Give Me Thunder, Give Me Lightning

[Kelli-wa]

And I will give you every part of me. Take me dancing, get me fucked up. Play that old guitar and we will sing

He was standing in his bedroom and staring at the bass on his bed which was lying right next to his suitcase he sighed. He really didn't want to leave. Not now. He was getting too close with Molly and Julian. He couldn't imagine leaving them by themselves all summer while he went on tour with his band. Sure it would be fun, but they wouldn't really be making much money. They were the opener for a band that wasn't too big to begin with. Sure, they'd get to see the country, but they'd be sleeping in a van for three months and if they did have enough money to get a hotel room, they wouldn't have any money to keep for themselves. When you say themselves, though, you mean the band. All of this money was going back into the band. He sighed as he looked back down at the bass guitar on his bed. This is what he loved, but he loved Molly more. He knew he did. As he let out a sigh and sat down on the bed, Jude came in. "What's taking you so long, man? We've got to go!"

Tad looked up at him and shook his head. "No, no, no, man! You cannot do this to me! I need you to pack up some clothes and get your ass in that van!" Tad just looked back down at the floor. "What if I'm gone too long, man? What if she finds someone else? I'll never be able to live with myself." Jude shook his head. "Shit man, I can't tell you the answer. I just need you to get your shit in the suitcase and get in the van. She'll be fine."
"But Julian won't... He won't understand..."
"Dammit, man, this is why we don't get into solid relationships. Because then when we finally get on a tour, our sappy bassist wipes out because the girl of his dreams has a kid and can't come on tour!"
"Shut up, Jude!" Axle said from behind him. "Get your ass outside. I'll take it from here."
Jude simply rolled his eyes and started out the door. "You had better get his ass in the van in fifteen minutes or I'm looking for another bassist."
Tad looked up at his best friend, tears swelling to the edges of his eyes. "I can't do it. I thought I could, but I can't. What if that creep comes... back?" he asked, his words slow to bubble to the surface. "What if he hurts Julian or kidnaps him?" He was shaking his head violently now, trying to erase the images. "What if someone who doesn't leave her comes along?"
Axle thought for a moment before he sat down on the bed next to him. "Alright." He let out a sigh and looked at the ground for just a moment before devising a plan.

He stood up and walked over to the dresser where the top drawer held something Tad had gotten a month before. He took it over to Tad and squatted down in front of him. "You need to use this."
Tad eyed the object in his best friend's hand and licked his lips. "What if it isn't the right time yet?" he asked. "What if it isn't the perfect moment she always imagined and she says no?"
Axle shook his head lightly. "If you wait for the perfect moment, you'll be waiting forever. There's never going to be a perfect enough time in your life. You have to take that chance."
Tad swallowed and nodded before taking it out of his hand and sliding it into his pocket where it had been the last three times he and Molly had gone out somewhere nice. He quickly packed his bag with shirts, a few pairs of cargo shorts and two different hats along with plenty of undergarments. He zipped it up and looked over at Axle. "I'll put these in the van. Take your motorcycle and I'll stall Jude as long as I can."
Tad nodded and shot out of the apartment and down to the lower level, getting quickly on his motorcycle, turning his hat around backward so the wind wouldn't catch it and he sped off past Jude and Ansley. Jude started yelling obscenities and Ansley just gave a curious look. The last thing Tad saw in his rear view was Axle trying to explain the plan to a very agitated Jude.

He got there in just minutes and he was at the front door ringing the bell over and over, hoping someone would come soon. If he had chosen any time, or any day to do what he was about to do, he wouldn't have chosen this moment. One, he was about to leave for the summer. Two, it was starting to rain. Three, he was wearing a t-shirt and shorts, with his usual flat bill cap. It didn't exactly scream romance, but he didn't have time to change his mind now. He was there, he was going to do it.

[Alisha]

Molly knew two things about that morning. One, she really needed to start working on her lesson plans, because they needed to be submitted to the school board at least a month in advance. In the fall, she would be beginning her teaching job at the local elementary school, teaching the third grade. Secondly, it was proving hard for her to focus on the task at hand. She was excited for the job, but her happiness was tainted. Molly had found herself just staring at her laptop screen multiple times, and was fighting the urge to go to the freezer and just shovel as much ice cream into her mouth as she could without throwing up, despite the fact that it was only nine in the morning.

She picked up her phone countless times, even pulled up the number a few times,but set it back on the couch next to her every time. She couldn't call. He was probably busy, off having the time of his life. He hadn't even been gone a day yet and she was already fighting the urge to hear his voice. She was proud of him, he was living the dream. His dream. She supported him fully, but it didn't mean that she wasn't going to miss him like crazy. Molly tried not to think about the groupies and crazy fangirls to keep herself from tearing out her hair. It was going to be a very long few months.

When the doorbell began to ring nonstop, it startled Molly out of her thoughts. Setting the laptop on the coffee table, she rose from the couch slowly. She walked to the door in her shorts and an oversized t-shirt, unconcerned with her appearance, all the while curious as to who was at the door, and why they were so urgently abusing her doorbell. "Jesus." She muttered, shaking her head. Molly pulled open the door, her eyes widening and her mouth dropping open slightly. "Hey," She finally said, "What are you doing here? I thought you were supposed to be on the road by now."

