Chapter 3
Alex's fans love it when he sings about sex.

'Are you kidding!? We can't sing that!' I argued.

'But Ashhhhh' Logan whined.

'Yeah Ashley come on' Jake added, 'the girls will love it!'

'But we're performing this at a school remember? And even if it is a high school, we can't sing a song about sex!'

'But most of the songs on the radio these days are about sex' Logan said.

'Yeah but songs on the radio don't usually have lines that bluntly state that the person singing wants to fuck someone.'

'What's wrong with wantin' to fuck away the pain?' Alex joined the conversation.

'Alex's fans love it when he sings about sex' Jake agreed.

'How do you even have fans?'

'Ouch' Alex put on a fake hurt expression.

'The girls from our old school love us' Jake told me.

'And we have boy fans too geez Jake stop being so sexist' Logan tsked.

'I wasn't being sexist! I was just saying that-'

'Okay, okay calm down' Alex ended the dispute about to happen, 'Ashley don't worry, Logan was just joking about singing 'Fuck Away The Pain' for the school costume dance thing. We'll save that for another time. Anyway... real suggestions anyone?'

'So Divide the Day is out then?' Logan pouted, 'but they're such a cool band!'

'Well I never said they weren't Logan' I assured him.

He lightened up after that.

'What about Simple Plan?' Jake proposed.

'Hmm' Alex thought, 'we could do that but which song?'

'Remember that Jet will be there guys, we can get him to DJ for us' Logan reminded the other two.

'Well with Jet we could do a Breathe Carolina song or maybe even Twenty One Pilots or something' Alex suggested.

'What about Ashley? Are you okay with these?'

I blushed at the sudden attention back onto me.

'Y-yeah I'm fine with all of those bands' I answered.

'Would you like to do a solo? Seeing as you're actually an amazing singer and all' Logan asked.

I expected Alex to retaliate, maybe tell me that he didn't want to share the spotlight. When I looked at him though, he was smiling.

'I... don't know guys' I stuttered.

'You sure?' Alex looked me right in the eye.

'Uh... well...'

'Come on Ash. Show our old school how talented you are!' Logan insisted.

'Well... I guess I could... but what song would I sing?'

The three boys glanced at each other. They looked cute when they were thinking. Logan looked up at the ceiling, Jake ran his hands through his hair and Alex rubbed his chin whilst staring off into the distance.

'Well what we've already suggested is good. We were told to have up to three songs prepared so we can use all of them' Alex finally spoke up.

'Sounds good. Jake grab your laptop, Alex grab some snacks and Ash' Logan paused, 'you can sit right here next to me on the couch.'

He patted the spot next to him with a smirk. I rolled my eyes but joined him on the comfy piece of furniture. Alex and Jake ran off to grab the stuff we needed while Logan slowly dropped his arm over my shoulder. By the time them came back I had my head resting on his chest and Logan had his head resting on my head. Alex gave us a funny look when he walked in with a bag of chips and a can of soda for all of us. Jake smirked when he came in with his laptop.

'Okay then' he chucked and opened it up.

We broke into the chips and munched on them while Jake found us some music to perform.

'Here's the chords and everything for 'Me Against the World' by Simple Plan, pretty easy by the looks of it.'

'Okay that's one' Alex nodded.

'What about 'Ride' for Twenty One Pilots? Can any of you guys rap?' I asked.

'Hell yeah I can rap' Logan answered.

'Well we both can but whatever' Alex checked that off too.

'One more' Jake said, 'how about 'Savages'? that's a distinctive party-like Breathe Carolina song and I'm pretty sure people will like it.'

'That's three' Alex finished.

'Could we do another though? Ashley still needs a solo' Logan added.

'I guess we could, but what?' Jake answered.

'Ashley should pick her own song' Alex suggested.

The three boys turned towards me. I rummaged my brain for one of my favourite songs, one that would be easy enough to perform but also fun. It needed to be appropriate because we were performing at a school with teachers there. And lastly I had to be able to sing it, anything too low pitched would be bad considering I was a girl. Paramore would be good but then again I didn't really want to perform one of their songs in case I totally stuffed up Hayley William's perfect voice. I thought about doing the latest Breathe Carolina song called 'more than ever' but we were already doing one of their songs. Dang it Ashley just think of something! The boys were still looking towards me, waiting for an answer. It was awkwardly quiet and stressful. Geez! Why can't I just think of something!? Come on! Why is my memory always so bad when I'm trying to think of important things! Thanks a lot memory... Wait... Yes! That's perfect!

'How about 'Thnks fr th Mmrs' by Fall Out Boy?' Of course I said it like 'Thanks For The Memories' but you get what I mean.

'Good choice' Logan agreed.

'Well than we're set' Alex added.

'I've got the music, let's start practising' Jake finished.

+++

We practised for around three hours before Jake dropped me home. My parent's cars were in the driveway when I got there. I may have accidently forgot to mention to them that I wouldn't be home all afternoon... heh heh... oops.

