It had been two weeks and Dess and Sammi were still spending all of their time together; even when they left the hotel and began traveling by bus the girls shared the only bunk that remained. The tour was stopped in Italy for two days and the girls took full advantage of that. Dess looked out in front of her, sketchpad in hand, as she sipped her coffee at the small café that she and Sammi had stopped at. They were in Rome and Dess felt inspired by all of the wonderful art and architecture that surrounded her. As she looked down at her work, Dess noticed that her sketches for work definitely held a more gothic, old world look to them.

Work had been going well for Dess and being mobile wasn’t proving to be as difficult as she had expected. Most nights on the bus Dess spent her time in the back lounge where her sketch table and supplies were, soft music playing in the background as she worked. Matt, who was still her boss technically, was loving the things that she was sending, but he didn’t really like the price tag attached to sending things to and from Europe. Hey, he had agreed to let her do this…he should of thought about everything from all angles before agreeing.


“You okay Dess?” Sammi asked, shaking Dess from her thoughts as she smiled and looked at Sammi from across the table.

“I’m doing okay. How are things on your end?” Dess asked and noticed that Sammi had put down her camera and was staring off in to the space in front of her quietly.

“Things are good, but I need to tell you something…” Her voice was quiet and Dess felt her heart sink. She knew this was coming, she had seen it coming for over a day now and as Sammi began to speak Dess felt herself become sad.

“Jinxx and I-well we’ve made up and while I still want to hang out…I’m moving back in to his bunk…” Sammi said this and then immediately her face turned red and she grabbed for her tea and took a sip. Dess just looked on, her heart hurt slightly but she understood. Jinxx and Sammi had always been meant for one another and it was understandable that they would make up soon.

“That’s fantastic…” Dess said, but her heart wasn’t really in her congratulations. She would be sleeping alone and not only that but she would probably be seeing the world alone now as well.


She and Andy spoke, not often but they spoke and Dess felt relieved at the loss of anger that once filled her stomach to the brim. She went to their shows, watching from the wings as the love of her life did what he loved and she felt happy for him. Slowly, especially over the past few days, Dess had felt her cold heart thawing as Andy tried to make her see how much he loved her. It was just like how things were when they first met and it made Dess happy. She thought back to the first morning after their huge blow up-when she and Sammi walked out of their room to go sightseeing there was something waiting outside their door. Aster-a huge bouquet of them and Dess smiled. Patience, that’s what he was telling her-he would be patient with her and it made Dess smile just thinking about it.


“How’re things with you and Andy? He still leaves you flowers every morning.” Sammi asked, a small smirk playing on her lips as Dess felt a blush creep up her neck. This morning Dess had awoken to find a small potted Cyclamen outside of their bunk, which she actually had to look up the meaning because she had never seen this flower used before. Timid Hope.

“Yeah. I don’t know Sammi. I want to be near him and I miss him like crazy but I’m still trying to work through things. I just don’t want to be around him if I explode again.” Dess felt sad and reached down, picking at her napkin as Sammi smirked over at her.

“I still find it hilarious that you threw a shoe at him…” The older girl laughed softly and Dess felt her lips turn up in her own smile. She looked up and smiled even more as Sammi winked at her and took another sip of tea.

“Yeah…I feel bad for throwing anything at him, but thinking back it was pretty funny…” Dess said as she turned her attention from Sammi and glanced out towards the street.


Everything was so beautiful here, even the streets were beautifully paved and cobbled and all of the old buildings looked out over them like tall guardians. They had planned on going to see the Coliseum, but Dess could just sit here all day, the bright sun shining down and kissing her skin as she sketched and sipped her ‘American’ coffee all day. Sammi had wanted to get in some photos today, so she knew they would eventually move on, but Dess was happy here. She felt a buzzing in her pocket and as she pulled out her phone, she smiled-Andy.


Andy: Hey babe! I missed you this morning when I got up and I was hoping to talk to you later tonight. We’ll be in a hotel since we have two days so if you want to come by around 8 I would love to see you.
Dess<3: Okay. I miss you too and yeah I think we should talk.
Andy: Great! What are you girls doing today? Anything I should know about? ; )
Dess<3: Just sightseeing. Sammi’s been taking tons of photos and I’ve been working on some stuff. No…but all of these hot Italian men sure are making me blush *hehe*
Andy: What?! I know that’s a joke. Right? *pouts*
Dess<3: I dunno…they’ve been fawning over the two of us all morning.
Andy: Where are you?
Dess<3: Rome. Where are you?
Andy: In a small crap studio somewhere near Rome. We’re starting preproduction on the album while we’re over here so *shrug*


Of course they were working on the album while they were over here. Dess sighed as she told Andy that she loved him and would see him later before putting her phone back into her purse and looking over at Sammi. The older girl had her camera up and pointed at something across the street and as Dess scanned her eyes in that direction she felt warm inside. An older couple, a man and a woman, were crossing the street, the little old man helping his wife get down from the sidewalk as he held her arm tightly in his. They were smiling widely, laughing at one another as they crossed the street and ended up a few feet down from where the girls sat. Would that be her and Andy in fifty years? Dess was angry right now, but deep down inside she knew it would be.

