Chapter One

Jace

J ace stumbled into the dimly lit rehearsal space, the remnants of last night’s party still clinging to him. His head pounded with every step, a relentless reminder of his poor choices. He knew he was late, and he knew Nico would be furious. He was the only one in the band who would tell him off. The others wouldn’t dare say anything to him. They weren’t as secure as Nico, who had started the band with him.

Nico stood by his drum set, his long dark hair falling over his hazel eyes which were burning with anger. His muscular frame was tense, tribal tattoos seeming to ripple with his frustration. The colorful turbans and earrings he always wore only added to his imposing presence. He claimed it was a disguise to prevent his Mafia family from following him. Even with long hair, they still knew what and where he was. Scary people.

“Where the fuck have you been?” Nico’s voice was sharp, cutting through the silence. “You knew we had early practice, Jace. You can’t just blow it off to party with fans. ”

Jace winced at the harshness in Nico’s tone. He wanted to explain, to make Nico see it wasn’t just about the party. It was about trying to forget the ache in his chest every time he looked at Nico and saw only friendship in those green eyes.

“I’m sorry, Nico,” Jace mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper. “I lost track of time.”

“Lost track of time?” Nico’s anger flared. “This isn’t just about time, Jace. It’s about commitment. We have a gig coming up in Arizona, and we need to be ready. You can’t keep doing this.”

Jace’s frustration bubbled up, mixing with his guilt. “I know, okay? I know I messed up. But it’s not that simple.”

With his arms crossed and his gaze unwavering, Nico stood his ground. “Then make it simple. Show up. Be here. Be present.”

Jace looked down, unable to meet Nico’s eyes. “I want to be here on time, Nico. More than anything. But sometimes…it’s hard.”

Nico’s expression softened slightly, but his voice remained firm. “Then figure it out, Jace. Because if you don’t, you’re going to lose more than just a practice session.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“We’ll talk later. Let’s practice.”

As Nico turned back to his drums, Jace felt a pang of longing. He wished Nico could see how much he cared, how much he wanted to be more than just a friend. But for now, all he could do was try to be the bandmate Nico needed, even if it meant hiding his true feelings.

The band was gathered in their usual rehearsal space, a converted garage that had seen countless hours of practice and heated discussions. Jace, with his golden blond hair still slightly disheveled from the night before, picked up his guitar and strummed a few chords, trying to shake off the lingering effects of his late-night escapade .

Nico, already seated behind his drum set, tapped his drumsticks impatiently. His green eyes, partially hidden by his long dark hair, were fixed on Jace. Mark, the second guitarist, tuned his instrument, his expression a mix of concern and frustration. Sammie, the keyboard player, adjusted his settings, glancing nervously between Jace and Nico.

“Alright, let’s run through ‘Midnight Drive’ again,” Jace suggested, his voice carrying a hint of hesitation.

Nico’s response was immediate and sharp. “If you can manage to stay focused this time.”

Jace’s jaw tightened, but he nodded, trying to keep his cool. He started playing the opening riff, his fingers moving deftly over the strings. Mark joined in, his rhythm steady, while Sammie added a layer of melody on the keyboard.

As Jace began to sing, his voice filled the room with a raw, emotional intensity. The lyrics spoke of longing and unspoken desires, mirroring his own feelings for Nico. But the tension between them was building, and it wouldn’t be long before it boiled over.

Nico’s drumming grew more aggressive, each beat echoing his frustration. “Jace, you’re off tempo again! What the hell is going on with you?”

Jace stopped playing, his blue eyes flashing with anger. “I’m trying, Nico! Maybe if you weren’t so damn perfect all the time, you’d understand.”

Sammie stepped in, his voice calm but firm. “Guys, this isn’t helping. We need to work together, not tear each other apart.”

Mark nodded in agreement, his fingers still resting on the strings. “Yeah, we’re a band. We need to support each other, especially with the gig coming up. ”

Nico took a deep breath, his anger simmering down slightly. “Fine. But, Jace, you need to get your act together. We can’t afford any more screw-ups.”

Jace looked down. “I know. I’m sorry. I’ll do better.”

