"I'm not going to tell you again." I suck my teeth and cross my arms over my chest; slouching in my seat. I've tried everything I could to get out of this lunch. I'm not even apart of the band, why would I attend a celebratory lunch for the band? It doesn't matter how many times I present this argument to Ashley, she still tells me the same thing.

"If it weren't for you we wouldn't even have had this audition." Yeah that's what she's been telling me. Then I'll tell her.

"Technically, it was my mother that got you the audition so you should be bringing her to lunch."

"We can pick her up if you like." She tells me with a smirk.

"No!" I shout, shooting up in my seat.

"Alright then stop bugging me, it'll be fun what else do you have to do?"

Not a damn thing.

"A bunch of stuff." I say still holding my pout.

"Like?" She inquires testing me.

Nosey much?

"Like stuff and things." I say slowly, not being able to come up with anything. Looks like I'm going to have to suck it up. Besides maybe it'll be fun. Yeah no, I don't believe that either. Anything with Ashley that's fun, makes me fall further, thus leading to guilt so no. Anything with Ashley equals zero fun.

"Yeah sounds important."

"It is." I mumble and she pouts.

"Come on Spencer I want you to meet the band."

"Why?" I ask genuinely curious. Why is it so important that I meet them? Like officially meet them.

Apparently Ashley isn't sure for herself as she stammers for an answer. "Because they're great people and you'd really like them." Her eyes stay forward as we drive to the diner they usually occupy and have become well known. I look at her with narrowed eyes and she does a double take. "Stop looking at me like that it's weird." I don't stop. She shifts in her seat, clearly uncomfortable. "Spencer quit it."

"Tell me the real reason and I'll stop." I say as I lean closer to her. She moves closer to her door apparently uncomfortable with my gaze.

"Fine! You're important to me and I want them to meet you."

My eyes become normal again. That wasn't the answer I was expecting. I don't know what I was expecting to be honest. But it most certainly wasn't that.

"Oh." Is all I manage to say.

Oh, hey awkward silence you're back! Long time no see. No I did not miss you, but thanks for asking.

I sit properly in my seat once again and am relieved when Ashley pulls up to the curb.

Ronnie's Diner. I read the sign to myself. I've never been here but clearly these guys have, since they have the whole back corner of the diner to themselves.

The rest of the band is already seated. I'd say it's my fault it took us so long to get here... Ashley had to drag me out of the building and then shove me into the car.

No I'm serious.

I really didn't want to come.

I hate going somewhere when I know only one person, but they know everyone. They'll tell jokes that I don't get, or talk about things that don't interest me. It makes me uncomfortable, but Ashley insisted and well I'm a weakling and can't say no to anyone.

I hate not having a backbone.

They all cheer once they see the leader of the band and the drummer kicks out a chair for her.

She holds a hand out and glances up at me. I look back at her unsure of what to do. She laughs lightly wrapping a hand around my arm, guiding me towards the chair.

Oh right I'm supposed to do that thing called sitting down.

She takes a seat next to me, rather closely might I add.

"Everyone this is Spencer. Spencer this is Joey our bassist." She points to a guy with a beanie and a scruffy beard.

"Sup." He lifts up his head once and I mumble out a 'hey'.

Her hand moves towards another member. "This is Andrew our electric guitarist." He puts his hand out for me to shake and I grab it shaking it gently. He gives me a warm smile which I return.

"This is Mikey our drummer." He holds his fist out and I quirk a brow, slowly bringing my hand up to bump fists with him. Ashley chuckles at my face and introduces me to the last member of the band who I must say is pretty cute.

She's got a pixie haircut and green eyes that you just want to swim in. She doesn't have anything on Ashley, but I wouldn't turn her down.

"This is Stacy, she's on keyboard." She winks at me and I blush like a school girl. She bites her bottom lip and her eyes scan my face as well as my breasts. Her forwardness freaks me out and turns me on all that the same time.

I smile at her and say a shy 'hello'. Ashley clears her throat and leans forward blocking my vision from Stacy since she's at the head of the table.

Boo.

