You hate me, and I hate you.

What more is there to do?

Nothing ever changes, everything stays the same.

You wanna blame me, but I'm not taking the blame in this game.

Asher throws his pen over the other side of his room. "This sucks."

For the first time since we started working on our duet, I'm in complete agreement with Asher. It's been a week since we started writing together, and my faith the two of us will be able to pull together to create something worth listening to is rapidly fading. And the idea of us making the showcase is just preposterous at this stage. We've argued over everything: every word, every verse, and the chorus. I knew working together would be a challenge, and I haven't been wrong.

My phone buzzes in my pocket and I take it out to look at it because I needed a distraction from the clusterfuck that is our song.

I ignore Asher's moody glare and read the message from Luke.

I've got the afternoon free. Want to go to the beach with me?

I look at Asher, "What time do you think we'll be finished?"

"I don't know, why?"

"Um... Luke messaged me. He's going to the beach this afternoon."

Asher scowls. "I thought you wanted to make the showcase, Lilah."

I narrow my eyes at him. "I do. We've been at this all week, we're not making much progress, we–"

"Exactly, so do you really think prioritising your boyfriend right now is the smart choice?"

He and I face off until I break eye contact so that I can message Luke and tell him he will have to go without me because I'm working on my song for the showcase. I want to tell Asher he's a condescending prick but working together is difficult enough already without trading insults.

Asher goes and picks up his pen, carrying it back to his desk where he can continue glowering at our song. Maybe he thinks glaring at it will scare it into submission.

I sigh and resist the urge to flop back on Asher's bed. His covers smell of his soap and deodorant, but the mattress is ridiculously comfortable, almost cloud like. The two of us have opted to work in Asher's room because Ethan and Ainsley are determined to keep using the studio, and Asher's room is bigger and more comfortable than mine. His king size bed takes up less than a quarter of the space. The rest of the room is taken up by a sofa, a desk – where Asher has opted to sit today, a weight bench, and an entire wall of posters and guitars. We both have a copy of the song so that we can sit as far apart as possible.

When I feel my phone buzz again, I take it out and look at it, reading the reply from Luke.

All you've done this week is work on the song with Asher. Surely, you're allowed out for one afternoon at the beach.

Guilt and irritation twist inside my stomach. Guilt because he's right; he's my boyfriend and I should be spending time with him, and I have spent an awful amount of time with Asher this week. When Asher isn't taking driving lessons, anyway. And irritation because Luke just doesn't seem to get music and how important this is to me. We've only spoken a couple of times this week, at night, and every time I bring up the topic of the showcase or Asher, he changes the subject. It's as if he can no longer bear to listen to me talk about it.

After a moment, I type out a response.

I'm sorry. I would much rather be spending time with you. Go without me, have a good time. Hopefully, I'll see you soon.

When I look back up, Asher is glaring holes into my head. "You ready to get back to this?"

I glare back at him. "Yes, let's finish this."

Two hours later, Asher and I have reworked the first verse as well as the chorus. It isn't any better. In fact, I think it's worse.

"I'm done," Asher announces, standing up.

"But..." I protest weakly. I want to complain and say we need to keep working, but I need a break. "Okay. Maybe we should continue this after dinner."

Asher shakes his head. "I have a date with Maddie."

Anger and frustration knot my stomach, and I glare at Asher. "Seriously? What happened to music and the showcase first?"

"Work and then play, Lilah," he tells me in a way a parent tells a child. "I need a break."

It's on the tip of my tongue to remind him I blew off Luke this afternoon even though needed a break, but clearly the same rules don't apply to Asher. I'd point that out, but I'm too tired to right now.

Holding my tongue all week and not fighting with Asher over anything that isn't related to our duet has been exhausting. Unfortunately, I have nothing to show for my efforts. Our song, which is about our mutual hatred, is so bad I'd never let any teacher read it, let alone listen to it.

Asher moves swiftly, whipping off his shirt, causing me to stare at him as I try and work out why the hell he's undressing in front of me. I want to say it's my horror over the unexpected strip show that keeps me seated on his bed, but that doesn't explain the way my gaze locks onto the very well-defined muscles in his arms and stomach. He's all golden skin and tattoos, and for some reason I'm now remembering Kennedy's comment from weeks ago about Asher looking like a rockstar God.

Heat that has nothing to do with the summer day sweeps through my body, settling in my cheeks, mortifying me. Forcing my gaze upwards, I croak, "What are you doing?"

His expression is one of cold amusement. "I'm about to take a shower. You can sit there and enjoy the show, or you can get out."

I glare at him, so over his abrasive attitude after a week of forced proximity. It is just as well he is going out with Maddie, or I might strangle him. At least his attitude is the perfect antidote to my hormones. I blame my reaction and gawking on the fact it's been too long since I saw some serious action in the bedroom. I've been taking things slow with Luke, much to his annoyance, and I'm starting to rethink that strategy.

Without a goodbye, and with a huff, I walk out of his room and into mine, pulling out my phone and texting Luke.

Are you still at the beach? Can I see you tonight?

Half an hour later, I receive a reply.

I'm out with the guys.

With frustration, I flop down on my bed and sigh. Kennedy is out with her family tonight; Asher and Ethan are out with their girlfriends. And now Luke is out with the guys and pissed off at me, judging by his clipped response. It looks like I'll be spending the night at home with Mum and Jesse.

***

I watch a movie with the parentals, feeling like the most pathetic 17-year-old in the world, even if I did enjoy the film. On Sunday morning, I sleep in late, and when I walk into the kitchen around ten-thirty, no-one is around. I go through the motions of making breakfast, then sit down at the bench, taking out my phone and typing out a message to Luke.