I slowly approached the front door and carefully opened it to peek inside before I entered. I didn't see anyone around. I did hear the TV though and so assumed that my dad was probably watching football or something. Mum would be making dinner by now so she'd be in the kitchen. Taylor however... she was a little less predictable. I quietly stepped inside and shut the door behind me. I tried to keep my footsteps silent as I ascended the stairs in slow motion. Just as I got to the top I heard a noise coming from my bedroom. Why would someone be in my room? I didn't care so much about being quiet anymore, I was angry. People couldn't just waltz into my room without asking me first! I furiously slammed the door open and glared at whoever dared to cross into my private territory.

And there goes my poor innocent eyes.

'Taylor! Ian!' I yelled in disgust, 'get the fuck out of my room!'

Taylor and her quarterback boyfriend Ian broke apart from their tongue swallowing competition. Ian blushed awkwardly but Taylor just glared at me as if I was a clump of dog shit on her new converse.

'Get. Out. Now.' I wasn't taking any of their bullshit today, why were they even in more room? WERE THEY GOING TO THE NASTY ON MY BED!?

Taylor rolled her eyes at me and sauntered out of the room with Ian following behind her. Jesus Christ guys, why in my fricken room!? I sighed in annoyance and flopped onto my bed. Then I got paranoid and got up in repulsion. I pinched the very ends of my bed covers and pulled them all off. In the laundry they go.

As I went downstairs to the laundry with my pile of tainted bedcovers, I heard voices in the kitchen. Crap! I completely forgot that I was supposed to be avoiding my parents! I put my back to the wall and peeked around the doorway corner.

'Taylor please none of that right here sweetie' I heard my mum say.

After I kicked them out, Taylor and Ian must have went downstairs to cuddle on the couch or something.

'Jesus Christ, no one will give us any privacy!' she retaliated.

'Go up to your room.'

'I can't mum, remember? It's getting painted.'

Oh yeah... I forgot about that. Taylor wanted to get her room changed to a 'sunset orange' as she liked to call it. I don't know why the sudden change but of course because she's mum's baby she got what she wanted.

'Fine, we'll go outside... oh and mum? Ashley just got home by the way.'

Fuck. There goes my attempt at being sneaky.

'Ashley!' my mother yelled.

Fuck I am so dead. I might as well just show myself now.

'Uh... yes beautiful and caring mother?'

'Don't even try it, where in heavens were you this afternoon young lady?'

'I uh... I was just... you know... practicingsomemusicwiththebandI'minnowpleasedon'tgetmad.'

'Did you say...?'

'Band, yes. Okay fine I may or may not have joined a band. We were practising this afternoon for a gig we have at a school next week.'

'What!?'

'Uh...'

'You joined a band!? Who else is in the band? Why didn't you ask me first? What school are you performing at!?'

'Okay uh, the band is called Toxic Affection, I'm one of four. The other members are boys but I also met a girl named Charlotte and she's really cool. Alex, Logan and Jake are super nice as well. I didn't ask you because I knew you would say no and I'm not sure what school we're performing at exactly but it's the one they used to go to. They're new. I think that's all.'

'Ashley...'

'Okay mum that's for understanding, I'm going to go and do my homework now bye.'

I left the kitchen before she could say anything more.

+++

'Alex! Wait up!'

Alex looked back and saw me. Luckily he stopped and waited for me to catch up. A few people gave us weird looks but I just ignored them.

'Nice shirt' Alex said as I approached him.

I looked down at my Pierce the Veil shirt and smiled.

'I know right.'

We walked along the corridor towards our art classroom.

'Where's Jake?' I asked Alex.

'I don't know, I think he went to see a teacher or something. Honestly, I wasn't really listening.'

I laughed. He was starting to sound like me.

'Okay.'

We went inside and sat at one of the group tables. Nothing seemed off. I felt kind of good today actually like nothing was wrong, that everything was okay. The last few days had been an absolutely crazy experience but today was fine. Alex was being nice to be (yes!), my mum didn't ask any more questions about the band when I left this morning, she merely glared at me but I ignored her and Logan didn't keep me up all night with texts so I actually got a good sleep.

Jake entered the room late with an apology to the teacher and a note in his hand. Not much had happened yet anyway. We were learning about sketching the environment, trees and flowers and shit. I loved art but the theory just bored me, I wanted to break into the paints and stroke different colours against the white canvas. Alex didn't look very interested in Mrs Downing's rambling either. He had a sketchpad in hand, drawing something I couldn't see. Jake tapped his pencil against the desk annoyingly, every time I asked him to stop he simple smirked and kept doing it.

When the lesson was about three quarters over someone knocked on the door. Mrs Downing sighed and strode over to it. As it opened up I saw a flash of sandy blonde hair and black rimmed glasses.

'Sorry I'm late miss, I slept in.'

'Where's your note Peter?'

He handed it to her and made his way to our table. Oh no. I forgot about Peter, he wasn't here yesterday so I might have completely forgotten he existed. Don't blame me! Just cause I talk to him sometimes doesn't mean he's my best friend! I just know him... He looked horrible. There were bags under his eyes and his face was paler than usual.

'Hey Ashley' he said, completely ignoring Jake and Alex.

'Hey' I replied, 'are you okay?'

