“Is your mom mad?” I questioned Joshua as he drove. Although she didn’t seem too pissed, I hoped that Crystal wasn’t really angry with us for stalling when she ordered us to go to Hunter’s rehearsal. 

“Nah. I’ve seen that look many times before when Hunter used to cause problems.” He glanced over at me. I smiled in response. I felt a little more at ease knowing that she wasn’t going to go off on some tyrant over this ordeal.  Joshua shook his head. “She was joking around. I guess she just wants you to get out a little more and meet more people. I mean these weren’t the type of people that I had in mind for you to associate with, but it is sort of better than staying in the house all evening. 

“Okay, just didn’t want to start on the bad end of the deal with her. Your mom has done a lot to help me this summer, more than she should have.” 
I hoped they didn’t have drugs and alcohol at this get-together. I could see it now. Being shipped back to be with my momma in jail because of being busted in some raid for drugs. 

Joshua patted my thigh. “She wouldn’t have done anything if she didn’t want to. She gets to play mommy to the girl she never had.” 

That small, soothing comment made my smile grow even bigger and I started to feel more relaxed. The way that things went in my own house, or well…my mom’s house back in Alabama, it was like I was just an object and not my mom’s one and only daughter. Like I should be seen and not heard…even at eighteen. 

Ten minutes later, Joshua pulled his car into what looked like an abandoned building except that it had about twenty cars parked out in front of it. It looked like the run-down part of the neighborhood, something that I could relate to quite easily. It was nothing like the accommodations that I’d been placed into with Crystal’s family, which included a real home, working electricity, food on the table, and not a makeshift camper slash trailer that had electricity issues every other day and sometimes dinner was a frozen pot pie that was halfway cooked in the microwave. 

“It looks a little run down on the outside, but they fixed it up pretty good on the inside.” Joshua must have noticed the way that I was surveying the surrounding area. 
The older building was a fading gray color and there were some small visible cracks along the one corner, but overall it was a sturdy building that had weathered the last couple of decades. He knew that I didn’t have the best of lodgings or living conditions when I was living in Alabama, so I was guessing he wasn’t sure what I thought about this part of town.  “It’s not a bad neighborhood, just one that hasn’t been through any sort of big Renaissance reconstruction.” Joshua once again tried to set my mind at ease as we got out of the car and walked towards the entrance. 

Although I was a bit paranoid about the surroundings and coming to a new place, and the last thing I wanted was to have someone come running down the street shooting at us, I didn’t want him to think I was frightened or upset to be here.  I touched his arm and offered him a smile. “This is cool, really.”  Joshua returned the gesture and his facial muscles seemed to relax now that I spoke my mind. 

I heard the sound of amplifiers being adjusted and people laughing as Joshua led me up the three steps that brought us up to a wide-open space. It was like someone had gutted and redid the whole first level of the building. There was a big stage constructed in the front with tons of equipment that I had no clue as to what it all would be used for. Hunter stood in the front of it surrounded by four beautiful, voluptuous girls. He glanced back when the door slammed shut, made eye contact for a quick second with me, then quickly looked away. 

“C’mon.” Joshua took my hand. “I’ll introduce you.” 

“Joshua.” One of the girls that had been hanging on Hunter came over to us as we stopped in front of the stage. She gave Joshua a small hug then an evil look to me, as she looked me up and down. “It’s been a while. I guess you’ve been busy.” The girl nodded her head in my direction.

“Yeah, I’ve been keeping busy.” 

I tried ignoring the flirting that was going on her end and the insinuation that he’d been busy with me since she last saw him. 

“Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?” This girl was trying to get a heads up on who I was and how I related to Joshua and Hunter. 
“Alabama, this is Morgan. Morgan, this is Alabama. She’s staying with us for a while.” 

“Wow, aren’t you the lucky one. You get to shack up with two hot guys.” Morgan intertwined her arm with Joshua’s. “I always wanted to be a stay-over guest at Josh’s house, but he never seemed like he wanted me to. Why is that, Joshua?” Morgan playfully squeezed his arm and leaned on him. 

Joshua pulled his arm away from Morgan and crossed both over his chest. “Morgan, do we have to get into this again.” It was obvious that these two knew each other well and he wasn’t a big fan of hers. He took my hand and led us further down towards the stage, leaving Morgan looking flabbergasted that we’d just walked away from her. 

