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.
208Please respect copyright.PENANAPNPQQyZz5D
“We need to get her some essentials,” Luke said, running a hand through his hair. “Clothes, shoes, toiletries, and, uh… other stuff.”
208Please respect copyright.PENANA8qMJmr8ISJ
“Other stuff?” Reggie asked, blinking in confusion.
208Please respect copyright.PENANAsxWubWBze9
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?”
208Please respect copyright.PENANAVNXFAeCFR6
Luke shrugged. “We’ll figure it out. But first, clothes. She can’t keep wearing our old band shirts.”
208Please respect copyright.PENANABdJdOrN72o
Reggie scratched his head. “Okay, but how do we know her size? Like... for real?”
208Please respect copyright.PENANAkPi2GDpiSJ
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.”
208Please respect copyright.PENANABPwTxbqKnB
Alex blinked. “You just… checked her tags? That’s kind of weird, man.”
208Please respect copyright.PENANA8amljD7nLp
“Not weird,” Luke countered. “Smart. Otherwise, we’d have no idea.”
208Please respect copyright.PENANA7gy5Xzfvho
Reggie tilted his head. “Yeah, but what about underwear? That has a size too, right?”
208Please respect copyright.PENANA6NRfjqOOfw
Luke hesitated, his cheeks flushing slightly. “I might’ve, uh, noticed her laundry in the basket by the couch.”
208Please respect copyright.PENANAPKstwLGjxb
Alex stared at him, half-amused, half-shocked. “You are way too observant sometimes, dude.”
208Please respect copyright.PENANAYWzPITjlVx
“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.”
208Please respect copyright.PENANAP4xTBqAhJI
Reggie nodded slowly. “Okay, yeah, fair. Let’s just hope we don’t totally mess this up.”
208Please respect copyright.PENANAqfhSEAyeLY
---
208Please respect copyright.PENANAGP9LBAPmud
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.
208Please respect copyright.PENANAcjofRHPHj0
“Think she’ll like these?”
208Please respect copyright.PENANAPwj8I47vi9
Alex nodded, pulling out a metallic silver jacket. “Definitely her style. What about shoes?”
208Please respect copyright.PENANAC4TpoQmeI3
Luke grabbed a pair of platform sneakers from the display. “Size six. I checked.”
208Please respect copyright.PENANATrqHrVeLEr
“You’re on fire today,” Alex muttered.
208Please respect copyright.PENANA0vaB3Xwbyn
Reggie wandered over, distracted by a rack of hats. “What about this one? It’s got flames on it!”
208Please respect copyright.PENANAMbkR8Ub7S4
Luke sighed, dragging Reggie back to focus. “Stay with me, man. We’ve got a list to finish.”
208Please respect copyright.PENANAVKp4fTZUed
---
208Please respect copyright.PENANAc4ICWmqMG4
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.
208Please respect copyright.PENANAjLegyDECB1
“Okay,” Alex said, picking up a pack of pads. “These seem… normal? Right?”
208Please respect copyright.PENANARhRA39LCpe
Luke held up a box of tampons. “What if she uses these? We should get both.”
208Please respect copyright.PENANAf0oMZMUvxd
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?”
208Please respect copyright.PENANAsRMokOZLxN
“Just grab one of each,” Alex muttered, tossing items into the cart.
208Please respect copyright.PENANARmaJDxqXRf
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.
208Please respect copyright.PENANAEC9WHnefSR
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.
208Please respect copyright.PENANAvBvrkfP1Xq
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.”
208Please respect copyright.PENANAIP2C3yio92
Alex stared at him. “When did she tell you that?”
208Please respect copyright.PENANA7DG8Kak0fG
“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.”
208Please respect copyright.PENANAY1dcjGIQws
“You’re adjusting the straps now?” Alex asked, half-laughing.
208Please respect copyright.PENANA6mT8vMF0FZ
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.”
208Please respect copyright.PENANAs4gsoeQCbU
Reggie, holding up a strapless bra, grinned. “Already ahead of you. But I’m never coming back to this section.”
208Please respect copyright.PENANAM0n0d43FwY
---
208Please respect copyright.PENANALIq7CVkB7l
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.
208Please respect copyright.PENANAFURJpIzGnv
“What… what is all this?” she asked, standing up.
208Please respect copyright.PENANARVptVufAP2
“Your new stuff,” Luke said, setting the bags down with a grin. “Clothes, shoes, toiletries, and, uh… other things you might need.”
208Please respect copyright.PENANADNaQGUh2PE
Roxy blinked, her face flushing. “Other things?”
208Please respect copyright.PENANASdu9kMFZSV
Alex coughed, his ears red. “You know… girl stuff. We grabbed everything we thought you might need.”
208Please respect copyright.PENANAXMO8NqqKGR
Reggie nodded. “Yeah, pads, tampons, all that. It was… an experience.”
208Please respect copyright.PENANAhiK9AlwHKR
Roxy laughed softly, her eyes glistening. “You guys didn’t have to do all this...”
208Please respect copyright.PENANAkXEvjL0Kge
“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.”
208Please respect copyright.PENANAnQrxjgYgwk
Roxy’s brows furrowed. “My sizes? How did you...?”
208Please respect copyright.PENANAcWpMzTfHUR
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.”
208Please respect copyright.PENANAMSXZ9NhSlY
Her face softened. “Thanks, Luke. That was... thoughtful.”
208Please respect copyright.PENANA5XPPbblSFj
As she unpacked, Luke cleared his throat. “Hey, Roxy,” he said carefully. “About the knife…”
208Please respect copyright.PENANAOg3LjkzRK5
Roxy froze, her face clouding over.
208Please respect copyright.PENANAkf7Dm8DooD
“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?”
208Please respect copyright.PENANAy9jwgyvpYI
She nodded slowly, her voice quiet. “Okay. Thanks.”
208Please respect copyright.PENANAR7HL8nVNew
Reggie, who had been rummaging through the bags, glanced at Luke’s pocket. “Knife? What knife?”
208Please respect copyright.PENANARQaVttd5df
Luke straightened, his tone casual. “Nothing important.”
208Please respect copyright.PENANANF6WoLFInm
Alex gave Luke a knowing look, covering smoothly. “Oh. Right. Got it.”
208Please respect copyright.PENANAydvS1yGiy7
Reggie blinked, confused. “Wait, didn’t I see you grab something red yesterday?”
208Please respect copyright.PENANApF1KQBR6V4
Luke shrugged. “Probably just my bandana. You know I always have one lying around.”
208Please respect copyright.PENANADDlOsVTUFR
Reggie grinned, his confusion fading. “Oh, yeah! That makes sense. You’re always messing with those.”
208Please respect copyright.PENANAloxO1XSeyS
Alex smirked. “Classic Reggie. Can’t keep track of anything for more than five seconds.”
208Please respect copyright.PENANAhZIcx2E4sF
Reggie laughed, scratching the back of his neck. “Hey, I’ve got a lot on my mind, okay?”
208Please respect copyright.PENANAaan8uIUhCM
Luke smiled subtly, relieved the topic had passed.
208Please respect copyright.PENANArf9Q6AB2D0
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.”
208Please respect copyright.PENANAfCc9RpfY8V
“You’re part of the band now,” Luke said warmly. “Part of the family. And family takes care of each other.”
ns18.216.31.88da2