No Strings Attached, Please?

“Aww.. they’re so adorable, aren’t they?” I heard someone giggling, then it was followed by some click-click-click sound.

How I woke up was definitely not something I was used to. It was the sound of muffled laughing and giggles that woke me up. I lifted my head off the pillow, drool dripping down my face, saying in the best voice I could, "What?"

The laughing and giggling only got louder as I saw a flash of bright light before my eyes. I tried to lift up my hands to rub my eyes, in hope that it would help me understand what was going on.

I tried to lift my body but I couldn’t do it because there were a pair of strong arms snaking my waist while he was drooling over my shoulder with eyes still closed. As I struggled under Nat’s death grip, the laughter even grew louder. I couldn’t help but wonder when in the world all of this laughter was going to wake Nat up.

I saw the bright light flash once more. Obviously somehow the light triggered something in his mind to alert him to wake up. Instead of him calmly waking up, he yawned widely like a lion and continued to snuggle into me as if I was a pillow.

“Well, I think I agree with you, Bree,” a familiar feminine voice that obviously was talking with Bridget spoke. “They’re a cute item!” With that I snapped open my sleepy eyes and tried to figure out about these freaky voices.

I should have known, I should have known. It was Bridget and Kat, a digital camera in hand. I glared at them and their laughter stopped, but smiles were still wide and evident on each of their beautiful girly faces. Carlton, on the other hand, held his polaroid while his other hand was flapping the polaroid sheet continuously.

“What the hell, guys?” I muttered as I struggled from Nat’s grip. “Nathan, get your filthy hands off from my waist and my ASS, you douchebag!” I slapped his arms making Nat snap open his eyes and glared to me.

“You ruined my beauty sleep,” Nat spat. “Can I just have some peaceful slumber? Psshh…” he added making me slapp his forehead. He just moaned and rubbed his forehead.

“It’s my body you held on for dear life too!” I complained.

“And here we go, a nagging morning by the newlywed,” Carlton commented as he still aimed at me and Nat’s face inside his polaroid camera. “Quit that, keep being adorable you two,” he ordered as if it was necessary.

“Michaelo!” I glared at Carlton, calling him by his first name. Carlton didn’t like his first name, so when I called him so, he only glared back.

“Oh come on, Saves. Facebook would be delightful if I uploaded all these cute pictures. You two could win Prom King and Prom Queen!” Bridget giggled and still snapped some pictures of me and Nat.

“YOU WON’T DARE, BRIDGET! Ugh. I hate you all,” I said and got up with staggered feet. I really hated them all, I didn’t like to be the center of a joke.

“Where are ya heading?” I heard Nat ask.

“None of your business,” I said bitterly without turning my head. I just headed upstairs to grab a towel because I wanted to have a shower.

“I’ll join you in the shower then,” was Nat's reply, and I heard him get up from the carpet and pace towards me. I gasped in disbelief and turned my head to him. He was grinning like a little kid while Carlton whistled and Bridget with Kat cheered and clapped their hands.

What the fuck is with these insane kids? They officially ruined my mood this morning, especially Nat. What the fuck is with his all-touchy manner? I didn’t remember him sleepingt next to me last night, because all I remembered was I slept next to Carlton, and suddenly in the morning, I found his arms wrapped around me as if we’re a couple. Facepalm!



Kale stopped in the parking place inside the Public Hall of Cleveland that was followed by a pickup that parked right beside Kale’s Toyota Tundra. It was Geoff with Kat beside him who drove the pickup. Okay, this was getting weird, why in the hell did Kat go with Geoff?

I hopped out from Kale’s Toyota and headed to the pickup. Geoff had his cigarette hanging in between his lips while he unlocked the trunk to unload their instruments. Kale and Nat helped to unload their property off from the pickup with some help from some crew that just came out from inside the back door of the Public Hall.

“We’re kinda useless here, yes?” Bridget chuckled with Kat when she saw how heavy the instruments were when the guys brought them out.

“Let’s just get inside the hall, Bree.” Kat grabbed Bridget’s hand as Kat turned to me with her innocent face. “You coming, Saves?” she asked.

“Yeah, later.” I smiled to them as they nodded and just ‘poof’, the girls disappeared inside the hall leaving me with Carlton, who was busy with his iPhone. He looked like he was trying to call someone. I approached him with a hopeful expression, and I heard he kept dialing a number. Carlton looked flushed as he blamed his iPhone.