Do you have any free time today?

Asher might decide he wants to work on our duet, but we don't currently have plans to do so, and a days' break can't hurt. In fact, coming back to it with fresh eyes might help.

After I've sent the message to Luke, Ethan walks into the kitchen wearing his standard morning attire of boxer shorts. I look over the body that's so familiar to me, the muscles and bronzed skin I've seen, touched, and kissed so many times, but I don't get the belly flutters that I used to. Nor do I get all hot and bothered, like I did when Asher took off his shirt in front of me yesterday.

But I'm not going to dwell on my reaction to Asher stripping, which, come to think of it was probably due to fatigue and pesky hormones. Instead, I'll focus on the fact I'm becoming desensitised to Ethan's hotness. That's a victory worth celebrating.

"How was your date last night?" I ask, proud of myself for sounding genuinely interested.

He takes the cereal out of the cupboard, pours himself a bowl, and sits down beside me with the milk. "It was okay. I went to Ainsley's for dinner and her family's nice."

I study his face, not sure whether they were actually nice, because he's saying one thing but looks like he means another.

"I've hardly seen you this week," he comments.

"Yeah, I've been busy working on my duet with Asher."

Ethan frowns even as he nods. "How is it working out? Are you getting along well enough to focus on the song?"

"Well, he's not dead yet."

Ethan's smile doesn't really reach his eyes. "After Dad told me to butt out, I went off at Asher and he made it seem like he was thinking about swapping partners. But you guys are working together now, so..."

"Asher was going to swap?" That's news to me.

"I thought so. He must have changed his mind."

It's clear that Ethan is confused by Asher's decision to work with me. And now that he's mentioned his conversation with Asher, I am too. I had no idea Ethan and Asher had argued about our partnership. Ethan tries to avoid conflict with his brother as much as possible. Hence, he broke my heart when Asher gave him an ultimatum.

Before I can ask any more questions, Asher walks into the Cassidy kitchen with a deep scowl marring his face. Immediately, I assume it's his usual scowl directed at Ethan and I because we're spending time together. But as he slams the cupboard doors and then the fridge door after getting his breakfast, I decide that he is just in a bad mood. I raise an eyebrow at Ethan.

He shrugs before asking Asher, "Bad date with Maddie last night?"

Asher turns around and glares at Ethan. "Things with Maddie are fine."

"Okay, so-"

"Dad just told me that we got the gig at the Rockstar Bay Music Festival."

Ethan's whole face lights up and he grins. I look between Asher's dark scowl and Ethan's pleased-as-punch expression, trying to figure out what I'm missing. My gaze settles on Asher, who has ignored me since he walked into the kitchen. Every morning this week, he's had a driving lesson, so he hasn't crashed breakfast with Ethan and I until now. Since he's staring daggers through me, I'm going to go out on a limb and say working together hasn't changed any other aspect of our relationship.

Oh, well. Did I really expect differently? Still, Asher looks so upset, I can't help but query his odd reaction.

"You got the gig, Asher," I say. "Isn't that a good thing?"

"No, it's not a good thing, Lilah," he says, drawing out my name. "They've asked us to do covers. We're going to be a glorified fucking cover band."

Feeling like I'm missing something, I turn to Ethan and say, "You guys don't want to do covers?"

Ethan shrugs. "I don't mind that much, but Asher likes to write the songs for the band and thinks that we should be playing our own music. And, ideally, that is what we'd be doing, but this is still a big deal."

I nod. "It is a big opportunity."

"Not one where we get to show our creativity or what we're actually capable of," Asher says. "There's no way to stand out and be individual like that."

I'm half-tempted to snap back at Asher, but I can sort of see what he's saying. He's a person who prides himself on his individuality and unique voice. Taking someone else's songs and singing them wouldn't make him happy. But there is an upside.

Holding Asher's gaze, I ask, "Do you remember the cover that Dangerous Demons did of 'Every Breath You Take' last year?"

Asher crosses his arms, frowning darkly, but he nods.

"Do you remember how unique it was? Do you remember how it was praised for its individuality?"

"Yeah," Asher says, staring at me.

"I know it's not ideal for you to be singing someone else's songs, but you guys have a unique point of view and a unique tone, why not take these covers and put your own spin on them? They don't have to be like the originals. They can be something completely different. You can leave your mark on someone else's music so that whenever people hear the original, they'll remember and appreciate your version, what you added to it, and how it made them feel."

Asher looks at me for a moment longer before leaning his elbows on the bench.

"Not a bad idea," he says. I can see that he is thinking over my suggestion.

Whichever songs they end up covering, the band needs to make the most of the opportunity. Personal feelings about Asher aside, I want M.O.D to succeed because they're amazing and if they can't make it, I have no hope.

"Well, this is weird," Ethan announces abruptly.

"What's weird?" I ask.

"You just gave Asher a suggestion and he agreed with it."

Asher and I frown at each other. It's sort of true. Why can't we do that when we're working on our duet?

After a moment, Asher looks at his brother and shrugs. "It's not a big deal, Ethan. She made a good suggestion."

Ethan sits back in his chair and pretends to look shocked. "She made a good suggestion? Words I never thought I'd hear you mutter."

Asher shakes his head.

"If you two keep getting along like this, we might have a chance at that party at Easter time."

Ethan smiles as he says it, but as his gaze flicks between Asher and me, I have the distinct impression that he isn't at all happy that we're suddenly 'getting along'.