"Take it from the top! And don't mess up the tempo this time! Gosh!" Russ screams at 'his' band. I roll my eyes as I continue to make the band poster on my laptop. I have pictures of everyone, but I need to make sure this editing job doesn't go haywire. This needs to look professional.

Ha. As if this band would ever be professional. Not as long as Russ was the lead singer.

"That's not any better, Easton! You are all failures! Take five, I'm done with you." Russ was becoming nicer, to be honest. There weren't as many curses to follow his rants.

Easton walked over to me, shaking his head. I couldn't help but laugh. Russ was out of control.

"Please help me." He pouted. I was sitting on the couch in the basement as he sunk in the space beside me. His head fell on my shoulder, watching my fingers on my laptop.

"Is this a band poster?" He asked as I added the band name Forever After to the picture.

"Yes. So do you like it?" I knew Easton would be honest with me. That's why he was my best friend.

He placed his hand to his chest, "I love it. But Russ is the one to be asking."

"You're hilarious. You really think I'm going to ask his opinion?" I scoffed maybe a little too loud. It didn't matter because everyone else was upstairs getting snacks.

"You're right. So, when's our next gig? I heard you talking to Rider about one. I'm just surprised he didn't ask you to go on another fake date with him." He rolled his eyes, as did I.

"Sounds like someone's jealous." I teased after I took a sip of my soda. He crossed his arms and stood up.

"I'm not jealous. I just don't want him to think he can play you. You do realize every girl would kill to be in your position, right?"

Maybe I shouldn't have told him about that whole ordeal with Mr. Rich Boy (as Easton calls Rider). I was starting to see more of a defensive side to Easton than I wanted to.

"Calm down, I was joking. If I have any say about this, I'll never have to talk to him again."

Easton's arms fell to his side and he sat beside me again. There was something he knew that I didn't.

"You didn't see him talking to Kylie Reynolds, did you." It wasn't a question, it was an assumption.

"I did." I stated, waiting to see what he had to say.

He threw up his hands, "Brynn! Don't you see? He was talking to Kylie Reynolds. That girl is trouble."

I mumbled to where I thought he couldn't hear me, "You would know, dating that witch."

He scowled at me, obviously having heard my side comment. I glared right back at him. He wasn't going to get in my head with Kylie Reynolds. She flirted with everyone.

Wait. Am I trying to defend Rider? What am I doing?

"For the last time, I didn't date her." He groaned.

"Right. You just dream of being with her and hate the idea of anyone else dating her." I rolled my eyes, teasing him. Finally, the tables turned on him. I was making fun of him instead of the other way around.

"Hey. I'll have you know I kissed her once. It may have been based on a dare, but I did it." He was in denial. Kylie cheated on him. Easton holds grudges a long time.

He crossed his arms and then looked at me with a smirk. He poked my side, knowing I was ticklish. I swatted his hand away after laughing.

"You know you're the only girl in my life, Brynn." He wasn't laughing anymore or rolling his eyes.

His mother had passed away almost 6 years ago, so it was just him and his dad. They took it really well, considering it wasn't expected. Easton's mom died in a car accident when a transfer truck couldn't get stopped in time at a red light. Easton didn't talk about much of the details, and I didn't really want to ask.

The fact of the matter is she was like my mom as well. I never knew my real mother because she died when I was young. My dad died around the same time as his mother. We were both ten years old when we lost important people in our lives.

"Easton, I'm really sad. I want my daddy but he's gone and I'm stuck with my step mom. She hates me!" I plopped down on the sidewalk beside the playground benches.

"What happened, B?" Easton asked, but he didn't seem to be that involved in the conversation.

"My daddy died a few days ago. I didn't want to tell you because I was still sad. But I need you, Easton." I started crying into his shoulder. Then he started crying too.

"Easton, what's wrong?" I said, pulling away from our hug.

"I'm still upset about my momma. It's only been a few months." At this point he was crying too. He looked up and wiped away one of my tears from my cheek.

As he did that, I pulled him into a tight hug. After the teacher started to call us in from recess, he turned and looked at me. Once he grabbed my hand he said, "I love you, B. You're the only girl in my life now."

I smiled at him, forgetting that this was a sad moment. I couldn't believe Easton liked me back. I took it as a time to kiss his cheek.

"You're the only guy in my life now, E."

"Brynn. Hello? Earth to Brynn?" Easton was waving his hand in front of my face. I snapped out of my flashback daze and looked him in the eyes.

He rolled his eyes and turned away with a laugh. I could never stay focused, but he should've known what he said would trigger some memories. I'm just glad we're still friends after so long. I need him more and more everyday.

I heard Easton mumble something like, "You ruined the moment." The rest of the group came back in the studio area. I didn't figure out what Easton meant until later.

Rehearsal was finally over after another dreadful 45 minutes. I had finished packing up my bags when Easton walked over with his guitar case. He set it down on the couch and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Yes?" I asked, zipping up my bags.

"Do you need a ride home?" He asked, talking rather quickly.

"No. I drive, Easton. Remember?" I chuckled at him. I have had my license for a few months, he didn't have to give me a ride anymore.

"Yeah, alright. Do you want to grab something to eat?" He was just begging for some extra time to be with me, so it felt. I hesitantly said, "Sure." I needed dinner anyways.

"Burger King sound good?" He asked. I let a small smile come to my face.

"You know me so well."

He grabbed my keys dangling from my hand and ran off with them. I was about to holler at him as he made a break for his car.

Then Russ shouted my name from his car. We always practiced at Tyler's house because of his relaxed parents. They weren't bothered by the noise.

What did Russ want? I slowly walked over to him, just wanting to go get food. He was wasting my time.

"Yes?" I asked. My hands were in my jacket pockets as he smirked at me.

"You wouldn't happen to have a crush on one of the band members, would you?"

At first, I scowled. He was trying to flirt with me, what a tramp. He must've assumed I was thinking him because he jumped in to add, "Not on me."

A held back a breath of relief. Who did he mean, though? Easton?

"We both know Easton likes you, it's obvious." He rolled his eyes at me. I gave him a weird look and walked away to Easton's car. He loves me, and I love him, but not that way. Russ is delusional.

"Ready?" Easton asked as I buckled up.

I gave my best friend a smile, "Anytime."

Maybe Russ knew something I didn't, but I don't think Easton would like me as more than a best friend. He knew too much about my life to want to be in a relationship with me.