Imagine Me and You

The music coming through the speakers of her computer was soothing and Midnight was just sitting in her chair, her brown eyes closed to the world. The soothing tone of Andy’s voice coming through her speakers was drowning out the world and Midnight was grateful for that fact. She’d been having a hard time in school-people were constantly ripping on her and making her feel bad, but Midnight tried to not let it bother her. She would just put her earbuds in her ears, switch her iPod over to Black Veil Brides and let the pain wash away with the music.

She was so lost in her music, sitting in her room with the window open to the LA air, that Midnight didn’t even realize that her mother was standing in her doorway. Her brown curly hair was pulled back into a bun, her black and white Black Veil Brides shirt wrinkled and in need of a date with the washing machine, but none of it mattered-Midnight was lost in the music and that was where she loved to be. She had been begging her mother to let her start some sort of music lesson and Midnight was happy that it seemed like her mother was finally relenting. As she spun around in her chair, Midnight nearly jumped out of her skin as she noticed her mother standing in her doorway.


“Hello!” Her mother laughed as she walked into the room, a cordless phone in one hand and Midnight’s music lesson application in the other. Midnight put the music on mute and she smirked as her mother approached her with a smile on her face.

“Sorry mom. What’s that?” Midnight asked, nodding her head towards the paper. She knew exactly what it was, but Midnight didn’t want to push her luck. Her mother hadn’t been too keen on her starting music lessons, but after months of pushing and begging, finally she was getting to do what she wanted.

“You know what this is. I’ve got the owner of the music studio on the phone and he says he has two openings today-one for guitar and one for bass. So you need to pick which one so we can get you started.” Her mother said and Midnight bit down on her lip, her tan arms crossing over her chest as she thought things over. She loved guitar, but bass was something that she had also been thinking about and as she looked at her wall and made eye contact with one of her favorite brown eyed bassists, Midnight smiled.

“Bass. When can we go?!” She laughed as her mother held up a hand and spoke quietly into the phone. Finally after a few minutes of talking, her mother hung up and smiled down at her overly excited daughter.

“We have twenty minutes to get there. So grab your jacket and I’ll meet you down in the car!” Midnight hadn’t even let her mother finish speaking before she had jumped up, grabbed her Nightmare Before Christmas hoodie and was bounding down the stairs.


Midnight was already in the car, her knees bouncing up and down as she waited impatiently for her mother to join her. Bass! She was going to be learning how to play the bass and she couldn’t be more excited. Midnight had always had a love for music and at fourteen she was really hoping that this was the start of something. Finally her mother got behind the wheel and they were off, turning on to the highway to enter the city and her mind was suddenly spinning. If she learned bass and got good enough, Midnight could start her own band and follow in the foot steps of some of the people who had helped her in life.

She would need a guitarist, a drummer, and a singer-they would also need a name, songs and manager. Midnight smiled as she placed her hand against the window and watched the scenery pass by. Car after car drove past, but all she could think about was the excitement that was building in her mind. She had so much to do-so many songs she wanted to learn and there was the entire process of picking out a bass that she loved. Ugh! It was all so exciting that Midnight could barely sit still and her mother could obviously tell. She only laughed as they finally pulled off on an exit and Midnight knew she was only moments away from starting her new musical adventure.


“Alright we’re here-I want you to go in, pick out a decently priced bass and then I’m going to do some shopping while you have your first lesson-okay?” Her mother said and Midnight only nodded her head vigorously as she unbuckled her seatbelt and rushed out of the car.

“Thanks mom!” Midnight said as she ran across the sidewalk, calling over her shoulder before she entered the music store and her mouth dropped open.


Guitars and basses were hanging from the ceiling, their mutilcolored bodies shining from the lights hanging over head and Midnight knew there was no way she was going to be able to pick just one. A young guy approached her, smiling as his pierced lip curved into an easy smile and he asked if she needed any help. He led her over towards the basses, pointing out which ones were better for beginners and Midnight could hardly hold in her shriek as she noticed one bass in particular. It was the same bass that Ashley Purdy-bassist from Black Veil Brides-used and she knew that this was the one.

Quickly the guy grabbed it off the hook, smirking as he carried it over to the register and rang everything up. Her mother had made arrangements with the studio to pay when Midnight was done for the day and as the guy at the counter went over with her how to tune everything and the basic maintenance, Midnight could barely contain herself. Soon enough she was led into the back, a small room with two amps, a music stand and two chairs and the nice guy from the front said her teacher would be in shortly as he was running late.

Midnight held the bass in her hands, the white fiberglass smooth against her skin and she plucked at the strings gently. A low noise came out and she squealed as she realized what this meant-her dream was coming true. Midnight had never been like the other kids she played with or went to school with-they wanted to be doctors or ballerinas and all Midnight wanted to be was Gene Simmons. Finally, as she sat in that dark room and looked around at all of the posters covering the walls, Midnight realized that that dream could finally come true.

Suddenly the door popped open, someone was rushing in to the room, a bass case under one leather jacket clad arm and he had his long black hair covered in a beat up baseball cap. Midnight smiled as the guy kept his back to her while he arranged everything, but as he finally turned around and faced her, his sunglass covered eyes looking towards her, Midnight felt like she was going to faint.


“Sorry I’m late my band practice ran long. I’m Ashley.” He was smiling down at her and Midnight felt hot all over. He had taken his glasses off, those brown eyes of his were now looking down at her as he held out his hand for her to take. His arms were still slightly covered in black paint and Midnight didn’t know what to do.

“I-uh-I’m um…I’m Midnight.” She finally spit out and Ashley only smirked as he moved to sit down, dropping her hand as he plugged his bass in and watched the girl before him do the same. She was a pretty girl-too young for him-but pretty with her tan skin, brown eyes and curly dark hair.

“So it’s awesome that you chose to start with the bass-one of the most underappreciated instruments in the music world.” Ashley started off and he smiled as she just stared at him with an open mouth. He finally noticed her t-shirt that was peeking out from underneath her hoodie and his smile grew. A fan-this was probably a dream come true for her and he was happy that he had taken this side project on.

“Yeah-I wanted to do something that not many people did. Everyone learns how to play the guitar first…” Midnight said, her voice low and Ashley only smiled as he made eye contact with her.

“Relax-this is going to be really fun and we’re going to learn a lot. Now who are your musical influences?” He asked and Midnight blushed as she thought everything over. She listened to a lot of bands, but none more than his. Their first album had come out at a time when Midnight had really needed some support and their latest album was equally as good.

“Uh-you…I also really like Motley Crue and Avenged Sevenfold.” She murmured and Ashley smiled as he readjusted his bass. This was going to be really fun and he was excited to see where things could go with this whole thing.

“Good…now to start…” He began to teach her and finally after about ten minutes Midnight began to relax.


She couldn’t believe her good luck and as Ashley stood behind her, his tattooed arms wrapped around her shoulders while he tried to show her something, Midnight could barely contain herself. After an hour session they began to wrap things up and they settled on a lesson plan of every Monday and Thursday. As she walked from the building and waved to her hero from over her shoulder, Midnight knew she couldn’t wait until Monday.

Notes

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