Two Vibrant Hearts

**Morgan's POV**

Matt looks really upset and I wonder if it's because I told him I didn't want to come watch his band practice....he's never done anything wrong to me and I know deep down I can't avoid Brian forever, so I reluctantly tell him that I'll come.

"Are you sure? I don't want to pressure you or make you uncomfortable in any way." he says in a sincere tone and I know that he's trying to protect me.

"It's ok...I'm not going to be able to avoid him forever so I might as well bite the bullet before the situation gets even more awkward." I half heartily chuckle and he pulls me back in for a hug.

"Val is coming too...if you want you can just hang by her and she will protect you...she may look sweet but she can be vicious when she needs to" he beams with admiration for his girlfriend....he's totally in love and it's super sweet to witness.

'Oh shit...if Val is coming does that mean Michelle will be here too?' I blanch at my though and Matt notices right away.

"Relax, Michelle isn't coming...she had other plans" he assures me and I wonder if I'm really that easy to read...hmm, I can't dwell on that for too long or I'll be a paranoid mess.

He opens the garage door for me and I can see the guys all working to set their gear up...nobody really notices me except for a kid who looks closer to my age that I've never seen before. He smiles kindly at me and I nod my head at him in return.

"Who's that?" I whisper to Matt while motioning towards the new kid.

"Oh, that's one of Jimmy's friends younger brothers....I think he said his name was Johnny....I don't really know but he can play bass and we are missing a bass guitarist right now." he chuckles kind of loudly and everyone turns to face us. Damn Matt...don't you know your deep voice carries though a room?!

Johnny and Zacky smile, Brian looks horrified ..that's wonderful .. and Jimmy looks pissed off. 'I seriously hope it's at Matt for some reason and not at me' I think to myself and frown.

Jimmy walks over and picks me up while nuzzling the side of my neck with his nose. I can't help but giggle because it tickles...Brian goes from shocked to pissed off the minute the giggle escapes my throat and my heart skips a beat. Is he jealous?

I playfully swat at Jimmy until he puts me back down and see Brian give a deep sigh of relief...hmmm, his lips are parted in a very seductive way that sets my cheeks ablaze. Jimmy looks down at me and I quickly turn my eyes from Brian and bury my face into the side of his chest so he won't see how fluttered I am.

"Hey there.." he says and pulls my body towards him as Val enters the garage and breaks the growing tension. Jimmy glances up at her and she smiles sweetly back at him before heading over and placing a quick kiss on Matt's lips.

"Jeez Jim Jam, let the girl breath" Val says and pulls me away from Jimmy's embrace and he mock pouts at the loss of contact causing me to giggle yet again.

Brian un-expectantly strums his guitar loudly and I gasp because it actually startles me. Jimmy glares at him and Brian returns the same cold glare right back. Matt clears his throat and everyone gets settled down before fists start flying.

"Is it always like this?" I whisper to Val and she laughs and tells me no. That's great...so they are acting like this because of me?!

Practice starts and they do a couple cover songs of Metallica, Pantera and Guns N' Roses...holy shit, they sound even better from inside the garage! Matt is an incredible vocalist, Zacky and Brian are amazing on guitar, Johnny is doing fantastic on bass even though this is his first time playing with them, and Jimmy...I can't describe in words how talented his is on the drums. I savor every moment because I know deep in my soul that I am witnessing the birth of something huge.

Val is grinning like crazy and I'm surprised to find myself mirroring her ear to ear smile.
"Play something original!!!" she begs and Matt motions to her to hold on while they huddle around Johnny and discuss the melody he has to play. I'm so excited to hear their own songs that I'm almost dancing in my seat.

I look up and see Brian smiling at me and my cheeks flush bright red. I drop my head down because I can't look at him without thinking that he caught me walking around almost naked less than a few hours ago.

Val notices and nudges me in the side, "What's got you all hot and bothered?" she teases and I realize that this subject isn't helping my flushed expression.

"Oh, it's nothing" I lie and pray that she drops the subject...but of course, I'm not that lucky.

"Come on, you can tell me...I won't say anything to the guys I promise." she begs but I just stare down at my shoes, "Alright....I assume that means I will have to guess. Ummm...let me see...you have a major crush on one of them?" she says and I gulp loudly...damn you traitorous body. "Ha...please at least tell me it's not Matt" she teases and I shake my head no. "Ok let me guess...it's J..." she starts but I cut her off.

"It's Brian." I mumble out and watch her face drop...crap, I forgot her twin sister used to date him. She probably going to tell her and I'm going to get my ass kicked now.

"Oh....um..." she says and my heart sinks...even she thinks he's way out of my league. I sigh deeply and she lifts my chin to look her in the eyes. "Brian's a great guy...he's really funny and sweet...but.... be careful.." she warns and I'm not sure if it's for my benefit or Michelle's. "..he's kind of a player so don't let him use you if it gets to that point." she says softly and wraps her arm over my shoulder while glancing up at Brian.

He gives her a strange look that I can barely make out through my lashes and I shift only my eyes towards Val and watch as she gives him a stern look. I'm totally confused....is she warning him to stay away from me, or me away from him? Hopefully, she just warning him not to hurt me. She said he's a player and I ponder if that really what I should be chasing after.... I internally groan in frustration.

The guys all shift back to their spots and begin playing an one of their original songs as I get lost in the lyrics and melodies.

"'I'll try,' she said as he walked away.
'Try not to lose you.'
Two vibrant hearts could change.
Nothin' tears the being more than deception,
Unmasked fear.
I'll be here waiting, tested but secure.

