Knives & Pens

Pandora’s eyes opened on Saturday morning with the sun shining bright, she laid in her bed for a few seconds in thought, knowing today was the baby shower. She was excited for the baby shower actually, she couldn’t wait to see how everything turned out. She lifted up from the bed and made her way to the bathroom with the feeling of her bladder about to explode, once she was done she decided to go ahead and take a shower so she wouldn’t have to later. It didn’t take her long until she was finished, she even managed to shave without looking much. She left the bathroom and went over to her closet, picking out some clothes. It didn’t take her long to get dressed and once she was done, she did her makeup and her hair. She looked decent today and she was actually happy with her appearance, she left the bedroom and headed downstairs to find Andy. She could smell the scent of bacon in the air and she followed it like a dog, when she entered the kitchen she saw Andy frying some bacon while a girl stood beside him making some eggs. She had no idea who the girl was, but she was cute. Andy lifted his head and spotted Pandora at the corner of his eye, taking a seat at the island and watching with a smile.
“Good morning, how did you sleep?” Andy said, stepping away from the oven to talk to her. The girl glanced at Pandora and smiled warmly, she seemed nice already.
“Good, thank you.”
“Pandora this is Aryana, Aryana this is Pandora.” Andy said, introducing his new girlfriend to his best friend.
“Hi it’s nice to meet you, I’ve heard so much about you.” Aryana said with a smile, Pandora smiled in return.
“So have I, it’s good to finally meet you.”
“Thank you for inviting me to your baby shower, I was honestly surprised when Andy told me you invited me.”
“No problem, I figured I should meet you one way or another. Who knows when Andy was going to introduce us.” Pandora said, making Andy turn red.
“You were going to meet her, soon anyways.”
“Sure I was.” Pandora said jokingly, Andy smiled and decided to change the subject before he got embarrassed.
“Are you hungry?”
Pandora gave him a look as if that was a stupid question, when was she not hungry? She was eating for two.
“Obviously,” Pandora replied with a giggle, Andy nodded and grabbed three plates from the cabinet. “So Aryana, Andy told me you’re a Black Veil Brides fan?”
“Oh gosh yes, I’ve always loved Black Veil Brides. They’re my favorite band.”
Andy smiled proudly as he put the eggs and two pieces of bacon on Pandora’s plate then handed it to her.
“Same here, what other bands do you listen to?”
“Avenged Sevenfold, KISS, The Misfits, and Motley Crue.” Aryana replied, taking the plate from Andy that was hers. She leaned up onto her toes and Andy leaned down a bit so she could kiss his cheek, Pandora realized Aryana was a bit short compared to Andy.
“Avenged Sevenfold is pretty good, I always liked them.”
The three of them took a seat at the dinner table and ate their breakfast together, Pandora was becoming a bit more excited for the baby shower and even though it was only a few hours away, she felt like she didn’t have a lot of time.
“So, how does it feel to be pregnant?” Aryana asked after swallowing her bacon, Pandora smiled while stabbing some eggs with her fork.
“It’s good and bad at the same time, it’s bad because during the summer, like now. You’re always hot and uncomfortable, it feels like you’re carrying watermelons with you at all times. Your back hurts and so do your feet, and clothes gets tighter and uncomfortable, and you get overwhelmed. But it’s good because you can feel every kick the baby makes, or every time it moves. And just knowing a human being is growing inside of you is a strange, exciting feeling.” Pandora explained, Aryana giggled.
“Sounds like a different feeling.”
“It definitely is, but all worth it in the end.” Pandora said, Andy had already finished his plate before the girls had. He grabbed his plate and got up from the table to put it in the sink, he always had finished his plate before Pandora, she guessed it was a man thing.
“Ella and Jake and CC and Brittan should be here in a few, Ella called me this morning to tell me whether I liked it or not, she was coming early with the decorations and food.” Andy said, Pandora giggled.
“What time is it?”
