Kady's POV

"You really want me to wear this?" I gapped, staring at my reflection in the dressing room mirror. We had been at the venue for hours now and Ryn had imprisoned me in the stupid room. She was relentless with the flat iron, the make-up, and oh my go the fucking clothes. I think I tired on like eight different outfits before she was satisfied, though I felt extremely uncomfortable.

I carefully reached up my hair that had been flat ironed and lightly curled at the ends. I looked like a fucking model in one of those magazines, but that wasn’t even all of it. My face was lined with heavy makeup that made all of my features pop, particularly my eyes. The blues was so bright I could have sworn that Ryn gave me contacts to enhance the color.

As my eyes wandered away from my face and down my body, I gasped. I could see my every curve in the skintight black leather pants, a clinging cleavage exposing purple shirt, and a sleeveless leather jacket. Purple pointed toe stilettos completed the whole outfit.

"Of course," Ryn said coming into the room behind me and fluffing my hair. "What's the matter, not ready to be what every man thinks about when he goes home to his wife tonight?"

"I look like a prostitute!" I hissed, motioning to my reflection in the mirror. "There is no way Caleb and the guys are going to let me go on stage like this!"

Ryn threw her head back with a laugh, totally catching me off guard. "Maybe not but he may wish you weren't his sister when he sees you!"

"Don't be gross," I cringed. Yuck, I never wanted to think of my brother in that light.

"Sorry, you brought that on yourself," she giggled, fixing her hair and makeup. "And you definitely don't look like a prostitute. I've seen them and you have on way more clothing, expensive clothing, and lack wrinkles and some sort of drug addiction."

Yeah that's all I was missing. Maybe I'd take up some kind of drug if this didn't go over well. The last thing I wanted was for Caleb and the guys to nag me about how I looked. I tugged at the jacket, trying to cover the little bit of my mid drift that was exposed.

"Don't touch," Ryn said, slapping my hand away. "You'll stretch the leather. Now I personally want to be there when Brian sees you!" Ryn wagged her eyebrows at me and slapped my ass. What the hell was that about?

"Why are you so convinced there is something between us?" I snapped back, turning to look at her. I was really getting sick of her constant teasing about Brian. That was my issue to deal with, not hers!

Ryn smiled me with a small sad smile. She took a step towards me and then turned me back around to the mirror. "Because I saw the way he looked at you when you got on the bus... It’s same look he had with his ex when I first met them... and when your drunk, you lose all inhibitions and you deepest desires come out," she whispered in my ear. "So if you were trying to hook up last night when you were drunk, your gut is telling you that you want him. So just cut the crap reason why you can't and go for it."

As I opened my mouth to reply a loud knock sounded at the door. "My life is over," I sighed, sitting down and putting my head in my hands. How could I face my friends looking like this? There is no way they would approve.

"Stop being dramatic, Kady and embrace the new you. Your new photographer is here to get some shots of the band before, after, and during your show. She is taking them for Revolver!" Ryn sang.

Oh dear god, all I wanted to do right now was hide under the bed. What had I signed up for again? I just had to remember I was here for the music and not the other stuff. It was then that I heard a familiar voice from the door.

"Where is she? What’s taking you guys so long? Caleb is starting to wig out!"

"You're not supposed to be here," Ryn said as I picked up my head to see Marley standing in the door. "Though I do have to admit you look damn good in the clothes I picked out for you. Now go down the hall for the photo shoot and we will meet you there in a few minutes."

"Just give me a minute," Marley said as he pushed past Ryn. However, he stopped as soon as our eyes found me. "Whoa..." I bit my lip as his eye moved up and down over my body, taking in my new look. Here it comes; the slap in the face that I knew was coming...

"Kady... you look... wow," Marley gapped taking a step towards me.

"See, what did I tell you," Ryn laughed. "She looks hot!"

"Ryn will you excuse us for a minute?" Marley asked, meeting my eyes. There was something hiding in his gentle blues that I had never seen before. Was something wrong? "We will meet you down the hall. I promise!" He turned to look at her and flashed his charming smile at her. "Besides, I believe Zack wanted to tell you something."

"I bet he does," Ryn laughed as she headed out the door.

Once the door shut, Marley kneeled down in front of me taking my face in his hands. His dark blue eyes stared into mine as if he was trying to read my thoughts. He furred his brow as he looked at me but I couldn’t pull away—his touch was just so comforting. I placed my small hand on top of his and closed my eyes.

"How bad is it?" I muttered, afraid to hear the answer. I slowly opened my eyes to see him smiling and shaking his head at me.

"You have no idea how fucking hot you look, do you? Kay you are honestly the most beautiful women I have ever seen... but right now… Damn I can't even form a coherent thought...." Marley stammered as he squeezed my hand. I felt my face flush with his words as I averted my eyes.

