5. Oliver
Oliver
I ’m surprised how easy it is to talk to Hale Reed and his two bandmates.
I met Jack Evans, their drummer, briefly before going on stage.
Apparently, he had joined in on drums, but I had been so focused on not fucking up - and Savvy, let’s be honest - to notice it was him.
He has brown eyes that match his short, messy hair.
It sticks up in places like he either doesn’t own a comb or just gave up trying.
He’s been bouncing all over the place and Hale has even threatened to put a leash on him if he didn’t calm down.
What shocked me was how much I didn’t mind it. It made talking to the group easier.
Grayson Pierce, the band’s bassist, was slightly shorter than me with big blue eyes.
He has that awkward, bookish look—dorky glasses that slide down his nose as if they don’t quite fit his face.
His curls are very similar to mine, but his are dyed a light shade of purple, which suits him.
There’s a nervous energy about him too—fidgeting and adjusting his glasses as if he’s thinking three steps ahead but never quite in sync with the present.
A bit lanky, a little uncoordinated, but not in a way that’s entirely off-putting.
Just… a guy who probably knows way too much about random trivia and gets sunburned if he merely thinks about going outside during the day.
Hale, clearly the leader of the group, is a giant of a man, and I realize my earlier assessment of him wasn’t wrong.
He must be around six foot seven or maybe six foot eight.
He has that sharp, clean-cut look with short, neatly kept blonde hair, suggesting he actually puts effort into it without making a big deal about it.
His icy blue eyes carry an intensity as if he’s sizing up the world, absorbing everything without revealing much.
He would be intimidating if he weren’t so nice.
Jack is currently bouncing on the balls of his feet, doing his best to stand still while Hale explains their situation to me.
The three of them have been best friends since childhood and started a band when they were thirteen.
Liam Jones, the owner of JoJo Records, heard them play at a Battle of the Band event in Los Angeles and signed them a couple of months later when Grayson turned eighteen.
That was about a year ago, and apparently, the label has been very patient and supportive in giving them the time to find a fourth member for their group.
They agreed with the label that, while the three of them would do well on their own, something was missing.
Hale also mentioned they registered as a pack as soon as they could, wanting to solidify their friendship and make sure they stuck together forever. It was also why it’s taken so long for them to settle on a new bandmate; they wanted someone they could eventually add to their pack.
“We like you, Oliver,” Hale trades looks with Grayson and Jack before focusing on me again. “We will be in the area for a few months and would love to do a couple of test runs with you if you’re up for it?”
“You’re the first person we’ve clicked with since we started looking,” Jack adds excitedly. “It’s all a formality. We would love for you and the pretty girl to join us.”
“Jack!” Hale barks at his friend. “I told you not to mention the girl yet.” He shoots me an apologetic look. “We are interested in both you and your girlfriend, but we weren’t sure if she would be on board. It didn’t look like she was planning on participating until you froze on stage. No offense.”
“None taken,” I assure him. “Without her, I wouldn’t have gone through with it. I still can’t believe she did that for me.”
I still have a lot of feelings in need of processing when it comes to Savvy, but they need to wait for now.
“How long have the two of you been together? I met her briefly when she was trying to get to the stage and had me carry her the rest of the way. She’s a tiny little thing isn’t she.” Hale chuckles as he recalls meeting her.
“Oh, Savvy isn’t my girlfriend, I only met her tonight.” My eyes widened when I realized he was the one carrying her on his shoulders. “Holy shit, that was you?”
“You only met each other tonight?” Grayson asks me, the shock evident on his face. “That is surprising, the way you performed together, the kiss, it looked like you’ve known each other forever.” He blushes at the mention of the kiss. “I promise I wasn’t perving; it was just hard to miss.”
“That kiss was hot, I was totally perving,” Jack adds with a smirk.
“I think she might be my scent match,” The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them.
Fuck. Fucking fuck. Saying that means I just outed Savvy as an Omega, something she wasn’t aware of or didn’t want people to know.
“Oh God, I didn’t just say that. Please forget what I said, she says she’s a beta.
I don’t know the reasons, but it wasn’t my place to mention anything regarding her designation. ”
Hale puts a hand on my shoulder, the weight of it calming me down a fraction. “Dude, breath. We won’t mention anything to her, but it was an accident. She would understand. ”
I shake my head, but I know it’s true. Savvy wouldn’t hold a grudge against me, she’s way too sweet for that. Doesn’t stop me from feeling guilty about it. I’ll tell her about it later when it’s just the two of us.
“Do you think she would be open to meeting us?” Grayson asks softly, straightening his glasses. “Only if you’re okay with it too.”
Am I? Surprisingly, the answer is yes. Not only because it’s not my choice, but I trust these guys. Being around them feels so easy as if I’ve known them for ages. It also makes me realize that I want to say yes to joining them for practice runs and, hopefully, signing with them.
“I can’t speak for her, but before coming over she seemed open to chatting. She said she needed a few minutes by herself to calm down, that’s why she stayed behind. Nash is with her.”
Jack lets out a full belly laugh. “You left her with Nash? Dude, we need to go save her, Nash is probably driving her insane.”
“She seemed to handle him just fine,” I let out a small chuckle as I started back in the direction where I left her. “He implied my panic attack was all part of an act, and we staged her swooping in to save me to get more attention.”
“Fucking dick,” Grayson mutters under his breath.
“She let him have it, don’t worry. She even made him apologize to me.” All three of them laugh at that as we round the corner and Nash comes into view. He is pacing the room, talking to someone on the phone. I look around for Savvy, but I can’t see her anywhere.
