Snake Bandit - YA Rockstar Read online

  Luke laughed at Jake and then turned to Rocco. “And no girls, are you listening?”

  “Yes, Papa.” Rocco resisted the urge to roll his eyes knowing that he was lucky to be getting this opportunity after some of the shit he’d pulled, particularly as his papa knew all about his sex sessions with Maddy in the VIP bathroom.

  “That includes you too, Ethan,” Skins added, pointing at his son.

  “It’s okay if I bring Polly in though, right?” Hendrix asked, giving everyone his sweetest smile.

  “Well, that’s not fair,” Ethan groaned.

  “Yeah, but he doesn’t sneak a different girl into the house three times a week,” Skins said nodding toward Hendrix.

  “And he’s not supposed to be working out a punishment,” Tom said. “However, we want no distractions, so if your girl comes around and its starts to affect your rehearsal then she’ll have to get used to just seeing you at school for a while. Okay?”

  Hendrix nodded, deciding that just seeing Polly at school wasn’t enough, so he’d have to try his hardest not to be distracted by her and her pouty lips when she came into rehearsals.

  After his little speech at the café the mean girls appeared to be leaving Polly alone, but he knew that it didn’t mean anything. They could well be plotting their next move. All that Hendrix wanted however, was for Polly to believe how much he cared about her. Not seeing her for weeks on end wouldn’t really help him on that score, so when he was in the studio with her watching, he’d have to keep his hands and his lips to himself.

  “Okay,” Luke said, clapping his hands. “We’ll leave you to it. And make sure you finish up by ten at the latest. I want you all bright and cheery when we leave in the morning. Freddie, one of us will pick you up from home at about seven-fifteen, that okay?”

  Freddie nodded and stretched his back, preparing for another three hours rehearsal. “Yes, no problem, Mr Mahoney.”

  Luke laughed and Ethan snorted.

  “Luke is fine, Freddie.”

  “Yeah,” Skins added and then swatted Ethan around the head. “And it might do you some good to learn from Freddie on how to respect people.”

  “I do,” Ethan protested.

  “Oh yeah I forgot, of course you do.” Skins placed a huge hand on his son’s shoulder. “Oh, and your mum says next time you feel the need to pleasure yourself in the family bathroom, flush the tissues away instead of leaving them on the windowsill and take your porn mag back to your room instead of leaving it for Jackson to find. Not sure that’s respecting your family, or most of all your mum.”

  He grinned at Ethan who was suddenly a deep shade of red.

  Rocco, Hendrix and Eliza burst out laughing while Freddie put his head down, not feeling as though he knew Ethan well enough to laugh at him just yet.

  “Ethan, my friend,” Jake said with a huge grin. “How many times have we told you, jerk off in the privacy of your own room and if you must do it in the bathroom, do it in the shower.”

  “I’d rather he just kept it to his room,” Skins added, slapping Ethan’s back. “Now that respect thing son, think about it.”

  “Yes, Dad.” As the band all turned to leave, Ethan flipped them the bird.

  “Oh, and son, next time you want to flip me the bird make sure there’s no window to reflect it in.” Skins smiled and pointed at the window of the mixing booth and then held a hand up over his head to wave goodbye.

  “You dick,” Rocco said once the door had closed behind them. “Fancy getting caught wanking off.”

  “I wouldn’t need to wank off if we weren’t under a fucking celibacy rule by our dads, which in my book makes them the dicks.”

  “Do we have to talk about this?” Eliza asked with a shudder. “I don’t want to talk or even think about it. It’s gross.”

  Ethan clutched his crotch and smiled. “A man has to do what a man has to do, isn’t that right, Freddie?”

  Freddie looked up and shrugged. “I guess so, but I can see why Eliza wouldn’t want to talk about it. To be honest, the thought of your dick isn’t the best vision I’d like before I go to sleep tonight either.”

  “And what would be the best vision?” Rocco asked, noticing how Eliza was gazing over at their keyboard player.

  Freddie glanced at Eliza, long enough so that she’d notice but not too long that he looked like a creeper. “Oh now, that would be telling.”

