The Water In My Lungs

Imogen held tightly onto Andy's hand as he pulled her into the nice shop he worked in. Their night had been amazing, cuddling on the couch and watching movies but today was a new day and Andy had to work.

"Are you sure it's okay for me to be here?" Imogen asked as he opened the door.

He chuckled, "Yes, Flower. It's fine."

"Okay.." She sighed, ditching his hand and grabbing his arm. Imogen still felt nervous in new places, especially when she didn't feel welcome.

"Hey Andy, who is your lady?" The man at the front desk asked. Imogen recognized him from the show but she didn't know his name.

"Uh, this is my girlfriend Imogen." He said, smiling. "Babe this is-"

"Robear at your service." The man said, extending his hand. "I thought that's who you were, Imogen Blaze from Real Horror Show right?"

"Yeah." She smiled, her hand tightening even more around Andy's arm.

"Well you guys are good." Robear smiled. The phone rang and he held a finger up. Andy nodded and they walked farther on into the shop.

"Oh Mr. Big shot showed up to work.." A bald man said, ruffling Andy's hair. "I'm Ami James, owner of Wooster."

"Hi, Imogen Blaze." She smiled.

"Oh I know.." Ami chuckled. "Andy wouldn't stop talking about you. I'm so happy you're here."

Imogen laughed, "Me too."

"Alright, what's up for you today Andy? Anything big?" Ami asked.

"I've got a few appointments. Nothing too special today. I need to catch up on a lot of flash." Andy replied.

"Okay, get to it man. Your not our best for no reason." He laughed, patting his shoulder.

"Thanks." Andy chuckled, shaking his head.

"Ah listen, Biersack. TLC they-"

"Ami.." Andy sighed.

"Look, they really really want you on it. And I'm saying right now it's going to boost your career up way higher. You'll be able to start doing conventions and shit. Andy, I swear this is a good thing. And now your not with that bitch? You have your girl back and she's famous. Please go on the show." Ami pleaded as Imogen looked up at him.

"I don't know.." He shook his head, biting his lip piercing. Imogen put her hand on his cheek and he looked down at her.

"You should do it." She whispered.

"I just don't want people twisting my words around, Ami. I don't like reality TV." He said.

"Please man? They won't stop asking." Ami said. Andy closed his eyes, letting himself feel Imogen touching him. She calmed him down and that was the most important thing to him.

"Alright." He mumbled. One of the biggest reasons was that Imogen was famous and Andy was not and he didn't want her to leave him because of it.

"Really!?" Ami exclaimed.

"Mhm." Andy sighed. "I'll do it, fuck it."

"It's going to be alright." Imogen promised rubbing his arm.

"I mean it's a good thing, man. I'm trying to help you." Ami said.

"I know. Thank you Ami, it means a lot." Andy smiled, falsely.

"No problem." He pat his back. "They'll probably come by today to interview for a little while and film an appointment or something."

"Okay." Andy nodded, pulling Imogen to his station. He sat down in his chair and sighed as Imogen sat on the stool next to him. He pulled out some drawings or flash from his notebook.
He smiled seeing the girl he'd drawn a few days ago. She was looking up to a frozen tree branch and a tear was escaping her obviously blue eye. The wind was whipping her blonde and brown hair around and Imogen smiled. It was obvious who this was.

"Is this me?" She asked.

He smiled, "Yeah. I draw you a lot actually." She looked up at him and then at the picture on his desk. It was of them, three years ago. She picked it up.

"Wow." She said, looking at herself. She smiled, tracing Andy's lips. "This is old."

"I know. It's the only one I had printed out of us." He chuckled. Imogen noticed that they were the only ones in the shop. Everyone else seemed nonexistent until Megan and another tall guy walked through the door.

"Hey Tim." Andy said, leaning back. The man smiled at him and walked closer to the couple.

"Tim Hendrix." He said, holding his hand out for her. She shook it lightly and chuckled.

"Imogen Blaze." She said.

"Ah Cali girl?" He asked. She quirked her eyebrow.

"How did you know?" She said.

"I recognize that art Kat Von D right?" He said, gesturing to the raven on her arm.

"Yep." She laughed.

"She's a friend, not Ami's, but mine." Tim laughed.

"Cool. She's really sweet." Imogen smiled. "She did a lot of my work but next time I have an idea I think I know who I'm coming too." She placed her hand on Andy's shoulder who only smirked.

"Awesome, well I'll leave you two be." Tim said, walking to his station.