"I just want to say you guys were awesome at the auditions, I'm super proud of you. You all worked really hard." She tells her band as they all smile lovingly at her. I can tell that they're really close. "And..." She turns to me and says. "If it wasn't for you Spence, we wouldn't have even gotten the audition in the first place, so thank you." I open my mouth to remind her I had nothing to do with it her arched brow stops me and all I say is...

"You're welcome." She nods and they all lift up their waters and toast to me. This is embarrassing.

After we put in our orders they start to tell stories, which I actually find quite entertaining since they're all about Ashley and extremely embarrassing. She's a good sport though, as she laughs at herself.

I'm not too sure how it happened but our chairs have gotten closer, our legs touching and because we're so close there is little space for our arms. Which means Ashley has her arm around the back of my chair and her fingers and lightly grazing my arm.

"Oh dude, remember that show we had in Connecticut last year." Joey starts, but doesn't continue as he starts to laugh.

Ashley covers her face mortified while the rest of the band laughs.

"What?!" I asked excited.

Have I mentioned I love embarrassing stories?

Well except when they're about me.

Joey can hardly get a word in as he grabs his stomach from laughing so hard. Andrew picks up the story.

"Well Ashley over here, the graceful belle that she is, decided to do some kind of pirouette twirl thing." He pauses and looks at Ashley. "Now Ashley remind us how many years of ballet you've had?"

She purses her mouth in attempt not to smile shaking her head. I look at her with a Cheshire grin and wait for her to answer. "None."

I whip my head back to Andrew who points and repeats her answer.

"So for some reason she does this spin."

"I was really into the song!" She defends herself. She takes a look at me and though my attention is on Andrew I feel her eyes on me. Her light grazes on my arm have gotten a little firmer as she drags her fingers up and down. I should stop her, but I can't seem to think of the words to do so.

I'm sure stop, don't, no, would all work but I don't want to say any of those things.

"Anyway Anna Pavlova over here…"

"Wait who?" I cut in.

"She's a famous Russian ballet dancer." Andrew answers as if it should have been obvious.

"Why the hell do you know that?" I ask and everyone laughs. "Would you like to share something with the group Andrew?" I question him with a raised brow. He playfully glares at me and I smirk lifting my shoulders slightly.

"Yeah bro did you like the Nutstaker?" Joey asks with a laugh.

Everyone bursts out in laughter. There are a few patrons looking our way but we're enjoying each others company way too much to care.

"It's the Nutcracker Joey." Stacy answers through giggles.

"It's probably your hat, you're practically cooking your brain. Why do you have that on it's like one hundred degrees outside." I tease and he sits up proudly adjusting his beanie.

"It looks cool." He answers.

"Is that what they told you?" I shake my head with a dramatic sigh. "You look as cool as when girls where Uggz in the summer."

Ashley tosses her head back laughing, the rest of the band laughing along with her. I look at Mikey as he keeps his eyes away from me.

"Why so quiet Mikey?" I ask with a soft smile.

He just chuckles shaking his head. "I'm afraid to speak or I'll be next on your list."

"Aw come on I'm not that bad."

"You most certainly aren't." Stacy concurs leaning farther into the group. "I think you're sassy. I like it."

I pop my eyebrows up once and Stacy licks her lips. It doesn't make me crazy like the way Ashley does hers, but it still looks good. Our idle chatter is disrupted when Ashley's phone goes off. She announces that it's Lexy and that she's stepping away.

I miss her already.

"Lexy calls, she goes running." Stacy starts with an eye roll.

"Wait you guys don't like Lexy?" They all look down at their food that had been delivered a while ago. Mikey shovels fries in his mouth, Andrew sucks on his strawberry shake, Joey shoves his sandwich in his mouth and Stacy…well Stacy hasn't taken her eyes off me.

The attention is quite enjoyable, I don't think Ashley is enjoying it too much though, Every time Stacy directs conversation towards me Ashley cuts in. This is the first time she's had a chance to talk to me and she definitely taking advantage as she moves into Ashley's seat.

I smile softly as she pushes Ashley's unfinished plate away. I quirk a brow and she leans her elbow onto the table and buries her fingers in her short black hair.

"So you going to answer my question since these guys over here apparently forgot how to speak."

"Well it's not that we don't like her, it's more like we don't not dislike her." She flashes a large smile and I chuckle a little bit.