"You don't look half bad yourself," I chuckled, motioning to his new ensemble. He wore ripped skinny jeans, green converse, a white slim fit tank, and a sleeveless leather jacket. His hair was jelled and his messy curls were pushed over to one side in an attractive hairstyle. In addition, he wore just a light line of eyeliner around his eyes. "Too bad you've still got two more weeks of our bet!"

Marley laughed and pulled me into a hug. "Yeah, and from what Cal said, you're lucky he stopped you from losing two grand!" He joked but I could see in his eyes that something was bothering him. What was up with him lately?

"Yeah, you wish," I said, meeting his sad eyes again. "What?"

Marley sighed and pulled away from me and started to pace the room. Damn this was never a good sign. Marley only paced when he was trying to figure out his words before he spoke. However, I was caught off guard when his hands were suddenly on my face and neck pulling me in for a kiss.

Marley's lips eagerly pressed against mine and I felt lips slowly respond to him. He came on strong and his lips eagerly worked against mine. Marley's hands moved up into my hair as he tried to intensify the kiss.

It was nothing like my kiss with Brian, it was needy and hungry, but all from Marley's side. I was stunned as he pulled away, unsure of what I felt, what just happened, or what his expectations were. Sure it was a good kiss, but Marley was supposed to be my best friend not a boyfriend. My head was spinning and I was even more confused than ever.

"Come on let's go!" Ryn's voice yelled. "Eli is getting pissed!"

I numbly stumbled down the hall, lost in a dazed state of confusion. I didn't even notice my brother’s or Gunnar's comments about my new look. I just did what I was told as the flashes erupted around me. All I wanted was a drink and time to myself to figure out this mess.

Brian's POV

"Well I'll be damned! It's fucking Elinor Reaghan!" Matt yelled, standing up from the table. The rest of the guys jumped up and walked over to talk to the tall, thin, heavy tattooed photographer.

We had met Eli a few years ago when we were on tour. She was our first photographer and long-standing friend. Hell, she even dated Matt before he became involved with Val. They were inseparable at the time and it was their break up that lost us the best photographer we ever had. They all seemed happy to see her.

Me, I didn't care too much. I was still pissed about being rejected earlier and I had no idea why. 'Sorry...I can't do this?' Who the hell kissed the way she did and then says that? Fuck. The worst part is she left me all worked up and in the mood for a challenge. I couldn't get her out of my head, which was saying something for me!

"So are you guys busy?" Eli asked, her eyes landing on my heavily made up face. "Brian, you don't look too hot, buddy."

"Nice to see you too, Eli," I said, turning away and picking up the unfinished set list.

"Nah, not busy," Matt said, his eyes raking over her body. "Take a seat and have a beer." I rolled my eyes. We didn't have time for this! We were going on stage in an hour and we still hadn't finished the set list for the pyro cues guy, let alone ourselves.

"Thanks," she said, taking a seat next to Jimmy and Matt.

"Yeah, no worries. We were just working on tonight's set list that isn't finished yet. Not to mention we go on in an hour," I said in a highly sarcastic tone. "Don't worry I'll do it!"

"Gates calm the fuck down," Matt hissed. "We'll get to it."

Whatever. I stood up from my place on the couch and moved over to the other side of the room and set to work. Someone had to make sure we didn't look like idiots on the stage. Just wait, Matt would have something to say about my song selection like he always did. Bet Kady doesn't have this problem. Damn it! There she was in my fucking head again...

"Yeah, I was just taking some shots of Fatal Facade for the cover of Revolver. They've got a great sound but their lead singer chick seemed really out of it. Is she always that drugged?" Eli said, pulling me again from my thoughts. I watched as she took a long drag of her cigarette. What did she mean Kady looked drugged? Was that even possible for little Red?

"No, I don't think she's into that," Jimmy said, looking over to me. What? How the hell was I the Kady expert? They didn't even know she was stuck in my head. Was I that fucking obvious?

"I wouldn't be surprised, knowing her douchebag brother," Zack chimed in.

I couldn't take it anymore; I took the set list and headed into the hallway. As I made my way down the corridor, I took my smokes out of my pocket and lit one up. It was then that I saw Kady's face plastered on the big screen at the end of the hall, screaming her guts out. There was no denying she was good, but something was off with her tonight.

As I stood watching the conclusion of their show, she downed multiple beers and threw the cans into the screaming crowd. She looked different and I wasn't talking about the tight leather clothing that revealed her every curve. She looked so fucking hot but something about her eyes was different. A disconnect maybe?

It was then that she kicked over her mic stand and headed off stage at the end of the song. Moments later I heard heels running down the hallway.

Notes

And the drama builds! Marley kissed Kady, Ryn's changing her whole look, and Brian can't get the girl off his mind. Sounds like fun huh? What are they in for next?