The morning sun filtered through the studio, casting golden light across the instruments scattered around. Luke, Alex, and Reggie huddled in the kitchen, whispering while Roxy slept soundly on the couch.
195Please respect copyright.PENANAB5RQjRLwSK
“We need to get her some essentials,” Luke said, running a hand through his hair. “Clothes, shoes, toiletries, and, uh… other stuff.”
195Please respect copyright.PENANAVgt9OMzGHd
“Other stuff?” Reggie asked, blinking in confusion.
195Please respect copyright.PENANAeFsYj7EtJh
Alex sighed. “You know—girl stuff. Period products, skincare, whatever else.” He glanced nervously at Luke. “Do we even know where to start with that?”
195Please respect copyright.PENANAxeDtlJofyz
Luke shrugged. “We’ll figure it out. But first, clothes. She can’t keep wearing our old band shirts.”
195Please respect copyright.PENANArbB2Nb4UGx
Reggie scratched his head. “Okay, but how do we know her size? Like... for real?”
195Please respect copyright.PENANAZiBVHfwOKR
Luke leaned back, looking almost smug. “I checked her clothes last night when she left them folded on the chair. Tops are small, jeans are size 26.”
195Please respect copyright.PENANAH8KtyDltpl
Alex blinked. “You just… checked her tags? That’s kind of weird, man.”
195Please respect copyright.PENANAQb4DWUcP8g
“Not weird,” Luke countered. “Smart. Otherwise, we’d have no idea.”
195Please respect copyright.PENANAGIXAfIe1q7
Reggie tilted his head. “Yeah, but what about underwear? That has a size too, right?”
195Please respect copyright.PENANATnWdrPaFdh
Luke hesitated, his cheeks flushing slightly. “I might’ve, uh, noticed her laundry in the basket by the couch.”
195Please respect copyright.PENANA0FaFMiQmnP
Alex stared at him, half-amused, half-shocked. “You are way too observant sometimes, dude.”
195Please respect copyright.PENANApTpwXnjuZo
“It’s not like I was snooping!” Luke defended. “I just want to make sure we get the right stuff for her. She deserves that.”
195Please respect copyright.PENANAfVHWDvg5cA
Reggie nodded slowly. “Okay, yeah, fair. Let’s just hope we don’t totally mess this up.”
195Please respect copyright.PENANAVfygExaw3D
---
195Please respect copyright.PENANApDc9HavL0b
At the thrift store, Luke quickly gravitated to the racks of Y2K-inspired clothing. He grabbed a cherry-print crop top and a pair of flared jeans, holding them up proudly.
195Please respect copyright.PENANAlDkMRJ9iNP
“Think she’ll like these?”
195Please respect copyright.PENANArg5Fvt6tfS
Alex nodded, pulling out a metallic silver jacket. “Definitely her style. What about shoes?”
195Please respect copyright.PENANAiaj4w5nTYy
Luke grabbed a pair of platform sneakers from the display. “Size six. I checked.”
195Please respect copyright.PENANAF73QbDDYIL
“You’re on fire today,” Alex muttered.
195Please respect copyright.PENANAOrVdybDctz
Reggie wandered over, distracted by a rack of hats. “What about this one? It’s got flames on it!”
195Please respect copyright.PENANAzvQ4tIl992
Luke sighed, dragging Reggie back to focus. “Stay with me, man. We’ve got a list to finish.”
195Please respect copyright.PENANAr9LfWmRgub
---
195Please respect copyright.PENANA81S6gSarEl
Their next stop was a department store. The boys shuffled awkwardly through the aisles of toiletries and feminine hygiene products, earning more than a few curious glances from shoppers.
195Please respect copyright.PENANAcuIZAga5gK
“Okay,” Alex said, picking up a pack of pads. “These seem… normal? Right?”
195Please respect copyright.PENANAZ0M9peVmjh
Luke held up a box of tampons. “What if she uses these? We should get both.”
195Please respect copyright.PENANAsgvUlhBTG6
Reggie blinked at the overwhelming number of options. “Why are there so many kinds? Like, wings? No wings? Heavy flow? What does any of this mean?”
195Please respect copyright.PENANAUllazcBUUG
“Just grab one of each,” Alex muttered, tossing items into the cart.
195Please respect copyright.PENANAcXbOTMTIVv
They moved on to toiletries, adding shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, and body wash. Luke grabbed a pack of hair ties and a cherry-print makeup bag for good measure.
195Please respect copyright.PENANAy0YKFqtSar
When they reached the lingerie section, Luke quickly picked out a pack of underwear in Roxy’s size, his face turning red. Alex added socks and sports bras to the cart, while Reggie stood frozen, looking like he wanted the floor to swallow him.
195Please respect copyright.PENANAnXnFi7RhLJ
Luke hesitated in front of the bras, frowning. “She told me once she struggles to find bras that fit right. Something about being between sizes—32B or 34B, depending on the brand.”