“Fucking asshole!” he threw his profanity as he tried to dial back the unknown number. I knew who was he calling. I sighed and approached him with hands folded behind my back.

“I’m sorry, it’s my fault,” I admitted to Carlton. Carlton glanced to me as he put down his iPhone.

“No, Saves, no,” he said to me with his uneasy look. “Dante isn’t usually like this. Even though he’s mad, he won’t bail at our show. It’s probably about that bitch Corey.”

I grunted, “Geoff’s right. I shouldn’t—," I ran my fingers through my red hair.

“You’re listening to that prick? You know how Geoff is,” Carlton cut off as he wrapped his arm around me. “Let’s just get inside. I swear Dante will be here soon, it’s his call.”

Carlton led me inside the Public Hall as I was still thinking about Dante. I didn’t get it, Carlton was right, Dante wasn’t usually like this. Did it mean that Dante was telling the truth? That Corey wasn’t just a random chick, because she was something more? I could feel my chest tighten as my mind flickered back to Dante. But I need to stop this feeling, it’s not healthy for me.

Carlton dragged me inside the hall and then turned to the concert hall inside the building, leading all the way up to a room. I saw many people that I assumed were in bands that were passing in the corridor. Some dressed up so casual, some dressed up so indie, some dressed up like in metal bands and some just looked rowdy with their overdressed make up.

Geez, they’re guys and they wore make-up.

Carlton opened a door and let me inside where I found all the guys were there, except Dante. Geoff was in the corner of the room, smoking something and when I walked inside, he shot me a look with malice, as he knew that Dante hadn't arrived yet.

“I can’t believe that Dante is bailing on this,” Kale said as Bridget helped him to button his plaid shirt.

“Easy man, he’ll come. I’m sure.” Nat walked out from the bathroom inside the room with a red tank top with “Our Last Night” printed on it and shorts that reached his kneecaps and some hi-top Toms. For a moment, I only stared at how band-ish he looked. He didn’t usually wear this kind of thing anymore, especially after I dressed him up like a prep.

“Yeah, this is your fault, you invited this fanny and she started with her jealousy bitchy mode at Dante. What the sod man?” Geoff dragged on his nicotine stick deeply and let out some desperate wild smoke.

I turned to Geoff and shot him a dangerous look. “Shut your filthy fucking mouth, you bastard! Or I swear I’m going to chop off your tiny dick.”

Geoff glared back as he got off and approached me with a dangerous gesture.

“I’d like to see you try, because I know you’ve seen a million dicks before when you were Dante’s bird. You worthless lousy cunt,” he leaned his wide eyes on me as if he was to bore holes in my head. Furious, I reached his face with my bitchslap making him stunned as the room went silent.

“HOW MANY TIMES AM I SUPPOSED TO TELL YOU, ENGLISH? I NEVER MEANT TO CHEAT ON HIM! I LOVED HIM, I TRULY LOVED HIM! BUT THE ALCOHOL WORKED THE WRONG WAY!” I yelled at him, but then a tear slipped from the corner of my eyes.

Geoff, who was stunned for a moment because of the sensation on his cheek, turned to me. He smirked and scoffed cynically. “I get it, you’ve told me a million times about your booze reasons. How about when you snogged Nat in front of him and the whole school? Were you drunk? I never heard that the school allows the students to bring booze,” he stifled his sarcastic laugh while I really hoped I could pull his head off from there.

I was silenced. I knew I couldn’t spit back at him because Nat and I did make out in front of Dante. But I didn’t realize that Dante was there! It was an attempt to make Lynn jealous, not for making Dante turn like this way. It just backfired on me.

“Answer me! Answer the sod me!” Geoff roared at me that made me back away a bit. “You broke my best mate’s little heart real bad and I never see you really sorry about it. You’re worthless, y’know it?” he swallowed hard and didn’t stop glaring at me. If looks could kill, maybe I’d be dead by now.

“I wish I could hit girls. If you were a boy, I would have killed you already,” he spat and then walked back to the couch where he sucked his nicotine stick longer and deeper.

I felt a delicate hand wrapped my forearm while I wiped my tears. “Don’t listen to him, he’s just….being Geoff, kay,” Nat whispered in my ear and rubbed my forearm gently that sent some tingling sensations over my body. I could smell his cologne that could sway my legs in no time. I probably would sway my legs on the floor under regular terms.

I saw Kat walk toward Geoff and sit next to him, trying to comfort him, but Geoff was being stubborn and ignored Kat. I knew he really loved Dante, they’re best friends, and Geoff sometimes could be so protective with Dante because he already considered Dante as his brother.

