SHATTERED

fifty-eight

saylor

about a week after me and alex went to the hamptons together, i'm in the practice building with jessie and miguel. i'm currently giving miggy a tattoo on his thigh. before tour started, i quit my job at the parlor, but i, of course, kept my tattoo gun and everything. this isn't the first tattoo i've given miguel, (it's not even the first one that i've given him somewhere besides in a tattoo parlor) and i bet it won't be the last.

alex should be here any minute now, so that we can practice. we have our first gig since tour ended, in a few days, which we're all excited for.

speaking of alex, during this past week, we've spent a considerable amount of time together. they've been to my apartment a few times. we've definitely gotten more comfortable with each other recently, and it's been nice.

and of course, i don't think i could get tired of kissing them. this "friends who kiss a lot" thing has been great.

jessie and miguel have been on our asses a bit since our trip to the hamptons though, so that's just been lovely.

yesterday, unlike literally every other day this past week, i didn't see or talk to alex. jessie and miguel didn't either. they texted back when miguel reminded everyone in the group chat about practice, so i think they're fine, but...

how lame would i be if i said that i kinda missed them yesterday?

"oh, so, i saw a tweet the other day about us, right?" jessie spoke up from the bar as i was finishing up miguel's tattoo. "it was something like 'am i the only one who thinks all of shattered is in a...' wait, what's the word? poly-something... poly-a-more?" they made a face.

both mine and miguel's brows furrowed deeply. i thought for a moment. "you mean polyamorous?!" i laughed.

jessie's eyes widened, and she pointed at me. "yeah, that! they were like 'am i the only one who thinks all of shattered is in a polyamorous relationship together?' and there were just so many people in the replies who thought the same shit."

mine and miggy's faces scrunched up. "okay, don't get me wrong, i love you both, but not like that," i laughed. "nor could i ever be in a polyamorous relationship."

"agreed," miguel nodded.

"oh, but you would be in a relationship with alex?" jessie smirked as they wiggled their eyebrows, since i didn't include alex in my statement.

"you know damn well that's not what i said or meant," i flipped her off after i completely finished miggy's tattoo. he murmured a "thank you," to which i gave a grin to.

"just admit you're dating already," she groaned dramatically.

"we're not," i rolled my eyes. "i promise."

"why not?" miguel questioned.

"because we're not..?" i answered slowly. "that would be like me asking you why and jessie aren't dating!"

"yeah, miggy, why aren't we?" jessie asked teasingly as they made a kissy face at miguel.

"and you wonder why people think we're all in a polyamorous relationship together," miguel shook his head with a playful eye roll, which made me and jj laugh loudly.

before the conversation could continue, the door to the practice building opened. we all looked over, and we saw that alex was walking inside.

"damn, you look like shit," jess snickered.

i took in alex's appearance. their hair was a mess, and their jacket was thrown on haphazardly. there were bags under their eyes. they were holding a bottle of red bull in their hand. just with one glance at them, i could tell that they were exhausted.