𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗩𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 (𝙵𝚞𝚛𝚛𝚢 𝙱𝚡𝙱)

Track 64 | 𝗜'𝗺 𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗙𝗮𝗴

Explicit NSFW Content Warning

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I tightened the black velvet tie around the collar of my white polo. Dropping my hands to my sides, I stood back and stared at myself in the mirror, taking in my appearance.

Eh, too formal.

Discarding the outfit, I threw on an old, wrinkled Rufus Wainwright tee my dad lent me years ago. On the rare occasion I don't sleep stripped down to my drawers, I usually wear it as pajamas.

Too lazy.

I settled with a simple black shirt; short-sleeved and tight around the muscles to show off my form. Tucking the garment into the waistband of my dark jeans, I felt confident enough in my choice of clothing to step out in broad daylight.

I wanted to look good for Ari.

'We're here,' read the text from Rian on my phone, spurring a sense of urgency out of me. I hurried into my bedroom, setting my sights on Dad's Strat. I took it off the wall and carefully placed it in my guitar case, stealing one last glance at the Polaroid before slinging the case over my shoulders like a backpack. 

I smiled softly for only a moment.

In the kitchen, I gave Mom a kiss on the cheek and flashed Rosie a playful middle finger before rushing out the front door. Mom watched me leave, her face lightly dusted with an expression of faith.

"C'mon, man, hurry up!" Rian yelled from the driver's seat of his sun-kissed van, double-parked right by the curb outside of my house. The morning air smelled of summer and a salty breeze—It may or may not be due to the fact that I was violently in love, but as of late, everything has seemed so cheery and bright.

"You're the one who's late," I quipped mid-jump, hopping into Rian's van through the side door, taking my seat next to the pretty Eden, who wore her hair in a messy updo, accentuated by a striking cat-eye look and gold hoop earrings. The black wolf at the wheel was dressed casual-but-not-too-casual, donning khaki pants and an off-brown polo with the top two buttons undone to flaunt his dad's old dog tags. Harley would've been drooling if he were here.

"No, actually, you can thank those two idiots in the back," said Rian, pointing his thumb back in referral to Levi and Torrence, who sat at the very tail end of the van next to the roped-up equipment. They both looked like they'd just gotten out of bed, as expected. What I hadn't expected to see, though, was the face of a familiar gray wolf, sitting next to the Shiba.

"Sorry..." Fiona apologized, to which Eden immediately followed with: "Not your fault, Fi. He means these idiots." With her body turned around in her seat, she gave the heads of Torrence and Levi a light smack.

"Ow!" Torrence flinched, pestered. The van jolted into motion, carrying us down the street.

"Hey! It's his fault," Levi revolted in quick succession, tossing the blame onto his brother, "I specifically told him to set an alarm!"

"I did! But you wouldn't let me use your phone charger so it died in the middle of the night!"

"Where's your charger?!"

"I don't know! Somewhere!"

"You guys overslept?" I guessed, trying to piece together the story from what little context I'd received.

"Barely," grumbled Torrence.

"They only woke up because I came by," Fiona explained.

With a bright attitude, I greeted her: "Hi, Fiona, how are you?"