Everyone else seemed to leave the couple alone, including Megan. Imogen couldn't help but notice that Andy was working diligently on a black, red, and gray flower.

"This is beautiful." She said, scooting closer to him. He smiled and drew one last line.

"I'm going to get it on my back I think." He said, "For you."

"A flower." She whispered, slipping her arms around his neck. "I love it."

"My flower." He said, looking into her eyes. "All mine." She kissed him quickly and pulled away.

"Hey Andy?" They heard from the front. It was Robear. "Your appointment is here."

Andy stood up and walked to the front. The client was a very beautiful women with blonde hair and green eyes.

"Hi, Andy." He said, extending his hand. She shook it lightly.

"Holly." She said. Andy couldn't help but think of Imogen's maid back in Colorado.

"What are you looking to get today?" He asked.

"I want some words on my ribs in cursive." She smiled, checking Andy out. He was incredibly attractive.

"Okay, what did you want?" He asked.

"I want it to say fly in the direction of your heart." She replied.

"Alright, anything else?"

"I want you to add a few flowers on it." She smiled again.

"Okay, well you can have a seat over there and I'll come get you in about ten minutes." He nodded.

"Alright." She winked, walking away. He sighed and padded back over to Imogen. He immediately began drawing the tattoo up with Imogen watching. It wasn't taking him long: he did a lot of this cursive work and it wasn't his favorite. He liked big designs that he could draw out- more traditional and a little new school thrown in there but words were all people wanted these days.
Imogen was busy looking at all of Andy's new tattoos while he drew. Most of them seemed to be dedicated to herself.

He had a Morticians Daughter tattoo on the top of his arm. Her name was etched into an old looking heart with an arrow sticking through it. She could faintly see a heart opposite his actual heart with and 'I' welded inside of it. Over top of his heart were the lyrics 'With every star that greets your face, I am giving you my love.'

It was the song If I Tremble, one of Imogens originals she'd written for him. She had no idea how he remembered the words but it made her smile nonetheless. She actually put the song on her new solo record.

"I like this tattoo." She said, tucking her feet underneath her as she ran her fingers along his arm. She was gesturing to an upside down cross.

"Thanks." He mumbled, adding a few roses to the ends of the letters.

"Are you spending the night again tonight?" She asked, playing with a strand of his hair.

"If you'll have me." He replied, still not looking up.

"Of course." She whispered. He blew on the drawing and set his pencil down. "Looks good." She said, smiling.

"Thank you." He said, kissing her jaw. "I have a feeling this girl isn't going to sit well."

"Where is the tattoo?"

"Ribs." Imogen groaned, rubbing her side. "I had my ribs done with a quote and it hurt like a bitch."

"I have a skull on mine. Least favorite place to get tattooed next to the neck." He sighed. She frowned and rubbed his arm.

"You'll kill it." She said, pecking him. "Am I able to watch?"

"Yeah, of course." He chuckled, standing up. "My station is right there. You can sit next to me, just make sure I have elbow room." He grinned. She moved the chair she was sitting on to the station he pointed out.

A minute later Andy came back with a beautiful girl behind him. "Uh Holly this is my girlfriend Imogen, she's just chilling with me today since she's been out of town for a while so."

"Oh.." Holly seemed deflated. "Alright, no problem."

"Thanks." He said, "If you could just take your shirt off for me." He held the stencil up as she pulled her tank top off and he pressed it to her smooth skin.

"Does it hurt?" Holly asked.

Andy chuckled, looking at Imogen. "This your first tattoo?"

"Y-yeah." Holly stuttered.

"Where did you get your first one, Flower?" He asked Imogen.

"Back of my neck, hurt like fuck." She laughed. "But clearly not enough to turn me away from tattoos."

"Do either of you have ribs?" Holly asked.

"We both do, it's going to hurt but you'll like it. Okay, check this out in the mirror." He said. She stood up and looked in the floor to ceiling mirror on the wall adjacent to them.

"Perfect, let's do it." She said, laying down on her side. Andy grabbed his machine and turned it on. He dipped it in the black ink and cracked his neck. Imogen was looking at him with so much adoration he felt at ease.

"Okay, I'm just going to do a small line to get you used to the feeling." He said, connecting the needle to her skin. She immediately winced and reached out for someone's hand. Imogen took hers and smiled.

"I always need a hand to hold too." She said. "It sucks, I know." Andy winked at Imogen before continuing.

"So what's the tattoo about?" He asked.

"My boyfriend of three years and I just recently broke up so its kind of my way of getting over it." She sighed.

