Page 85 of Disharmony

I jerk like he slapped me.

Is Ripper only being nice because he wants to get in my pants? No, I don’t believe it. If that were the case, he wouldn’t have kept texting. There are a ton of girls who would be happy to screw him without this amount of emotional foreplay.

“So what?” I call Venom’s bluff. Whether Ripper is interested in me or not is none of his business. “Why do you even care?”

“Because you’re special, Ash,” Venom says. He’s standing a foot away now and reminds me of when we were outside the studio earlier. “And I’m not talking about your music, I’m talking about you. There’s something about you. Something that’s not like other girls, and I won’t let him treat you like the others.”

When I’m with Venom, it’s not the same as being around Ripper. Ripper makes me feel wild and free, like anything is possible. Venom is quietly intense and thoughtful, making me feel like he can see right through to what I’m thinking.

“I don’t need your protection,” I stammer. “I know what’s good for me.”

He tilts his head to the side. “Is that why you’re at Camp Harmony?”

“That’s different,” I object. “I’m there because I want to make a career in music. It’s the best way to get there.”

“You’re hiding who you are,” Venom says. His words are true, but it doesn’t make them any easier to take. How can a stranger see straight into my soul? “I saw the real you tonight. The you I know you can be. A person that doesn’t realize how great they are.”

“You don’t know me, not really.”

“But I want to,” Venom says. “I read your lyrics. I know there are things you’re hiding. Things from your past that you’re struggling with. Music is like therapy to you. It’s a way to release your emotions.”

“How do you know that?” I demand.

“Because you’re just like me.”

We stare at each other in silence. His checkered eyes are filled with mystery and understanding.

“We’re not so different,” I say eventually, breaking a long pause. “You’re hiding who you are too.”

“I may be hiding my face,” Venom steps closer. He puts his hands on my shoulders, and they send an electric bolt racing through my body. “But I’m not hiding who I am from you. You’ve heard me sing. You’ve heard my lyrics. You’re seeing the real me, and I want to see the real you too.”

How do I respond to that? I came to the studio because of Ripper’s invitation, and now Venom is saying all these things I don’t know how to handle.

Buggy’s door bursts open, and Zed cranes his neck out, “Are you all coming back in or what? The party is only just starting.”

I turn my back on Venom to head inside, but he grabs my wrist to stop me.

“Be careful, Ash,” he warns under his breath. “There’s still a lot you don’t understand. If you want out, I can drive you straight back to Camp Harmony right now.”

He can shove his ominous warning up his ass. It’s sweet that he’s looking out for me, but I don’t need a babysitter. I can look after myself. I shake myself out of his grasp, stare back at him defiantly and say, “It’s time to party.”

The corners of Venom’s eyes crinkle as if he’s smiling.

Is he happy I’m choosing to ignore his warning?

* * *

Zed holds out a beer and a soda as we get back onto the bus.

I ignore the soda and grab the beer. I snatch it from his hands and down the whole can. If Venom doesn’t think I fit in with their world, I’ll prove him wrong.

“Woah.” Zed holds up his hands. “It looks like the party has arrived!”

“Uh-huh,” I say, wiping my mouth, then turn back to Venom who is still staring at me, “but don’t worry, I’ll be careful.”

Ripper picks up on my choice of wording. He jumps up and squares up to Venom.

“What did you say to her out there?” Ripper demands.

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