Never Give In, Never Back Down

We pulled into a small ice cream shop off the highway. I chuckled as I read the sign 'Moo-moo real cream. Family run ice cream
parlor.' Heading inside Andy ordered a mint chocolate chip cone for me and a chocolate one for himself. I offered to pay but he wouldn't
hear of it.

"Come on Andy! Lemme pay for mine!" I said pulling out my wallet not realizing i had dropped my song book. "Here, it's $6 for
my ice cream right?"

"That's right ma'am." I handed over the money for my cone.

"Hey Ash....what's this?" Andy picked up my song book off the floor. Opening the cover he started flipping through the small inked
drawings and scrawling scripts.

"My...song book." I sighed softly a bit agitated.

"These are great Ash. Dark and meaningful."

"Thanks. You guys were my inspiration to get into writing songs." He handed me back my song book as i shut the passenger door.
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I heard Andy playing a soft melody i didn't recognize. It had the same gentle flow as Mortician's Daughter but the notes were
all off. I slipped into the living room. Andy was facing away from me hunched over his guitar and a sheet of paper. When the melody
picked up again i was shocked.

"Sorrow trapped in speech, tattered should you may teach." I was listening to my lyrics. MY lyrics. The melody was soft and
beautiful like i had imagined but still obtained a dark underlay. I didn't have the skills to pull it off but Andy had worked magic. He
had stopped to scribble down a few more notes.

"A wise man said, loose yourself and you'll be dead." I sang along with him. "you put music to my song." I said softly trying not
to break the sweet after glow of the song.

"Yeah I've been thinking about it since we got back....I hope you don't mind. I copied down your lyrics so i didn't have to keep
your book." I nodded my consent and picked up a pile of papers. Scrawled across them in Andy's eloquent yet messy handwriting was a
riddle of pen marks and notes that had been written, crossed out, and re-written until this perfection was created. "How was your
shower."

"Fine." I said my damp hair falling across my shoulder. "Andy. This is amazing. Can you play it for me?"

I listened as Andy's voice sang my song and i paid close attention to his spacing and pitch. Once i got the hang of the song I
began to sing along with him. My voice mixing perfectly with the deeper tone of Andy's. He laid down his guitar after we'd finished our
duet. Turning to me he had a worried look in his porcelain eyes. "When Ashley gets back i want to introduce your song to the guys. I want
to put it on our next album. You will get credit for writing it of course, and I want you to sing it with me. On the album as well as the
tour for the album."

"Pinch me i must be dreaming." I said hoping this was really happening to me. I didn't believe that my dreams were really
coming true. Moving to LA, singing a song i wrote with my savior, and leaving on tour with friends. The band had become more than
friends to me in this short time. They were family.

Suddenly I felt a sharp pain in my arm. "I DIDN'T MEAN LITERALLY PINCH ME, SMARTASS!" I slapped his shoulder as we burst
into hysterical laughter.

"So, what do you say Ash?" Andy asked as we collapsed further into the sofa.

"I would love to Andy." I hugged him tightly before sauntering off to make dinner.
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Pulling on Ashley's sweat pants and a tight fitting black tank I went in search of Andy. I found him in the living room watching
Batman and I asked if i could join him.

"I love this episode. It's were Batman finally catches the Joker and puts him away for good. It's bittersweet." He nodded absently
and wrapped his arm around my shoulder pulling me into his chest. I curled up to his side laying my head against his shoulder.

"Where am I sleeping tonight Andy?"

"The guest bedroom. I knew you were coming so i tidied it up for you. It's the first door on the left." I was tired so I made my way
into the guest room. There wasn't much floor space with all of Andy's Batman stuff piled up into mountains all around the room. I lit a
stick of lavender incense to calm me down and laid down to go to sleep.
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"Ash?" I opened my eyes feeling the hot sun against my back. Turning over i saw my best friend Drew. Pulling myself up i rubbed
the sleep from my eyes and took the hand he extended to me. Once on my feet he lowered his eyes away from mine. "I have to go home Ash.
Do you need a ride?"

I could tell something was wrong. Knowing how he is he would push it off as being fine. So i didn't press the matter. "No I can
get my mom to come and get me."

"Ok i'll text you later."

"Ok!" I kissed his cheek. "Bye Drew!!" I dailed my mom's number as I watched him slip through the street to his car. When she
didn't answer i left her a message before I picked a spot against a pole and drifted back to sleep.

Suddenly it was dark outside and I was in my room. I picked up my phone and looked at the message that blipped to life a few
seconds ago. Marking the page in my book I set it down and unlocked my screen.

"Hey. wat up?" It was Drew.

"Nothin' much. You seemed a bit off today...you ok?" -BVB babe

"ya. m fine. m goin' to bed."

"goodbye Ash..." Something seemed wrong but I shook it off and went back to reading.
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I forced myself to wake up not wanting to relive what came next.

Blindly i fumbled around the house until i found the kitchen. I poured myself a glass of water and allowed myself to calm
down before I headed back to my bedroom.

I laid back down memories flooding my mind. I tried to force myself to stay awake for fear of what came next but i drifted back
into the blackness of my dreams.

"Ash. Look at me. You did this to me." I turned around slowly feeling his hot breath on my neck. Drew. One look at those sorrow
filled azure eyes and I knew what happened next.

*bang*

A shot rang out and blood clouded my vision. Suddenly I was being shaken and when i opened my eyes I saw Drew. Gun laying
loose in his warm dead hand. I cried out but no one was there. I pulled him into my arms begging for someone to help him. It was too
late. I saw his hand twitch and his body seemed to transport from my arms to standing before me. His eyes were lifeless and the bullet
wound still dripped a steady stream of blood.

"You did this to me Ash. You didn't stop me. You knew something was wrong, and you let me go."
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Wrenching myself from my nightmare I felt hot tears streaming down my cheeks. I couldn't go back to sleep, and I didn't want
to be alone. I slid out of bed and made my way to Andy's room. I pushed open the bedroom door and walked over to the side of the bed.

"Andy." I whispered as a tear rolled down my nose. "Wake up. I need you." I said as a sob tore from my throat.

"What is it Ash? ...Why....why are you crying? What happened?" He sat up and flipped on the switch by his bed.

"I had a nightmare...can i please sleep with you tonight. I don't want to be alone. He slid to one side of the bed and lifted the
covers allowing me to slip in between them. He pulled me close laying his head gently on top of mine and stroking my hair.
After a few minutes i still hadn't calmed down so he began singing softly. "I open my lungs dear, I sing this song at funerals no
rush..." the combination of his deep melodic voice and his slim fingers gently stroking my hair i began to calm down before drifting
slowly back to sleep.
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"One million years I will say your name. I love you more than I can ever scream..." I kissed Ash gently on the head and resumed
stroking her hair. I listened to her slow breathing and tried to slip our from her grip to go and get some water but her hand gripped me
tightly, begging me not to leave her.

She looked so innocent and I wondered what happened in her dream that caused her to react like that. i decided to forgo the
water and settled in for the night. I held her tightly as i slowly descended into a dreamless sleep.

Notes