"I'm sorry." Andy frowned. "That's never a good feeling, we both know."

"Yeah, I just felt pressured, you know? Like I had to stay with him.."

The conversation was all too familiar for Imogen and she found herself reliving a memory.

"Look Immie, I get that he hurt you but that band is good for our sales." Andrew said, resting his head in his hands.

"He didn't just hurt me, he abused me! I can't stay with someone like that!" Imogen exclaimed.

"You guys have been dating for a year and a half and he's never done it before, right?" Ryan asked. "Maybe he just got mad."

"I promised myself I would never stay with someone who hit me.." She shook her head. "Andy never hit me."

"Well Chris is not Andy!" Andrew stood up. "No one is your perfect Prince Charming! I know you loved him, Im, believe me I do but you two aren't able to be together right now. He's protecting his family so don't give up the second realist love you've ever had!"

"I don't love him, Andrew! I thought I loved him but I don't!" She screamed.

"Well look, Im. The record label will drop us if you break up. Motionless is the reason we are so big right now. Give him another fucking chance." Andrew sighed.

"We're here for you Imogen but this is serious." Nikki said. Tears filled her eyes as she looked around at her band mates and best friends.

"I know, Daniel told me." The Horror Shows manager Daniel had informed Imogen of the position she was in with Chris. He held all the cards, and that wasn't good for them. "I guess I have to stick it out.."

"Flower did you hear me?" Andy asked, looking up from his work.

"Uh no, sorry wasn't listening." She said, blinking.

"I asked if you wanted to go out with the guys tonight." He quirked his eyebrow.

"Oh sure, that will be fun. Tomorrow I have a photo shoot for AP so I won't be able to get too crazy." She chuckled.

"Ah can I come?" He grinned.

"Don't you have work?" She asked.

"Nah tomorrow is my day off." He said, filling in a yellow rose on the side of the word.

"Then of course." She smiled. He blew a kiss to her and kept on tattooing. The girl was sitting well but her skin was incredibly irritated.

The tattoo ended up taking around an hour and Holly was so happy to have it finished. Her name couldn't help but make Imogen think of her old maid. She missed Holly: she was more of a mother to her than her own.

The rest of the day went by fairly quick, with Andy doing two more tattoos and pretty soon they found themselves leaving the shop. Megan had been quiet, especially when they asked her and Joey to come out with them later that night.

Andy was worried that her and Joey got into a fight. He liked them together: he'd watched them bloom but now it seemed that they could be over.

The couple walked down the street hand in hand. Andy was still way taller than her and now she
held tightly on to his soft hand.

"Megan seemed quiet." She said, looking up at him.

"I know, I'm afraid her and Joey are having problems or something." He sighed, pulling her the direction of her apartment.

"I hope not." She said. "Can we grab some coffee?"

"I can make you some if you want?" He said, ditching her hand and sliding his arm around her shoulders.

"Yeah." She smiled, and he kissed her cheek.

Five minutes later they were walking into her apartment. Imogen collapsed down on the couch and sighed as Andy walked in the kitchen. Her phone started to ring in her pocket so she grabbed it and looked at the name. It was Ryan.

"Hello?" She said.

"Hey Im." He said.

"What do you want Ryan?" She asked, shaking her head. She could already picture the headliner now: LEAD SINGER KILLS GUITARIST FOR BUGGING HER ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS!

"Are you settled in?" He asked.

"Mhm."

"Andy there?"

"Mhm."

"And your back together? Because Chris-"

"No." Imogen interrupted him. "He cheated. I have the love of my life back and I don't want anyone else okay?"

"Imogen, nobody knows who that fucking dude is. He won't be good for album sales, he can't guest in our songs!" Ryan sighed, exasperated.

"Is that all anything is to you guys!? Money!? What about love!? Why can't you let me love instead of living a lie!" She sobbed, sinking to her knees.

"Because love isn't good for a band, okay? You need to be desired and staying either single or with someone in the scene is the best thing for us!" He exclaimed.

"But it's the not the best thing for me! Why can't you guys understand that?" She shook her head.

Andy looked back at her from the kitchen, worry lacing his stomach.

"Babe?" He said, quirking his eyebrow. She looked at him and shook her head, tears steaming down her cheeks. He forgot the coffee he was making and bolted to her side.

He sank down next to her and wrapped his arms around her. "You don't understand Ryan. I'm in love with him, he's perfect for me."

"I get it, Im, but when the band falls through we know who to blame." The single dial tone signaling that he ended the call left Imogen with a sinking feeling in her gut. She dropped her phone with a shaky sigh and turned in Andy's arms.

