*Aleah's POV, A Few Hours Later*

I knew Mel played drums and Lindsay mentioned playing bass, so if we got another guitarist we could have a serious band. I shot a group message to them and they were both on board. I couldn't imagine what would happen if we made it big. "I'm leaving Saturday morning, Aleah. You gotta have something to show me by then, okay?"

"We will. I can't thank you enough for this, dad." I responded excitedly.

"Alright, I have to get to a meeting. I'll see you later."

"Dad?" I asked. "You've been going to a lot of evening 'meetings' lately… Are you seeing someone?"

"Yeah… She's a new executive at the company. I think you'll like her. She's coming to the bar with us Friday night." My jaw dropped.

"Good for you…" I mumbled spitefully as I got up from the couch and headed toward my room. Tony was in the shower, and I had to get ready for work. I was already dressed from school, so I just had to touch up my makeup.

"Babe, do you know where my sweatpants are…? I can't find half my shit since we moved." Tony asked as he walked casually into my room wearing just his boxers.

"Have you checked the laundry?" I asked with a giggle. I could feel my cheeks flaming.

"Good plan. Go check." He said with a grin as he plopped down on my bed. I groaned and playfully rolled my eyes as I left the room, returning shortly with a pair of basketball shorts and a t-shirt for Tony. "Want me to drive you to work?" He asked as he finished getting dressed and I began to get my keys and purse together.

"Only if you wanna hang out with me." I smiled at him.

"Eh, when you put it that way…" He said, walking away for a few steps then returning with a chuckle and placing his hands on my waist. A moment later his lips rested gently against mine. "I love you." He whispered.

"I love you too." I said as I snuggled my head against his chest.

---

"Ben, you play guitar, don't you?" I asked my co-worker as we hung up some new Dimebag Darrel memorial shirts.

"Since I was six." He responded proudly.

"Well my dad said he'll sign me if I can get a decent band together by Saturday, and all I need yet is a lead guitarist." I told him with a mischievous grin.

"Leah," I've always found it funny that Ben was the only person who called me that. "Are you asking me to be the sexy chick magnet in your band?" He asked with a chuckle.

"Umm… I don't know about all that." I said, and we both burst out laughing. After a bit more conversation Ben agreed to join. I wrote down my address and told him to come over the next day. My dad said I could skip since it was my birthday and Ben wasn't the type to argue over missing school

---

.*Next Day, 11:30 AM*

"Thanks for coming, guys!" I said to Lin, Ben, and Mel. Tony was hanging out with the guys so that we could get things figured out, but made it quite clear that I'd be getting some 'Tony time' as he called it, for my birthday.

"Hell yeah!" Mel said enthusiastically. "You know it's always been my dream to be in a band!"

"Same here," Lin chimed in. "I know we just got to know each other, but I'm really looking forward to this!"

"Let's do it, Leah!" Ben yelled.

"I think we should record a Flyleaf cover! Smurfy can sing Lacey Sturm like nobody's business. Plus, their songs are really fun to play."

"Before we record, we need a name." I told them. "I have a few ideas… Push Push Fall, Breathing After Twelve, Curse Of Ignorance-"

"I like the last one!" Lin called out.

"Same" Agreed Mel and Ben.

"Alrighty, Curse Of Ignorance it is! For a demo song we should do a cover then start working on some originals." I said with a smile. After about two hours, we had the song down (Fully Alive by Flyleaf) and we agreed to record it on Thursday, since the talent show was Wednesday.

At around 2:00 PM Ben had to leave so we called the guys to come back and hang. Since me being seventeen was apparently a national holiday, the whole gang ditched. Once everyone got there, Tony sat me on the recliner in the living room and I was soon surrounded by presents. My dad was planning on giving me my gift Thursday, for whatever reason, so I had one more to wait for. "Hope you like it!" Jaime said with a huge grin on his face as he handed me a small box. I opened it and it was a bass pick with his initials on it. "When we're big and famous, you can say you have Jaime Preciado's bass pick!" He emphasized his name, making it into a way bigger deal. We all laughed, and I promised to cherish it forever.

"My turn." Vic said with a warm smile. He handed me a box. As I opened it, a large collection of CDs was revealed.

"It's from me, too." Kellin chimed in.

"We remembered how your mom trashed all your music a few months ago," Vic explained, "so we spent all this time looking for as many as we could find. The only one nobody seemed to be selling was-"

"Vulgar Display Of Power." I mumbled in awe of the amazing gift, yet sad that I couldn't completely rebuild my collection.

"How'd you know?" The pair asked in unison.

"It's obvious, ever since Dimebag died nobody wants to sell their Pantera albums on eBay for less than $100. And nobody wants to sell a signed vinyl." I sighed. I had a signed vinyl of every Pantera album and my mom destroyed all of them. I'd never get that back. "This is amazing, guys! Thank you so much." I set the box on the couch as I pulled them into a hug. Kellin's arms wrapped around my neck, yet Vic traveled lower until I abruptly pulled away.

"Our turn!" Mel called. "Lin got in on this with me."

"I don't know you that well, but I really wanted to get you something!" Lindsay said sweetly. I really don't get how such a kind girl was friends with a witch like Cara. Mel handed me a bag, and I opened it to see a variety of my favorite things – dream catchers! There were a few just for hanging up, one for my car, a few earrings and belly rings, and the best of all; They took a painting I did and had it framed.

"You guys really are the best! I love these!" I said, pulling them both into a hug.

"Now me." Mike announced with a smirk. He handed me a flat box. "I know you lost all your signed shit, and I figured now we're totally good…" I opened it and staring up at me was Mike's Pantera poster with signatures from Dimebag Darrel, Vinnie Paul, Rex Brown, and Phil Anselo.

"Oh my god, Mike! You didn't have to-" I started.

"Yeah, yeah I did. I put you through a lot lately. Plus, I wasn't there for you when you lost all that shit, so… I had to." He said.

---

*Tony's POV*

It bothered me a bit that I had no idea what they were all talking about with her CDs, but I didn't care that much. "Mike, this is amazing. Thank you so much." Ali said sweetly. She hopped up and wrapped her arms around his neck and he innocently – unlike his brother – wrapped his around her upper waist.

"My turn?" I asked her once she released Mike. She nodded with all the excitement in the world, and I just grinned at how fucking cute she is. "Come with me." I said, taking her hand.

"What, you're not going to wait until we leave for birthday sex?" Melissa called from behind us as I began to pull her away.

"Don't be a perv! I'm just showing her a recording I made her!"

Everyone then yelled something along the lines of "We wanna hear!"

"No! I'm not letting all you freaks laugh at me!" I yelled back with a chuckle.

After a few moments, we arrived in the studio and I played a recording. It was just me doing an acoustic cover of Never Too Late by Three Days Grace. When I made the recording, I strummed the intro and said, "This is for you, Ali. I love you." before the lyrics.

"That was perfect." She whispered, nearly in tears, as the track finished.

"C'mon baby, let's go back to the living room." She smiled at me sweetly.

"I love you too." She whispered, hugging my waist, as we walked.

We pretty much spent the evening watching Star Wars – Ali's birthday request – until around 8:00 when everyone had to head out. Once everyone was gone, Ali got her real birthday present.

Notes

ohhh sexual innuendo /.\ lol
im so so so so so sorry that this took so fucking long! I've had a lot going on and could squeeze in the time to update but I'm planning to be better now! sorry again, ily guyz. thank you so much for reading this even tho I'm a super shitty author.

QOTD: What's going to happen between Tony and Vic?!?

{Title Credit To: Pierce The Veil}