The Purdy's

Ashley’s POV

Today was the day Andy Dawn graduated from high school. To say I was proud was an understatement. My first child (not counting MR Biersack) was graduating from high school, to begin her own life. It was a bittersweet moment. I would miss taking her to school and having her around once she went off to college.


Of course there was going to be a party thrown, the guest list had everyone we knew on it. It had Billie Joe Armstrong and his band mates there in support of his son Jakob who graduated with LA. Ash Costello and her boy friend Nikki Misery would be there, half of Fall Out Boy, several of the guys from Panic! At The Disco, Pierce The Veil, All Time Low, and The guys from The Relapse Symphony. It was bound to get beyond wild with such a guest list of party animals.

Jack and Alex of All Time Low knew the guys from 5 Seconds Of Summer and had planned on bringing them with them. The moment they asked if they could bring them, I knew I had to say yes. Jinxx and all of her little friends loved them, and would be excited to meet them. The party was all ages; the little ones would be with their babysitter (the one we normally had, who didn’t care who was around and did not freak out and fan girl over whoever was around). While the teens would be together, the adults would be together. It was going to be fun. Again, we pulled the alcohol out of the locked room we had and brought it down stairs and set up the stuff we would need for later.

Once everything was perfect, we all got ready. I straightened my hair, put my makeup and then put on some black skinny jeans and a nice dress shirt with a jacket, and of course my black cowboy boots. Jinxx looked so cute in her little “rocker” styled outfit she had going on. Eve looked adorable in the dress she wore. Kellin wore a band shirt with jeans and dress shoes.We took a family photo before getting in the car and heading to the high school.

Two of my little lovelies begged that we take the camaro today, so we took it. Luckily, all three of them fit in the back in their car seats. CC called shotgun and went with me. Jinxx requested all time low while Eve wanted One Direction, so I settled on 5SOS.Needless to say, CC looked at me and said, “You must love your kids. You let them listen to whatever they want even if you aren’t a fan.” I laughed and replied, “it’s grown on me a little bit, and it's catchy.” Sooner than later, we got there and got our seats. Once the program started, the students all came in and sat in the seats before the valedictorian speeches. Watching LA walk the stage made me cry with happiness. I was beyond proud of her. When her band mate’s names were said, we cheered along with their family. When it was over, we all cheered.

Once it was over, we found her and I hugged her tightly. We all cried. Three years ago, life seemed so difficult and hard to move through it but here we stood today, at her graduation. While we were standing there, a girl walked up to Andy Dawn. The girl had long black hair and blue eyes. LA and her had some sort of understanding before LA turned to us and said, “ I would like you guys to meet my girlfriend, Alexandria. I’m sorry I haven’t told you sooner. I wanted to introduce you guys at some point.”

I smiled and said, “Its nice to meet you Alexandria, are you joining us for the party tonight?” she nodded and smiled before going back to her family. CC put his arm around me and said, “alright, where’s my money?” I shook my head and said, “I’ll give it to you later, gosh.” LA laughed and said, “you all placed a bet on me? For what?”

CC smiled sheepishly and said, “Well, we could tell that you maybe would not be into guys but we weren’t sure, and well at the moment we seem to be right. Your dad said you would probably come out during school and I said after. Well its after, you graduated like ten minutes ago.”


She laughed at it and shook her head. “Only my family.” I brought her close to me and hugged her tightly before whispering in her ear, “I am so very proud of you doll, so proud. You are a fine, strong young woman that I am proud to call my daughter. Your mother would be proud to call you hers. I know she is looking down on us smiling and crying with tears of happiness. And I also know she would want you to be happy with who ever you are with. So if miss Alexandria makes you happy, I support it completely. I would love to get to know her. She seems very nice.”

She hugged me tightly and whispered back, “thank you so much dad. You have been amazing to me, and all of us. I am glad that you found us four years ago. I would not want any other father. I am proud to call you my dad.”

What she had said brought tears to my eyes. I smiled widely and wiped the tears away from my eyes. “So who’s ready to go back to our place and party?” CC asked, we all raised our hands. The adults went to the cars while the kids said goodbye to those they knew and wished them the best in the places they went. It was very bittersweet.


Getting back to the house, we all went in and got the party started. The music was loud, the food was great and the company was the best. All the kids and adults had a good time. The adults began to drink so the kids went off up stairs to there own area. Everyone congratulated me on raising such a beautiful, wonderful daughter. The rest of the night began to blur because we all drank and celebrated to the fullest.

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Black Veil brides would later go on to win many awards that year and the following years after that. We played to many sold out crowds all over the worlds and met so many people. The memories we made wee joyful and ones we would not forget anytime soon. Jinxx began middle school, and was very smart. I had gotten her a horse a short time before that and watched her learn, she was a natural. At some point, Jinxx had taught her the Cello and she became very talented on it. Eve and Kellin went into elementary school and were little troublemakers. Andy Dawn had gone to community college before transferring to a music school where she got a degree in music and minored in business, web design, and got a tattoo license. As the years went by, Andy Dawn made me more and more proud. She grew into a fine young woman that I was proud of. Her and Alexandria, the girl I had met at the graduation, were still dating and were the cutest thing ever.

