Back to you

X Y Z

I remember, in vivid detail, the first time I met the boys. It was sophmore year and I was at my locker waiting for my girlfriend. She came to school everyday, not to partake in learning, but to carry my books and walk me to class like the gentlemen she was not. I found it endearing that she was a completely different person when it came to me.

I had just entered my combination when a guy I was not familiar with leaned against the locker beside mine and started at me. I ignored him until I realized he wasn't going to go away. I sighed and gave him my attention.

"Are you religious?" He gave me a look I'm sure most girls found sickeningly charming.

"Not particularly. Why?" I asked hesitantly.

"Cause you're the answer to all my prayers." He responded with what he thought was a sly wink.

I rolled my eyes so hard I think I saw inside my head. He wanted in my pants and I wasn't having it. He didn't even deserve for me to give him the time of day.

"Oh and that skirt looks great on you by the way, but I know something that would look even better." He was getting on my nerves, but I was in a generous mood so I decided to humor him.

"What?" I raised my eyebrows and patiently awaited his response.

He leaned in close and whispered "me" right before he was thrown to the ground. Poor guy didn't have time to protest before he was picked up by his hair and roughly smashed face first into the lockers.

"What the fuck is your problem?!" He shouted.

"You." She stated calmly.

He was completely stunned.

"You must be new here, so I'm gonna let you off with a warning. Stay away from what's mine and we won't have any more problems. Got it?" She plastered on a fake smile.

"What are you talking about? I didn't go near anything of yours! I don't even know you!" He protested.

She wrapped her arm around my waist in a possessive manner and he still didn't get the message, so she gently pushed me up again my locker and kissed me, sliding her hands down to my ass and her tounge in my mouth. She placed a few light kisses down the length of my neck before pulling away and giving him a cocky smirk.

His jaw was on the floor, frozen in place and I think he might have even drooled a little bit.

She then looked into my eyes with a smile only for me and said "C'mon pretty girl. Don't wanna be late for class."

He kept his distance just like she had asked. It was a few weeks later that, during class, he asked if I could tutor his little brother.

"Why me?"

"I asked around. Everyone said you have the best grades and have tutored before."

"It depends. When and where?"

"Our house and any day should work. Your girlfriend can even come with if you don't trust me. Please? He really needs help."

It took some convincing with the help of my tounge, but Demi agreed and only a few days later, we were on our way to his house.

"Hello dear, you must be the tutor." I was met at the door by a lady I assumed was their mother. "Oh and who might this be?"

"My name's Selena and this is my girlfriend Demi." I had no reservations when it came to telling people the nature of our relationship. Whether strangers accepted us or not didn't matter to me.

She didn't seem to mind though. "Well it's a pleasure to meet you both. C'mon in. The boys should just be finishing up band practice. You're welcome to go on down."

We descended a stair case to the basement. The back wall was covered entirely by stickers of various brands and spray paint. The other had racks of skateboards. There were some vintage video game machines, a pool table and an air hockey table. A drum kit and a keyboard occupied one corner while a fridge stood in another corner over by a bar area. A couch sat infront of a 60 inch flat screen tv and lights were strung across the ceiling. It was just about the coolest room I'd ever seen, but it got better. The last wall was lined with guitars. Demi seemed transfixed by one in particular.

Phoenix didn't protest when she walked over to where it hung and took it down. No doubt he feared her reaction if he did. She looked in the direction of the amp.

"Go ahead." He told her.

She played flawlessly, never messing up a single note. Her fingers graced the fret board. When she was done, she simply unhooked it and hung it back up.

"Where did you learn to play like that? And without a pick?" The tallest of the three boys asked.

"My father taught me and I hardly ever use one." She shrugged. "This room is dope by the way."

"Thanks." Phoenix seemed pleased she wasn't jumping him.

"I still don't like you." She replied shortly.

After that first day, we kept coming back and by the end of the semester not only had Cruz went from failing to getting A's and B's in all his classes, but we all became really close friends.

Over time that bond strengthened and by the end of the year we were practically family. They even convinced Demi to join their band on the condition that she could change the name. They had formally called themselves xyz, using the last letter of their first names. She put a lot of thought into it and eventually came up with a name.

They started playing gigs around town and I, of course, never missed a show. Demi had a way of commanding an audience no matter what size because her presence on and off stage was electrifying. She exuded confidence. Her voice was a whole other thing. She had a rich and melodious tone, but her voice itself was raspy and powerful as hell. When she opened her mouth, people stopped and listened. She and Jay were lead guitarists, Cruz played bass and Nix played drums. Their energy was astounding. They played music that made you want destroy everything around you.

I once asked her how she wrote the lyrics she did. Her response was something I'll never forget. "Some of the greatest art comes from damaged souls in dark places because those are the types of people who got somethin to say." She really did write masterpieces.

I told them there was no way they wouldn't achieve success and apparently I wasn't the only one who thought so. They signed onto a record label, wrote, recorded and released an album all within three months. It was a rushed process, but it certainly payed off. Their debut album charted at number one.

All Beauty Destroyed was on their way to taking over the industry.

[All Beauty Destroyed is a song and album by Aesthetic Perfection just fyi. Check them out if you get a chance. Oh and shoutout to AViolentEmotion Her username was what prompted me to look them up in the first place a few months ago.]