Imagine Me and You

The air was brisk as it flowed around her shoulders and suddenly Brittany wished she had more than just her thin hoodie. She looked down at her ripped skinny jeans, seeing that her knees were poking through and she shivered again. It was the day after her eighteenth birthday and as soon as the clock had struck midnight she packed her bags and left. Her parents hadn’t even cared, in fact her mother almost offered to give her a lift to the bus station, but Brittany was finally on her own and she felt free. She had been able to come to the one place that she had always wanted to go-LA.

Now, standing in the middle of the sidewalk, her arms wrapped around her tightly, Brittany wondered why LA felt so cold. It was the middle of winter and she was slightly anxious because Brittany knew that she had nowhere to go. That and there was a guy, wearing black makeup and leather, standing across from her on the sidewalk and he was openly staring at her. As she stood there, tucking her black hair behind her ears-leaving her blonde bangs to hang over her right eye as usual-Brittany took the stranger across from her in.

He was taller-well taller than her and his teased black hair made him seem larger than life. He was wearing a black leather vest, with a white shirt on underneath and she noticed that he had a beat up motorcycle jacket resting over one shoulder. His face was covered in black stripes and his brown almond shaped eyes were heavily lined with black eyeshadow and liner. His pants were tight, leaving little to the imagination and Brittany could feel the flush come across her nose. She nervously bit down on her lip rings, watching as the guy smiled at her gently and began to walk towards her.

Oh God-he couldn’t come over here…not right now. Brittany had never really talked to boys much and this wasn’t a boy-this guy was a man and suddenly she felt like running away. How fast could her band covered converses take her away? Before she knew it the guy was closing in on her and Brittany readied herself to scream. There were plenty of people around, LA was a very crowded city and she knew that someone would stop and help her-right? Finally the space between them was closed and she was looking right into the most gorgeous brown eyes she had ever seen.


“Are you lost?” He asked her. His voice was lighter than she had expected and he seemed more friendly as well. Brittany reached back, tucking her hair back and then she realized that she had already done that and her hands were swiftly in her pockets.

“I-um-what-me? Me? Lost? N-no…” She stammered and then she felt like her face was on fire. He was laughing at her softly and Brittany only cleared her throat and bit down on her snakebites once again.

“You sure about that?” He was so friendly. Why was he being so friendly? This stranger who she had never met and yet he was looking down at her with so much concern.

“Um-yeah. I was uh…” Now she was getting really nervous. Where was she going? Her main plan had been to get out to LA and figure things out from there. She had nowhere to go, no one to turn to-she was completely alone in the world.

“Ar-are you homeless?” He asked, his voice low and guarded. In a way yeah, yeah she was, but Brittany wasn’t going to tell him that.

“Me? No! No I have somewhere to be…” She was stalling and he could tell. He smiled at her, reaching down for her two bags that were still sitting on the sidewalk by her feet.


This girl-there was something about her that Ashley just couldn’t shake. She looked so lost and alone-she looked the way he felt. He and the guys were finally making it big, but with that came a lot of lonely nights and even when he was with someone, Ashley felt lonelier than ever. This girl though really seemed alone and there was something attracting him to her. He had been on his way home from a show, choosing to walk instead of heading to the bar with everyone else. Now he was looking down at her, looking in to her brown eyes that looked so scared.

He had to help her, in some way, shape or form.


“So, my name’s Ashley. D-do you have a name?” He asked, his voice shy as he picked up her bags with one hand and reached for one of her hands with his free one.

“I-um-m-my name?” She seemed shocked by his gesture and she hesitantly took his hand and allowed him to lead her off into the direction of a nearby Starbucks.

“Yeah. You have one right?” He laughed at her, but it wasn’t like he was making fun of her. Brittany knew she was making an ass out of herself, but there was little she could do. She was alone and unsure of what was happening, but something within her was telling Brittany that this Ashley guy could be trusted.

“Of course! I’m Brittany.” She stopped walking then, looking up at the sign outside of the coffee shop and she couldn’t keep her mouth from dropping open. She had never been in a Starbucks before-there was only one near where she lived, but it was still an hour away.

“I’ve always liked that name. Look-I know this is really weird and forward of me, but you looked lonely and cold and I could use some company myself. So-uh-can I buy you a cup of coffee?” He was looking at her through his black bangs, which were hanging in his eyes and Brittany thought about it for a moment.

“Sure, why not…” She laughed as Ashley smiled at her and held the door open. Brittany walked in to the large coffeeshop and she felt her mouth water. She had always liked coffee and now she would finally get to try some of the best coffee ever.


Brittany followed Ashley inside and stayed behind him as he walked up to the counter. She looked over the menu, her eyebrow raising because none of it made any sense. Venti? Grande? Tall-what the Hell were all of those sizes. When it came time to order, Ashley took care of it and even though she pulled out her beat up wallet to pay for her coffee, he only smiled at her, shaking his head and saying that it was his treat. A blush creeped across her face as Brittany followed Ashley around and watched as he made his way towards a small table with two plush chairs pulled up to it. He deposited her bags, motioning for her to take a seat and that it exactly what Brittany did.