It had to be.



Andy sighed loudly, his butt was getting numb from sitting on this couch for so long and as he looked towards the booth where Ash was laying down a track he smiled. He loved being in the studio and it felt good to be back in one, he just wished that Dess was here with him. The band had decided to try and lay some stuff down while on the road, since inspiration seemed to be fueling all of them on this tour. Andy smiled as he thought back on the past few weeks of touring and he loved the feeling in his chest. They were touring with one of his favorite bands and even though things with Dess were rocky, at least he got to see her everyday and didn’t have to worry about skype or emailing things to her.


“You doing okay man?” Jake asked from beside Andy and he just looked to his bandmate and nodded. The paper in his hands had been scribbled on so much that it was practically falling apart but Andy didn’t care, he wanted this to be perfect.

“Yeah. Just nervous for tonight…” He said as he pulled out his pack of cigarettes and placed one in his lips. He lit the end, inhaling the smoke deeply as he felt himself calm down and Andy looked to Jake then.

“Tonight the big night for you and Dess?” The guitarist asked and Andy just nodded, feeling the bats swooping around in his stomach once again at the thought of it.

“Yeah. I’ve got everything set up with the hotel and hopefully it all goes well. I miss Dess and I am really getting tired of sleeping alone.” He sighed and Jake just smiled and nodded his head towards the booth where Ash was strumming his bass quietly between takes.

“Ash offered to share one of his girls man…you said no.” Jake meant it as a joke, but Andy felt his fists clench as he thought back to Ashley’s offer. Ash thought that by sleeping with some chick, Andy would get over everything with Dess and maybe things would get better. Andy wasn’t stupid and he of course said no, knowing that sleeping around wasn’t going to solve his problems.

“Of course I fucking said no. Ash being a manwhore is what got Jinxx and I in to this situation in the first fucking place.” Andy grunted, thinking back to that night and how everything had gotten so misconstrued. Ashley and CC had been with those girls that Dess and Sammi overheard, but of course since they hadn’t gotten with the lead singer in the band one of the girls embellished her story and that was that.

“Did you tell Dess that?” Jake asked and Andy just shook his head. He had tried to talk to Dess after he learned what had really happened, but she still didn’t want to talk about it and claimed that she just needed some time with Sammi. Andy understood, but that didn’t make him miss her any less.


Andy sighed as he looked down at his lap, his eyes scanning over the paper that rested there and he smiled. This song, something he had never thought of trying before, had come to him last night as he was laying in his bunk and he knew that it would be perfect. This song was exactly how he felt right now when it came to Dess and as he reread over his own words for the hundredth time Andy smiled.



“You ready to head back?” Sammi asked Dess as the two girls crossed the street and began walking off towards the hotel. Andy had texted her the address and with a quick map search Dess knew where they needed to head.

“Yeah. Can I shower and change in your room? I don’t know what he has planned but I really need to shower and get all of this dust off of me.” Dess smiled up at the taller girl as they continued to walk down the sidewalk, their hotel off in the distance.

“Of course. What do you think he wants to talk about?” Sammi asked as the girls entered the lobby of their hotel and went to the desk to get a key to Sammi and Jinxx’s room.

“I’m sure it’s about our being apart…” Dess sighed as the girls got the key they needed and headed over towards a small elevator. Getting on, Sammi pressed the button for the third floor and both girls shuddered as the elevator squeaked to life.

“I mean it has been a few weeks. Don’t you think he’s suffered enough?” Sammi laughed as the elevator thankfully came to a stop and both girls got off and walked down the hall. They finally came to Sammi’s door and as she watched Sammi unlock the door Dess felt nervous.


What if he wanted to end things? Then what was she supposed to do? She had no home in Virginia anymore and while she could stay at their place in LA until he got home she really didn’t know what would happen after that. Besides, Dess had never wanted to end things…she just needed to figure some things out about herself and now she felt like she had done that. Seeing that her bags were next to Sammi’s, Dess decided to get in the shower and wash away the day.

Dess thought back over their entire relationship as she washed and rinsed her hair and she smiled as she remembered how happy they were back then. She loved how Andy would surprise her, either by just showing up or by sending her things like interviews where he mentioned her. He was always so romantic and thoughtful and that was something that Dess had missed over the past few weeks. She sighed as she exited the shower and began to get ready.

Dess dried her hair quickly, straightening it before she began to apply a little bit of makeup. She wasn’t sure where they would be going, so she left her outfit simple as she looked down. Her slightly tan legs were paler against her black shorts and her loose red tank top flowed over her body as she turned to change out her piercing. She wore her studded ankle boots, a few bracelets and rings on almost every finger and as Dess looked in the mirror she smiled softly to herself.

Here goes nothing. Or everything.

Notes

What could Andy have in store for Dess tonight? Write in with your thoughts...no seriously write me letters telling me what you think is going to happen *teehee*

So yeah, please review because I've been having a crappy few days and could use some love and support from people who get it. *hugs*

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