Page 4 of Spark

I gasp like that’s the craziest, most insulting thing I’ve heard. “Don’t be an asshole,” I spit back piously. “I asked Ruby to come here because she’s insanely talented. Because I’m trying to give my best friend in the world, who’s also the most talented person in our band—sorry, Kai, but it’s true—everything he wants. And fuck you for suggesting otherwise.” I don’t know when I suddenly became such a convincing liar, but I guess it’s true what they say: necessity is the mother of invention.

“Sorry,” Kai mutters. Apparently, my passionate speechhas convinced him. At least it’s dispelled the notion that I invited Ruby here because I’ve got a crush on her. Which I do. And I did. “But, come on,” Kai continues. “We all agreed no girls in the band for good reason. Why risk a Fleetwood Mac situation?”

I roll my eyes. “First of all,youdecided no girls in the band, like a fucking dictator. Savage and I had nothing to do with that. And second of all, if you mention Fleetwood Mac as a cautionary tale one more time, I’m gonna grab your amp cord and strangle you with it. For fuck’s sake, they’re one of the most successful bands of all time, Kai.”

“Yeah, they’ve sold a shit-ton of records, but beingin the band was messy and toxic. That’s my point. They had to break up because of the personal chaos, and we don’t want that.” When I laugh in my big brother’s face, simply because he’s being over the top about this, he takes a deep breath and assumes a fake-calm tone. “It’s a good thing she’s not even remotely close to your type,” he says slowly, “or I’d never believe you’re not crushing on her.”

“This again? Kai, for fuck’s sake?—”

“Calm down. I believe you. I know you never go for girls like her. Actually, she’s much more my type than yours.” He snickers. “Frankly, if anyone needs to remember the cautionary tale of Fleetwood Mac here, it’s probably me.”

Fuck.

Fuck.

FUCK.

How did I not see this coming, when it’s now so clear to me I was playing with fire by inviting Ruby here? Other than her age, Ruby’s exactly my big brother’s type. And I overlooked that fact because I was so tunnel-visioned on my own feelings for her. In my defense, though, personality-wise, Ruby is way too nice and bubbly for Kai. A total miss. And thanks to ourmother, Kai knows better than to even think about messing with someone Ruby’s age.

“Are you trying to get strangled? I warned you about saying the name of that band again. Also, she’s sixteen, remember?”

“I know that, dumbass. I’m not saying I’d actually go for her. Just saying I believe you.”

“Thank you.”I think?

Kai bites his lip. “I guess it doesn’t hurt that Ruby’s super pretty. Music is a visual medium these days. The more eye candy in a band, the better.”

Super pretty? Eye candy?

Hearing Kai, a notorious ladies’ man, describing my secret crush like that definitely isn’t my favorite thing. In fact, those words have set my teeth on edge.

“Okay, I’ll give her a chance,” Kai declares on an exhale. “But if she sucks, I’m sending her packing after one song. I don’t care how far she lugged her gear?—"

“Fine. One song. As long as you give her a fair shake.”

“I said I would. Stop nagging me about it.”

“I will when you stop acting like a dick who deserves to be nagged.”

With a roll of his eyes, Kai swings open the metal door, and it’s back into the basement we go. But only two steps into the room, we’re surprised to find Titus slaying a nasty riff on Savage’s guitar, while Savage looks on like he’s witnessing Titus turning water into wine.

Kai and I look at each other in disbelief. Savage never lets anyone touch his most prized possession: the second-hand electric guitar he bagged groceries for a year to be able to afford.

When Titus sees my brother and me, he abruptly stops playing and looks sheepish. “We were just messing around till you got back.”

“He’s incredible, guys!” Savage blurts excitedly. “Holy shit, Titus! Play something else.”

“He’s a great singer, too,” Ruby offers proudly. She’s now standing behind her keyboard, patiently awaiting her chance to dazzle us.

“Not as good as you, though,” Titus replies.

“Wait, youbothplay and sing?” Savage asks.

“We grew up playing with our parents,” Ruby explains, like it’s no big deal. “They were in a band in college. Our mom’s a music teacher now.”

Savage looks thoroughly energized. Indeed, the dude is physically hopping from foot to foot with excitement. “Can you both sing harmonies?”

Both Ruby and Titus confirm as much. But they do it casually, like it’s nothing. Which means they both must be pretty good, because only people for whom harmonies come naturally think it’s nothing.

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