“Five minutes until twelve.” Andy replied while looking at the clock on the oven. It didn’t feel like the baby shower was long away, even though it was. Once she was done with her plate, she scooted her chair back and pulled herself up while Andy looked at her with a smile.
“Why are you smiling at me like that?”
“I just like seeing how you get up and walk, it’s entertaining to watch.” Andy replied, she slapped his arm gently when she walked past him.
“Ha ha, you’re so funny.”
“I know right, I was thinking about being a comedian once before. Could you dig it?” Andy said with sarcasm, a smile still on his face.
“No I couldn’t dig it.”
Andy’s smile turned into a frown and Pandora tried not to fall for it, but it’s almost impossible not to feel bad when Andy frowns. She approached him and hugged him and he hugged back with a smile, making Aryana giggle.
“Aren’t you two cute, are you two sure you aren’t related in anyway?”
“No we are definitely not related, I just treat her like a sister,” Andy said, pulling back to look at Pandora. Suddenly the sound of the doorbell rang throughout the house, and several knocks on the door. “Oh no, they’re here.” Andy whispered dramatically, Pandora laughed and shook her head side to side. She didn’t know if he was trying to be funny to impress Aryana or he was just in a very happy mood today.
“You should go get the door.”
“Yes ma’am!” Andy replied, running out of the kitchen and disappearing.
“He’s such a goof.” Aryana said with a giggle, Pandora nodded in agreement.
“Yes he is, but he’s your goof.”
“True, he sure is.”
“Pandora, where are you at?!” Ella yelled, her soft voice ringing throughout the house.
“I’m in the kitchen!”
Suddenly Ella and Jake appeared carrying grocery bags, Jake was carrying six and Ella was carrying four and when Brittanappeared she was carrying six as well.
“That’s a lot of bags.” Pandora said with a giggle.
“There’s more in the car, CC and Andy are grabbing some.” Ella said, Jake set down the bags on the island then left the kitchen to help the guys.
“Wow.”
“Is Ashley coming early?” Ella asked, Pandora shrugged her shoulders.
“I don’t know, I haven’t spoke to him today.”
Ella glanced at Aryana and smiled. “You must be Aryana.”
“Yes I am.”
“I’m Ella, Jake’s fiancée.” Ella said introducing herself while Pandora and Brittan unloaded the bags. The guys appeared and set down the last bags, and once everyone was introduced to Aryana, they started decorating. The boys hung up pink decorations, while Aryana and Brittan blew up the pink balloons. The kitchen table was covered with a pink table cloth and decorations as well, they were turning the house pink in Andy’s opinion and even though it felt weird since he was a guy, he saw the huge smile on Pandora’s face and knew she was happy with it. When Ashley arrived a few minutes after they started decorating, he began helping too and just over an hour, the house was decorated. Once the food and drinks were set out, people started arriving and everyone that Pandora wanted to invite showed up. She was beginning to notice how many gifts everyone brought, it didn’t seem like a lot of people, but there were a lot of presents sitting in the corner of the living room. Watching Jake and CC and Jinxx carry in the presents the girls had bought her was funny to watch, they must have took seven or eight trips. Pandora was sitting on the couch beside Amy when Collin and his parents and sister walked into the living room, you could tell Jackie was a nervous wreck because her hands were shaking like crazy.
“I’m so glad you made it.” Pandora told Collin while the two hugged in front of everyone.
“Why would I miss your baby shower?” Collin asked her with a smile, she giggled.
“I don’t know, other plans?”
“The world will have to be ending for me to miss this.” Collin told her, she pulled back and smiled.
“How are you, Pandora?” Albert asked her, she looked at Albert with a smile and realized he was dressed up really nice along with Daphne and Jackie.
“I’m good, I’m glad you guys showed up.”
“Okay since everyone is here, we’re going to start a game!” Ella announced excitedly, getting everyone’s attention.
“Is it a drinking game?” Jake asked, the boys were all standing beside each other with small pink cups in their hands with soda.