“Hey, you returned. We all thought the lacrosse team killed and buried you.” One of the band members slapped Joshua on the back. He was handsome, in a punk style way, but nothing like Joshua or Hunter. He had spiky blond hair, several earrings in one ear, and tons of tattoos up and down his arms. 

Joshua shook this guy’s hand and chuckled. “Nope, not yet. I’m sure this season is going to kick my ass though.” 

“I’ll have to stop by and catch a few games.” 

Joshua nodded his head in agreement then introduced me to the band member. We both said our hellos’ and shook hands. His name was Odie, and he was the bass guitar player for the band. I was glad to see that not all members of the band were as arrogant and nonsocial as Hunter.

“We don’t have all day for playing around.” Hunter was on the stage and looking down at the rest of the group, but mainly keeping his eyes fixed on Odie who was still standing close to me and Joshua. He seemed to be getting a bit agitated with no one coming to the stage yet.

“Looks like boss man is ready.” Odie nodded his head upwards to Hunter. “I’ll catch you guys later.” He patted Joshua on the back once again and gave me a small hug.

“Now, guys!” Hunter yelled a little bit louder. 

The rest of the band members came up to the stage and took their respected places. They all seemed to know that Hunter was getting annoyed with the short delay.

“Do you wanna go sit down?” Joshua nodded over to where most of the other people had gone to sit down to listen to the band practice. 

I saw that the four girls, including Morgan, had moved off to the side of the stage but not close to where the others went to sit. “Okay.” I followed Joshua as he walked over. He sat down on one of the folding chairs and motioned for me to sit down on the one next to him. “Does Hunter sing?” I noticed Hunter with his guitar and near the front microphone. 

Joshua nodded. “He plays lead guitar and writes and sings most of the songs.” He turned back to the band as Hunter’s guitar strings came to life. “He’s actually pretty good.”

“What’s the band’s name?” My attention had been on Hunter the whole time and I had completely forgotten to even ask what the name of his band was. 

Joshua seemed hesitant to answer. Then the loud booming of the drum took my attention away from his tentativeness and to the stage area where the band was in motion. The band started their rehearsal as we settled into our seats.

~*  *  *  *~

After about two hours of practice, the band called for a small break. I was really impressed by their sound. The fact that Hunter was the main center of attention made it even better. He had taken off his t-shirt during the first hour to reveal a chiseled chest that was glistening under the lights from the stage. He had sweat dripping from his hair and face, but somehow that made him even more appealing. 

“So, what do you think?” Joshua questioned me about the band.

“I like.” I watched from the corner of her eye as Hunter grabbed a water bottle and chugged it all down in one gulp.  It was at that time he glanced over to me and Joshua. I quickly looked away as if I didn’t see him at all. I’m sure he probably knew I was watching him—like who wouldn’t watch him? He was one hot, gorgeous mess. 

“Sounding good,” Joshua addressed someone who was standing on the other side of me. 

“Still needs work.” I could tell that was Hunter’s voice and he didn’t seem very happy with the way that they had played tonight. 

“You guys sound great.” I felt Hunter’s stare on me even before I turned to face him. Up close, I could see the beads of sweat rolling down his forehead. I wanted to reach up and wipe them off with my hand but knew that would probably be the wrong thing to do. It seemed as if Hunter was opposed to being hugged and touched as much as I was. 

Hunter shrugged in response to my compliment. “There’s a hundred more bands that are just as good or even better. You guys don’t have to hang around for the second set. It might be late getting out.” With that final comment, he left us to go talk with some of the other people.

“He’s um…quite friendly.” Now that Hunter wasn’t talking with me and Joshua, he seemed more relaxed. He was actually laughing with the group he was talking with now. 

Joshua rolled his eyes. “Yeah, right. You wanna head out?” He stood up and held out his hand to help me up. “We can get an ice cream cone on the way back.” 

I saw the smooth smile and wink that went along with Joshua’s last remark. I took his hand and stood up. “I like chocolate with sprinkles.” It seemed a shorter distance to the exit doors than when we’d first came into the building. 
Joshua held my hand the whole way back and didn’t stop to tell anyone that we were leaving. I glanced back over my shoulder and my eyes met with Hunter’s. 
He didn’t show any sort of emotion indicating if he was relieved or angry over Joshua and I’s quick escape. Before I had the chance to look away, Hunter had beat me to this action and resumed talks with the group he was with.