Out of Beat (Boys of Fallout Book 1)

by Cassandra Giovanni

  “Is there going to be any hot water left?” I ask, and Joey smirks at me as if he’s gotten me back for my vague comment about siblings.

  Danny stands and nods to the bathroom. “Let me show you how it works.”

  He lets me step into the bathroom because it’s not big enough for the two of us and he nods to the shower. “Secret is to get the third shower in. First shower, you don’t have enough time for the water to heat up — last shower it’s all gone. Zack usually gets first, then me — so I’ll stop Aaron so you can get the warm shower. He and Joey can fight over the cold one.”

  “So you do believe I know how a shower works?” I tease, smiling at him as I put my clothes on the sink. My hot pink bra strap drops over the edge, and Danny’s eyes go to it. His face goes red as his eyes come back up to mine.

  “Yeah.” He bites his lower lip. “You remember when your mom thought you were wasting water?”

  I laugh, and it’s my turn to be red-faced. “I still feel so sorry about that.”

  “Hell, at least your mom didn’t walk in,” Danny says, and we both laugh.

  “That would’ve been difficult to explain,” I reply, and Zack puts his head on Danny’s shoulder.

  “The shower really isn’t that difficult, Lark. You may have taken one too many falls off that skateboard of yours. Left is warm, right is cold. Turn the thing that looks like a knob and whalah!” Zack says as he flutters his eyelashes at me, hair now perfectly styled. It’s something he hasn’t given up from his years as an emo teenager, but he never really was emo. Zack’s always been happy.

  Danny winks before closing the door for me. I look at the ceiling and inhale. Ah, the shower incident. The first time I saw a guy mostly naked. I bite my lip as I glance over at the shower.

  Cold is probably a good idea.

  “God, you smell like something died,” I said as Danny walked in the back door. He worked for Dad’s house building company, and even after growing up with a construction worker dad I couldn’t get used to the smell. Man sweat, dirt and various building materials, and that day, some motor oil or grease from the machines was mixed in.

  “You mean you don’t want a hug?” Danny asked, smiling at me as he crossed his dirt covered arms. His biceps bulged, fully shown by the sleeveless shirt he wore.

  “Get in the shower. I’ll burn your clothes after,” I said, nodding to the bathroom.

  Danny looked over my shoulder at my computer. “Nice pictures, are these by the lake?”

  I gagged. He threw his hands up as I turned in the chair to face him, hand over my mouth. “Fine! After, though–can I see them?”

  “I’ll let you look through them while I clean your man-stench clothes,” I replied, ushering him into the bathroom with my free hand.

  He rolled his eyes and turned, pulling his shirt off as he did. After two months of living together, he was more than comfortable walking around topless. I still wasn’t used to it, mainly because it made my whole body feel like it was on fire. I shook my head as I turned back to the computer. The shower turned on, and I kept looking through my pictures.

  “Skylar,” Mom called as she walked down the stairs. “I thought I heard the shower.” She stopped at the end step. “We’re in a drought Skylar, you can’t just leave the shower running while you look at pictures.”

  I swallowed. “Right, I’m sorry. I just got distracted.”

  She crossed her arms and pouted, nodding towards the bathroom. “Are you going to go in?”

  “Oh, yeah,” I said as I got up and headed towards the door, praying Danny left it unlocked. I turned the knob and my chest tightened as I realized Danny was naked in there and I was walking in. I hoped he could hear me as I basically yelled, “I’m going to take a shower right now!”

  Mom’s brow furrowed and she shook her head as I opened the door and slipped in at the same time as Danny decided to turn the water off and opened the curtain. I threw a towel at him, crushing my eyes shut just as the towel landed right over his private area. It wasn’t soon enough for me to miss the way his hips angled toward the darker area of his skin.

  “I decided against the shower,” I yelled through the door before Danny could react to the fact I was in the bathroom with him.

  “Well, then I’m going to do laundry,” Mom called back.

  “I’m covered,” Danny whispered, and I opened my eyes to see him trying not to laugh.

  “I’m sorry,” I replied, and we both smiled at each other.

