Katie's POV: I was outside with Andy and John, while they both smoked, talking about what to do for their song Done For You. Andy was silent for a long time, then says to John, "I want this song to be The Morticians Daughter of the album. When I'm in there, I feel like I'm singing to an audience, but I don't want that for this song. I want it to sound more personal. Kind of like when I'm singing while writing a new song."
"So, kind of quiet and so the listener feels like you're singing it only for them?" I ask.
He looks up at me, and nods, then says, "Yeah. Kind of like how we're talking out here, right now."
I look at John and say, "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
John smiles, then tells Andy, "You stay here. We'll bring the equipment to you."
"What?" Andy asked.
"Down, boy," I say, pushing gently on his shoulder to show I mean it, "Stay."
He cocks his head to the side, but doesn't argue. He stays seated on the concrete steps, and I head inside with John. John passes me the microphone and headphones, and says, "If Andy's alright with it, you, Ashley, Jake, CC and Juliet will be singing the soft backup vocals. They're really simple, and I'll give you the pattern for them when we get back inside."
I nod, then take the stuff outside to Andy, and help set it all up. Once finished, John asked Andy what he thought, and Andy agrees whole-heartedly.
We head back inside, and I walk back into the booth with Ashley, CC, Jake, and Juliet to get ready. I put my headphones on, and walk over to Ashley, since we'll be sharing a mic, then hear John give us the okay. Through my headphones, I hear Andy light another cigarette, exhale, then softly sing, "The best things in life, come with a price. The star that burned so bright, faded the fastest. You'll always feel it's right, even when we end the fight. Welcome home, home tonight. Singing," then John points to us, and we join in with Andy, and he continues to sing.
The second verse comes up, and I hear him sing, "Words they don't know how to make amends. And all they do is push you to the edge, but it's not wasted. It's all done for you," then we join in for the backing vocals until the end of the song.
"That's good," John says.
"Hey. Why are you crying?" Ashley asked me, wiping the tears I didn't know I shed, from my cheeks.
"Oh, I...That...That was a beautiful song, is all," I stammer, looking away, and wiping the rest of the tears away.
Andy comes back in, and John says, "I think you got your desired effect, man," then points to me, sitting on Ashley's lap, still wiping the tears away.
Andy walks over to me, then kneels down, and takes my hand. He says, "I didn't mean to make you cry, Katie. I'm sorry."
I shake my head, while a small smile comes across my lips. I then take a deep, cleansing breath, and say, "It's fine, Andy. You didn't make me cry. The song did, because...I could feel it...I felt like you were singing it only for me, and...I know...I understand the lyrics so well."
He smiles at me, but it doesn't reach his crystal clear, blue eyes, as he says, "I know. I...I actually wrote that because of you. You inspired me."
"How?" I ask.
"When you were so upset about everything on tour, and tried to take your own life, I saw it. I never...I never really understood why people...Why people felt that it was the only way out, but now I do. I now understand that sometimes things just get to be too much, and sometimes the simplest thing can set someone off. For you it was seeing Jayy and Dahvie fighting," he explains, "And then I watched how it effected everyone, and I felt how it effected me. Then you got out of the hospital, and you said something that really stuck with me. You said you had felt alone, even though we were all there for you. You said you felt like you were in a crowded room, yet not one person there cared whether you were alive or dead. That that was true loneliness. I wrote that for you, and anyone else who may have felt that way, as a reminder that you really aren't alone. Physically you may be, but there's always someone out there who cares enough to help, and remind you that life really is worth living."
My jaw hits the floor, then I quickly recover, and hug him tightly, crying harder than before.
"Th-Thank you," I choke out, as he holds me close.
"Anytime, sweetheart," he says, then gently kisses my hair.
I feel another set of arms encircle us, and when I look up, I see Ashley, then Juliet, CC, Jake, and Jinxx join us in a group hug. I smile through my tears, and say, "You guys rock."
"That's what we do, kiddo," CC's voice chimes in, then they release me from the hug, and I sit back on Ashley's lap, where he holds me close to his chest, slowly rocking us back and forth.
After a few minutes pass, I hear Jake say, "Holy shit, dude! It's almost midnight!"
"We had better get her back home then," Jinxx says, pointing to me.
"Yeah. Last thing I need is Jayy and Dahvie at my throat for this," Ashley says.
"Let's get something quick for a snack, then we'll take her home," Juliet say, while Andy grabs the keys to his bike, and Ashley does the same.
"Come on, babe," Ashley says, offering me his hand.
I take it, then we head out to the bikes. Once we're ready to go, Ashley and Andy speed down the disserted roads, and we stop at McDonalds, where I get Apple Dippers and a Sweet Tea, then we head towards the beach which is only a few minutes from the house.
We all eat our snack, then head out to the house, where Jayy is sitting on the front porch, waiting for me. At least I did most of my homework during the breaks at the studio.
I quickly get off Ashley's bike, then run up to Jayy, and say, "Sorry! We lost track of time."
"It's fine. You're 18 now. I just wanted to make sure you got home safely. Now, go say goodnight to everyone, Micro," he says.
I smile, then run back to Ashley, and practically throw myself into his waiting arms. He picks me up, spinning us around as he hugs me close, then kisses me, and says, "Goodnight, babe. I'll pick you up for school tomorrow, then after your detention."
I nod, thank him, and say, "Goodnight. I...I love you."
His smile falters slightly, since this is really the first time I've ever said that to him. He then smiles at me again, kisses me and says, "I love you too, Katie Alexandria Monroe-Vanity."
He then reluctantly lets me go, and I walk over to Juliet. I hug her and say, "Thanks for everything."
"Anytime. Goodnight, Katie," she says, hugging me back, then I move on to Andy.
"Goodnight, kiddo. Thanks for all the help tonight," he says, hugging me tightly.
"No problem. Goodnight," I say.
"Goodnight. By the way, I think you made Ashley's night," he whispers.
I look back at Ashley, then kiss him one more time, and say, "Love you, babe. Sweet dreams, Outlaw."
"Love you too. Sweet dreams, my little lady Outlaw," he says, kissing me back, then I head back over to Jayy, and say, "Make sure he pays attention to the road for me, guys."
Andy and Juliet laugh and nod, then Jayy and I head inside. I hug him, and thank him, then say goodnight, and go to my bedroom. I quickly finish my science homework, then go to bed.