"Here is your ring, Katie," the man says, passing me the tiny box, which I open, and look at the ring. I smile at it, then thank him, pay him, and walk out, sticking the box in my bag. I then walk with Jayy to Hot Topic, but on my way there, I see Rocket and a group of kids from my school. They should be in school still, so why are they here.
Rocket sees me, then parts from the group, and says, "Micro! What are you doing here? Thought you were sick."
"I forgot my meds last night, so had an issue functioning earlier. No big deal now though. So, what are you doing here?" I ask.
He looks back at the group and says, "Art Attack. Every Friday we go around LA and all of us do our own thing. Like the art students will draw murals or wrap yarn around poles and posts, music will perform at random places, and so on and so on."
"Wow," I say.
He grabs my hand and pulls me to the group, then says, "Join us. I have yet to hear you sing, girly."
I groan, then join the group, where they automatically accept me, and some kids in the back begin beat boxing what sounds like Stand By Me.
"Come on, and sing with us," Rocket says, then falls into the first lyric, and I follow suit. We sing and just have a good time, and when the song's over, Rocket says to the others, "Let's kick it up a notch, shall we?"
They all smile at each other, then Rocket sings starts singing If You Can't Hang, making me do the chorus by myself, and alternating through the whole song, dancing around with each other.
When the song's over there's a huge applause from the crowd around us, and Jayy comes up to me and says, "That was amazing!"
"Thanks," Rocket and I say together, then I see someone else push their way through the crowd.
Kellin Quinn walks up to us, and says, "That was awesome, guys. Did you rehearse that, or was it just a random thing?"
Alright, being Jayy Von Monroe and Dahvie Vanity's sister, dating Ashley Purdy, and friends with the rest of BVB and Asking you would think I wouldn't get star struck meeting Kellin Quinn, right? Wrong.
My jaw drops, and I feel Jayy push it back into place, and I finally say, "Um...it was just a happy accident."
"Well, that was awesome on so many levels," he says, "I'm Kellin, by the way."
"I know, um, I'm Katie. Jayy's sister, and this is my best friend Rocket," I say.
"Nice to meet you," Kellin says shaking our hands, "You two could go far with that talent you have."
"Really?" Rocket asked in awe.
"Really. Ever considered a career in music?" he asked.
"We were hoping to find a band for Micro, here," Jayy says, "And I think a good start would be getting Rocket on board."
"Well, maybe I could help you guys, man," Kellin says, then gives Jayy his number, and Rocket and I say our goodbyes, then walk to Hot Topic finally.
When we get there, we head inside and I see a blonde bitch standing next to Ashley, and as I get closer, I hear her say, "Just leave that little nobody, and come with me. I'll show you what a real woman's like."
"I already told you I'm not leaving her, so go away before I have security throw you out," Ashley tells her, looking through the band tees.
"Whatever. That little bitch can't give you what you need, and you know it," she says to him.
"She is everything I need and more. Now leave me alone," Ashley growls at her.
"Hey bitch!" I call out to her, "Leave my boyfriend alone. He said he's not interested, so back off."
"Oh look, it's the little slut herself," she says.
"I think you need to take a good look in the mirror to call anyone a slut," I tell her, then walk into Ashley's outstretched arms and kiss him. Then suddenly I'm being jerked backwards by my hair, and thrown into a display.
I'm dazed, but get up anyway, and grab a belt from the rack next to me, then wrap it around her neck, yanking her backwards, into a case with a bunch of body jewelry. I then pull her up by her hair, and drag her from the store, and say, "Get out of my sight, and don't come back. Oh, and while you're at it, leave my boyfriend alone. Got it, bitch?"
She nods, then scampers away. I walk back in the store then, and begin to relax at bit. I look over at the woman behind the counter and say, "I'll...I'll pay for that."
"No! It's fine. We'll take care of it. Think of it as thanks for taking care of that parasite," she says, "She's been coming in here treating all the workers like garbage and trying to get in every cute guys pants that walks in here."
I sigh, then walk over to the ATM, and take out $300 and pass it to her. She again declines, and I say, "At least let me help you."
She reluctantly takes the stack of bills, then counts it out, and says, "This is way too much. I'll take $100 if it means that much to you."
"$150," I tell her, the set the $50 on the counter and walk over to Ashley and Jayy, who look at me in shock. I then ask, "What?"
They quickly shake their heads, and Ashley pulls me into his arms, and we walk out of the store.