  Rocco’s gaze shot to his friend who had a pink tinge to her cheeks and was most definitely turned on if the sight of her nipples pushing against her Ramones t-shirt was anything to go by. It occurred to Rocco that he should probably look away, she was one of his oldest friends and like a sister to him, but he couldn’t help but wonder what colour and size her nipples were, whether they were small and brown like Maddy’s. The thought pulled him up short and he blew out a breath as he adjusted his jeans that suddenly felt a little bit tighter.

  “Fuck,” he muttered as he shook his head.

  “What’s up with you?” Hendrix asked, a hint of humour in his voice. “Just realised something?”

  Rocco locked eyes with him and frowned. “No idea what you’re talking about. Anyway, let’s get going. I don’t want to be standing around here doing nothing all night.”

  “Not like we can do much else,” Ethan complained.

  Feeling uncomfortable, Rocco let out a forced laugh. “Oh, I’m sure I could get someone to come and play with me, if I needed to.”

  He glanced over at Eliza, wondering whether she was listening to him, but her concentration was firmly on Freddie as he said something to her about key changes at the verse. Clearing his throat, Rocco pulled off his leather jacket and threw it onto the chair, feeling distinctly unsettled.

  Hendrix smiled to himself. He’d seen the way Rocco had looked at his sister and it had definitely changed from the usual passing glance. He had to have known how Eliza felt about him and maybe Freddie coming along had plucked at Rocco’s consciousness, but even so Hendrix didn’t like the idea that Rocco couldn’t see how beautiful she was until someone else came along. He loved Rocco like a brother and in an ideal world he’d love for Eliza to be with the guy she wanted, but Hendrix knew Rocco wasn’t right for his sweet, kind sister. Anyway, if he was reading the look on her face right, she was definitely attracted to Freddie Price. Freddie was a good guy and, as far as Hendrix was concerned, a much better fit for Eliza. She deserved to be cherished and treated like a fucking princess and he knew Freddie would do that. Yeah, Rocco might at first, but he was pretty sure once the novelty wore off, Rocco would be off on the prowl leaving Eliza heartbroken and Hendrix hated the idea of that, so he’d make sure she managed to see how great Freddie really was.

  Three hours later, exhausted and feeling a little tetchy, Rocco turned off the lights in the studio and followed everyone out and up the stairs to the main part of the house.

  Rehearsal had gone okay, considering it had been their first real time playing together, the reason for Rocco’s sour mood was that Freddie and Eliza had suddenly become their own little team, discussing lyric changes and how they could change the arrangement of certain songs. Not that he wanted to contribute, or even could contribute, but it still pissed him off especially the way Eliza awarded Freddie a fucking dick hardening smile every time.

  As they climbed the stairs, he kept his head down, not wanting to watch Eliza’s arse in her denim shorts and black tights. Thinking about her nipples had been weird enough for one day. He felt his phone in his jeans’ pocket and decided that even though he’d promised to behave, his papa wouldn’t need to know if he gave someone a call and sneaked out for a couple of hours. He could always say he was going to check Uncle Graham’s house while he and Auntie Sally were on holiday. Graham was his mum’s uncle really, but he’d been like a dad to her, all the kids adored him and his wife, so Luke wouldn’t suspect anything. In fact, Rocco knew if he didn’t love and respect his uncle so much, he’d probably arrange to meet his hook-up there, but that would be taking
the piss and if he got found out he’d never see daylight again. No, he’d just have to pick someone from his contacts who wouldn’t mind him going to them because he had to get the stupid, idiotic ideas about Eliza out of his head.

  “I’m knackered,” Ethan groaned as they reached the hallway of the Mahoney house. “Thank fuck I don’t have to get up at the ass crack of dawn to wash dishes tomorrow.”

  “No, but you’ve got to get up at the ass crack of dawn to play drums for about ten hours,” Hendrix offered with a yawn as he looked down at his phone.

  Ethan shrugged knowing it would be hard and his muscles would ache beyond belief at the end of the day, but he got a little thrill thinking of playing music all day. He didn’t particularly want to follow in his dad’s footsteps and be in a band, but he couldn’t deny that sitting on that stool and setting the beat for everyone was exciting. Like his dad said, the drummer was the most important member of the band – not that anyone ever agreed.

