paper and tossing it at Jack’s head.

“Well, I don’t like the rest of this song,” Jack retorts, blocking the flying piece of paper with his notebook.

“I have always written our songs,” Kaden states angrily, glaring at his pretentious band-mate, “you’re still new around here, so I’m throwing you a bone.”

“Oh,” Jack scoffs, “that’s rich. I was told I was throwing you a bone!”

Their bus is a mess of littered song lyrics and abandoned concepts. The bus sways slightly as the driver carries the band to their next destination, but there can be no rest for them.

“Are they always like this?” Avery asks as she tries to beat Kole in a racing game, but he has much more experience than her. This is evident by the fact that he is in the first place, while she keeps swerving off the road. Felix is snoring on the couch behind them, and his nap had forced them onto the floor.

“No,” Kole says casually, looking bored with his inexperienced partner, “usually it is worse, but they’re keeping it down because of you.”

“This is them being nice to each other?” Avery asks in horror.

“Nope, they are never nice to each other. You know you suck at this game.”

“That’s because I’m not used to this type of game. Put something on where I can shoot stuff,” she demands, tossing her controller away from her in disgust when he wins yet another lap.

“You like blood and gore and stuff, huh?” Kole asks with a smirk, his boyish face looking excited.

“Just do it,” she demands, sulking.

“Wow, you are bossy, shouldn’t you be taking pictures of us or something?” he asks as he exchanges the games. He is on his knees as he tries to get the game into the console, but the swaying of the bus causes him to lose his balance.

“I am supposed to be capturing the creative process,” she admits, “but I can’t submit any of these photos.”

“Why not?”

“Your label will stop me. If I release photos of these two fighting, it will seem as though the band is in trouble and start a bunch of rumors and stuff.”

He wobbles back over to her with a thoughtful expression on his face. “You know, I never thought about it like that.”

She nods at him absently as she chooses the right options on the screen, “Yep, it’s in my contract. I cannot release any inflammatory pictures.”

“And that’s inflammatory?” he asks nodding over at the scowling rock stars.

“Oh yeah,” Avery chuckles, choosing her avatar, “that would be in every tabloid in the country within seconds. It’s too bad I signed that contract, I could make a lot of money.”

Kole looked back at his dueling bandmates who had taken to glaring intensely at one another. “May I?” he asks, looking over at her camera.

“Yeah, sure,” she says absently, beginning her game.

He leans over and picks up the expensive piece of equipment. He looks over at Avery who seems entranced with her game, then quickly snaps a picture of Kaden giving Jack the middle finger as Jack looks at him in disdain.

***

“I think this picture is cuter,” Clara gushed pausing at a picture of her smiling up at the camera while Jeremy looks at her lovingly.

“I agree,” he said, touching her nose lightly.

The two of them were cuddled on the couch, swaddled by a bunch of fluffy blankets. Her red hair was splayed all over the back of the couch and you could not tell where one began and the other ended. It would have been an adorable scene if it weren’t for the fact that they were watching a movie with the rest of the group.

Nigel, Lexi, and Avery were trying to drown out their love-struck friends and follow the plot of the movie. They had waited a long time to watch the newest Marvel movie, and they were already on edge because the happy couple was ruining it for them.

“Maybe we should go watch this at my house,” Nigel suggested softly.

“Oh,” Clara laughed lightly, “I’m so sorry guys, we must be ruining this for you.”

“Yes,” Lexi said tersely, “you are, please leave.”

Clara fluttered her eyes innocently and looked devastated while Jeremy glared at Lexi.

“No, this is my house, and I waited a long time to watch this too.”

“Well, you are ruining it for the rest of us. She doesn’t even know Iron Man from Captain America!”

“I’m so sorry,” Clara said softly, “I’ll leave.”

“No,” Jeremy said vehemently and pulled her down as she tried to leave, “we’re staying.”

The room fell into awkward silence as everyone tried to focus on the screen, but the plot of the movie had been lost. Avery sighed in disappointment and let her head fall back. She glanced at Nigel past Lexi’s scowling face and smiled as he winked at her. He inclined his head toward the door and she nodded. They could go watch the movie at his house.

Suddenly the silence was interrupted by a pinging sound on Jeremy’s phone. Everyone but Clara ignored it as he frowned and began answering.

“Who is it?” she asked curiously, peeking over his hands.

