Stuck On Strings

Sending Big Waves and Emotion

"Hey Jay?" He asked. Jake looked up at him curiously. "You like, okay dude?" He looked at his friend's confused face. "Your just kinda...being pouty and like...looking out the window...i dunno it just reminded me of your little sister when she's like mad at the world and stuff." He looked back at the road. Ryan wasn't the best at tuning in on people's emotions like his best friend was. Jake looked at the younger boy and laughed. Ryan sighed in relief.

"God this emotional therapist thing just isn't your cup of tea is it Ry?" Jake chuckled. "I'm fine. Just thinking about that girl."

"Oh okay." Ryan said, uninterested. They're conversation died after that knowing that neither of them really wanted to talk about what had just happened, one being too embarrassed and one just flat out not caring about his friends relationship status. Ryan just wanted Jake to be happy and if going on a date with a girl he randomly met on the street that he knows nothing about makes him happy, then so be it.

On their way to the studio Ryan's phone buzzed in his pocket. He ignored it until they came up to another red light. He read the contents of the text before tapping out a reply.

"Dude no," his passenger said to him, watching him text. "I am not dying because you are texting and driving put that away"

"It's fine" Ryan mumbled. Not making eye contact.

"Dude if it's that important I will type the text out for you."

"We're at a red light."

"We won't be forever! Just give me your phone."

"No." Ryan shivered and bit his lip as he got a reply almost immediately. Jake seemed to be watching his reaction as he leaned away from the younger boy.

"Oh my god."

"What?"

"You're sexting." Jake whispered the word, as if he was discussing drugs in front of the cops. "Who are you sexting?"

"No one!" Ryan blushed and threw his phone into the backseat. Jake watched it go.

"Are you in a relationship?" Jake knew he asked the right question when he saw his friend sigh, obviously annoyed at either the question or the thought. Jake couldn't tell.

"I don't know anymore!" Ryan huffed. "I mean we were and he was like 'Oh my parents don't like it i need to date a chick for a while to make them feel more secure' and then i was like yeah sure that's cool. But then the guy starts texting me like 'oh i miss you there's nothing about her that's like you not her hips or her lips' and i'm like okay yeah sure now you're getting clingy and then he starts sending me sexts like 'i wish i was with you instead of her' and i'm like then leave her but he won't and he never normally texts me now and oh my god." He starts moving the car forward again with a frustrated expression. Jake let him get it all out. Ryan's love life was more entertaining than his own. Ryan had had many partners in the past, a majority being male partners, and no matter what happened his live life was always horrible. 'There's always one turn off that's too much' Ryan explained to the band one day after he broke up with the guy they all thought was gonna marry Ryan. They had been wrong.

When the finally reached the studio they saw the other three were already there and quickly hurried up to the room they were renting. Ryan prepared himself to explain why he was sexting in the car. Jake was prepared to tell everyone about it. As they got closer to the door they could hear the drumline getting louder. A gentle guitar riff was played and followed by a quiet 'Nice Bro' from one of the patrons inside. Jake opened the door as he wracked his brain for the perfect opening line to say. Ryan beat him too it however.

"Jake got a girls number, sorry we're late." He said as he went over to the piano stand to set up his keyboard. Tyler looked up at his best friend.

"What do you mean you're late because of a girls number?" He glared.

"Listen I bumped into her, you know how i get around girls, other than you Nat" he explained, acknowledging the girl in the corner. She smiled and gave them a wave from over her computer screen. She watched as Ryan went over to Liam, holding his phone out in exasperation. 

"Michael again?" He asked. Ryan nodded and Liam pat his head. "Don't worry, He'll eventually stop." Ryan sighed but listened to his friend, turning his phone on silent. Natasha let them all set up before she cleared her throat. They all stopped to look at her.

"Okay, now that I have your attention." She stood up and showed them her laptop screen. "Sales on Itunes are up by 23 percent."

"Is that good?" Tyler asked

"It's okay. But it can be better."

"How so?" 

Natasha took a deep breath. She didn't want to have to say it. She knew how they all felt about the band. She knew Liam would agree, Liam always agreed. But she wasn't so sure about the other three. She thought about how to word it before settling on what to say.

"Well...people like variety. They like being able to pick and choose who they love and who they dont. Meaning they want more options more often than not. So We have a Bassist, a drummer, a keyboardist and a guitarist slash singer..." They all seemed to understand what she was saying. With a quiet glance at each other and silent nods Tyler looked at her.

"So you want me to drop singing?"

"Or guitar...whichever you want" she gulped.

"Fine, we better host auditions for a new singer though" Tyler agreed with a sigh. Natasha's face brightened up and she smiled.

"Of course! Now i'll let you get  back to your rehearsal." She sat back down at her laptop. The boy's looked at each other but said nothing. They started rehearsal and tried to forget about a new member for now.