Book Six: Our Time Alone

Rosevale sat in a quiet embrace only Clara could feel when she entered it for the first time in what felt like ages. The scenery was certainly different, people were outside living life as they should have. Every corner Clara stepped up to she was met with smiles and gratitude. Even years later she was still surprised she was so popular.

Despite her owning the worlds most popular band, Ash & Thrash.

She walked up to her new apartment she had just got with Audrey. It was a luxury suite just on the coast of town. It had a great view of the cars passing by and a view at the core of Rosevale. It was a place nobody else lived, mainly secluded by trees and pavements that led around to the cafe by the corner.

Every breath Clara took in she felt everything from years ago. Lysandra when she first arrived was the first thing she could see in her mind, and as her emotions unraveled so did the memory associated with it. All she could do is smile, her mouth slacked open slightly as she turned her attention behind her before going inside.

The people who moved in her stuff carefully rearranged it to how she liked, as she stepped through and glanced at every corner she saw her band posters, her platinum records in a secluded corner of the room, her first guitar she recorded ‘Red Lights Run’ with, and her first band photos, and even her most recent ones with Jade.

That one of course was the second biggest photo there, besides her first band photo.

She walked further into the hallway to see the kitchen, bathrooms, and the bedroom where her and Audrey would both sleep in. A master bedroom she had never thought she could have. An air conditioner in the window, the fresh smell of a new place, something she couldn’t fathom having still.

Audrey was leaning down against the closet, still putting her own clothes away. She turned to meet Clara, standing in the middle of the hallway glancing down like a person who achieved everything they’d ever wanted in life.

“Clara?” Audrey struggled under a breath as she repositioned herself upward. “I hadn’t realized how much clothes I had until today.”

Clara turned her attention immediately, going in the room like it wasn’t a question. “How many of those are merch?” She said with a slight grin.

“Half of it.” Audrey laughed. “Even the off-brand ones.”

“I remember those days, the sweet off-brand Ash & Thrash merch.” Clara stared at it, reminiscing.

“Remember when you took a picture with the shirt on, sliding halfway up to show your abs after a workout?” Audrey continued laughing.

Clara bursted out in laughter. “And they commented, it was like they didn’t expect someone like me to notice.”

“It still sits at over five hundred thousand views doesn’t it?”

Clara nodded, almost pondering for a second. “I haven’t seen it in sometime, but numbers don’t matter.”

Then, Clara bent down, helping her put the rest of the clothes away, Audrey occasionally glancing at her with a slight grin spread across her face and her cheeks visibly blushing, even years after dating.

“Put them away with those strong muscles of yours!” Audrey’s face turned bright red by this point.

“You noticed the new Ash & Thrash tanktop? It looks so fucking good.”

While Clara was flexing the shirt, she was clueless to Audrey’s obvious flirting. It only made Audrey full on grin.

As they continued unpacking her clothes, Clara ripping the box and tossing it in the bin, the others started knocking on the door.

At first it was Maeve that Clara was confronted with, and then Nora. Clara greeted them both with immediate hugs, her expression full of joy, almost tearing up from the overwhelming amount of it. She was more joyful seeing their auras collide with her own.

“Okay, okay!” Clara backed up, her body shaking. “That’s a lot of joy for one girl.” She smiled like a dork.

“How could I forget your Clara senses!” Maeve joked, walking in as Nora followed behind.

Nora brushed against Clara’s shoulder. “You mean her senses that always kick in, unlike the spider guy right?”

“Spiderman, Nora.” Maeve quickly corrected.

“Okay, nerd.” Nora joked. “I didn’t know you were such a fan.”

Maeve squinted back at her before opening her eyes fully. “Now I know you aren’t so much!”

Nora scoffed it off, shaking her head.

“Calm down!” Clara yelled dramatically that caught everyone’s attention, including Audrey’s who peeked her head out from her bedroom doorway.

“Sorry... anyway.” Clara said nonchalantly. “I told the moving people to pack my band stuff carefully, and honestly? They did a pretty damn good job.” She walked toward the display.

“It even displays our first trophy at the school band class!” Maeve said out of joy. “I haven’t seen that in years.”

“That’s because it was deep in my closet.” Clara shrugged, almost disappointed. “It deserved the spotlight, and dusting.”

“Trophies were never your thing anyway.” Maeve said, picking it up with both hands.

Nora came in-between them and her eyes widened at the sight. “That’s me with my long emo hair!”

“They were in disbelief you were so good, like emo kids can’t make bangers!” Clara’s words immediately slipped out.

Audrey finally caught up with the rest of them as she closed the bedroom door, heading toward the living room. She was immediately greeted by Maeve and Nora who’s expressions lit up the big room around them.

“I heard you all talk about the high school trophy.” Audrey glanced over. “I adore that song still.”

“Don’t we all?” Maeve exclaimed excitedly.

“Calm down, Maeve.” Clara joked. “I haven’t seen you this excited since you saw Selene’s photo at her old record store.”

Maeve raised her finger, her mouth slacked and her eyes glanced in different directions. Only muffled noises came from her mouth.

