Rock Revenge: Alex's Story (Access All Areas 4)

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“Tell me again, this place is free?” Ferdie moved from room to room. “It’

s awesome. We have everything we could possibly need and more. Three different gaming systems, even snack foods in the cupboard. This is the sweet life.”

“It’s not free,” I said. “There are strings attached. Well, more like ropes, those big, thick ones they use on freighter ships. We’ve sold our souls just so you have a PS4. So worth it.”

“We’ve got the latest Assassin’s Creed.”

“Okay, maybe it is kinda worth it.” I’d play the fuck out of that but, first, I’d get some food together. We had enough stuff in the fridge to put together a meal. Plus, an assortment of fancy teas. Even if I hated Alex, I couldn’t hate his apartment.

“I’ll play later, I’ve got to get to work,” Pete said.

“Huh?” Ferdie and I both turned to face him.

“That was another part of the deal with Alex. Well, a separate deal altogether. Alex gave me a job working at the bar.”

“Wow, you and Alex are best buds now, aren’t you? Why don’t you just marry Alex and be done with it.”

“What? The guy offers me a job? What am supposed to do? I need a new bass and my van’s falling to bits. Do you guys want to walk to gigs? Plus, we need to spend some money on promotion. So, while you two sit on your butts, playing Assassin’s Creed, I’ll be serving drinks to make an honest buck or two. That’s not a crime.”

I shrugged. Pete had been too right lately, and I’d been way too wrong. The threads that I’d been hanging onto, the hatred and resentment, Pete had let go of so easily. I couldn’t be like Pete. Those threads were the only thing holding me together. I banged some pots around in the kitchen with no plan of actually fixing food.

“Don’t worry about cooking,” Ferdie said. “Let’s order pizza. We can at least afford that now we’re on easy street.”

I didn’t want to get too used to being on easy street or too dependent on Alex but, on the other hand, pizza sounded mighty good.

After we’d gorged ourselves on pizza and gone through everything in the apartment, Ferdie suggested heading to the bar.

“We don’t need to go there. We’ll be there often enough anyway. And, Assassin’s Creed…”

“It’d be good to support Pete on his first night.”

“It’s not like he’s not done it before.”

“Yeah, but it’s a new town. The guy’s trying his hardest to do the best for the band. Even if it doesn’t make you happy, he’s doing this for all of us. He hates Alex as much you do, but he’s putting that behind him because he knows it’s what he needs to do.”

Wow, that made me feel less than great. I did want to support Pete but, to do that, I needed to support Alex as well. I just felt like Alex had turned into something giant squid-like, wrapping his tentacles around every aspect of my life. Revenge was becoming harder to plan with all his giving me stuff.

“Okay, I guess one drink won’t hurt.”

Ferdie broke into a huge grin. “Let me get my drinking money and put my best drinking pants on.”

Even though I didn’t care one iota about Alex or anyone else, I got changed into my cutest dress, all tight on top with a short flippy skirt. I threw my leather jacket over the top and put on some lipstick. The horrible thing was that, if Alex was there, I’d have to thank him for this. I didn’t want it, didn’t ask for it, but I couldn’t be bad-mannered either.

Alex

I knew when I offered Pete the job at the bar, it’d bring Dee in. She was sitting at the bar when I turned up that night. She didn’t see me come in, she was busy talking to Carlie. But I spotted her the instant I walked in the door, my eyes drawn to her.

I didn’t approach her. I just sat at the other corner.

I’d received some good news that day but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to share it with anyone else just yet.

My musical career had been full of disappointment so far. After the accident, I’d drifted, not wanting to settle. Then I’d found Trouble and had formed my new band. We had a good following. Hell, even fans of The Jackals, the band I’d had with Jake, had found me and followed me here. A small but passionate fan base really helped. But I seemed to have stalled at this level.

Then, my main competitor – in everything – had his band signed and had taken off on a big, international tour. I’d wanted to punch someone. Razer didn’t have a patch on my talent but he’d taken my girlfriend and he’d taken my career. He was in Europe with his band and with Violet, who’d picked him over me. She worked for his promotion company and wanted to settle in Berlin.

Carlie delighted in reading me messages she received from Violet, detailing every triumph of the band.