My Favorite Explosion

I took the week before Vic left for tour off from work so I could spend some time with him before he left since I had barely been seeing him lately between both of our crazy schedules. I had been picking up unwanted overtime, work was short staffed as usual during this time of year, the summer always posed problems for schedule coverage. Vic was busy with pre-tour stuff. Interviews, signings, performances, and most recently their release of their new song. “The Divine Zero” which was awesome. We typically only saw each other at night, right before I was about to go to sleep to be able to function at work in the morning. I figured this was the best way to be able to see him more, and so far we were on day 2 and I had yet to see him outside of our nightly cuddle. I completely understand tour life is hard, demanding and draining but I would like some time with him before he left. I could work overtime when he left. What he didn’t know was that I would be flying out to New Jersey for their few warped dates in that area. But that wasn’t for another month.

Unsure of what to do with myself, I decided to change and go to the gym. Although I had been to boxing this morning, I had nothing better to do than go work out again. Dad was at work, Austin was writing and recording and Jake was working. I made a mental note to start being more social at work, it wasn’t really working in my favor. I had been so out of touch with people that I forgot how to interact all together.

I walked in to find a nearly empty gym, smiling at all the machines I had to myself and decided to start out strong with the stair master, something that I had a huge problem with when I first applied to work at the company. There was a timed requirement I had to reach in order to pass. I failed the first time. But I buckled down and trained harder and finally passed. Ever since then it had become part of my workout. Next was the squat rack after twenty five minutes of the stair master and now to try and increase my weight that I could squat. I’d been stuck at one hundred fifty for almost a month, I was determined to increase it today, even if it was only ten pounds.

Right as I was about to grab the barbell my phone rang, playing “Wonderless”, letting me know it was Vic calling. I released my grip from the bar and grabbed my phone from the bench next to me pulling my headphone out of my ears to answer.

“Hello?” I answered breathlessly.

“Do I dare ask what you’re doing?” He asked unsure

“I’m at the gym jackass” I laughed “What are you doing?” I asked hoping to see him tonight.

“We’re leaving L.A. now, do you want to go out to dinner tonight?”

“What if we just stay in tonight? I can make dinner, we can just hang out” I suggested hoping he would pick up on my hints. I heard him laugh on the other end, letting me know he realized it.

“You’re not going to make me eat that kale stuff you’ve been eating right?” He laughed

“Not if you don’t want to” I laughed getting out of the squat rack seeing someone else headed over to it. “What do you want?” I asked

“That pepper steak you made last week” He answered instantly.

“I can do that” I laughed at his eagerness. “So what time do you think you’ll be back by?”

“Well, it’s 4 now, so probably 6:30, 7 ish?”

“Perfect, plenty of time. I’ll see you then”

“Awesome. I’ll see you in a little bit. I love you”

“Love you too” I said hanging up the phone
.
Since someone was still on the squat rack I proceeded through the floor and went through the rest of my workout and returned to it when they had finished, successfully going up 10 pounds. I practically crawled over to the locker room after going so hard on my legs today, realizing it wasn’t my greatest idea but physically felt ten times better. I stopped at the juice bar to get a smoothie packed with protein to finish up my routine and stopped at the grocery store to get everything I needed.

Once I got home, I put the steak to marinate while I was in the shower, washing off the gross sweat from my workout today. I stayed in a few minutes longer than I needed to, just enjoying the warm water. Once I finally got out, I wrapped a towel around me and walked into my bedroom down the hall. I was officially moved into my condo and as much as I loved living with my dad it was great being on my own again. I flopped down on my bed looking at the time to see how much longer I had before Vic got here, and I had about an hour and a half which was more than enough time. Dinner only took a half hour to make so I decided to lay on my bed for a little while longer. After fifteen minutes of laying down and deciding on what to wear for the evening, I got up and put on leggings and a tank top to start making dinner. My hair was on top of my head in a bun and my mascara I had put on this morning had finally run down my face.

I walked into the kitchen pulling the steak off the counter where it sat in it’s marinade and decided to let it sit for a few more minutes. I started a pot of boiling water for the pasta and another for the vegetables. I was lucky enough to get a condo with a deck so I could have a grill, something I needed for the type of food I liked to eat. I started the grill, brushing it off from the last time I used it and allowed it to heat up while I cut the peppers, onions and mushrooms to throw into the pot once it was ready. Thankfully for my, this was one of the few times Vic didn’t mind his steak cooked a little longer than his usual medium rare. The thought of it being that pink made me shudder in disgust. I cooked the steak to a medium, knowing it would cook more in the wok when the time came. I strained the vegetables from the pot, putting them into the wok and started cutting the steak to put in with it. I added the pasta last, waiting for a ten minute warning from Vic to put the pasta on. I can keep the steak and veggies warm no problem, it’s a little more difficult with pasta.

I kept the food on low heat with a cover while I went into my room to get ready, removing my mascara bleed and blow drying my hair, plugging the flat iron in to make it look presentable, realizing I hadn’t done so in quite some time. I put on minimal make up, and put on a green button down shirt with a pair of black leggings. I walked into the kitchen to stir the food around, amazing myself at how good it smelled. I looked at the time, it being 6:45 already, and put the pasta in the boiling water, knowing Vic would be here in the next fifteen minutes. I went back into my room to put my black knee high boots on and run the flat iron over my hair. I finished with my hair, checking myself in the mirror a few times before deciding I was happy with how I looked.

