*Ashley's POV*

I sat next to Krystal in the recovery room. Dr Brennan said that she should have been awake by now, but it’s okay because the longer she rests, the better.
In the meantime I was being a nosey fucker and picked up her iPod from her open bag pocket.

"Haha! Andy look!" He looked up from flicking through his twitter page. I held up her iPod so it was facing him. Her unlock screen was a picture of me.
I was on stage, topless, with a microphone. I think that was in London 2011, I had run on stage with Yashin to sing 'Everytime.'

"Nice one. Got ourselves a stalker" he chuckled. I must've glared at him. "I'm just kidding. It's nice to know she's a fan. Least you know you'll both definitely have something in common." he winked at me.

I unlocked the iPod and her background image was someone's arm, tattooed. I think it was her own. It read "Never Give In... Never Back Down... Ash"
Wow. Had I met this girl before now? That was my signature. That was recent too. I think I remember... She was at a meet and greet before a show.
I got up and stood over her.
I tried carefully to move her left arm.

"ASHLEY!" Myah snapped at me in a harsh whisper.

"What?"

"Leave her alone!"

"I just want to see her tatt-"

"No Ash! Leave her alone." oh shit. Krystal was stirring.

"Oh look what you've done. She was resting!"

I stroked Krystal’s hair ever so gently and hummed a song to her and she soon slept again. Everyone decided to leave, go back to my place and catch up on sleep. All except me and CC.
I said my goodbyes and then return to my seat, telling myself that I would ask Krystal to see her tattoo later and continued playing with her iPod. I flick through her artists.

"Hey what's the name of her band?" CC looks up from his magazine and shrugs.

"I don't know. I'll message Craig.” He pulled his phone out and tapped away.

I had started to stare into space. Maybe I was kinda tired. A couple of minutes later; his phone buzzed, snapping me back to normality.

"They're called The Bleeding Unseen."

“Thanks man.”

I scrolled through to the “B” section and there they were.
Right underneath us.
Yep, she really was a fan. “Black Veil Brides” I opened it up and she had our whole discography. Jeez. There was a folder entitled ‘Stolen Hearts.’

“CC! Look! She does like me!” Stolen Hearts was the band I was in before BVB. I did miss singing lead sometimes. But I love these guys too much to care.

“Okay.. Calm down. Congrats. But you need to stop getting carried away. She doesn’t know you yet, ok?”

He was right. “Ok...” I needed to follow the plan, get to know her first...

I pressed the ‘Back’ button and selected her band. She had 5 songs, 3 covers and 2 original ones. I plugged my earphones into it and selected the first song. Should’ve guessed; after all, she did have the lyrics tattooed on her arm. ‘Never Give In’ I listened. Wow. She had a husky voice. They had obviously changed the octaves so she could hit the notes, but holy crap. She was amazing.

It hit me... That’s why she didn’t tell Myah; that's why she didn't tell her boys...
‘When your life feels lost; Fight against all odds.’
That’s exactly what she did... She was trying to fight the odds on her own, for the sake of keeping her apartment and hopes of continuing in their band.

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I must’ve dozed off again. I woke up to CC punching my arm. “Ow!” I still had the ear phones in listening to Krystal’s band. I pulled one out. “What was tha-“ Oh. My phone was ringing. Krystal was stirring and CC went over to her bedside. Shit! I wanted to be there when she woke up. I fumbled around for my phone and exited the room to take the call.

Uncle Max had landed not too far from here. Krystal’s parents are on the minibus, they should be here in about 45 minutes!

I re entered the room and Krystal was sitting upright. She just looked at me. She didn’t say a word.

I worried a little. “Um- Has she said anything yet?”

“Nope. She kinda stared at me and got a bit teary. I explained what was going on, why she was here and about her operation. I reassured her that she is fine now, just needs to recover. I think she’s a bit star struck dude.” he looked at Krystal who nodded a little and he chuckled. “Better get used to it! You’re coming home with us!” He nudged her chin with his hand. Krystal burst into tears, but it wasn’t like before. She wasn’t in pain, she wasn’t in fear, she was crying of happiness. “Aw, bless! I’ll go tell Dr Brennan she’s awake.” CC hugged her and then went off to get her a glass of water.

I didn’t know what to do with myself. I went and perched on the chair next to her. She watched me sit down and I shifted a little.

“Ash?” she croaked.

“Are you okay? What’s wrong?!”

“Nothing... I just-" She sighed. "Am I dead?”

“Dead? Why on Earth would you think that!?” I dragged my seat a little closer to her and listened intently.

“Well... I just went through the worst patch in my whole life. And now I’m waking up to CC and Ashley fucking Purdy.” I smile at her and laugh a little. “It’s not funny Ash. I wanna wake up now. I don’t want to die...”

“Krystal, honey; you’re not dead! And you're not going to die. I won't let you." I smiled but she didn't look convinced. "Look" I moved her hand up and placed it on my cheek. “See? I am very much real!” She welled up again as she brushed her thumb across my cheek slightly. “Shhh, don’t cry. You’re okay now.” I pulled my hand away from her soft cheek and stood up to get her iPod but she grasped hold of my arm really tight. “Woah, ease up there darl’ I’m not going to leave you. I’m never going to leave you. Okay?” She nodded. I turned my back from her and leaned to get the iPod.

“Ash... Why are you here?” I could tell she had tried piecing everything together.

“Well, as CC said, we had come to Whisky a Go Go to see how Myah was doing, she told me to buzz off because she didn’t want anyone knowing I was her brother and then she saw you bleeding, told us what had been going on. We tried to find you; and when we did we- you... Uh. You were unconscious.” She looked frustrated. “What’s wrong?”

“I- I don’t remember what happened.” I perched on the edge of her bed and she scooted over a little. “Ow!” She winced but then she tapped the gap she had now created next to her. I hopped up even though I had my boots on still and sat next to her. She leant her head on my shoulder, so I took my arm and placed it round her fragile body.

“So, trouble. I met you before now; at the meet and greet?” She smiled. It was nice seeing her smile. I was right. She was so beautiful. She nodded.

“You remember me?” I didn't want to lie to her.

“Vaguely. We do a lot of meet and greets, but yeah, you asked me for the ‘Never Give In... Never Back Down’ lyric. Now show me that tattoo!” She giggled and held out her left arm. The lyric was there along with my signature on the inside of her forearm. “Wow. That really is some sexy handwriting” I wink at her.

“It sure is” She laughed.

CC walked back in, gave me a funny look and handed me the plastic cup filled with cold water. As I pass it to Krystal I give him a look. A look of “What the fuck is your problem.” He glanced at me then shifted his eyes over to Krystal and to me and her and then back to me again. I shrugged causing her to lift her head from my shoulder.

“Sorry! You okay Ash? Am I hurting you?” She looked so innocent as she looked up at me.

“Don’t be silly. Of course you’re not hurting me. Here, you need to rest. I shuffle down the bed slightly so she is propped up against me, but in more of a laying fashion than a bolt upright position. She placed her head on my chest, closed her eyes and nuzzled me a little as she got comfy. My heart skipped a little. I couldn’t help but smile.

“Ash...?” She whispered.

“Krystal?”

“Thank you.”

“No – Thank you.” I kissed her forehead and we both fell asleep.