Page 41 of Busted String

Jace’s breath came in ragged gasps. “You think I wanted this? To fight with my bandmate? Grow up, Mark. We all have our issues, but we need to deal with them like adults.”

When Nico entered the room to the two men fighting, he rushed over and separated them, holding them apart with a firm grip. “What the hell are you two arguing about?” he demanded, his voice a mix of frustration and concern.

As Jace’s eyes scanned the room, they landed on his prized guitar lying on the floor, all the strings broken. It was an expensive guitar, one that Jace cherished deeply. Seeing the damage, Jace’s anger quickly turned to despair. He sank to the floor, cradling the broken instrument in his hands, tears streaming down his face.

Nico turned to Mark, his expression stern. “Go upstairs and stay away from Jace,” he ordered. Mark, still fuming, reluctantly obeyed, stomping up the stairs and out of sight.

Once Mark was gone, Nico knelt beside Jace, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Hey, we’ll get you a new one,” he whispered. “I promise.”

“I want this one. It’s my good luck guitar. My grandfather bought it for me. Do you think we can fix it before Black Rock City?”

“Let me look at it.”

Jace carefully passed the guitar to Nico, who grasped it in his hands. He examined it meticulously, seeming to note every intricate detail.

“We can replace the broken strings. Let’s repair the strings first.”

Jace opened his bag and pulled out the extra strings.

Jace sat in the dimly lit room, staring at the broken strings of his beloved red guitar. It had been his grandfather’s, a precious heirloom passed down through generations. His hands trembled as he tried to replace the strings, but nerves got the better of him.

“Here, let me do it,” Nico said gently, taking the guitar from Jace’s hands. “We’ll have it back in shape in no time.”

Jace watched Nico work, fingers deftly replacing the broken strings with practiced ease. The silence between them was comfortable, filled with the shared understanding of what this guitar meant to him. When Nico finished, he handed it back, a reassuring smile on his face.

Just as Jace was about to express his gratitude, Mark stormed down the stairs, suitcase in one hand and guitar case in the other. His face was a mask of anger and frustration.

“I’m done,” Mark declared, his voice echoing through the cabin. “I’m quitting the band.”

Jace’s heart sank as he saw the Uber waiting outside. “Mark, wait—” he started, but Nico cut him off.

“Mark, we’ve got a gig in Black Rock City next week. You can’t leave us now,” Nico pleaded.

Mark’s eyes blazed with fury. “I don’t care. I’m sick of this. Sick of you favoring Jace, like he’s the only one who matters. And you,” he turned to Jace, his voice dripping with venom, “you take all the credit for the band. What about the rest of us?”

Sammie appeared in the doorway with a tray of cupcakes in his hands. “Mark, please. Stay until after the gig. We need you.”

But Mark was resolved. “No. I’m done. You’re on your own.”

Jace watched helplessly as Mark stormed out, slamming the door behind him. The sound echoed through the cabin, leaving a heavy silence in its wake. Nico stood there, frustration etched on his face, while Sammie looked as if he might cry.

“I’ll go talk to him,” Nico said as he left the cabin right behind Mark.

Jace clutched the newly strung guitar, feeling a mix of guilt and sorrow. The band felt incomplete, fractured by the argument that had driven Mark away. As the Uber drove off, Jace couldn’t shake the feeling that things would never be the same.

Chapter Twenty

Nico

Nico stormed after Mark, his mind a swirl of anger and desperation. The sight of Jace’s guitar, the shredded and useless strings replayed in his head. The Uber idled in the driveway, a silent witness to the chaos unfolding.

“Mark, wait!” Nico shouted.

Mark spun around, suitcase in hand, his expression a mix of defiance and hurt. “What, Nico?”

Nico took a deep breath, trying to rein in his emotions. “We need you for the gig in Black Rock City. It’s the biggest one we’ve ever had. You can’t just walk out on us.”

Mark’s eyes narrowed. “I’m done, Nico. I can’t stay here and watch you and Jace play a happy couple while I get sidelined. You don’t see what this is doing to me.”

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