I walked back into the kitchen, pulling out two plates and setting them on the table with silverware. I checked on the pasta to make sure it was cooking well and found it was done. I strained it out in the sink and mixed it in with the steak and vegetables, making sure to coat it completely with the sauce I used tonight. I pulled a piece of steak out to taste it, starting to get hungry and was impressed with myself and newfound ability to cook. I put the empty pots in the dishwasher, cleaning up the counter and keeping the lid on the low heated food. I found more dishes that I had missed during my initial clean up and bent over to put them in the dishwasher, feeling a pair of arms wrap around my waist as I stood back up.

“Those squats you’re obsessed with are surely paying off” He whispered in my ear as I turned around.

“I was hoping you’d notice” I laughed kissing him. “Perfect timing, dinner’s ready. Sit down”
“Give me a second, I would like to take in how beautiful my girlfriend looks right now” He laughed grabbing my hand and spinning me around, pulling me into him to kiss me. “I thought I loved the color green before but Goddamn Letty, you make it even better” He said kissing me again.

“Well thank you” I laughed, “Now come on, sit down, I’m hungry”

“What are you all dressed up for tonight?” He asked, “You never dress like that if we’re staying in”

“Well maybe” I started as I walked over getting the plates, “I wanted to look nice for my man for once instead of my usual sweatpants and hoodies” I said lightly kissing him and walking over to the stove.

“You could wear a paper bag and I would think you were the most beautiful woman in the world” He said, I could hear the smile in his voice.

“I’ll see what I can do to arrange that” I said placing the plates down on the table. “Beer, wine or water?” I asked walking over to the fridge.

“What are you having?” he asked trying to make it easier.

“Wine”

“Then I’ll have wine”

I grabbed the bottle out of the fridge, pouring two glasses and setting them on the table after putting the wine back.

I sat down across from him, holding up my glass to which he followed.

“To you having an amazing tour” I smiled

“And to you hopefully not losing your mind while I’m gone” he laughed clinking our glasses together. “Thank you for making dinner, it smells amazing, I’m starving”

“What are they too cool to feed you guys in L.A.?”

“well I knew you were making dinner so when they stopped at white castle I didn’t get anything” he laughed.

“Oh thank God you decided against white castle” I laughed, “So how was whatever you had to do today?” I asked unable to keep track of what each day had in store for him.

“Just a meeting with our tour manager and working out the final details of everything. Which I found out something today” He said taking a sip of his wine, causing me to put my fork down.
“You’re leaving earlier than originally planned aren’t you?” I asked, sadness washing over me.

“Well the day we leave did change. But we’re leaving Monday night, not Sunday” he smiled. I felt my face turn from the sadness I was expecting to a huge smile.

“So you mean I get an extra day with you?” I smiled like a child.

“Yes.” He nodded with a smile

“This is so exciting!” I said leaning over the table to kiss him.

“I figured you’d say that. Considering this is the first time I’ll be away on tour that we’re dating”

“I know” I sighed, “I’m still adjusting to the idea of you not being ten minutes away or not next to me when I wake up in the morning.”

“That and you’re going to have to trust me while I’m away Scarlett”

I winced at his use of my full name, something I’m not used to hearing from him. “I do trust you Vic. But that goes both ways. If I tell you I’m out with Jake because I had a shitty day at work you’re going to have to be okay with that. He is my partner after all.”

“I know” He nodded, “And I do trust him a little bit more. I don’t have an undying hatred for him like I did a few months ago. I actually ran into him the other day at the supermarket”

“You go to the supermarket?” I asked more surprised by that than him telling me he liked Jake a little bit more.

“Who do you think stocks the house with all the food?” He laughed, “Mike’s stoned self isn’t going to do it”

“Good point” I laughed taking a sip of wine. “But you had a civil conversation with Jake?” I questioned getting back to the point.

“Yes, we did. He asked me how all the pre tour planning stuff was going. I told him to take care of you while I was gone. I know how you get after a really bad day”

“Wow. I’m proud of you” I smiled.

“Well, I finally realized that I can’t hate him forever. He is your partner and more importantly one of your best friends and that’s something that I’m going to have to live with.” He shrugged. “I also may or may not have spoken to your brother about it who was not too happy that I was giving you a hard time about Jake while he was in the hospital”

“I wasn’t allowed to go see him until he knew that we had resolved everything” I sighed. “But, that doesn’t matter anymore because Austin is no longer in the hospital and you’re friendly with Jake. That’s all I need” I smiled with a sigh of relief.

“So what else is on the agenda for tonight my lady?” He asked grabbing our plates and walking over to the sink.

“I was gonna do that” I laughed getting up.

“Nope. You sit your pretty little ass down. You cooked, so therefore I clean. Now sit” He said. I complied picking my glass up to refill it, taking a drink from it. “easy there killer.” He laughed putting the dishes in the dishwasher.

“What for?” I laughed, “I’m on vacation”

“You’re what?” He questioned turning around closing the dishwasher.

“I took a week off since I knew you were leaving next week”

“Did you tell me this and I forgot?” He asked, distress on his face.

“You did” I nodded, “But that’s okay. You’ve been busy. I don’t fault you for it” I said taking another drink of my wine.

“Well, since you’re not working.” He smirked walking over taking the glass from my hand, placing it on the table.

“Hey! I was enjoying that!” I laughed.

My laughter was cut short, letting out a squeal of surprise to him picking me up from my chair, “Oh, you’ll enjoy what I have planned as well” he laughed carrying me to my bedroom, locking the door behind him.

Notes