[Kelli-wa]

When he saw her his mouth dropped open as well. He couldn't speak for a few seconds, trying to find words to explain why he was here. He ran his tongue over his lips and took a huge breath. "Ah... Yeah. I, uh, couldn't leave yet. See, I have this thing for about a month and I haven't had the nerve to do it until right now. I don't know if it's the right time or if you're ready or if I'm ready--" he was rambling, all the while the rain was starting to pour down harder. "I kept thinking that you were going to find someone else while I was gone and he wasn't going to leave you and Julian the way I am and I can't compete with not leaving and I just... I don't know what I'd do if I lost you..." He knew he saying things that didn't need to be said and it was silly. He shook his head lightly and then looked up to her gaze. "Molly, I need you to know that I love you and that I'll always, ALWAYS be there for you." He swallowed hard and shook his head. Just do it. He looked down and fumbled with the small box in his pocket. He looked back up at her. "I want you to be my wife. If you'll have me." He opened the box and looked up at her. He didn't get down on his knee, because let's face it, it's cliche and that isn't a work that Tad wanted to be known for.

[Alisha]

Molly furrowed her brows with his silence, very close to asking him if everything was okay. After all, he was supposed to be gone by now, and he was rambling somewhat nonsense on her doorstep. She remained silent, letting him speak. Molly looked on confusedly, leaning against the doorframe. Molly wondered where exactly he was going with what he had to stay. He looked nervous. Why is he nervous? When began to speak about her moving on and finding someone new, she wanted to shake him. He wasn’t leaving them, well he was, but it wasn’t permanent, at least she hoped it wasn’t. She started speaking after he had stopped, her mind reeling. “How could you think that?” Molly said softly, “Julian and I aren’t going to go anywhere. We both lov-” She was stunned into silence as the words he had said hit her at full force. Oh my god… ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod. Her mouth dropped open and closed a few times. Say something, Molly! He’s getting soaked here. “W-What?” The simple word was all she managed to force out. She stepped a little closer to him, her hand reaching out to tentatively touch the ring he was holding. Molly looked from him to the ring and back, tears filling her eyes. He wants to marry me? “You want to marry me… ohmygod, You want to marry me.”

[Kelli-wa]

Tad let out a nervous chuckle at her sputtering. He didn't know what to say. Her reply wasn't really an answer and he couldnt really tell if her voice was happy or panicking. Maybe it was both. He licked his lips and watched her face, trying to figure it out so he wouldn't have to ask her, but it was too confusing a face that she was making. He realized that she probably hadn't been expecting it, they had only been together for not even a year. He just knew this is what he wanted and knew he couldn't leave without this. As soon as Axle walked over to that dresser be knew this is what he wanted. It had to come true. He'd already pissed Jude off, he had to have something to show for it. Hopefully that would be a fiancé and not a black eye. "Uhm... I'm sorry. I just thought I would ask before I went away. So you know I'm serious." He looked back down to the ground. "I--you can think about it if you want. I don't need an answer right away... It's kind of sudden..." He was mumbling by now, trying to save face if she were to turn him down. He hadn't foreseen what would happen if she said no.

[Alisha]

Molly knew that she had to say something, that she couldn’t just leave him hanging with her silence, but anything and everything she wanted, needed, to say would not detangle itself in her brain in order to form an understandable sentence. In order words, the girl was freaking out. One minute, she was trying her hardest to push him out of her mind so she could get some work done, and the next he was on her doorstep with a very beautiful rind, the nerves rolling off of him like waves. She didn’t care that she was quickly on her way to becoming soaked in the out-of-character California rain. Molly bit her lip, watching him with uncertain eyes. She cleared her throat. “You’re sure about this?” She said, “I mean, if you’re just worried about me moving on while you’re gone- I can tell you right now that’s not going to happen. I’m the one who should be worried, you’re going to be off doing what you love, and there’s going to be girls everywhere.” She paused, shaking her head, “I don’t need a ring to tell me that you are serious. I don’t need to think about it, I just want to make sure you’ve thought about it. This is a big commitment, I’ve got Julian. I mean- Is that something you want? A kid is a lot to handle…”

[Kelli-wa]

Tad let out a laugh as she asked if it was something he wanted. He listened to her, though, shaking his head knowing that he could never want any of the girls on this tour as much as he wanted her. Not even for a second. He shook his head lightly and looked into her eyes. "Molly, I have wanted this since the moment you stepped into that garage." Maybe he was exaggerating a little but not by much. He'd known he had felt something for her and he'd been seriously thinking about this decision for weeks. "You know I love Julian, that's not even a question in my mind. I want to be his father and I want to be your husband. I want to be the person who protects you from every bad thing that could ever happen." He shook his head again and took her cheek in his free hand. "Please let me do it. Please." He didn't know what else to say to her now. He'd poured everything in his heart out except for the last thing and it was about to come out. "You don't need the ring to know I'm serious, I need it. I need you."