195Please respect copyright.PENANAwGunHffy7I
Alex stared at him. “When did she tell you that?”
195Please respect copyright.PENANAjfWVqLnJpP
“Last week,” Luke said, adjusting the straps on one of the bras he picked up. “She was complaining about the straps being too loose or too tight. Figured I’d better remember.”
195Please respect copyright.PENANAXVKV7XOihV
“You’re adjusting the straps now?” Alex asked, half-laughing.
195Please respect copyright.PENANAyRfhBGEbK8
Luke shot him a look. “I want to make sure it works, okay? And we should get a strapless one too, just in case she ever needs it.”
195Please respect copyright.PENANA6VGBVxXNaa
Reggie, holding up a strapless bra, grinned. “Already ahead of you. But I’m never coming back to this section.”
195Please respect copyright.PENANANow1WLcz7S
---
195Please respect copyright.PENANAIAG2TXojvP
Back at the studio, Roxy was sitting on the couch, strumming Luke’s guitar absently. She looked up as they walked in, her eyes widening at the sight of all the bags.
195Please respect copyright.PENANAUthGVqyYyO
“What… what is all this?” she asked, standing up.
195Please respect copyright.PENANAJx8Ojl1uEy
“Your new stuff,” Luke said, setting the bags down with a grin. “Clothes, shoes, toiletries, and, uh… other things you might need.”
195Please respect copyright.PENANAU3p7zyB1OV
Roxy blinked, her face flushing. “Other things?”
195Please respect copyright.PENANAHEv95dQNLZ
Alex coughed, his ears red. “You know… girl stuff. We grabbed everything we thought you might need.”
195Please respect copyright.PENANAA432xvTdrz
Reggie nodded. “Yeah, pads, tampons, all that. It was… an experience.”
195Please respect copyright.PENANAb4d0WEjDfz
Roxy laughed softly, her eyes glistening. “You guys didn’t have to do all this...”
195Please respect copyright.PENANA9qMQVNSJbh
“We wanted to,” Luke said, his tone gentle. “You deserve to have your own stuff. And don’t worry—we checked your sizes. Hope we got them right.”
195Please respect copyright.PENANAWcr3dGKapf
Roxy’s brows furrowed. “My sizes? How did you...?”
195Please respect copyright.PENANARNtpeiEVpg
Luke shrugged. “I noticed your clothes tags last night. And I remembered you mentioned your bra struggles, so we grabbed both sizes you said might work.”
195Please respect copyright.PENANA4lbCyp6iay
Her face softened. “Thanks, Luke. That was... thoughtful.”
195Please respect copyright.PENANAFlVfDqBwsi
As she unpacked, Luke cleared his throat. “Hey, Roxy,” he said carefully. “About the knife…”
195Please respect copyright.PENANA0eSFGQm97g
Roxy froze, her face clouding over.
195Please respect copyright.PENANAx95LPuZy83
“I still have it,” Luke admitted, reaching into his back pocket. “I’ll give it back to you later. When things feel a bit more settled. I just want to make sure you’re okay first, alright?”
195Please respect copyright.PENANAj3hXkn2xxt
She nodded slowly, her voice quiet. “Okay. Thanks.”
195Please respect copyright.PENANAEPaDo7zU6Y
Reggie, who had been rummaging through the bags, glanced at Luke’s pocket. “Knife? What knife?”
195Please respect copyright.PENANAm6qRlWuBYE
Luke straightened, his tone casual. “Nothing important.”
195Please respect copyright.PENANACSziR05OoA
Alex gave Luke a knowing look, covering smoothly. “Oh. Right. Got it.”
195Please respect copyright.PENANAlNyWd4ioxS
Reggie blinked, confused. “Wait, didn’t I see you grab something red yesterday?”
195Please respect copyright.PENANAX8N8scRSKQ
Luke shrugged. “Probably just my bandana. You know I always have one lying around.”
195Please respect copyright.PENANAxQaRgwyyFJ
Reggie grinned, his confusion fading. “Oh, yeah! That makes sense. You’re always messing with those.”
195Please respect copyright.PENANA6ukqhs4jjL
Alex smirked. “Classic Reggie. Can’t keep track of anything for more than five seconds.”
195Please respect copyright.PENANAexYieNcswi
Reggie laughed, scratching the back of his neck. “Hey, I’ve got a lot on my mind, okay?”
195Please respect copyright.PENANAYuai3kdYDg
Luke smiled subtly, relieved the topic had passed.
195Please respect copyright.PENANAMC3draO7Dh
As Roxy held up the metallic silver jacket, her face lit up. “This is amazing. You guys really didn’t have to go all out like this.”
195Please respect copyright.PENANA5jbsnwCVgB
“You’re part of the band now,” Luke said warmly. “Part of the family. And family takes care of each other.”
ns18.116.69.162da2