Her whole word had come crashing down and there was absolutely nothing she could do this time. She wasn't leaving Andy- not again- and her band knew that, so they were holding it over her head.

Andy held her as she cried. He was confused, of course, but he knew whatever had happened he needed to be there for her. "It's okay.." He whispered against her head.

"Not its not." She mumbled.

"Do something- anything- to help yourself through this. Sing for me." He said. She pulled away and looked into his eyes. He seemed so worried, so nervous for her. She knew how much he cared about her and that meant everything.

Imogen stood up and grabbed her guitar off the hook by her door. Andy's eyes followed her every moment. She sat back down next to him and began strumming her guitar, tuning.

"I w-wrote this song a while ago." She stuttered, wiping her tears away. "I woke up and couldn't sleep after you'd broken up with me." He smiled at her as she began strumming her guitar to a sweet but desperate tune.

So cold is the wind that blows your hair.
So warm is your touch upon my skin.

How tired am I of being scared,

But how awake am I now that I know you're here.

'Cause I'd rather fight with you than laugh with another.
I'd rather freeze in your arms than be warm under covers.
I'd let you hit me before I ever let you hit the floor.

And I'd rather choke than to breath in your absence.
I'd rather feel your wrath than feel another's passion.
I'd rather die on the day that I give you a kiss
Than spend the rest of my life knowing I never did

So just hold me and tell me that I'm everything you need.
Tell me that, that lonely little heart of yours that I've been dying for,
Ain't out of reach.

So if you're looking for some proof that there's a heart inside of me
Than lace your fingers between mine and you will see it start to leak.

And I know you're not a crutch but I can hold you when I stand
'Cause I am living for your touch but I would die to be for you to be my man.
Let me look into your eyes like I am searching for your soul.

Wrap my arms around your waist like it is dying from the cold.
Run my fingers through your hair like they are water from the drain.
Press my lips against your back like they could take away its pain.

To give you everything, there is nothing I won't do.
Dump my heart into a blender just to pour it out to you.
And when I'm feeling tired, will you hold me for a bit?

Dive your face between my thighs until you cannot feel your lips.

I know that you think I'm kind of odd.
But if your love was a mountain, I swear that I'd climb to the top.
I'd tell you "you're lovely and everything I'll ever need,
And I'd give you my all if you'd just come and stand next to me."


Tears filled his eyes and he pulled her into a kiss. "I love you. I'm so so sorry." He mumbled.

"I love you too." She said, "I'm just glad we're together now."

His eyes watered and he wrapped his arm around her neck. "Me too."

"I'm sorry, I had a meltdown there." She sighed, putting her guitar aside and wiping under her eyes. Andy smiled and pulled her into a hug.

"My job is to be here for you." He said, kissing her head. "I know your job has to stress you out, so I'll be there to catch you when you fall."

"Thank you." She said, leaning back into him. "So does this mean we don't have to go out tonight?" He chuckled and leaned down to kiss her lightly.

"Not if you don't want too." He smiled.

"Okay." She said, taking his hand.

"You know.." He chuckled, "They are more comfortable places we could be than the floor." She glanced up at him and quirked her eyebrow.

"Mm I don't think so." She said, sitting up and pushing him so he was laying on his back.

"Ow!" He laughed, grabbing her and pulling her so she was on his stomach.

"I'm pretty happy right here." She mumbled, kissing his chest.

"Ah well we can't have you unhappy, can we?" He whispered. She smiled at him, pushing her nose to his.

"I love you." She said.

"Love you too, flower." He said, rubbing her back. "Forever."

She kissed his jaw, "Forever."

"So you really don't want to go out tonight?" He asked, pressing his face into her neck.

"Maybe that was an overreaction." She smirked at him. "It would do me good to have some fun."

"Mhm." He mused. "I've got to get pretty boring."

"Nah." She said, looking up at him. He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers passionately. She moaned as his tongue shoved deeper into her mouth and her hand reached up to touch his soft cheek.

Something about the way he kissed her, how soft and loving it was brought tears to her eyes. It made her think of one of the most amazing nights of her life, when she lost her virginity to him.

"Andy.." She whispered against his mouth. A tear fell across her cheek but it wasn't her's. It was
Andy's. "Why are you crying?" He pulled back to look at her with so much adoration her own tear came to her eyes.

"I can't believe you're here." He whispered, his lips parting a bit. She rested her forehead against his.

"Me neither."

Notes

<3