  “Right,” he said and bumped fists with Rocco, Hendrix and Freddie before leaning forward to hug Eliza. “I’m going to get some z’s. See you fuckers in the morning.”

  “Don’t be late,” Eliza called as he let himself out through the front door.

  “I’ll call him,” Rocco said, grinning as a text came in on his phone—hopefully it was a girl he knew called Lucy who was usually up for a hook-up. “I’ll make sure he’s up.”

  “Yeah, and who needs to call you?” Eliza asked with a huff of breath.

  “I will.” Hendrix lifted his hand. “After I’ve pulled you out of bed. You going straight home?”

  Eliza glanced at Freddie, wondering whether to suggest they went for a quick drink, but he was looking down and zipping up his jacket.

  “Yeah probably, why?’

  “Tell Mum and Dad I’ll be home by eleven. I’m nipping to see Polly; she’s staying with Val for the weekend and we all know Val goes to bed at nine.”

  Eliza’s eyes widened. “Hen, you know you’re supposed to be home by ten.”

  “Yeah, well that gives me half an hour with my girlfriend and seeing as I probably won’t see her at all tomorrow, I want to spend some time with her tonight. They won’t mind, El, please.”

  Rolling her eyes, Eliza nodded and earned a quick kiss on the cheek from her brother.

  “Eleven and no later, otherwise Dad will throw a fit.”

  Hendrix grinned. “I know, I’ll be back, I promise.”

  She turned to Rocco who was texting someone. “See you in the morning.”

  “Yeah,” he said distractedly.

  Shaking her head, she led Freddie from the house, closing the door quietly behind her.

  “You okay?” he asked. “Not worried about tomorrow?”

  Eliza shrugged. “Can’t say as Rocco and Ethan fill me with confidence. It’s only for the fact that they’re not having to do their punishments that they’ve agreed to it, so I’m pretty sure they’ll use any excuse to dick about.”

  Freddie placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, enjoying the feel of her warm, smooth skin beneath his fingertips. If spending the day together had done anything it had proved to Freddie that he had to grow some balls and ask her on a date, before Rocco got his head out of arse and realised he liked her—although Freddie was a little concerned that he may have already seeing as he’d caught Rocco watching her a couple of times throughout the day.

  “I’ll help you to make sure they stay on track,” Freddie said. “Although I think they care about you too much to mess up.”

  “Thanks Freddie,” Eliza replied, giving him the sweetest of smiles. “I really appreciate it, and for you stepping in and doing this. I know it’s not your thing but it’s a huge opportunity for all of us even if we don’t want to be in a band.”

  “I know.” Freddie nodded once and cleared his throat. “It’s important to you, so it’s important to me.”

  Eliza’s breath hitched as Freddie took a step closer and he almost chickened out, but he knew this was his ideal opportunity.

  “So,” he said, licking his teeth to release his lip that was stuck to them. “I was wondering whether you’d like to go out with me one night?”

  Eliza was shocked at how fast her heart was beating. She hadn’t realised how much she wanted him to like her and asking her out on a date was the perfect end to a fantastic day.

  “I’d love to,” she said quickly and enthusiastically. “I really would.”

  Freddie let out a sigh of relief and rubbed his hands on his jacket. “Great, is next Friday okay? I know it’s a week away, but I’m guessing we’re going to be working our nuts off all week.”

  “Friday is perfect,” Eliza said quietly, already wondering what she was going to wear.

  “Now, shall I walk you home?” he asked, looking across to the Hughes house. “I know it’s not far, but it means I can do this.”

  He held his hand out and looked at Eliza with a small smile touching his lips. Grinning, she took it and felt her stomach swoop when Freddie linked their fingers together. She hoped that maybe he’d kiss her too, as long as her dad wasn’t waiting at the door.

  Chapter 22

  Gigi sighed heavily as she walked through the park, not noticing any of her surroundings, concentrating only on the flower that she was decimating between her fingers.