Suddenly the door opened, and I wished it was Dante who would reason that he’s sorry for being late. Instead of Dante, it was some guy with a crew nametag on his chest and a headphone on his head.

“You BigBang Aftermath?” he asked.

“Sure!” Kale quickly replied.

“Your set is in 10, so prepare yourselves. Your set will be after that band,” he informed with a sound of the band that was playing Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen in the back. Then the guys excitedly yelled ‘yeah’ at him, except Geoff. The guys started to prepare themselves while Kat and Bridget brought some mineral water for the guys.

“And the good news is, we have no singer plus the backup guitar player! Awesome! Our band life is already crushed! Fuck yeah!” Geoff talked with his smartass prodigy making my stomach churn in the wrong way.

“Oh fuck, we’re dead.” Kale was hit by the realization and palmed his face in desperation as I faced down. Why have I always come to crush this band?

“Easy guys, it’s not that bad,” Nat tried.

“Not bad? Are you mental, kid?” Geoff blurted out. “This is our only chance to win and the last chance for us to hit the mini tour for our band to go through the States with Ohio skaters and BMX bikers. One of the judges are Kevin Lyman, the Warped dude, if we won, we could win a place as a line–up band! You’re joking, Nathaniel,” he swelled his arms out at Nat in anger.

“You’re such a loud asshole, Gee,” he stared at Geoff with his sulky look. “Listen up, our set is it 10, and I’m sure Dante is on his way here. While we’re waiting for him, why don’t we just play some songs we’ve rehearsed on stage?”

“Without a singer? Geoff is right, you’re crazy, man,” Kale retorted.

Nat shook his head, “No, we still have the chance, and…” Nat turned to me with his suspicious look. “I guess Savannah here is ready to help us,” he winked at me.

“What do you mean, bro?” Carlton knitted his eyebrows together in confusion.

“She can sing, and it’s not just random shit. She really does sing, she’s talented,” Nat sold me to the boys

“WHOA WHOA WHOA, NAT!” I held back “What are you doing?!” I could feel my eyes were ready to jump out from their casket with sheer of embarrassment played on my face.

“You fucker really is drunk now, yeah?” Geoff said with his cynical tone. “There’s no way I will play for that fanny bitch.”

“Geoff!” Kat scolded but Geoff ignored her.

“I know this sounds crazy, man, but trust me on this, she can sing, and I’ve heard it. She’s beautiful!” Nat said to his bandmates, making me blushed as I faced down to look on my shoes.

“I’m still not playing!” Geoff barked, being stubborn as usual.

“Dude, Gee, I think we should try it. Do you want to quit now and throw away the big chance to pass or we go down to the business? I mean, dude, wow, there’s Kevin there. We should kill the show instead of keeping our ego—in this case is your ego, Gee. I’m up for Savannah. I know she can sing,” Kale spoke up and raised his hand.

“Yeah, Kale’s right, I’m up to it too,” Carlton joined.

“You guys are all faggots!” Geoff emitted his shameless taunt.

“Gee, dude, it’s all about our band. We could use Nat’s idea. I know you hate Savannah, but this is for our band’s sake!” Kale made eye contact to Geoff who was grunting and rolling his eyes.

Geoff got up from his seat. “ALRIGHT! But, if she screws up, I will not take up on her shit! Remember this, fuckers, she didn’t do the rehearsal.” Geoff walked away and then stormed out from the room, heading up to the stage.

I was stunned into my spot and dangerously trailed my eyes on each guy in the room.

“He’s right, Nat. I’m going to screw it up, I..I..” I was at a loss for words but Nat put his hands on my shoulders while he made eye contact with me.

“You’re going to be alright. You’re a good singer. You might not have done the rehearsal, but you were there. You know all the harmony we built up, so I really trust you, Sav.” He crouched and then pressed a light kiss on my forehead. “You’re going to be great, okay?”

“I…I… but I’m.” My lips were trembling.

“Oh come on, where the Tough Queen Bitch has been?” Kale teased as he wrapped his arm around my shoulder. “I know you can do this. I’ve heard you sing a couple times when we were in junior high. Says who won the Talent Show in 8th grade, huh? You, bitch,” Kale chuckled. I reluctantly smiled at Kale. Then my eyes drifted to Carlton who was smiling up to me. Bridget and Kat nodded in unison to me making me sigh.

I couldn’t help but show my weak smile at them. Well, um, here goes nothing.