Page 15 of Electric Wounds
I hesitate, my heart pounding in my chest. There’s so much I want to say, so many questions swirling in my mind, but now isn’t the time. “Maybe later, Jax,” I reply, forcing myself to sound casual. “I’m exhausted.”
He looks disappointed, but he doesn’t push. “Okay. Later, then.”
The tension between us lingers as we reach the bus. I quickly make my way to my bunk, desperate for some space, some time to think. The day has been a whirlwind of emotions, and I need to process everything that’s happened. As I lay there, the events of the day replay in my mind—the tension with Jax, the laughter with the guys, the incredible performance that left me breathless. It’s all a lot to take in, but despite the confusion, the uncertainty, one thing is clear: I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.
TEN
FOCUS ON WHAT’S WORKING
Lily
I wake up the next morning, tangled in my blanket, the faint light of dawn creeping through the curtains. The bus hums softly beneath me, and for a moment, I just lie there, trying to make sense of everything that’s happened over the past few days. My thoughts are all over the place.
Guilt nags at me for dodging Jax. I saw the look in his eyes last night when he wanted to talk, but honestly? I’m scared. I’m drawn to him like a moth to a flame, but I’m terrified of getting burned. And let’s be real, he’s just looking for a hookup and I don’t think that I want to be just another notch on his belt.
I sigh and feel the weight of everything pressing down on me. But I can’t hide in this bunk forever. The guys are probably already up, and I need to face them—and whatever this thing is between Jax and me.
With a groan, I finally roll out of bed. I pull on some comfy clothes and make my way to the kitchen area. The smell of coffee hits me first, followed by the sight of Marcus, Enzo, Dylan, and Jax already digging into breakfast.
“Morning, Lily,” Marcus says, flashing me that easy smile of his.
“Morning,” I mumble, grabbing a cup of coffee and some food. I sit down next to Dylan, who immediately starts teasing.
“Finally decided to join the land of the living, huh? Thought you were planning to hibernate all day.”
I chuckle “Just needed a few extra minutes to function.”
As we eat, the conversation flows easily. The tension from yesterday seems to have faded, at least for now. But I can’t help sneaking glances at Jax. He’s unusually quiet, and every time our eyes meet, I feel that familiar jolt. It’s impossible to ignore.
Enzo seems to notice. His eyes flit between Jax and I and he smirks in a cruel sort of way. “So, what’s the plan today?”
“We need to work on some new tracks,” Marcus says. “We’ve got a little downtime before we hit the road again, so let’s make the most of it.”
“Hell yeah,” Dylan agrees. “It’s been way too long since we laid down something fresh.”
Jax nods. “Yeah, let’s get to it.”
I sip my coffee, trying to focus on their plans and not the mess in my head. I decide to hang out and watch them work, curious to see how their creative process goes down. The guys grab their instruments and settle in. Jax picks up his guitar, Marcus grabs his own, Enzo grabs his bass, and Dylan’s already at his portable drum kit, essentially a scaled down version of the real thing so it can fit on the bus.
At first, it’s kind of a mess. They’re all throwing out different ideas that don’t really mesh. Marcus strums a few chords, but Dylan shakes his head. Enzo suggests a bass line, but Jax isn’t feeling it. The tension starts to creep back in, and it’s clear they’re struggling to find their groove.
“This isn’t working,” Jax grumbles, frustration clear in his voice. “We need to get on the same page.”
“Maybe if you actually listened to my ideas,” Enzo snaps back. “Instead of shooting them down right away.”
Jax glares at him. “It doesn’t fit the vibe we’re going for, Enzo. It’s too heavy.”
“And what’s wrong with heavy?” Enzo fires back. “We can’t all be singing about sunshine and rainbows.”
“Guys, chill,” Marcus jumps in, trying to keep things cool. “Let’s focus on what’s working and build from there.”
Dylan, always the joker, tries to break the tension. “Hey, if we can’t write a hit, maybe we can start a new genre of arguing rock.” His grin is infectious, and the mood lightens a bit as the others chuckle.
They eventually get it together. Marcus’s fingers start moving more confidently over the strings, and Jax picks up the melody. Enzo adds a bass line that works, and Dylan finds a rhythm that ties it all together.
“Finally, some progress,” Enzo says with a smirk. “About time you guys caught up.”
Jax gives him a look but doesn’t say anything, focusing on the music instead. The energy shifts, and they start to click. I can see flashes of how the band used to be, their creative synergy coming to life. They laugh and joke between takes, the camaraderie that had been missing for so long returning with each new line the guys add to their song.