“No, it’s not a drinking game Jake. Okay, so everyone will have four safety pins on their shirts, Ashley pass this bowl around and make sure everyone gets four safety pins,” Ella said, handing Ashley a small bowl. He sighed and took four safety pins and passed the bowl to Andy while he put on the safety pins. “During the whole baby shower you cannot say the word “baby” if you do, you will lose a safety pin. If you hear someone say the word, take their safety pin away. Whoever has the most safety pins in the end, wins.”
“I’m so going to win this.” Andy said confidently, once everyone had four safety pins the game began. Everyone was having a good time, they were all talking but Pandora realized Ashley hadn’t said a word to Collin and Collin hadn’t said a word to him. She knew then the two of them weren’t on each other’s good side just yet, and she was beginning to wonder if they ever would be. She eventually left the living room and headed into the kitchen to get some food, Jake was standing there eating chips like they were going out of style which made Pandora giggle.
“Hungry?”
“Starving,” Jake replied with a mouthful of chips, she took a seat on a stool and started to eat some grapes. “Having fun?”
Pandora shrugged her shoulders. “A little bit.”
“What’s wrong?”
‘Ashley and Collin aren’t talking, I feel like they won’t ever get along.” Pandora said, Jake frowned a bit.
“Alright, we’re going to settle this now so you won’t be overwhelmed throughout the whole thing. Excuse me.” Jake said, he walked away from the island and left the kitchen, leaving Pandora sitting there confused of where he was going. She picked up a strawberry and took a bite, she didn’t realize how hungry she was, she felt like she could sit here all day eating.
“Andy, this is a new shirt.” Collin’s voice said, she turned her head to see Andy holding Collin by the collar of the shirt tightly. Jake was holding Ashley by the hair and CC and Jinxx was just watching with a smile.
“I don’t care if it is or not, now come on.” Andy hissed, dragging Collin outside while Jake followed with Ashley. Jinxx held out a hand for Pandora and she took it and hopped off of the stool, following them outside to see Ashley and Collin facing each other.
“What is this all about?” Ashley asked, trying to fix his hair with his hands.
“You and Collin aren’t talking.”
“So?”
“So, it’s making your child’s mama an emotional wreck!” Jake hissed, not using the baby word.
Ashley looked at Pandora. “Is that true?”
She nodded. “I feel like you two hate each other.”
“Babe, I don’t hate Ashley. I may not like him a lot, but I don’t hate him.” Collin said, Ashley gave Collin a look.
“What did I ever do to you for you not to like me?”
“Well nothing, I just don’t like your personality.”
“You aren’t no prize neither, Collin.” Ashley mumbled.
“See!” Pandora said, Andy grounded his teeth.
“I want you two to hug.”
“Excuse me?” Collin asked.
“You heard me, hug.”
Ashley sighed and looked at Collin and he looked back.
“Let’s just do it for her, okay?” Collin said, Ashley nodded and the two awkwardly hugged each other.
“See, they’re best hugging buddies now.” Jake said, looking at Pandora.
They pulled away from each other and Collin approached Pandora.
“I didn’t know the relationship with me and him was upsetting you so much, why didn’t you tell me?”
“I don’t know..” Pandora mumbled, he smiled and kissed her forehead.
“I still love you, but please talk to me about these kind of things, okay?”
Pandora nodded and smiled. “I love you too.”
“Good, now everyone is happy. Now let’s get back to this bab- I mean shower.” CC said, stopping himself.
“You almost lost a pin.” Andy said, opening the door and letting everyone back inside.
“I know, Andy.”
“There you are, I was wondering where you went!” Ella said, joining Pandora’s side.
“Sorry, I was outside. What’s up?”
“We’re going to start opening the presents, but right after your surprise.” Ella said, leading Pandora into the living room to sit in the recliner.
“What surprise?”
“You’ll see.” Ella said excitedly, everyone was sitting down with smiles and Pandora was confuse out of her mind. A huge smile was on Amy’s and Chris’s face which made Pandora think they knew what this surprise was, she was becoming nervous when Jinxx appeared with his violin and Andy appeared.
