10. Focus on What’s Working
TEN
FOCUS ON WHAT’S WORKING
L ily
I wake up the next morning, tangled in my blanket, the faint light of dawn creeping through the curtains. The bus hums softly beneath me, and for a moment, I just lie there, trying to make sense of everything that’s happened over the past few days. My thoughts are all over the place.
Guilt nags at me for dodging Jax. I saw the look in his eyes last night when he wanted to talk, but honestly? I’m scared. I’m drawn to him like a moth to a flame, but I’m terrified of getting burned. And let’s be real, he’s just looking for a hookup and I don’t think that I want to be just another notch on his belt.
I sigh and feel the weight of everything pressing down on me. But I can’t hide in this bunk forever. The guys are probably already up, and I need to face them—and whatever this thing is between Jax and me.
With a groan, I finally roll out of bed. I pull on some comfy clothes and make my way to the kitchen area. The smell of coffee hits me first, followed by the sight of Marcus, Enzo, Dylan, and Jax already digging into breakfast.
“Morning, Lily,” Marcus says, flashing me that easy smile of his.
“Morning,” I mumble, grabbing a cup of coffee and some food. I sit down next to Dylan, who immediately starts teasing.
“Finally decided to join the land of the living, huh? Thought you were planning to hibernate all day.”
I chuckle “Just needed a few extra minutes to function.”
As we eat, the conversation flows easily. The tension from yesterday seems to have faded, at least for now. But I can’t help sneaking glances at Jax. He’s unusually quiet, and every time our eyes meet, I feel that familiar jolt. It’s impossible to ignore.
Enzo seems to notice. His eyes flit between Jax and I and he smirks in a cruel sort of way. “So, what’s the plan today?”
“We need to work on some new tracks,” Marcus says. “We’ve got a little downtime before we hit the road again, so let’s make the most of it.”
“Hell yeah,” Dylan agrees. “It’s been way too long since we laid down something fresh.”
Jax nods. “Yeah, let’s get to it.”
I sip my coffee, trying to focus on their plans and not the mess in my head. I decide to hang out and watch them work, curious to see how their creative process goes down. The guys grab their instruments and settle in. Jax picks up his guitar, Marcus grabs his own, Enzo grabs his bass, and Dylan’s already at his portable drum kit, essentially a scaled down version of the real thing so it can fit on the bus.
At first, it’s kind of a mess. They’re all throwing out different ideas that don’t really mesh. Marcus strums a few chords, but Dylan shakes his head. Enzo suggests a bass line, but Jax isn’t feeling it. The tension starts to creep back in, and it’s clear they’re struggling to find their groove.
“This isn’t working,” Jax grumbles, frustration clear in his voice. “We need to get on the same page.”
“Maybe if you actually listened to my ideas,” Enzo snaps back. “Instead of shooting them down right away.”
Jax glares at him. “It doesn’t fit the vibe we’re going for, Enzo. It’s too heavy.”
“And what’s wrong with heavy?” Enzo fires back. “We can’t all be singing about sunshine and rainbows.”
“Guys, chill,” Marcus jumps in, trying to keep things cool. “Let’s focus on what’s working and build from there.”
Dylan, always the joker, tries to break the tension. “Hey, if we can’t write a hit, maybe we can start a new genre of arguing rock.” His grin is infectious, and the mood lightens a bit as the others chuckle.
They eventually get it together. Marcus’s fingers start moving more confidently over the strings, and Jax picks up the melody. Enzo adds a bass line that works, and Dylan finds a rhythm that ties it all together.
“Finally, some progress,” Enzo says with a smirk. “About time you guys caught up.”
Jax gives him a look but doesn’t say anything, focusing on the music instead. The energy shifts, and they start to click. I can see flashes of how the band used to be, their creative synergy coming to life. They laugh and joke between takes, the camaraderie that had been missing for so long returning with each new line the guys add to their song.
Jax’s voice is strong as he sings, the lyrics coming together with each pass. Marcus’s guitar work is spot-on, his fingers dancing over the strings. Enzo’s bass adds perfect depth, and Dylan’s drumming keeps everything moving.
“That was awesome, guys,” I say, unable to keep the smile off my face as they finish playing the song all the way through for the first time. “You sounded incredible.”
“Thanks, Lily,” Marcus replies, his eyes lighting up. “It feels good to be writing again.”
“Yeah, it does,” Jax agrees, catching my eye. “It’s been too long.”
Enzo grins, his usual cockiness softened by the genuine joy of creating something new. “We might just have a hit on our hands.”
Dylan nods, wiping sweat from his forehead. “Let’s hope so. We could use one.”
They keep playing, getting more and more into it as they start to draft a second song. The music flows easier now, and you can see them feeding off each other’s energy. Instead of arguing, the guys bounce ideas off each other excitedly, talking so quickly my eyes ping pong between them to keep track. Jax’s voice gets stronger, more confident as he sings, and it’s like watching him fall in love with music all over again.
“Enzo, try not to make it sound like a funeral march,” Dylan jokes, grinning over at him during a break in the writing session.
Enzo just glares. “Just keep the beat, Dylan. Let the pros handle everything else.”
Marcus jumps in, trying to keep the peace. “Let’s just keep going. We’re onto something good.”
“Fine,” Enzo mutters, but it lacks heat.
“Let’s play it from the top,” Jax says, his excitement showing.
They launch into the song, and the bus fills with this powerful, infectious energy. The guys are grinning at each other as they play, and I can’t help but tap my foot along with the beat. When they finish, the guys are all pumped, their eyes shining with excitement.
“That was incredible,” I say, full of genuine admiration. “You guys are amazing.”
“Thanks, Lily,” Marcus says, his lips pulled back into a massive grin. “It feels good to be back at it.”
“Yeah, it does,” Jax adds, giving me a look that makes my heart skip.
Enzo grins, “The label is gonna love this one when they hear it.”
Dylan nods, “Better watch out, Lily. Maybe we won’t need a babysitter soon.” He winks at me, to show the comment is a joke, but it doesn’t stop my stomach from dropping. What happens when the band is back on the road to success? They won’t need me anymore.