"That's the same thing." I say and she just shrugs. "Why not?"

"You ever met someone that's just so nice they annoy you?"

I erupt in laughter. "Why is too nice a bad thing?"

"It feels fake." Mikey erupts, frustrated. "She's like a candy that's so sweet its gross."

"She's fondant!" Andrew joins in. Everyone looks at him confused. "It's this form of hard icing that you use to decorate cakes."

"Cake decorations, ballet…Andrew you know you can tell us your guilty pleasures and I strongly suggest you do because I would love to bust your chops." I say highly intrigued. You just wouldn't take this kid to know these kinds of things.

We all chuckle softly.

"You see right there. You're just real, you make fun of us and we can make fun of you. It's like you're one of us without trying. Lexy she's sweet, but she's not one of us." Mikey says freely.

It's a little sad to hear such harsh things being said about my best friend, but I understand that not everyone will like everyone else. Being friends with Lexy since birth I guess I'm used to her, you never think about how people react to a person they've never been around their whole life.

I shrug. "Neither am I."

"Sure you are Spence, you're one of us. You just click with us." Joey tells me in a philosophical kind of voice. Like he was sharing the secrets of life with me.

"Is that right?"

"Totally." Stacy answers with a sly smile. "You know that feeling when things just feel like they're supposed to work, like everything feels right?" Is she still talking about me and the band clicking or is she taking this a lot further. I catch a glimpse of Ashley as she walks back in, but she's stopped by one of the waitresses. They must be friends because the older woman pulls her into a hug. "You get what I'm saying?" Stacy asks again bringing my attention away from the brunette.

My eyes dart to Ashley one more time before answering. "Definitely."

"You can't choose who clicks with who Spence, you know?" That's Joey again.

"It's like you're Bach and Lexy's Mozart."

"Do you seriously talk like this all the time?" I laugh. "I have no idea what you're saying."

"Bach's music was always all over the place you never knew where he was going with his compositions and Mozart, all though fun, was a bit predictable and frankly a little boring."

My face scrunches up as I try to understand Andrews metaphor.

"You'll get used to it." Stacy says to me and I shake my head.

"Pretty sure I won't." They chuckle and I sigh as I look back at Ashley. "Does Ashley know that you don't like her girlfriend?"

They all shake their heads.

"How can you tell someone that's practically your sister you don't like the person they're with. Especially when there's really no reason not to, just a preference in taste of personality?" Mike answers for the group and they all grunt or mumble out some form of agreement.

I bite the inside of my bottom lip as I think about how much feelings are kept secret. At least I'm not alone with keeping my feelings from Lexy.

Ashley comes back and clears her throat. Stacy looks up at her band leader and smiles. "There's a seat right there Ash."

I see Ashley's eyes dart towards Stacy's old seat and I sense a little jealousy radiating from her. She reluctantly drops into Stacy's seat, reaching over to her plate and grabbing one of her chili fries. She's quiet and looks a little annoyed.

"So Spencer did you find a place for our photo shoot?" Stacy turns to me and asks. I glance at Ashley and see a small smile on her face as she remembers the same memory that's playing in my head.

"You want to tell them Ash?"

She smirks and shakes her head. "We are not doing that again!"

"Doing what? What are we not doing?" Andrew sits up eagerly wanting to here the plans for the shoot.

"Come on Ash, we did it once before, if we do it at night it won't be as bad."

"No!" She says with wide eyes.

"Just imagine the pool lights on, you didn't notice the white lights hanging in the garden? It would be perfect I've got the…"

"Spencer no! You can't make me."

"I think you underestimate what I can make you do."

"I don't think I have." Our eyes lock and we're having a secret conversation. Her band mates look at us confused. I quirk a brow as I threaten her to deny what I want, she looks away and sighs.

"We are not breaking into someone's backyard again." She says sternly.

"What?!" They all shout excited.

"We'll see." I say as I grab my drink and lift the cup to my mouth staring at her over the rim of the cup.

She smirks as her band begs us to tell the story. Goody two shoes Ashley apparently has some explaining to do.

"Ashley did what now?" Mikey leans further onto the table and asks in a harsh whisper treating this new bit of information as if they were discussing some top secret stuff.