  When I come out of the bathroom, my eyes meet Danny’s and he smirks at me. I wonder if he’s been recalling the memory too. Zack narrows his eyes between us, and I step forward and flick his hair.

  “This looks like it takes more time than mine,” I comment.

  He purses his lips at me. “That’s because you’re just naturally beautiful.”

  I look at the ceiling before squeezing in next to Aaron.

  “Alright,” Joey says, coming in from the driving area. “I have Lauren on the phone. Crews all here. What’s today’s agenda?”

  Aaron has a whiteboard in front of him, and he slides it over to me, handing me a pen. “You probably have the best handwriting out of all of us.”

  “Just because I’m a chick doesn’t mean I have the best handwriting,” I reply, but I know they’ve all seen it and it’s definitely better than any of their chicken scratch. “Fine.”

  Joey sits down and puts the phone in the center of the table.

  “Hi guys, and gal,” Lauren says. “Today, we’re going to be filming your first music video!”

  The guys all whoop, and I write ‘MUSIC VIDEO’ on the board. Lauren reads off the address and lets us know we need to be there by twelve, which will give us just enough time to get there.

  “How long will the filming take?” Aaron asks as he looks at something on his phone.

  “Two days,” Lauren replies and Joey laughs.

  “They’re feeding us, right? And good with us sleeping in the parking lot?” he asks.

  Lauren goes into a brief description of how everything’s going to work, and I take notes for the guys.

  “So that’s two days,” Zack says. “What’s on the schedule for the rest of the week?”

  Lauren gives a summary which includes another interview, a signing at a clothing store and then their first concert of the tour.

  “We’ll fit your tattoo in,” Aaron whispers over to me, and I look at their full agenda.

  “Where does sleeping go?” I ask as I scan the board.

  “Oh, that’s optional,” Zack comments as Joey hits the end button on the phone.

  “Welcome to the life of the famous and beautiful, my friends,” Joey says as he stands up and stares at the kitchen counter, “I need coffee– anyone know how this sucker works?”

  “Wouldn’t we need coffee?” Danny comments, and I get up and start opening the cabinets. They’re empty.

  “What were you planning on eating?” I ask as I open the fridge. I pull out two large bottles. “Vodka and rum?”

  Danny reaches around me and pulls out an energy drink. “These are mine.”

  I put the alcohol back in and I grab the can from him before he cracks it open. “Hell. No.”

  “What?” he asks as he makes grabby hands at it. I open it and dump its contents down the sink.

  “This shit is not good for you,” I say as I look over at Joey. “Stop at a Dunkin. While you guys are shooting I’ll call a car and go shopping. I assume you have money for food — or did that all go into our humble abode?”

  I don’t have much left in my checking account since I ponied up for the fisheye lens on my camera and custom painted Gullwing double kingpin trucks for my pintail, but I’m willing to crack into my savings if it means the boys will eat well.

  “Of course we have money for food, but it’s usually greasy and in a paper bag,” he replies as he takes a seat behind the wheel.

  I glance over at Aaron, not believing he’s into fast food from his rippling
body. He shakes his head. “Protein drinks hidden somewhere.”

  I roll my eyes because that’s not all that much better. “Okay, we have a kitchen in here, so we’re going to eat like normal, healthy human beings.”

  “Thanks, Mom!” Zack says, standing and leaning down to kiss me on the cheek. “Make sure you get us Wheaties! And I’d like to go purple next week– I’ll write the brand down for you.”

  I let my head roll on my shoulders to look at Danny. His shoulders lift as he laughs into his hand.

  Chapter 8

  Joey bites his lip as the director explains what’s going to happen for the next few hours. He keeps glancing at me, and I smile at him over my cell phone as I snap a shot of my worried brother. When the director finishes his spiel Joey turns to face me, but Zack steps between us and crosses his arms.

  “She’ll be fine, Model Face. She is an adult. I’m sure she’s gone to a store by herself before,” Zack says, and Joey narrows his eyes at him.

  “Have you seen the shit on the news about those drivers?” Joey shoots back. “She may be an adult, but she’s still my little sister.”