“Even though Skye isn’t here yet, well she is, but you know what I mean. I want to dedicate this song to her, and maybe, she’ll hear me? I don’t know.” Andy said, everyone giggled and Pandora felt like she was going to cry already. Jinxx began playing his violin, the beautiful sound filling the room. Andy took a breath and right then he started singing softly.
“The best things in life, comes with a price. The star that burned so bright, faded the fastest. You’ll always feel it’s right, even when we end the fight. Welcome home, home tonight. Singing oh, oh, welcome home tonight. Oh, tonight.” Andy sang, his deep voice was soft and so smooth and the song was so moving that tears were running down Pandora’s cheeks. “Words they don’t know how to make amends, and all they do is push you to the edge, but it’s not wasted. It’s all done for you,” As he sang, the boys started to softly sing the “Oh” part. “It’s all done for you. It’s all done for you.” Andy sang, Pandora wiped her tears and everyone clapped.
“That was just touching, son.” Chris said, Andy chuckled and approached Pandora to give her a hug.
“I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
“I know, but it’s just happy tears.” Pandora said, hugging him tightly in return. Andy smiled and pulled back, wiping away one of her tears with his fingertip.
“Okay, let’s open gifts! I want to go first.” Brittan said, hoping up from the couch and running over to the gift area and finding the gift she bought. She found the hot pink bag with pink tissue paper sticking out beautifully, she picked it up and handed it to Pandora with a smile. Pandora pulled out the tissue paper and stuck her hand in the bag and started to grab something.
“Ashley, get your ass over there and help your baby mama unwrap presents!” Ella said, then she gasped when she realized what she said. Ashley got up and approached her and took one of her pins away then walked over and joined Pandora with a smile.
“That’s what you get for telling me what to do.” Ashley said, pinning the safety pin to his shirt. He now had five. Pandora pulled out a light purple onesie with a skull on it and the words “I Rock”.
“Oh my god, this is adorable!”
“I told you she’d like it.” CC mumbled to Brittan, Brittan shook her head side to side.
“Well I want that.” Chris joked, making everyone laugh.
“Let me see,” Ashley said, holding out his hand for the onesie. Pandora handed it over and he held it out in front of him, overlooking his daughter’s clothes. “I approve.” He said, Pandora smiled and shook her head.
“There’s more!” Brittan said, urging Pandora to pull out the other things she bought. Pandora stuck her hand back into the bag and pulled out another onesie and a tutu, the onesie was light pink and black and said “I love mom” and the tutu was black and pink as well.
“Oh my gosh!” Pandora squealed, the outfits were just too cute.
“She’s going to be playing dress-up with Skye for days.” Amy said, Andy nodded in agreement.
“You’re telling me.”
Pandora stuck her hand back into the bag and pulled out another onesie and tutu just like the one she pulled out, except it said “I love dad”.
“I like that one better.” Ashley said when he saw the “I love dad”.
“Thank you Brittan and CC, they’re so cute!”
“You’re very welcome.”
“No problem at all.” CC said with a smile.
“Who wants to go next?”
“Me and Chris will.” Amy replied to Ella, she got up from the couch and headed over to the gift area and grabbed two bags she had bought for Pandora. Pandora decided on the light pink big bag and started to go through it and she could tell Amy and Chris had went all out, the first thing she grabbed was a pack of pink pacifiers. The next thing she grabbed was a four pack of baby bottles, then she pulled out some bibs, teasers, baby hats, baby gloves, baby blankets, and spit-up rags. Once she was done with that bag she picked up the other bag and started to go through it, she pulled out a hot pink onesie that said “Daddy’s little princess”, she pulled out another onesie that had song notes on it and another onesie that said “mommy’s girl” with a pink tutu. Once she was done with Chris and Amy’s gifts, it was Andy’s turn. He had two bags for her but only gave her one of them to start with, he looked extremely excited and Pandora was becoming anxious. She pulled out a long sleeve gown that was pink and had the word “Love” in animal printed, and it came with a pink hat that had an animal printed heart on the front. She pulled out a jacket, a hoodie and pants, socks, soft boots, and a Hello Kitty overall.
