Page 96 of Disharmony

“Don’t worry about it,” I interrupt, “we don’t have to talk about it. I understand what last night was.”

I’d rather end our time together on a high than an awkward conversation which involves them saying they’ll never see me again.

“You do?” Venom asks.

“You’re a rock band,” I say. “I know what life on the road is like.”

Sleeping around is what rockstars do.

Ripper’s voice sounds like an angry bear’s roar through his voice transformer as he growls, “Do you really still think that after last night?”

I shrug in response, not letting myself get my hopes up.

Zed steps in and clears his throat in a business-like tone. “We’re going to be away for a while.”

“I figured,” I reply, not sure why Ripper is so mad when Zed is confirming my suspicions.

“We’ll call you when we’re next in town,” Zed says vaguely, “whenever that may be.”

“I won’t be here in a few months,” I remind them and sigh. “Look, I don’t do goodbyes, okay? Can we just leave it at that?”

I don’t want them to lie or make broken promises that they won’t keep. I will never regret what happened, but I’m not delusional. I come from a sheltered town, but I’ve seen enough girls crash and burn thinking their pussy has magical superpowers to keep a guy interested at a distance—let alone three heavy metal superstars!

The Basilisks exchange a look between themselves. They seem to have developed their own language to communicate through eye contact alone.

The tour bus screeches to a halt, and Ted thumps through the separating wall.

“We’re here,” he calls.

I grab my backpack and head for the door.

Don’t say goodbye, Ash.

I’ve already said goodbye to too many people I care about. It’ll be easier to think of our encounter as a break from reality and, if nothing else comes out of my summer in Camp Harmony, at least I’ll have the memories.

“Ash!” Ripper jumps up as I turn the handle, but Zed puts his arm out to stop him from following.

“See you around,” I call over my shoulder, already hurrying down the steps and heading to the undercover track.

More like, see you never.

Ripper might text out of courtesy, but how could anything work long distance? They tour all over the country and live out their dreams. What am I doing? Pretending to be someone I’m not and trying to never return to a town I always wanted to leave.

I blink away tears as Buggy whooshes past and sends my hair flying, taking a piece of my heart with it.

* * *

It’s nine a.m. by the time I return to the cabin. Cookie likes to sleep in, so I try to sneak in quietly. But, as soon as I step inside, her arms grab my shoulders, making me jump out of my skin.

“Cookie?”

Her rigid posture and wild eyes make her look like she’s been electrocuted. Is she sleep walking, or has a zombie apocalypse descended?

“Is everything okay?” I ask

“Ash, you need to sit down.” She steers me to my bed. “There is something you have to see.”

She places her laptop down next to me and hits play. Immediately, our cabin is filled with crashing drums, a killer guitar solo, and…

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