  “She’s a little sister to all of us,” Aaron adds, pursing his lips at my brother.

  “You just want something other than protein powder to eat,” Joey snaps, crossing his arms.

  Danny scratches the back of his neck. “I kind of agree with Joey. We’re in a strange place. Couldn’t she just drive the RV?”

  All of the guys turn on Danny and blink slowly. He puts his hands up and then points at me. “She drives fine. She can even drive a stick and a motorcycle.”

  I cover my smirk with my hand because he’s the one who taught me how to drive, and I’m pretty sure Joey’s about to shit a brick from the expression on his face. He turns open-mouthed to face me, and I pull my two licenses and flash them in his face.

  “Dad taught you how to drive a stick and let you get a motorcycle license?” Joey asks, blinking rapidly.

  “Someone had to take care of Danny’s bike while you guys were on tour,” I reply, and Joey turns to Danny again.

  “So this is your fault! You made my sister into a rebel?”

  Danny rolls his eyes and reaches around Joey into his pocket. He pulls the keys out and tosses them at me. “Drive safe, Sky.”

  “Don’t forget my purple,” Zack calls at my back as I turn to leave.

  “Sky!” Joey yells, but instead of stopping, I shake the keys above my head.

  “Be back in a bit!” I say over my shoulder, and I catch a glimpse of Joey trying to put Danny in a headlock. He’s basically just hanging on his shoulders.

  When I get back to the RV and start the sucker up, my stomach rolls. The thing is a beast, and now I’m wondering if Danny is crazy. There’s a huge difference between this and anything I’ve ever driven, including Danny’s truck. I thought that was big. I take a shaky breath before putting the thing in gear.

  The boys need food that won’t kill them by the end of the tour, and so do I.

  Once I get driving, it’s not as bad as I thought it would be, but I can’t wait to get back on set to see how the video is going. I find the nearest wholesale store; thankful Mom added me as an authorized user to her rewards card and stock up on what I hope is enough food for the next two weeks. As I check out, and the total keeps going up, I grit my teeth wondering if Joey’s given me enough cash. It seems he’s well aware of what feeding the band costs because he’s given me almost the exact amount needed, with a few quarters to spare.

  “Feeding an army?” the girl cashing me out asks as I hand her the stack of twenties.

  “Pop-punk band,” I reply, and the girl’s eyes widen. “Ever heard of Kill Me Softly?”

  The girl blinks at me hard before rolling up her sleeve to reveal a tattoo of their lyrics. “No shit, really?”

  I nod. “Joey’s my brother.”

  “They eat this much?” she says as she looks at the two carts of food.

  “If you let them,” I reply, and she shakes her head again.

  Her face gains some color and then flushes completely red as she hands me my change.

  “They saved me,” she whispers, and as she looks at me, I realize she means it.

  “I’ll let them know — it means a lot to them,” I reply, and she nods again, still speechless.

  As I put the groceries away, I can’t stop thinking about the cashier. My eyes wander over the RV until they find the merch box shoved in the corner. I go over to it, and when I open it, I see exactly what I’m hoping for– signed copies of their EP. I go back in the store and wait in line again. When the girl’s eyes meet mine, I hold out the CD.

  “They’d want you to have this,” I say, and as she takes it, her eyes wide with tears. “I’m sorry they can’t personalize it, but I know they would. Would you be willing to take a picture with me? I know the band would’ve loved to meet you.”

  “You’re seriously Joey’s sister?” she whispers as she runs her fingers over the black pen marks.

  “Last time I checked,” I reply, and she comes to the front of the register to hug me. “Picture?” I ask again.

  She nods and I hold my cell phone out for a selfie of the two of us. She rolls up her sleeve, and we both point at the tattoo.

  “Thank you,” she whispers, and I squeeze her hands.

  “I’m not as good as them, but it’s something,” I reply.

  “It is,” she says before looking back down at the CD again with a smile.

  Just then my phone buzzes, and I look down to see a picture of Zack standing with his mouth at the end of a six-foot sub as Joey kicks back with a bag of chips. I click the image, and it expands to show it’s from Danny.