“Hey,” he chastised abruptly, holding the phone to his chest. Clara looked shocked and moved back slightly.

“Oh, are you messaging one of your other girls?” she asked jokingly. He snorted but did not respond.

“Unbelievable,” she scoffed, turning back to the T.V in a huff.

“What?” he asked, genuinely clueless.

“Nothing,” she said shortly, flicking her hair dismissively.

“Okay,” he shrugged, putting his phone away. The next moment the other three felt their phones vibrate and knowing what it meant, began opening their messages and factoring the new information into their already full schedules. The drug alerts came to Jeremy’s phone, and he translated it into their own unique code and sent it to his friends. It was extremely sensitive stuff, and they had to memorize it then delete the messages. It used to be easier to use Snapchat, but Clara and Jeremy had a streak going, so they weren’t willing to risk him accidentally sending the alert to her phone.

“I just think it’s funny,” Clara started, her voice tense, “how you can act so loved up one second then message one of your whores right next to me”

“That is not fair,” Jeremy protested angrily.

“If you have nothing to hide,” Clara stated, “then you will let me look through your phone!”

“I will not!” he said in surprise.

“See,” she declared standing up angrily, “that is exactly my point!”

“No, it isn’t!” he yelled in frustration, “I am allowed some privacy!”

“Why, Jeremy? I am totally honest with you. Here, check my phone!” she shouted, tossing her smartphone at his face. He yelped in surprise as he tried to catch the expensive phone.

“I don’t want to,” he said pushing it back at her. He seemed genuinely bewildered by her actions.

“Fine, I’m leaving!” she shouted, scrolling through her contacts.

“Come on,” he pleaded, “I’ll take you home later.”

“No,” she growled, pulling her arm from his grip, “I’m calling my dad to pick me up!”

Lexi snorted loudly, and everyone turned to look at her.

“You!” Clara seethed, stomping over to the amused looking girl, “Mind your own business!”

“How can I?” Lexi asked in amusement, “You’re yelling so loudly the whole neighborhood can hear you.”

“I am having a slight disagreement with my boyfriend, please give us the respect we deserve, please behave while we resolve this.”

“Last I heard, you were calling your daddy to come rescue you,” Lexi taunted, raising a pierced eyebrow.

“Listen here, pin cushion,” Clara said sweetly, ignoring Jeremy’s pleas for them to calm down, “You probably don’t know how a healthy relationship works since you have never seen one up close.”

“Oh honey,” Lexi said menacingly, standing up abruptly, “this is anything but healthy.”

Nigel and Avery stood up quickly and placed themselves in front of a very angry Lexi.

Clara looked unafraid and shrugged off Jeremy’s hand on her shoulder. “This is a nice house, try not to act like trash. We all know you don’t belong here, but try and act like you have some class.”

Lexi let out a strangled yell and lunged at Clara, she looked murderous, but thankfully Nigel was able to catch her. Even though he was stronger, he struggled to keep her detained. “Get rid of her!” Nigel yelled at a shocked Jeremy. Avery began moving things out of the way in a hurry as Lexi began kicking at Nigel’s legs.

“Oh, I’m leaving,” Clara scoffed, grabbing her bag and glaring at everyone in the room, “look what you’ve done,” she spat at Jeremy, “I am so done with you!”

***

“Whoever called you a rock star deserves to have their ears tested,” Jack hisses at Kaden, his eyes narrowed.

“That’s it,” Kaden announces, standing up angrily, “I refuse to work like this.” He walks to the bunks and slams the flimsy door shut in anger.

“What a novice,” Jack scoffs and flops down onto one of the many bean bag chairs.

“I don’t want to get involved,” Avery says wearily as she and Kole battle for dominance in their game. This time she seems to be winning a little and Kole seems to be enjoying himself more.

“There’s nothing to get involved in,” Jack says tiredly, his fake accent slipping a little, “he hates me because I replaced his druggie brother.”

She feels Kole tense up slightly next to her and she nudges him with her elbow, shaking her head slightly when he looks at her.

“Hello, Ava,” Jack says loudly into his phone. He pauses for a second to let her speak, “We have given him a fair chance, it is time to play hardball. You know I deserve this solo.”

Avery raises her eyebrow. This is the beginning of the end for Fairly Chaotic, it’s just that she’s the only one who has figured it out. The others will soon follow.