“I didn’t want her to get cold in the fall and winter.” Andy said, making everyone laugh.
“You did good Andy.”
“If I did good on that, I must have done amazing on this.” He said, handing her the other bag. She took it excitedly and opened it, the first thing she grabbed and pulled out she literally screamed. It was a Black Veil Brides onesie.
“Oh my god! How, how did you, where did you, I didn’t know there was Black Veil Brides onesies!” Pandora said speechless, trying to find the words.
“Well there wasn’t really, but I am part of Black Veil Brides so I made it possible.” Andy replied, Pandora did not want to put down the onesie at all.
“Oh my god.”
“There’s more too.” Andy said with a chuckle, she smiled and laid the onesie in her lap then pulled out a black onesie with a hot pink Batman sign on it.
“I know Batman is sorta a guy thing, but I didn’t care.” Andy told her with a laugh, she pulled out another onesie that said ‘I think my uncle Andy is Batman.’
“Oh my god, how did you find one with your name on it?”
“I didn’t, anything is possible for me Pandora.” Andy told her with a laugh, she pulled out another pink onesie with Hello Kitty on it and it said ‘My interest of hello kitty is the same as Daddy’s!’.
“Cute Andy.” Ashley said.
“I knew you’d like that one.”
“Okay, now it’s mine and Jake’s turn!” Ella said excitedly, Jake got up from the couch and left the living room for some reason. “Close your eyes.”
Pandora closed her eyes and felt someone’s hand covered her eyes just in case she tried peeking, she guessed it was Andy’s hand or Ashley’s. She heard lots of movements and then someone gasped.
“Ow, damn it, my toe!” Jake howled in pain, everyone busted out in laughter and Pandora couldn’t help but to laugh as well. “Hey, it’s not funny!”
“Okay Pandora, open your eyes.” Ella told her, Andy removed his hands from Pandora’s eyes and CC removed his hands from Ashley’s eyes and in front of them was a box of a baby crib and there was also a diaper changing table.
“Oh my god.” Pandora said with a smile, getting up from the chair carefully. The crib was white along with the changing table, the white will go well with the pink.
“We both figured you would need it.” Jake said with a chuckle, she looked at Ashley with a smile.
“What do you think?”
“I think I want my daughter here already.” Ashley replied, making her smile. She felt the same as Ashley, she wanted Skye here even more now. After all the gifts were unwrapped and Ashley and Pandora thanked everyone, Chris and Amy headed home and so did Albert, Daphne and Jackie. The others stayed and helped clean up the mess and even helped Pandora carry the things to the nursery, they put up the crib and the changing table and Pandora decided on where to put the furniture.
“It’s funny how fast this pregnancy is going,” Ashley’s voice said behind Pandora, she was standing in the nursery looking around with a smile.
“Yes it is, but I don’t mind.”
“Did you have fun?” Ashley asked her, approaching her side. She nodded and looked at him.
“I did, did you?”
“It was pretty fun, but I guess I won this game Ella made us all play.” Ashley said, Pandora looked at his shirt and saw he had five safety pins.
“It looks like it.”
“Hey babe, I’m heading home now okay?” Collin said behind her, she turned around and approached him and hugged him tight.
“Thanks for coming.”
“Wouldn’t miss it babe, you know that.” Collin told her, rubbing her back.
“Will I see you soon?”
“Of course, name the time and place and I’ll be there.” Collin said with a smile, she pulled back a bit and leaned up and kissed him softly.
“Be careful.”
“I will and you too,” Collin said, he pulled back and looked at Ashley. “Bye Ash.”
“Bye Collin.” Ashley said, not looking at him. Collin smiled a bit then looked at Pandora and mouthed bye softly, he turned and walked out of the nursery. Pandora turned back around to look at Ashley, seeing he was looking out the window as the sun began to set. Soon enough, Skye will be here..

Notes