Afterwards: An "After" Fanfiction

Chapter 12 & Tessa's Diary: Part 3 - "Hey Angel (Part 2)"

"What a nutcase." Hardin shook his head with a chuckle. "Sweet girl, though. Landon met her when she was hosting some weird Japanese art event and they just hit it off I guess."

I nodded, letting the subject go for the time being. "What exactly are you?" I examined his get-up, now only noticing how strange it was that his costume only consisted of mismatched teeth and a devil headband.

"Satan, of course." Hardin said proudly.

"Satan doesn't have fangs."

"Yes he does."

"I beg to differ." I played with one of the feathers that had fallen off of my wing, and he flicked my halo. "Those teeth look ridiculous."

Hardin bared them for me playfully. "I'll show you how ridiculous they are." He flicked his tongue lewdly between them, and it made me laugh.

"Fine. I dare you." I challenged, but he seemed to be focused on our friends on the other side of the yard. 

We watched Nora, Landon, and the rest of the band regroup in the distance, and the whole conversation refused to leave my mind. "Hey," I gently kicked the side of Hardin's black boot with my heel. "Did Zed ever do anything...you know, drug related?"

Hardin wrinkled his nose. If he wasn't already drunk, my question might have hit differently. "You want drugs?" He asked, cupping a hand to his ear as the music blasted. "I saw Steph doing some blow in the bathroom earlier, you wanna join?"

"No!" I threw up my hands, making my way towards the huge crowd that was gathering by the garage. "Just forget it. I just want you to promise me you won't get involved in that world."

Though he was tipsy, Hardin understood my serious tone and agreed.

Not too long after, the boys played a set for the whole neighborhood to hear. Every single person at the party was singing along to most of the songs, and everyone was dancing shamelessly. Even Steph risked running into Jackson Miller to spin around in the crowd with me to a few songs. One Direction was definitely the highlight of the party, but it was Hardin's ability to be both brooding and alluring at the same time while shredding guitar that had me hooked.

Although I had sobered up by the end of their set, Steph had taken a turn for the drunker. During the last song, as the whole crowd jumped and cheered, Steph managed to punch me right under my eye.

"Oh my God Tess!" She shouted above the noise. "I was trying to mosh. So, so sorry." She gurgled an apology before doing another bump of coke and slinking off. Though I'd shared my discomfort with Hardin about the substance, I felt somewhat reserved about telling my good friend. She was a mess at parties, but at least I knew she was under control for the most part. Not like Hardin, who had a history of overdosing. That was different.

I fought tears as I assured her I was alright. The bones in my left cheek were throbbing, and when the band stopped playing, I tried to find some ice.

Hardin and the boys came back towards me after conversing with some fans, and I could already tell where their minds were headed. "Free weed in Jerry's room!" Zed winked at his bandmates. "You lads in?"

"Where's Steph?" I asked, searching the dispersing crowd.

"Oh, she's already in Jerry's room." Logan laughed. "I think your brother and his girlfriend left too, Hardin. So no worries about him reporting you to the parents."

Nate put a hand on Hardin's shoulder, and I silently pleaded with him to give good advice. "Why don't you catch up with us later?" Nate suggested, and I breathed a sigh of relief.