What was going to happen? She hadn’t really thought much about what would happen when she left home to come to LA-she just did it. She only had four hundred dollars-baby sitting money after five years-saved up and she knew that it wasn’t going to get her very far. Brittany chewed on her lip, sucking on her snakebites as she looked around-the coffee shop was nearly empty and the people who were inside all looked like Ashley. He was different-Brittany had never seen a guy like him before and in her small town guys like Ashley didn’t last very long. As she sat there with her hands folded on the table in front of her, Brittany felt her worry land in her stomach.


“You looked scared shitless. Are you sure you’re okay?” She snapped her head up just in time to see Ashley sit down, two mugs of coffee in his hands. Brittany smiled softly as she took a cup from him, bringing it to her nose and inhaling deeply. God it smelled so good.

“I’ll be okay. Just trying to figure some stuff out.” She smiled at him before taking a small sip of the steamy coffee and as it met her lips Brittany fell in love. This was the best coffee she’d ever had and she knew she would have to be careful not to come here too often-five bucks for coffee was outrageous.

“Like where you’re going to stay?” Ashley asked, his brown eyes mischievous as he looked at her over the rim of his cup. Brittany adverted her eyes-he was so attractive and she still didn’t understand what he was doing with her.

“I’ll figure it out. So can I ask-why are you dressed like that? Did you just come from a costume party or something?” She grinned at him, her smile bright as she took another sip of her coffee. Ashley smiled, running a hand through his straight black hair and his brown eyes were taunting as he looked at her.

“Actually I’m in a band. This is kind of our look right now, but we’re thinking of changing it up…” He explained and Brittany couldn’t help but giggle. She had never met anyone in a band before-she liked that kind of music, but it was rare to hear it in person back where she was from.


They sat and talked for what seemed like hours. Ashley told her all about his band-Black Veil Brides-and what they did. Brittany was interested, she had heard some of their early stuff but had no idea that they had put out another album. Ashley asked her about her life, which she told him little snippets about, but nothing too telling. She came from the Midwest, wanting to be away from the judgmental people in her life and in her town. She told him about coming out to LA with little money and now she wasn’t sure what she was going to do, but she knew she would be much happier in a place where people didn’t stare at her constantly. Although they had just met, Brittany felt connected to Ashley in a way and she knew that he felt the same.

There was something about him-he was a perv, which she had found out soon after learning about him being in a band, but he wasn’t like that with her. He was sweet, cupping her cheek when she got teary eyed talking about not fitting in and feeling bad about herself. He smiled and told her it would be okay when she confessed that she was scared about what was going to happen. The two of them laughed and joked for the longest time until finally Brittany realized how late it was and that she still hadn’t figured out where she was going to stay. Ashley only smiled, holding up a finger as he pulled out his phone and made a call.

Apparently the girlfriend of one of his bandmates needed a roommate and with a quick call from Ashley it was agreed that Brittany would stay there for the night and possibly longterm if the two girls got on well. She felt grateful for his kindness and as the two of them finished their drinks, Brittany couldn’t help but feel like she had developed a small crush on the bassist. He was sexy, but sweet all at the same time and as he grabbed her bags with one hand and took her small hand in his free one, Brittany felt her heart begin to flutter. She let him tug her along the sidewalks of LA, making small conversation and laughing until finally they were standing outside a large apartment building.


“Well this is it. Sammi is really nice-you two should get along really well.” He said as Ashley set her bags down and then turned to the small girl. She had a piece of hair floating over one eye and swiftly Ashley reached out and tucked the strand of silky black hair behind one of her pierced ears.

“Thank you so much Ashley. I-I can’t think of a way to repay you…” She was smiling at him shyly and Ashley only smirked. Usually this was where he would make some sexist remark about sexual favors, but no-not with Brittany. He liked this girl and for some reason he really wanted to see where things could go with her.

“I can think of a way…” He smirked at her, laughing gently as Brittany’s face fell and he knew she was thinking of something perverted and sexual. No-no he wasn’t going to go down that road…not yet atleast. He would take things slow with her…he was done using and abusing girls for his own pleasures.

“Oh?” Brittany seemed scared and Ashley said nothing as he leaned in and pressed his soft lips against her pierced ones. She melted against him, her tiny hands pressing against his chest and Ashley soon broke away from her and smiled.

“Let me take you out on a date…a real date.” He said and Brittany only smiled softly as she locked her brown eyes with his. She knew that her potential new roommate was standing in the door waiting for her, so without thinking Brittany kissed him again before giving him her answer.

“You know where to find me…” She said, placing a hand against his cheek as she walked past and smiled at the blonde girl waiting for her in the doorway.


She had taken her destiny in her own hands and Brittany could tell already that her future was a bright one and she could not wait to see what was going to happen.

Notes

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