  I’ll do my best to save you a piece of salami and Doritos.

  I reply:

  Tell Zack I’ll hold his dye hostage if he doesn’t help you keep my portion from Aaron.

  The next text I get is a picture of Zack hiding in the corner, growling with a piece of the sub and a bag of Doritos. I laugh as I put my cell phone in drive mode and head back. When I get inside Danny nods over to Zack, still protecting my food.

  “He really wants that dye,” he says with a smirk. “He almost bit Aaron’s hand off.”

  “Jokes on him,” I reply. “I got green.”

  Danny tips his head back, laughing. “That’s far too masculine.”

  I shrug before going and getting my food from Zack. I pat him on the head as he hands it over.

  “Good job, Killer.”

  He smiles, leaning into my hand like a dog. “Anytime, Master.”

  I roll my eyes before taking a seat next to Danny. I explain what happened at the grocery store, and he calls the guys over for a group picture waving to post with the selfie I took with the cashier. A few seconds later the girl is freaking out on Twitter, having found the post because she follows the band. She tweets to Joey that I’m ‘totes sweet.’

  Aaron laughs as he leans over and steals a chip. When I shoot him a nasty glare he points to Joey’s phone mouthing totes sweet.

  The guys are called into makeup, and I go back to the RV to finish unpacking the groceries and make a few treats for the guys to eat later. When I’m finished, I head to the set with my camera, and I’m shocked to find each of the guys transformed into their teenage selves.

  Danny winks at me as my mouth drops. He’s wearing a wig of shaggy surfer hair that hangs into the frame of his thick glasses. Not only that, he’s got braces again and he’s dressed in a marching band get-up. He narrows his eyes at me.

  “You know it’s sexy,” he replies, wiggling his eyebrows just as I take a shot of it. I look down at my camera, and my body heats with warmth. It reminds me of the first time I saw him. It wasn’t long before he got contacts and his perfect smile was revealed, though.

  “Ah hem,” Zack says, and my eyes lift to see him with the same hair he has now, but he’s wearing black eye liner, a black t-shirt with a v-neck that dips way too far down and black skinny j
eans, ripped to an inch of their lives. The outfit is completed by untied combat boots.

  “Oh my,” I whisper as my eyes go to my brother with his hair, now black, dropped over his eyes. He’s wearing a too-tight As I Lay Dying shirt, skinny jeans, and Converse high-tops. It’s not much different than today, to be honest.

  Then there’s Aaron in his wrestling uniform, which is about as revealing as his boxer briefs from this morning. I raise an eyebrow at him as he puts his hands on his hips and stands like Superman.

  “As if you looked like that in high school,” I reply as my eyes go over his flexing biceps and defined pec muscles. He makes his chest go up and down, and I roll my eyes. “Exactly.”

  “He hadn’t discovered protein drinks yet,” Danny shoots, and I glance over at him, my lip pulling into my mouth as I chuckle to myself.

  “So explain this,” I say, signaling to each of the guys with my hands as I take a seat in the chair next to Danny.

  “It’s pretty awesome,” Danny explains, nodding at the scene in the background. “The director explained everything while you were shopping. We’re doing the high school scenes today; we’ll do the conversion, and we’ll look like we do now. Basically, it pulls together the idea of who we were in high school and who we are now. Like this people are going to boo us off stage, but when we change into our current selves everyone is going to be jumping up and down.”

  “Except anyone who dreams of seeing Aaron in spandex,” I reply, and Aaron winks at me.

  I glance over at Danny, and he’s blinking at Aaron with his hands gripping the edge of the stool beneath him. I elbow him, and he relaxes, smiling at me with a mouth full of braces.

  “I remember the day you came over without the braces and had my mom buzz your hair,” I say, shaking my head. “I couldn’t even believe it when you came downstairs. I about died.”

  Danny laughs. “I’m going to remember exactly why I cut it when I have to drum in this getup.”

  I wrinkle my nose. “I’ll let you take a shower first tonight.”