He smiled weakly.

'I'm fine, just tired. You remember that party the other night? I got drunk out of my mind and apparently vandalised someone's car on the way home. My parents sorted it all out and everything, it's fine now. I can't really remember anything that happened that night though.'

'Oh.'

What was I meant to say? Yeah you kinda tried to give me a hickie but it's fine. Yeah no.

'Anyway, what's happening?' he filled the silence.

'Just miss rambling about nature and shit' Jake answered for me.

Peter looked at Jake and then Alex for the first time today as if just noticing them.

'Okay.'

+++

'Oops sorry' Logan apologized after he messed up the rhythm once again.

'Jesus Logan, we only have a few more days before we have to perform this along with three other songs, can you at least try to get it right!?'

Remind me never to make Jake angry I thought as I watched his frame shake in frustration.

'Again' Alex sighed saving Logan from certain death.

Jake took a deep breath and sat back down at his drum set. I sent a look at Logan who just shrugged innocently as if he had done nothing wrong. My eyes rolled for about the fifty millionth time since I had met Logan but I did as Alex said and got ready to start the song again. Jake started the drum beat and we all joined in. Halfway through the song I started to realise how good we were sounding. Alex sang with so much emotion. It was beautiful.

'Oh whoa oh I'm falling so I'm takin my time on my ride.'

+++

'Break time, finally' Jake breathed in relief.

'We finally got through the entire song without Logan stuffing up' I smiled.

'You did great Ash, I'm so glad we let you into the band' Jake smiled back.

'Hey! No flirting with my girl!' Logan butted in.

'Flirting!? I have a girlfriend!'

'And I'm not your girl' I reminded Logan.

He groaned and muttered something under his breath, crossing his arms like an angry child that didn't get what he wanted for Christmas. Alex sighed and left to get some snacks. I didn't want to stay in the room with Jake and Logan because they looked to blow up at each other any second so I followed him.

'Do those two fight often?' I asked.

'Yeah but don't worry, they'll sort it out.'

'Okay then...'

'What do you want to eat?'

'Have you got any pop tarts?'

Alex's face hardened. Did I say something wrong? He pulled some chocolate pop tarts out from Jake's pantry and put them into the toaster to warm them up.

'Why have you got to be so damn like her?' Alex muttered.

'Wait what?'

'Nothing.'

He took the two finished pop tarts and stuck two more in for Logan and Jake. I munched on the sweet treat and moaned in pleasure. Okay... that came out wrong... or did it? (Deadpool reference hehe). Alex smirked at me. I glared back, don't judge me. This caused him to snicker before biting into his own pop tart. A crash came from the garage and Alex's eyes went wide. We stared at each other in shock before rushing out to see what the hell was going on.

'My bad!' Logan yelled, nerf gun in hand.

He was ducking behind an old cabinet which had just been knocked over. Jake was pressed up against a cardboard box on the other side with his own nerf gun. They looked in the middle of a war.

'This is usually how they sort out their problems' Alex sighed.

I laughed at the two boys and picked up a nerf gun off the ground for myself. It was a six round revolver gun which I filled with bullets quickly. Then I grabbed a few extra and hid behind the doorway to the kitchen before the other two knew what I was doing. Alex followed suit and took a nerf crossbow with extra bullets. He hid with me on the other side of the door just as Logan tried to take a shot at him.

'And so the war begins!' Alex declared.

'It already began, you're just late to the party' Jake rolled his eyes, 'and hey! No teaming!'

'Too late' Alex laughed, winking at me.

I blushed but got ready to shoot as nerf bullets started to fly.

'Ah! I'm hit' Jake coughed dramatically after I shot him right in the chest.

'Hold on buddy, I got you' Logan crawled over to him and held his head.

'Nice shot' Alex whispered to me, 'now open fire on Logan.'

I had four bullets left, all of which hit Logan in the back. Alex hit him in the head with one bullet and in the shoulder with another.

'I'll meet you in heaven' Logan told Jake as he fell down beside him.

'And so the tale of the great nerf war is ended. Though they fought valiantly, Logan and Jake were defeated by the mighty force of team Ashlex' Alex announced.

'Ashlex? Really?'

'Shut up, we never came up with a real team name so just go with it' he chuckled.

I rolled my eyes once again but continued to laugh with him. Jake and Logan got up and started laughing too. This afternoon had been the most fun I'd had in ages. It made me wish I had, had brothers growing up to do this sort of stuff with me. These three boys were the closest thing I had to brothers now. They were a large part of my life.

(((A/N: Hello! How's your day/night going? Hope you enjoyed this chapter :D Jake's drum kit up top. I'll be posting this about once every week but I'm sorry if i don't stick exactly to that schedule *scratches back of head awkwardly* Heh heh... Anyway... I love you guys, thanks so much for reading! Don't forget to leave a comment or perhaps a little vote would be nice? Aye? Yeah... Haha but seriously if you're reading this than thanks so much, i really appreciate it XD Tell me your thoughts, who do you ship Ashley with? Who's your favourite character? What do you think of the story so far? Thanks so much again, bye!)))