"You're so dramatic." I say with a laugh. "We were scoping out places for the photo shoot and I figured there would be some great backyards in a neighborhood not too far from where I live. We went to the biggest house and hopped the fence."

"Ashley hopped a fence?" Joey asked with wide eyes. I glance at the brunette who looks more embarrassed now than she did before when Andrew was telling the story of what happened in Connecticut.

Which I still didn't get the full story of. I'll have to remember to ask her about that later.

"I'm sorry why is it this big of a deal, so she hopped a fence. You've never done that?"

They all were quick to answer. "Oh we have, Ashley over here…she's never done anything wrong in her life." Stacy points a thumb in the direction of the singer and laughs.

"Can you please stop talking about me as if I'm not here?" They all ignore her and continue to talk.

"Come on everyone does crazy stuff at some point in their life." I argue in disbelief taking a quick glance at Ashley who is now playing with a straw wrapper. Slowly ripping it piece by piece.

"Ashley cried if she ever got detention." Mikey starts.

"She doesn't jay walk." Stacy adds.

"She doesn't drive through yellow lights." Joey chimes in.

"So I'm a cautious pedestrian and driver. Do you see the maniacs that drive cars these days? They'll give anyone a license." She tries to defend herself, but her defense falls upon deaf ears as her friends think of more things Ashley doesn't do that most people do on a normal basis. I laugh at all the tidbits of information I'm getting.

I like the fact that I've corrupted the brunette a little bit. I like that I have an affect on her that Lexy doesn't have. That I can get her to do things that Lexy can't.

"She doesn't steal pens when she goes the bank!" Andrew starts a new trend.

"She doesn't even take alcohol swabs from the doctor's office! Everyone does that, at least steal one q tip, good grief." Mikey shakes his head showing disappointment in his friend.

"Guys these are such small things." I counter.

"Exactly, thank you Spence." She gives me a smile and leans back in her chair. I give her a wink and she blushes.

Huh…interesting.

"Which is why we're so amazed you got her to break an actual law. This poor girl used to cry if she got threatened with detention in high school, imagine if she actually got arrested." Stacy quips with a laugh and Ashley glares at her.

"I did not cry."

"Like a baby." Joey says as his bottom lip starts to quiver and he pretends to release some fake tears. He stops once a cheese fry hits his hat. "My hat!" He shrieks quickly removing it and cleaning off the melted cheese with a napkin and water.

"Now whose the baby?" Ashley counters, tilting her head and smirking.

I laugh at how well everyone gets along and I realize all the nervousness I felt in the beginning never really flared up. Maybe Joey is right, maybe I am one of them. They're a really great group and I feel so welcomed. I wonder how they make Lexy feel or is she too oblivious to the standoffish vibe they give her like she's oblivious when it comes to whatever is going on between me and Ashley.

I look at the brunette and she has this look in her eyes and if I could pinpoint it to an emotion I think I'd say it looks like admiration. She gives me a sheepish smile and I try to return it but my gaze is cut off as Stacy leans forward to block Ashley's face. Basically the same way Ashley did to her all through lunch.

"So Spencer are you free for dinner some time this week?"

I look around the table to see if anyone is paying attention to what's going on. She's extremely forward asking me out in front of a crowd. None of them are listening though, as the boys talk about some off topic.

I can't see Ashley though or her reaction to Stacy's predatory action when it came to me.

"Uh…" Am I supposed to lie? If I say no I'll be stuck as the third wheel again with Lexy and Ashley. If I say yes well…I'll be on a date. Is that a bad thing?

She raises a perfectly knit eyebrow as she awaits my answer.

"Yeah…"I finally get out. "I'm free."

She smiles and asks for my phone. I give it to her and she puts in her number. Then calls her own phone to save my number.

"Cool I'll give you a call yeah?"

"Yeah sure." I answer and she winks at me.

She does that a lot. I'm going to start wondering if she's got something in her eye or if it's just a spasm.

"Spencer you ready to leave?" Ashley stands up quickly and everyone groans in protest.

"No Spence stay." Mikey says.

"Now you want me to stay?" I ask with a giggle. "Before you thought I was going to make you cry."

He snorts. "I'm sure you'll find another time to do that. We want to tell you more stories."