[Alisha]

She let out a small watery chuckle, “I think that’s a bit of an embellishment.” She said, “I’m pretty sure when you first met me you wanted to get into my pants but figured I was married.” Before she knew it, a tear was rolling down her cheek as she listened to the words he was saying. As spontaneous and rushed as the whole thing was, Molly could never think of denying him. Never in a million years would she dream of it. It didn’t matter to her that it hadn’t even been a year yet. She looked down at the ring nestled in the box with blurred vision, blinking tears away and wiping her cheek with the tips of her fingers. When he cupped her cheek, she covered his hand with her own, finally looking back up at him. She nodded silently, a large smile spreading across her face. “Yes.” She choked out, “Yes, yes, yes.” Molly reached up on her toes to press a warm kiss to his lips, pressing a hand against his chest to gain leverage. She pulled away to let out a happy laugh that was bubbling to the surface. “I love you so much.”

[Kelli-wa]

Tad let a bright grin appear on his face when she said yes, and then again, three times over. He took the kiss letting the hand on her cheek move to the nape of her neck before she pulled away. He grinned at her and let his forehead rest against hers for a moment, kissing her on the nose before pulling his face away from hers. "Give me your hand," he said, plucking the ring from the box and shoved the box into his pocket. He slid the ring onto her finger gently and then let his fingers twine together with hers. "I love you. So much." He kissed her again, but heard a horn blaring behind him. He pulled out of the kiss and turned his head around to look. Jude was still aggravated, it looked like, but Axle was in the driver's seat. Tad just smirked and held up their hands, showing them that she had the ring on her finger before he turned back around to her. "I wish I could stay..."

[Alisha]

She didn’t know why her hand was shaking so much, maybe it was nerves, or maybe it was excitement. It was just a ring, but that ring meant so much more than just a pretty accessory. That ring meant that she was engaged. That ring meant she was engaged to him. That she was his. She had already belonged to him in all the ways that mattered, but now that it was made official, she was overcome with emotion. As Tad slid the ring onto her finger, she held up her left hand. She gladly accepted his kiss, but her mood dropped at the sound of the blaring horn. Molly knew he had to go and hated that he was leaving, but put on a brave face. She could never ask him to stay. She smiled up at him. “I know, so do I.” She said, reaching up hug him tightly. “But you have to go. I’ll be waiting for you when you come back, I promise. Go, live your dream.”

[Kelli-wa]

Tad grinned as he watched her examining the ring, glad that she was happy. It meant so much that he could make her that happy. He wanted to stay so badly, but he couldn't bail on them. If she asked him to, though, he would have stayed in an instant. He knew that she would never ask that of him, though which was one of the reasons she loved him. He kissed her cheek lightly and gave her a sad smile, but it was full of hope, "Who knows. Maybe when we come back we'll be rockstars," he said. "And I can get us a house with a nice fenced in back yard for Julian to play in as much as his heart desires. I promise I'll call you every day." He then looked her straight in the eyes and grinned, "And I get to brag to all the other guys on the tour about how amazing my fiance is." He then gave her another kiss on the mouth. Deep and pure, full of love. He stayed there for a few moments before he pulled away. "Tell Julian I'll bring him something back and that I love him." He kissed her on the cheek once more and smiled, "I love you." With those last words, he turned away from her and started running toward the van, getting even more soaked than he already was.

[Alisha]

Molly really wanted to hit herself for crying, she’d done enough of that the night before when they hd first said their goodbyes. With how many tears she had shed during the night, she hadn’t thought that she’d had any left to cry. But, these years weren’t all bad. Sure, she was sad that he was leaving, but his reasons for leaving made her so happy. Even though she wouldn’t be seeing him for a few months, she had confidence in him, and the band as well. She knew they would do great. “That sounds perfect.” She said in reply, we’ll aware that their time was fading fast. She didn’t need a house, but if that was what he wanted to give her, she would let him. Molly grinned when she heard that word leave his mouth. “I love the way that sounds.” It pained her to know that when he kissed her then, it would most likely be their last for what she knew would feel like forever. “I will, and you better call me every day. If you don’t, I might have to go and hunt you down.” Molly teased him. She swallowed as he started to jog away from her. “I love you too! Be safe, and have fun!” She called after him, watching with a huge smile. Molly stood on that porch, watching as they drove away, and even long after they had disappeared from sight.

[Kelli-wa]

Tad smiled back in her direction as she called after him, but once he hit the van, his smile faded. The realization that they were driving away from her hit him hard and he couldn't help but be upset. He looked over to the rest of his band and he began to feel a bit selfish. However, Jude was the only one he'd angered with the whole thing. Ansley smiled at him lightly, "So I suppose she said yes, then?" she asked gently. Tad nodded and then let himself chuckle. "I left my bike in the driveway..." Axle smirked into the rear view mirror. "You also left the key in the ignition. Someone can move it if they have to."
Tad nodded lightly and licked his lips. He was really excited about his decision, but it was going to be a rough three months. He hoped she could start doing whatever she needed to do. He wasn't sure when she wanted to get married, but he was sure he'd find out soon enough. He just wished he could have asked Julian if it was alright with him before he asked her, he just never had the chance.