“That’s what I thought.” Clara joked again. “Now she’s hiding in your basement.”

“Hey! It’s a brand new basement, and it’s super pretty!”

“I’m not serious, when am I ever serious?” Clara rolled her eyes.

Audrey got closer to Clara, brushing her shoulder against hers, her eyes widening.

“Except when I’m with Audrey which is all the time!”

Audrey smirked.

For a moment, the apartment was filled with nothing but the laughter from everyone in the room. It was the kind Clara missed through constant rehearsals and band meetings. There was no stress only the shared moment between them all together.

“I missed this.” Clara finally said after a brief moment of silence. “Just us being so close together.”

And right at that moment, a familiar knock came from the front door. It made everyone stop in place.

“Are we expecting someone?” Audrey glanced.

Clara glanced back before snapping her fingers together. “Jade! Our newest addition to the band!”

“Do you really have to announce people like they’re walking into a wrestling ring?” Maeve said with a roll of her eyes.

“Of course I do.” Clara paused at the door, turning back at Maeve. “Maeve.” She playfully mocked with her voice.

Right as she opened the door, she was met with Jade, her hair a mess from the sudden winds carrying a small bag.

For a second neither of them said a word.

Then Jade smiled.

“Surprise!”

Clara’s eyes widened. “Jade?”

Maeve ran up to the door. “Stop it, just stop it, you act like you didn’t just say who was walking in the door a second ago!”

“Well... anyway.” Clara said to Jade as she held Maeve behind.

“You never told us you were coming! We love to see you!” Clara exclaimed, still holding Maeve back.

“I wanted to surprise you all, besides, I even wore accurate band makeup today!”

Maeve took a glance at her face. “That makeup is what--”

“I wore at my first high school band.” Clara finished. “But you did it much prettier!”

“I do dabble in makeup, a lot of makeup.” Jade laughed. “I just love freedom to express.”

“Can you express your freedom more?” Clara joked.

“Of course I can, as soon as I get inside, it’s damn cold out here.” Jade squeezed through the door.

“Jade! Jade! Jade!” Audrey repeated excitedly as she ran up to hug her. “I missed you, love!”

“I missed you too, Auds!” Jade’s face lit up, Clara could feel how intense their connection was.

Jade turned her head to see Nora standing by the fridge drinking water.

“Nora!” Jade ran up and hugged her.

Nora nearly blushed in-front of all of them. “Babe you saw me yesterday!”

“It doesn’t mean I can’t do it today!” Jade finished. “It just means everyday is a new time to do it!”

“I never seen you this happy, Nora.” Clara admitted, walking up to them. “You both are amazing together.”

Nora’s eyes widened. “Right? It’s like--”

“We complete each other.” Jade finished.

“You both enjoying Rosevale?” Clara asked, grabbing an empty cup and pouring water in it.

“You act like we haven’t been through the traumas here...” Nora said, half-serious.

Jade gave a long nod. “Right, the day with the crazy lady?”

“Lysandra!” Nora finished.

Audrey smirked.

“Crazy Lyssy?” Jade laughed. “That’s something I do not want to relive.”

Maeve crossed her arms. “You two have been here for five minutes! How are we already on the Lysandra topic?”

“She has a reputation, I guess.” Jade shrugged.

Clara laughed before looking toward the practice room.

“Come on, Jade. You haven’t seen the best part yet!”

Maeve and Nora both looked intrigued. “Practice room?”

“Yes! Now come on!” Clara jolted to the room excitedly.

Everyone followed her down the hallway, stopping when Clara opened the doors.

Inside were their instruments, amplifiers, and pieces of Ash & Thrash scattered throughout carefully.

Jade’s eyes widened. “This is insane.”

“We’ll be practicing here from now on,” Clara said proudly.

Nora leaned against the doorway. “Especially with our upcoming concert.”

Jade turned toward Clara.

“The big one, right?”

Clara nodded. “The biggest one we’ve ever done.”

“You say that a lot but, over the years we’ve upgraded venues.” Maeve nodded along.

For a moment, everyone looked at each other.

Ash & Thrash had come a long way from practicing in a school setting and playing small venues. Now, they were preparing for something bigger than anything they’ve ever done before.

Clara looked at jade, really looked at her. “And you’re going to be part of it.”

Jade smiled. “I guess I better start practicing then!”

“Tomorrow,” Clara said.

“Definitely tomorrow, rise and shine bitches it’s Jade time.” Jade said excitedly.

The others eventually made their way back toward the living room, their conversations quickly returning to laughter and the shared memories they spent together.

Clara stood beside Audrey after a while, looking out at Rosevale through the window.

“You okay?” Audrey asked, her shoulder brushed up against Clara’s.

Clara nodded. “Yeah. I was just thinking.”

“About what?” Audrey asked, her voice low.

Clara looked back at everyone. “Our future.”

Audrey gently took her hand, Clara smiled.

It all felt right, and with every direction they went in together, they were ready to face each day even more than before. Being in Rosevale gave them even more motivation to live through things they never have before. Clara didn’t know what the future would bring.

But whatever came next, Ash & Thrash was ready for it.