I didn't talk.

Chris didn't talk.

Octavia didn't talk.

Her voice was dark, fast and raspy, but gorgeous and consuming.

“What…” Chris started to say before falling speechless again.

“It's called Shitshow, I wrote it a couple years back.” She said softly with a smile.

I continued to stand in the kitchen without a word.

I was so…

Angry.

I hate her, why does my career now depend so heavily on her?

Why is she immediately better than me?

Why is that the only normal thing I’ve heard her say all day?

“Y’know, I might have an idea for a drum track for that,” Chris suddenly said, tapping his chin and wandering over to Octavia. He stood behind her on the couch and looked down at her. She looked up at him with a smile and put her finger up to poke the tip of his nose. 

“What else d’ya have in that scattered brain of yours?” He asked as he ruffled her hair and jumped over the couch to sit next to her. She started shifting her hands around the frets, playing little riffs here and there. 

“Alex, d'ya wanna go down to the studio and try some demo's?” Chris asked, turning to me.

I check the time- twenty past twelve.

“Sure, whatever” I grumbled. “Done by four though, I've got drinks with Steve at five.” I mentioned, praying that they didn't ask to come. 

“Can I have twenty bucks to buy chinese food for dinner then?” Octavia asked.

I really didn’t want to, but all I had were situations that were all completely unfavourable. 

1. I take Octavia to the bar with me.

Pros: She’s not unsupervised in my home.

Cons: She'll say something bad to Steve- definitely can't have that.

2. I give her twenty bucks.

Pros: She's not with me and Steve.

Cons: She’s unsupervised in the place I live- definitely can't have that.

I stared at her, eyes narrowed, trying to figure out where to leave her. I could see she was going to speak again so I blurted out an answer.

“No.” I said, quick and blatantly. 

She stared at me emotionlessly and blinked.

Chris looked pissed too.

I spoke quickly before Chris could offer his place.

“You can come to the bar, but you'll sit in the corner booth and you won't interact with anyone,” I said, making things up on the spot.

Chris frowned at me again, I knew I'd be getting one of those be more compassionate talks again later. Octavia wasn’t frowning though. She almost seemed happy.

“Alcohol and hot chips? You're a legend.” she said with a wink, placing the guitar aside. 

“No alcohol” I laughed back, completely amused by the fact that she'd even suggested  that. “ You just got out of rehab, are you actually serious?”

She was quiet and looked nervously to the right.

“Hey, if I go with her she could have a small drink. I'll be the supervisor.” Chris said with a smile, looking at me then Octavia. I didn’t want Chris to spend unnecessary time with her, but all he was going to do after five was go home and play video games till half one in the morning. 

“I don't care, do what you want. Don't bother Steve and I and don't go overboard and create chaos.” I said.

As Chris and Octavia high-fived like twelve year old girls getting a sleepover, I wandered over to my lord and saviour.

The medicine cabinet.

Popping enough pain killers to be just under an overdose to kill my headache and washing it down with the half a can of Monster Energy in the fridge like an absolute champion, I was ready to work with my delinquent teammates again.

Just.