Far And Away.

The small club was jam packed full of people and Flora was standing in the very middle of it all. This was a big night, not only for Black Veil Brides, but also for Flora. Tonight the guys were playing their first 'away' show-'away' meaning they had travelled more than six hours in either direction to get there. The reason it was a big night for Flora was because she had arranged the entire thing and her parents, who had never seen the guys play before, had come along to see all of her hard work.

The guys were opening for a more prominent Philly band, one who had just gotten a large recording contract and were doing this show as a farewell before moving out to LA. Of course Flora jumped at the chance to get the guys signed on to open and the club promoter had gotten so tired of her phone calls that he agreed. Most-all-of the fans were there to see the closing band, but the exposure would be good for the guys and it would be really good for Andy.

Currently the guys were backstage, which for the opening band meant the mens bathroom, getting ready and trying not to all collectively throw up. Flora was standing at their very small merch table, where she had proudly hung up both t-shirts and had the EP and a rubber bracelet displayed on the table in front of her. Okay, it was sad and pathetic, but Flora was still proud of her efforts. The guys were starting out small, but that wasn't always a bad thing. The lights began to dim and Flora knew that soon enough the guys would come out on stage.


"How's it going sweetheart?" Someone asked and Flora's head popped up at the familiar voice. Her father, so out of place in his polo, short hair and blue jeans, stood before her with a smirk on his lips.

"Good. I got everything set up and the guys should be out soon." Flora replied as she made sure that all of the shirts were straight before stepping out from behind the table. Her father stood there, looking off towards the empty stage where CC's lone drum kit sat there, waiting for the show.

"The guys still putting on their makeup?" Flora rolled her eyes at this-not again.

"Yep. Should be about done." She said shortly-don't give him any ammo Flora.


Flora's father didn't get the guys look and frankly he wasn't shy about hiding his feelings. He called Andy a girl right to his face, which made the blue eyed singer furious but he hid it the best he could. This would be the first time her father would ever see the guys play and for some odd reason she really wanted him to like their sound. She was proud of the guys and while she was still debating the college issue, Flora wanted the best for her five best friends.


"I still don't get it Florence." He stated and Flora huffed as her father finally looked down at her.

"You aren't supposed to. Besides Andy is the best at what he does...makeup or no makeup."
Flora stated and her father's smirk only deepened. He did not want his daughter to end up with a musician, especially one who would barely be finishing high school.

"Good enough to get a recording contract?" Her father challenged and Flora tried to keep her temper in check. This was their argument-her father doubted Andy's ability and he made it very clear to both Flora and Andy that the rocker wasn't good enough for his daughter.

"What is with you? Why can't you just let me and Andy be happy..." Flora hissed and her father's smirk seemed to disappear. Now a very disapproving look graced his lips and Flora knew she was in for it.


This was the part that made her wish her father had never come back home-the part where he wouldn't let Flora be Flora. When he had left, Flora was still listening to pop singers, wearing her hair in pig tails and was in bed by nine o'clock every night. He hated her hair, he hated her AFI shirts, her Alkaline shirts and he screamed at her through the door to turn her music down. The nights when she walked through the door at midnight-she was now 18 and could do as she pleased-he had berated her for over an hour.

Her father had missed the teenager stage and Flora was tired of him trying to make up for lost time.


"I just think you can do better. What are you going to do Flora if you move out to LA with him and they fail? How is he going to take care of you Flora? How are you guys going to live if he refuses to do anything besides be a failed musician?" He father asked with a cocked eyebrow. All good points, but Flora inhaled deeply and tried to keep her tone as even as possible.

"Andy and I love one another and sometimes that's all that matters. Now if you will excuse me the guys are about to come out on stage and I don't want to miss their big night." Flora said as she turned from facing her father and was now looking right at the stage.


The lights had gone down and even though they were standing at the back of the crowd-her mother had a headache and was out in the car-Flora and her father could see everything. As the lights dimmed and CC walked out on stage, Flora screamed her heart out and was surprised to see that a few other people in the crowd were doing the same. Jake, Ashley and Jinxx all followed suit and Flora's heart stopped as Andy appeared and smirked at her through all of his thick black make up.


"What's up Philly!" He screamed in to the mic in his hands, but then suddenly there was a massive amount of feedback and everyone groaned. Andy had dropped the mic in his hands and with it Flora's heart seemed to drop as well. This wasn't the first impression she was hoping they would make.

"Yep...that's really an expert musician up there..." Her father hissed in her ear.


Flora tried to ignore him, but there was no ignoring the growing doubt for Black Veil Brides in the pit of her stomach.

Notes