It took a lot of getting used to when Andy Dawn moved out. I would call out for her and she wouldn’t be here. I had to remind myself that she had grown up and moved out. It was hard at times, but I knew she would always be my little girl. Her band also got even bigger than before. All of its members still rehearsed, but they had yet to release anything in a while due to them all pursing school at the moment. I was happy with that too. They all went to school, had jobs and their own apartments and the band.

Jinxx and Amy were still the bestest of friends and had been troublemakers from the day they met. CC teaching Jinxx pranks was a bad idea because she would use them on me. So, I get back at him by getting him to watch Kellin and telling to only watch Barney and the telletubies, word girl and every other annoying kid show and make him suffer through it.CC absolutely hates it! He never says no though, because CC has a massive soft spot for Kellin. CC has become one of his favorite uncles since Andy is still considered my other son.

Andy got better over the years. He came back from his slum and has been on top of the world. He met a nice girl and they have been dating for almost a year now. She’s good to him and he’s good to her. She’s also not in the industry, but she knows what it is like because she grew up with it but was also sheltered from it by her parents.

Jake and Ella finally got married some while ago and it was a very beautiful wedding. Jinxx met another woman after he and Sammi Doll got a divorce. It took a long time, but they began to date. CC also found a girl. For the longest time, he was heart broken over the girl he liked that had died from cancer, but he eventually learned to let her go and enjoy the time that they had but not let it torture him.

Another thing I was glad I did was sign Eve and Kellin up for sports. Eve was a damn good soccer player. She was fast, and smart. Kellin was in soccer and baseball. Due to the fact that football had to many injuries, I wont let him sign up for any team. He understands why I have my reasoning however and doesn’t want to play, so it works out. Eve also wanted to so dance so I signed her up for that, and I am glad I did because she is really good.

Jinxx is quieter than she had been before, but still just as sassy when she wants to be. I try to keep her in check most of the time. She’s picked up more instruments and it talented with each one. She also does martial arts and is good at it. Sometimes I feel like I forget about her at times because the two littlest ones are always getting into something and I am constantly right behind them to stop them. Andy Dawn gave me the advice to not let any of the kiddies have a phone until they were 10. Well, smart phone. The littlest kiddies have flip phones so they can call me after practice so I can pick them up, and so I know where they are at all times. The only people they can call are family. Jinxx has a basic smart phone, because even though technology has came so far, I don’t want her to get bullied on social media or spend too much time on youtube.

My biggest fear is that people will use my kids to get to the band and me. I finally understood what Billie Joe was talking about when I realized that social media put my family out there and were there to be picked and prodded under a microscope, and I wanted to shield them from that.

When I let Jinxx get a horse, it was one of the best things I have done for her. She was a natural at riding, and took such good care of her horse.The horse was named Mystic because it was a black mare with a black mane, was very beautiful and had a mystic vibe about her. Watching her ride made me very proud. I often felt like I didn’t watch her ride as much as I should but I tried to, the other kids took a lot of my time at times, and I tried to balance everyone.

All of my children were beautiful and healthy. I could not be more proud of them. They all did well in school and in their activities that they did. One thing I did make sure of: each kid could play an instrument. Whether it was classical or not, they had to play something and practice. Music is very important. It’s a language without words and is universal. Eve picked the Piano while Jinxx picked the Violin and Cello. Kellin had picked the violin and drums, like I said, CC had a soft spot for Kellin.

My family had never been closer. We were all there for each other when it got tough and were there when it was enjoyable. I loved my kids. They were the most important thing to me. My band was a way to have fun and to have a small way of income, but it didn’t pay the bills. At times I wanted to call it a day, walk away, and hang up my bass and be there for my kids full time but I couldn’t. Black Veil Brides had become a massive part of my life, and made me who I was today. It wasn’t just a band anymore; it was a life style, a life choice. I was proud of my band, my brothers (and declared son). And my kids loved the band. They were our number one fans.Andy Dawn made it to as many shows as she could, Jinxx was old enough to come to more of the shows but the two littlest were still too young to come, so they came on occasion.

Finding out I had kids, was life changing. But it was a change I am glad I got. I have four amazing children I am beyond proud to call my own. It hurts to know that they are growing up without a mom, but it eases my discomfort by knowing that they have a dad who is doing his absolute best to fill both positions.

Some changes make your life do a whole 360, but this is a change I would not regret. It was one of the best things that have ever happened to me.

Notes

So here's part two! I will admit, writing the graduation scene made me tear up a bit. okay a lot of bit. I am almost done with schooling (three semsters left) and soon, I will be walking the stage just as Andy Dawn did. I am no where near ready, but hey I got a year to get ready :D

haha. so to those who graduated? what's it like?

to those who haven't, hang on there! whether its your first year or last, you can do it! I never thought I would make it this far, and I have! you can too! No storm lasts forever (:

Have a lovely day! (:
~Ash