The Only Girl in the Band

The Only Girl in the Band...[Part 7]

Ian glared at me and then walked past me to Caleb's desk. On it, sat a Mac.

"Hah. Sucker. Left his laptop in here," Ian said, more to himself than to me.

"We're supposed to be talking things out..." I mumbled, sitting on Caleb's bed and rolling up the sleeves to Caleb's too-big hoodie.

"Like I'm going to talk to you. Be quiet. We'll just fake it when he lets us out in an hour," he said. Just then, the door opened. Caleb walked in, went to his desk, grabbed his laptop off his desk, and snatched Ian phone from his hands. He held his hand out to me and I looked up at him. He raised an eyebrow and I pulled my phone out, too, and handed it to him. Without saying a word, he left the room and locked the door behind him.

"Well, there goes your plan," I said. Ian groaned and closed his eyes. Then he looked at me.

"What the hell are we supposed to talk about?" he asked.

"Well, you can start by apologizing to me," I suggested.

"Hell no. I don't do apologies. Goes against the image," he said, putting his hands behind his head and his feet on Caleb's desk.

"What image? Control-freak, douche-bag, jerk?" I asked.

"Why are you so annoying?" he asked back, glaring at me.

"Why are you such a jerk to me?" I asked him. He still sat, his eyes narrowed. He seemed to be thinking about something. I saw the processes of thoughts flit over his face. Then, finally, he sighed and stood up, and then laid down on the bed.

"I don't know," he admitted. I turned and leaned against the headboard.

"Ian, I want the same thing you do: to be a successful artist. And it's not going to happen if we keep arguing over stupid things," I told him.

"You're right," he said. I furrowed my brows. Why was he agreeing all of a sudden?

"What do you mean I'm right?" I asked.

"What else does being right mean, Vanessa?" he asked, looking up at me.

"Every other time I've said that, you always bring up an argument-" I began saying.

"And maybe I'm tired of fighting with you and listening to Caleb give me the same lecture every time you get upset," he interrupted. "I'm still not happy with you being in the band. But from now on, I'll keep it to myself," he said.

"Well I'm not happy with that. I want you to accept me into the band," I said.

"That's going to take time," he told me in a somber voice.

"So what are you suggesting?" I asked him.

"That you give me my space and I'll try to get over the fact that you're in this to stay," he replied. I sighed. I guess that was better than us biting each other's heads off every time we saw each other.

"Starting now?" I asked. He shook his head.

"Starting from when he lets us out of here. We've still got another 30 minutes," he said.

"Right," I said. There was a moment of silence. "So...should we talk or..." I muttered awkwardly.

"Can I just say that you look ridiculous in those clothes," he said, turning his head and touching the loose-fitting hoodie.

"I wouldn't be wearing them if someone hadn't been a complete jerk and let me walk home in the rain," I said. He raised his eyebrows slightly and then faced the ceiling again.

"You're the one that gets angry too fast," he pointed out. I rolled my eyes.

"You know you started it and now you're not admitting it," I said.