  To say that everything that had happened with Drayton had shaken her, was an understatement. It had left her scared and feeling vulnerable – not of the opposite sex particularly but scared that she was stupid and would always make the wrong decisions in life. She felt vulnerable because she thought she was strong and could cope with anything; evidently not.

  Her mum and the police had suggested some sort of counselling, but Gigi didn’t feel she needed it. She didn’t need a counsellor to tell her she’d been an idiot. Gigi had known about Drayton’s reputation, Eliza had warned her often enough, but she hadn’t listened and had found herself in one of the most terrifying situations ever and no amount of counselling would change that.

  “Ooof.”

  Gigi looked up to see Billy Devine standing in front of her, his hands holding onto her elbows.

  “Oh God, sorry,” she gasped. “I wasn’t looking where I was going.”

  Billy’s handsome face broke into a smile as he dropped his hands to his sides. He was breathing heavily; his black hair was tousled and there was a ring of sweat around the neck of his running vest.

  “You okay?” he asked, pulling out his earbuds. “I wasn’t watching where I was going either. I was too busy checking my time.” He pointed to his wrist.

  “Honestly, it was my fault.”

  Billy Devine was two years above Gigi at school and she’d been one of many girls who’d had a crush on him at one time or another. He was gorgeous and it was hard not to find him attractive. She’d heard he was now studying law at university, he wanted to follow in his dad’s footsteps as a solicitor.

  “As long as I didn’t hurt you,” Billy replied, his breathing starting to steady.

  “No, I’m fine. Just lost in my own little world.” Gigi laughed and looked down at the flower in her hand that now resembled a mangled mess. She dropped it onto the path and flashed Billy a smile.

  “I hear you’re at Uni now?”

  Billy nodded. “Yeah, just finished my first year. I’ve got a long way to go still, but it’ll be worth it in the end. You’re doing A-levels now, right?”

  Gigi was a little surprised that he’d have any comprehension of what she was doing. Yes, they knew each other from school and occasionally went to the same parties, but Rocco knew him better than she did.

  “Yes, and then I’m hoping to go to culinary school.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah.” Gigi shrugged and smiled. “I guess I want to follow in my mum’s footsteps like you do your dad’s.”

  “Not music then, like your dad?” Billy grinned and began jogging on the spot, starting to feel himself cool down, but he didn’t want to rush
off, he liked Gigi. He’d always thought her to be funny and sweet, not to mention hot, but she’d always seemed to be too young for him, now though that two-year age difference didn’t seem to be such a problem.

  “God no,” Gigi replied frowning. “Can’t think of anything worse.” She looked down at his legs moving up and down and realised he must have been getting cold. “You’d better get going, you’ll end up pulling a muscle or something.”

  Billy nodded. “Yeah, I should. I’ve still got another two miles to get back home.”

  “Great seeing you again,” Gigi offered, stepping to one side.

  “Yeah, you too.” He started to jog away when he realised that he was disappointed to be leaving her, so turned around and shouted out Gigi’s name.

  She stopped walking and turned to face him to see he was slowly running backwards. “You fancy going out for a coffee or something later?” Billy asked. “Catch up properly.”

  Gigi swallowed hard thinking back to Drayton and what his offer of a drink had entailed.

  She opened her mouth to decline the invitation, but Billy spoke again.

  “I hear the new café in town does amazing cakes too. My treat.”

  Gigi took a deep breath. This was Billy Devine, she had known him for years, he was friends with her brother, and he didn’t have a reputation for being a dick— okay, he had a reputation for having had lots of girlfriends, but she’d never heard any of them bad mouth him.

  “Yes, that would be great.”

  A huge grin appeared on Billy’s face. “Excellent. I’ll pick you up from yours. Say four?”

  Gigi nodded, wondering what her mum would say and also feeling glad that her papa would be working in the studio. She pushed the thoughts to one side and smiled at Billy and gave him a wave.

  “Look forward to it, see you then.”

  With that, Billy jogged away leaving Gigi feeling a little lighter than she had done in days.

  “Hen,” Eliza called as she pushed open his bedroom door. “Can I borrow your—”