You Saved Me

Katie's POV: As I arrive at the studio I see the guys are outside and it looks like Ashley and CC are playing table tennis. I pull my phone out and record them for a moment, before Andy sees me and waves me over.
"I almost mistook you as Red for a moment, Katie," Andy says as I get closer.
Ashley finally looks up and his brown eyes widen as he sees my hair, then he says, "Damn, babe. Red looks good on you."
"Thanks, babe," I say walking up to him, then kissing him on the cheek.
"That's all I get?" he asked.
"For now," I tease, then we head inside to John, Jinxx, Jake, and the girls. I don't even get one foot in the door, before I'm engulfed in a huge hug by the girls shouting things like, "Finally you're here!" and, "About damn time!"
Sammi seems to be the first to notice my hair change though, and says, "Loving the hair."
"Thank, Sammi. Dahvie did it for me last night and this morning," I tell her.
"He's good, and what do you mean last night and this morning?" she asked, looking kind of confused.
"He had to take all the color out of my hair last night and re-dye the black under the red, but to make sure it wouldn't turn pink, I guess he had to let the bleach set overnight," I explain.
"Wait, he used bleach?!" she gasps in horror.
"Umm...Yeah?" I say, though it ends up sounding more like a question.
"I'm going to have to have a serious talk with him about that," she say, sounding rather ticked off.
"What's so bad about bleach?" I ask, perplexed.
"Besides the fact that it can damage your hair to no return?" she asked.
"Honey, you're being hypocritical," Jinxx says in the kindest way he knows how, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his chin on her shoulder.
"Maybe, but I should know. I fried my hair once with bleach, and I don't want to see Katie or Dahvie fry hers that way," she states, "If being a hypocrite means protecting her from that nightmare, then so be it."
"Thanks for the warning, Sammi, but I think I'll talk to Dahvie about it tonight," I say, "If bleach is a no-go, then what should I use?"
"I'll write it all down for you while the album's playing," she says, then turns to Andy and asked, "Can I borrow your notebook?"
"Umm...Sure," he says, passing the book to her, which she happily takes, then sits with Jinxx on the couch.
She then looks up and asked, "What did he use for the red?"
"Umm...Manic Panic Pillarbox Red," I tell her.
"Well, at least he got that right," she mubbles under her breath, then begins to write.
"So, is everyone ready?" John asked, which we all nod, and he messes with his computer. He clicks on a few things, then I hear Exorium begin to play. I close my eyes, after sitting on Ashley's lap, and lean into his chest, relaxing and letting the words take me over.
Quite a few songs play, and between each few is a violin part, where I hear William Control's voice recite a speech of sorts, then it falls into a new song. About halfway through though, there's a pause, and then I hear Andy talking again.
"That God does not exist, I cannot deny. That my whole being cries out for a god, I cannot forget," he says, then it falls into a new section of the album, starting with Days Are Numbered.
At first I think that Billy Talent is singing with Andy on this one, but then I realize it's not him. It's someone else, that I can't seem to place at first, but then it hits me. Bert McCracken was in the studio not too long ago, and that's his voice on the record.
A short time later, the last track plays, and when I open my eyes, I see the look of pride on all the guys faces, and a look of awe on all the girls.
"So, what did you guys think?" John asked.
"It's amazing!" Ella squeels.
"I agree with Ella," Sammi says.
"Me too!" Lauren chimes in.
"I loved it," Juliet says, smiling at the boys.
"Same here," I say, "I expecially loved the song We Don't Belong."
"Thanks," the boys say to each of us, with huge smiles of accomplishment on their faces.
"Let's go celebrate!" Ashley shouts.
"Celebrate, how?" I ask, arching an eyebrow at him.
"Have a drink, babe," he says, kissing my cheek.
"One problem with that," I tell him, "I'm 18."
Andy snorts, then says, "So? I drank when I was 18."
"It's different," I tell him now, "You were in a successful rock band that toured the world. I'm not."
"Maybe not yet, but with your voice, your brothers and us backing you, and the incredible talent of your friends, I could see it," he says, "And what they don't know at the bar, won't kill them. Ashley will just order your drinks, if you're too scared to."
"I'm not scared!" I counter, "Let's go."
"Alright!" CC hoots, as we all pile out of the studio.
"Our usual spot?" Ashley calls out to the guys.
"Sounds good to me!" Andy calls back.
"Alright, see you bitches later!" Ashley shouts getting in the drivers side of my Mustang and putting the top down. I smile and shake my head at my boyfriend, then get in the passengers side and passing him the keys.
"You don't have to be worried, but out of curiosity, what would you name your band if you had one?" Ashley asked me as he backs out of the parking lot.
"Hmm...I kind of like Tomorrow's Stranger or BFFT," I say.
"BFFT?" he inquires.
"Break Free From Tradition," I explain.
"Hmm...Break Free From Tradition....BFFT," Ashley murmurs to himself, "I like it. Which one's you're favorite out of those two?"
"Don't know. I like them both a lot," I tell him honestly.
"Want to know my favorite?" he asked, quirking an eyebrow at me, but not taking his eyes off the road ahead.
"I think I already know, but go ahead," I say with a laugh.
"BFFT," he says with a smirk.
"I thought you'd like that best after you knew what it stood for," I say with a laugh.
"Did you now?" he asked, smirking in return.
"Yes, I did, Mr. Purdy," I say, then lean in and kiss his cheek
He holds up two fingers then and says, "Two times! Two times today you've gotten me with the cheek kiss, but I swear I'll get a real kiss out of you sooner or later."
"You'll have to work for that, baby," I tease him, as he pulls into the bar they normally go to when in town.
"In that case, all I have to do is turn on the Purdy charm, and you'll be all over me," he says, getting out of my car, and opening my door for me.
"Why thank you," I say, "But that's not going to land you a kiss, baby. Sorry."
I then walk ahead of him to meet up with everyone, and we head inside. They all walk to the bar, me tagging along, feeling awkward as ever, but sitting between Juliet and Ashley anyway.
"What can I get for you folks?" the bartender asked us....

Notes