Dos:
Ashley and his band mates could do nothing but stare. They were literally stupefied, glues to the spots they were standing in. they just witnessed a girl who had been abused all her life come clean in a song. And even though it was a cover, it was so heartbreaking and so full of emotion that it was like that song was meant for her. The band’s manager, Jacob, ushered Black Veil Brides out of the room and sighed once he had shut the door.
“I had no idea,” he mumbled. He held his hand over his eyes and for a minute there the boys of BVB thought he was going to cry. “I had no fucking idea. I’ve got kids of my own, and I just can’t see how someone can do that!”
They knew how he was feeling. It’s a sickening thought to think of a parent abusing their own child, and from the looks of those scars, it had been a long time that this had been going on. And her bruises…they were fresh…very fresh. After a while the door opened and Alexis stood there with bloodshot eyes. She managed a meek smile before heading off to the bathroom.
~****~
After washing my face and redoing my makeup, I exited the lady’s room and went back to the studio.
“Hey, uh can we get some food, I’m starving?”
“Whatever you want babe,” Tom smiled as the others nodded.
While JP ordered some grub, I decided to go outside and get some air. I slumped down on the side of the building and breathed in deeply before slowly letting it out. I rested my elbows on my knees and stared at my battered arms.
They were covered in bruises, handprints…and cuts. I know it’s stupid to cut myself, and I always used to wonder why people would do that to themselves. But you honestly have no idea what that person is going through until you are in their shoes. You have no idea the pain a person goes through to drive them into the idea of self-harm. You have no idea what it’s like until you’re holding that straight-edge razor or that switchblade to your bare skin. And even then, you have no idea what’s it like until you feel the sharp edge of the blade biting into your skin as you drag the object across and watch the blood pool up and spill from the wound.
I roughly rub my hand across my arms until a couple of the cuts crack open and bleed. Sighing, I tilt my head back and close my eyes.
“Hey.” I open my eyes and am startled to see Ashley Purdy standing over me. I tried to quickly hide my arm, but it was too late. Without a word, he pulls a tissue out of his pocket and dabs at the bleeding wounds. He helps me off the ground and leads me, quietly, back into the building and into one of the bathrooms where he cleans my cuts and places Band-Aids on them.
“Can I call you Lex?” He asked. I nod my head yes. I don’t know why I can’t seem to find my voice. I’m afraid that if I open my mouth I’m going to cry and shout out an apology for reasons unknown to me. “Lex, I know you’re hurting. I can only imagine what you’re going through, but please if not for yourself, then for your friends, and me and the guys, as well as your music. Please stop cutting, Lex.”
“You don’t even know me,” I mumbled.
“You’re right, I don’t know you. But what I do know is that I just met an awesome girl who killed it in that booth just a little bit ago. I met a girl who just opened herself up to a room of strangers and is going to open herself up to even more strangers. I might not know much, but I’d like to, but I can’t do that if you’re playing with your life.”
I chewed on my bottom lip to keep the tears at bay. Without even thinking on it, I wrapped my arms around him in a hug. “Thank you.” I placed a chaste kiss on his cheek then jumped off the sink and exited the bathroom.
~****~
It’s been a few says since my breakdown in the studio and my talk with Ashley. After what happened (in the booth, not with Ashley) I sat down with everyone and told them the gist of things. I am a victim of child abuse. That’s all that they need to know, I’m not ready to tell them anything else yet. It’s my life and I’m allowed to keep some demons to myself.
Jacob, our manager, decided it wasn’t safe for me to be living with my mom and dad, and though it killed me to leave my mom, my boys made me leave. After all we have a bright future in the music industry ahead of us, and we can’t go too far if I’m dead. So my boys and I got an apartment near the studio. I crawled out of bed and scratched my arms as I walked out into the living room. The guys were all up and sitting on the couch watching cartoons.
“We have a meeting in two hours,” JP said to me as I cuddled up into his arms.
“Okay, I guess I’ll go ahead and take a shower.” I smiled before going to the bathroom. I quickly washed up and washed my hair before putting on some clean undies and blow-drying my hair. I put on some basic makeup then went into my room to find something to wear. I decided on some olive green skinny jeans, chocolate brown boots, and a cute short-sleeved sweater. I pulled my hair up into a messy bun and left my fringe hanging in my face.
I grabbed my handcuff belt and my favorite earrings that had handcuffs and stars hanging from them then exited my room.
“Well look at you. I don’t know boys, I think Lex looks too good for this meeting,” Josh smirked.
“That’s not funny guys,” I pouted. “I am not changing.”
“Fine, fine let’s go.”
We all piled into Tom’s car and drove to the studio. We arrived a few minutes later and walked inside. Jacob was sitting a huge table in one of the side rooms with a contract in front of him. “Great, you made it. I have some exciting news!” Jacob smiled.
“Okay, what is it?” I asked as I sat down.
“The label has suggested that to help you guys get some exposure, you should be the opener for Black Veil Brides on the tour.”
“Holy shit Batman,” Josh screamed. “Are you serious?”
“I am as serious as a heart attack,” Jacob smiled. “Are you guys up to the challenge?”
“Hell yeah!” I screamed as I high-fived my boys. We quickly signed the papers and found out we would be leaving in just three days and would be sharing a bus with BVB since a bus just wasn’t in our budget just yet.
“This is going to be a cramped tour,” Tom noted as we were walking back to his car.
“You said it, man, but come on this is awesome. We’re going on our first tour to promote the EP that’s coming out soon and then when we get back, we start work on our first album!” I squealed as I clapped my hands together.
“She’s right man, let’s celebrate!” JP yelled.