The band resumed playing, the tension still lingering but slightly eased by their shared commitment to the music. As Jace sang, he poured all his emotions into the performance, hoping that somehow, through the music, he could make Nico see how much he cared. For now, all he could do was focus on the music and try to be the bandmate they all needed him to be.

The practice session ended on a tense note, with the band members packing up their instruments in silence. Sammie and Mark exchanged worried glances before leaving the garage, giving Jace and Nico some space. The air was thick with unspoken words as Jace put his guitar back in its case, his movements slow and deliberate.

Nico’s long, dark hair fell over his eyes, which were blazing with anger as he spoke. “Jace, what the hell? You showed up hung over and late again!” Nico’s voice echoed off the walls.

Jace winced, his heart sinking. He had a crush on Nico, but he never knew how to get his attention in a good way. “I’m sorry, Nico. I didn’t mean to. It just…happened.”

Nico’s frustration only grew. “It always just happens with you, Jace! You say you want to be serious about this band, but then you party all night. Do you even care?”

Jace’s shoulders slumped. He cared more than anything. But he couldn’t seem to get his act together. “I do care. I really do. I just…I don’t know how to stop. ”

Nico shook his head, his disappointment clear in his intense expression. “You need to figure it out, Jace. Because right now, you’re dragging us all down.”

Jace felt a lump form in his throat. He wanted to be better, for the band and for Nico. But he felt trapped in a cycle he couldn’t break. “I’ll try harder, I promise.”

Nico sighed, his anger giving way to a weary resignation. “I hope you do. Because I can’t keep doing this with you.”

As Nico walked away, Jace stood there, feeling the weight of his own failures crushing him. He wanted to be someone Nico could respect, even like and love. But right now, he just felt like a mess. And that realization left him feeling more depressed than ever. The only thing on his mind was crawling into bed, pulling the covers over himself, and retreating from the outside world. His head throbbed relentlessly, a reminder of the wild partying from the night before.

Jace could physically feel the weight of Nico’s disgust, causing his muscles to ache. What had he done to himself? All the sex and drinking…and all he wanted was Nico. They all lived in Nico’s home, and each had a room of their own. Nico’s father had released his funds last year because of pressure from other family members, including his mother, but Nico refused to accept the money. He claimed he had had enough from his Mafia past. No one dared ask how he’d earned that money, but Jace imagined violence was involved.

Jace followed Nico out of the building and made sure the drummer didn’t notice him following. Nico walked to the other end of the street, the sound of car engines and honking filling the air. He entered the bar there and took a seat beside a man with a menacing expression. Jace didn’t know why he met with this man or who he was to Nico, but he wouldn’t be surprised if it were one of cousins who periodically checked up on him .

With a swift motion, he turned and walked away, his heart pounding in his chest as he sought distance between them. Nico constantly looked over his shoulder, worrying someone trailed behind him, and the thought of that happening filled Jace with unease. He bumped into Sammie, dressed flamboyantly as always. Today, he wore hot pink shorts and a pink lace midriff top. Of course, he had matching sandals for each outfit.

“Jace, are you okay, sweetie?”

“Why?”

“You look pale. Are you walking home?”

“No. Let’s call an Uber. We need to pack again.”

“I’ll pack for you while you lie in bed directing me.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

“I’m worried about you.”

“I’m sort of okay. My father called and left me one of his famous ‘you’re-going-to-hell’ messages.” Jace quickly texted for an Uber.

“Block him. Why do you listen to him?” Sammie asked.

“I’m sick, that’s why. I guess I was hoping he’d call to say he still loved me.” Jace felt safe sharing his painful feelings with Sammie. He listened intently, his face free of any judgment or criticism. He cared about Jace the way a little brother or sister would.

“I know you’re also upset because Nico came down hard on you. But if you notice, he never minds you being late unless you don’t come home the night before.”

“I never paid attention to that.” They sat on the bench where the Uber would pick them up. He wondered why Nico would care if he came home or not?

Mark joined them.

“I think if you two would be honest with yourself and each other, many sparkles would enter our home.”

“You’re so cute, Sammie. I wish he’d give me the time of day, but he told me he can’t have a relationship.”

“Why not?”

“His father threatened to put a hit on him and his long-term lover.”

“No way! That’s some scary shit.”