Nash spots me and quickly hangs up before rushing over, the look on his face immediately putting me on edge. “Kid, you have to call your girlfriend, she was freaking out about something and then bolted. I tried chasing after her, but I wasn’t quick enough and lost her. ”
“She’s gone?” I ask, the words coming out broken. “I never got her number Nash.” I stare at the older Alpha pleadingly, begging him silently to tell me she’s not gone.
“Fuck Kid, I don’t know what to tell you. One second she was asking me who you went to talk to, and the next, she was freaking the fuck out. I just mentioned the band might want to sign the both of you, and she went white as a ghost.”
“It wasn’t your place to tell her that.” Hale points out, sounding pissed off.
Nash pats his pockets before letting out a sigh. “Why did I choose this week to quit smoking? Listen, I agree I should have waited for you guys before saying anything, but I doubt she would have reacted any better. She was terrified at the thought.”
“You don’t know that,” I growl out, starting to feel pissed off. “I would have been here to comfort her. She’s my sc-” I stop myself from finishing my sentence, not wanting anyone else to know Savvy’s secret.
“I did comfort her, my alpha instinct went haywire, and I had her on my lap, purring for her and shit. She was fine afterward, said she needed the bathroom, and then took off.”
I hate the fact that he touched her, but I get it, as alphas it’s our natural instinct to look after and protect those who need it.
I also hate the fact that, as much as I want to blame Nash for everything, I can’t. I also know he was right when he said she would have ran even if I was here. Omegas run when they’re spooked, but as her alpha, I should have been here to chase after her.
Are you her alpha? A voice in my head that sounds identical to my dads asks me.
You’re so desperate for someone to love you, that you cling onto the first girl to show you any affection.
She probably just felt sorry for you and bailed as soon as she could.
Who would want anything to do with a weak, pathetic alpha who gets stage fright?
Your new friends probably feel sorry for you too.
There is no way they want someone unreliable like you joining their band.
I slump down on the couch, rubbing my hands over my face.
Hale is talking to Nash, but I tune them out.
I know it’s just my own insecurities talking, but some of it is true.
I was never shown much affection while growing up, and none at all after my mom died.
I’m desperate for a connection, and I thought I had that with Savvy.
My teacher for Omega and Alpha dynamics said that when you meet your scent match, you fall fast and hard.
He bonded with his scent match two days after meeting her, and they have been together for nearly thirty years.
So, feeling the connection I have with Savvy isn’t that far-fetched if she is an omega.
But maybe I am so desperate for someone to love me that I’m imagining everything in my head.
Her scent, as faint as it is, is utterly intoxicating.
It’s a playful blend of warm, toasted marshmallows—a sugary, slightly smoky aroma - combined with an undercurrent of a crackling fire that intensifies when she’s excited.
I never thought I’d enjoy camping, but her scent makes me want to pitch a tent, as long as she’s there with me.
I lift my head, looking at the four guys surrounding me. I felt a connection with them straight away, but what if that was also in my head?
Jack comes over, throwing an arm around my shoulder as he drops down next to me. “Nash will keep an eye out here for her and let you know if she comes back. I don’t know how much help the band can be, but we got your back, dude, whatever you need. ”
“Did you mean it?” I ask them, hating how vulnerable I sound. “You’re really interested in playing with me? I’m a fucking mess as you can see.” I let out a bitter laugh.
Hale’s eyes soften. “We all have our own baggage, dude, why would we judge you for yours?’
“We don’t want just anyone,” Grayson says from next to Hale. “The three of us are family, and we want someone who fits into it. You’re the first person who has felt like the pack to us.”
I look at Jack, and he just shrugs. “What Gray said, now will you put me out of my misery and agree to play with us?”
“I still have three months left before I graduate. A little less than that before I turn eighteen.”
“That’s okay, we can stick around here until you’re done.” Hale waves his hand through the air like he’s swatting away my concerns.
“It’s that simple huh?” I can’t help but let out a little laugh.
“For the right person? It’s that simple.”
“You guys can use the stage here when we’re not open, but it’ll have to be during the morning.
” Nash comes over to join us and eyes me warily.
“I am really sorry, Kid; I promise if she shows up here, I’ll call you immediately or get her contact information.
Fuck, if she won’t give it to me I’ll follow her home. ”
I can’t help but snort at that, but I give him a thankful smile before he pulls me into a hug.
“She was looking for the owner of the club,” Nash whispers in my ear while he hugs me. “She wouldn’t tell the bartender why, but I’ll chat to the owner and see if he recognizes her.”
“Why would she be loo- oomph.” Jack tackles me from behind, the force sending the three of us to the floor as he clings to me .
“Welcome to the family Oliver!”
I start laughing, some of the heaviness finally easing as I lie in a pile of limbs on a dirty floor backstage. I laugh even harder when Hale comes over to pull Jack off me but ends up flat on his ass next to us when Jack uses his foot to trip him.
Hale looks pissed off for a second before a huge grin spreads across his face, and he starts tickling Jack. He winks at me before grabbing Grayson’s leg and pulling him into our little puppy pile.
“You guys are children,” He grumbles, but I can see the corners of his mouth twitching upwards. He crawls over to me and pulls me into a hug. “Welcome to the band,, Oliver; we needed another sane member.”
I let go of everything else for the night, enjoying my time with my new friends.
Their acceptance of me gave me hope that I didn’t imagine my connection with Savvy.
Hopefully, she shows up here again, and Nash can get me her contact information, but I’m not leaving it to chance.
Tomorrow I’ll start looking for her, starting with schools on the route we traveled to get here.
She might tell me to fuck off, but if I don’t try I’ll always regret it.