Nothing hurts my world,
Just affects the ones around me.
When sin's deep in my blood,
You'll be the one to fall!

'I wish I could be the one,
The one who won't care at all.
But being the one on the stand,
I know the way to go, No one's guiding me.

When time soaked with blood turns it's back,
I know it's hard to fall.
Confided in me was your heart,
I know it's hurting you...but it's killing me'

Nothing will last in this life,
Our time is spent constructing,
Now you're perfecting a world... meant to sin,
Constrict your hands around me,
Squeeze till I cannot breathe,
This air tastes dead inside me,
Contribute to our plague.

Break all your promises,
Tear down this steadfast wall,
Restraints are useless here,
Tasting salvation's near!

Nothing hurts my world,
Just affects the ones around me,
When sin's deep in my blood,
You'll be the one to fall!

'I wish I could be the one,
The one who won't care at all,
But being the one on the stand,
I know the way to go,
No one's guiding me,
When time soaked with blood turns it's back,
I know it's hard to fall,
Confided in me was your heart,
I know it's hurting you... but it's killing me'.."

Val is screaming along with the song and I'm awestruck...for a tiny girl she can really belt it out!

"Oh my..." I whisper out as the last few cords resonate in my head. They are incredible!!!!

They all begin to pack up their stuff and Matt walks over to Johnny, "You did pretty awesome kid, feel free to come over and play with us any time" he says with a smile and I watch the excitement dance in his eyes.

I make my way towards the exit when suddenly I'm grabbed by the wrist, spun around and press against the wall, in one swift motion that almost has my knees buckling.

Brian cages me in with his arms and I can feel my breathing becoming erratic. Ugh, why does he have this effect on me?! "Can we talk?" he whispers softly and I can't seem to find my voice so I just nod my head.

He tugs me by the arm outside so nobody can hear our conversation and pins me against the side of the house. Excitement courses through my veins and I'm panicking slightly under his intense stare. He lowers his face closer to mind and I can't help but take a deep intake of air and inhale his sexy scent.

"I'm sorry about before...I swear I wasn't trying to be a peeping tom, but I was just curious to see who had moved in next door...I really hope I didn't embarrass you" he whispers out in a deep voice that runs shivers down my spine.

"Thank you for apologizing...I was embarrassed but I should have been paying attention to were I was standing. My old neighborhood didn't have house quite this close together" I say with a slight joking tone in hopes of breaking the tension building between us but Brian is still staring at me. "Umm...so you were amazing in there...you're quite skilled on the guitar" I say in an attempt to change the subject away from him catching me half naked.

"The guitar isn't the only thing I'm skilled at" he whispers seductively and moves closer to my face like he's going to kiss me.

I feel like I'm about to moan when Val's warning comes rushing back and the moan turns into a unintended scoff. He looks up and cocks and eyebrow at me.

Oh shit...time to play hard to get.

**Brian's POV**

Is she laughing at me? I quirk and eyebrow at her and she drops her eyes away from mine. "Did I say something funny?" I ask in a semi-hurt tone.

She glares back up at me and scowls, "Should I talk to Michelle about your skills or maybe one of your other part-time playthings?"

What in the fuck?! I'm honestly pissed off that my friends are running around behind my back warning her to stay away from me...don't they get that people make mistakes and they shouldn't be held against them forever.

"So was it Matt or Jimmy that is trying to warn you away from me?" I snip back at her but she just looks amused.

"It was Val actually" she remarks and I'm completely floored....I really hope Michelle didn't put her up to this as payback for before.

I lower my lips to the outside shell of her ear and feel her tremble slightly beneath me, "Morgan, please give me a chance to show you I'm not that guy that she is warning you about." I say softly and ghost my lips lightly against her flesh.

A slight moan escapes her lips and a small triumphant grin forms on mine. 'It's so hot when she moans because of me' I think to myself and feel my jeans get painfully tighter.

"Why should I?" she mumbles out breathlessly as I trace my calloused fingers across her lower back.

"Because....I promise I can make you happy" I reply confidently and she arches towards me as my fingers dip slightly below the waistband of her jeans.

"Morgan, it's time to come home!!" her mom screams from their front porch and I sigh and reluctantly pull away from her.

Her breathing is rapid and her face is flushed...I so badly want to kiss goodnight her but I know her mom will beat me bloody if I do. I tilt her eyes up to meet mine and smile sweetly at her. "Would you want to hang out after school tomorrow?" I ask and hold my breath while waiting for her answer.

"I....um.....I....I probably shouldn't" she stutters out and my heart sinks, "but...." she says in a steadier voice that has my heart jumping back to life, "..I'll come over....as long as you keep your hands to yourself....I don't know if I can trust you yet."

I lean forward and give her a chaste kiss on the cheek and tell her I'll talk to her more at school tomorrow. She blushes again and I have to fight the urge to turn and press her back against the building and show her how flushed I could really make her. Sadly, I think that would mortify her mother and would definitely get me banned from seeing her again.

I yell into Matt that I'll grab my stuff tomorrow and slide into the driver's seat of my car. I am going to have a hard time keeping my hands to myself tomorrow but grin slightly at my next thought....'I never promised to keep my lips to myself though' I think as I put the car in drive and head home.

Oh, tomorrow can't come fast enough!

Notes

sooooooo close!!!!! I'm sorry to tease you all for a while longer

Lyrics from Unholy Confessions by A7X (of course)

yay, Johnny is accepted into the band :D

Do you think Val is being sincere or do you think Michelle told her to say something to Morgan?