Bullets in a Music Box

The loud thumping of the bass pedal on CC's drum set was all I could hear as I stood side stage. The band has been playing for an hour and the crowd is loving it. I bobbed my head to the music and danced a little. Today was a stressful day. Tyler called and said that they weren't getting as much money from Merch as they should be and then he scolded all of us for slacking on writing songs. Then he decided it was a smart idea to say he had signed me to the label and that when I got back from the tour, I was to start writing and recording songs immediately, of which I blew up at him about and hung up.

"What are you thinking about?" I heard Jon ask.

"How I hung up on Tyler," I said.

"Yeah, he is not happy you did that," he chuckled.

"Well he shouldn't have signed me without my consent. I did not say I wanted to be signed, nor did I agree to it," I said.

"It might be because he is seeing how the fans are reacting to your two songs and your stage energy. It is quite the sight," he smiled.

"I know. But I didn't want to be signed for a very specific reason, I don't want to be like my mother," I said.

"And you won't. She sings country and has her fan base, you sing alternative rock and rock music, you have your fan base. You are nothing like your mother," he said.

"Awe, thanks Jon," I said and wrapped my arm around his neck and hugged him.

"You know I love ya," he said and patted my back.

"I know, I'm a lovable person," I smiled and he chuckled. The song that the band was playing ended and I heard Andy saying his final words. They all then ran off stage and I was immediately engulfed in a hug from a very warm and sweaty Andrew Biersack.

"You are so disgusting," I laughed and he kissed me.

"I know. So, how did you like the show?" He asked.

"Um, it was like every other show," I said. He gave me a sad look and I chuckled.

"Which is awesome," I said. He smiled and we walked towards the dressing room. When we got inside I sat down on the chair and pulled my legs up while Andy changed out of his outfit and took a very quick shower. While Andy was in the shower, my phone began to ring.

"Hello," I said.

"Sadee, hi," I heard Lauren say.

"What's up?" I asked, something is up with her.

"You need to come home," she said.

"What? Why?" I asked.

"Gustav died," she was on the verge of tears. At the word 'died,' I sat up and straightened my back.

"What? What happened?" I asked.

"I don't know. I came home to grab a blanket for him, and when I got back, there were doctors and nurses swarming him and then like ten minutes later they called it," she said.

"Have the doctors said anything?" I asked.

"No, and somehow Charlie found out," she said. Oh no. No no no no no, Charlie is not going to take this well.

"How did he find out?" I asked.

"I have no idea, I told mom first, and I was at the hospital, I'm not even at home right now. Charlie called me, asking if it was true," she said.

"And what did you say," I said.

"I told him I didn't know, that the doctors are working on him and they haven't said anything," she said.

"Well, then he doesn't know. Oh my god, Gustav is dead," I said and as I said it, Andy walked out from the bathroom. He looked at me with confused eyes.

"I know," my sister cried.

"Um, well, I can see if I can get a flight home, but, please, wait to tell Charlie until I am there," I said.

"When would you get here?" She asked.

"Tomorrow sometime," I said.

"Okay, yeah," she said.

"Alright, um, I have to go. But do not tell Charlie yet," I said and hung up. I dropped my phone into my lap and I could feel the tears falling from my eyes. I sat there in shock.

"What happened?" Andy asked after a few seconds.

"Gustav died," I said.

"I thought he was getting better," Andy said.

"So did I," I cried and wrapped my arms around my stomach. Andy quickly set down what he had in his hands and came over to me. He wrapped his arms around my tightly and I cried into his shoulder.

"I'm gonna have Jon get you a flight first thing in the morning," he said.

"Okay," I cried and then I felt him let one arm go and he did something. I heard the beeping of numbers being pressed and then he put my phone to his ear.

"Hey Jon, I need you to do something for me. Yeah, whatever, can you get a flight to LAX first thing for tomorrow?" He asked. He was quiet for a second before sighing.

"Because Sadee needs to go home. Someone in her family died. Can you please do this? Thank you, call my phone or find me when you get the flight," Andy said and hung up. I clung to him tightly as we sat there. He began rubbing my back as I cried. I didn't know Gustav that well, but I knew him enough. He was a great person, and he was family. Charlie is going to be torn apart from this.

"Oh my god, Charlie is going to fall apart," I said after pulling away from Andy.

"He is," he sighed and I sat there, tears falling down my face. Andy brought a hand up and wiped the tears away.

"Are you coming to the meet and greet or going back to the bus?" He asked.

"If I go to the bus I will cry my eyes out," I said.

"So you're coming to the meet and greet?" He asked.

"I'll stand on the side," I said and then the door to Andy's dressing room opened and in walked Ashley and Jake. Ashley took one look at me and stopped walking.

"What happened?" He asked.

"My brother-in-law died," I said.

"What?" He asked. I nodded and Andy stood up.

"She's flying home tomorrow," Andy said and then he grabbed his shirt from the floor and pulled it on. Ashley walked over to me and held his arms out. I stood and wrapped my arms around him in a hug.

"It'll be okay, we are here for you," he said and let go. I nodded and fanned my face. Andy put his arm around my shoulders and we began walking towards the meet and greet area. When we stopped walking I could feel tightness in my chest and the urge to cry. Andy stood in front of me and looked at me.

"If it gets to be too much for you, just call my name, I will come back here for you," he said and kissed my forehead. I nodded and he walked to the table. I wrapped my arms around myself and sat down on a stool. Jon walked up next to me and rubbed my back.

"Your flight leaves at seven thirty tomorrow morning from Miami International Airport," he said. I nodded and began tapping my foot. My mind began to wander and I could feel the emotions building. Gustav was doing so good, the chemo was working, he was home with his family with his air tank, I just don't get it. And Charlie, my Charlie, he is going to completely fall apart when he finds out. I know he is going to feel suicidal , or feel like it's his fault. I looked at the ceiling and felt the tears fall. I stopped tapping my foot and took a breath, which was a bad idea because I started to full on sob. I got off of the stool and walked away from the area. I know Andy said for me to just say his name and he would come to me, but I don't want to take him from the fans.

I found a wall and leaned against it before slowly sliding down and shoving my face into my knees. It's just not fair. Charlie should not have to go through what I did, he deserves to have a father. As I sat there, I realized, Charlie is more like me than I thought. We both were suicidal and depressed, we both have moms we hate, and now we both have lost our dads. The tears came through again, but this time is was more forceful. I am pretty sure that they could hear me at the table, but at that point, I did not care.

About a half hour later, I was still crying, and I felt someone wrap their arms around me and pull me to their chest. In a second I knew it was Andy, he has that certain smell to him.

"Sadee, why didn't you call me?" He asked. I just let out a sob and wrapped my arms around him and cling for dear life. We sat on the floor for a good while before I found the strength to stand.

"Hey, babe, look at me. Why didn't you call me?" He asked.

"I didn't want to take you from the fans. They paid a lot of money to see you," I said.

"So what? You are more important," he said and wrapped his arms around me and I tried to calm myself down.

"My flight is at seven in the morning from Miami International," I said.

"Okay, let's get back to the bus and get your things together. I will be back in LA in like two weeks," he said. I nodded and kept hugging him.

"Hey, Jon said we gotta leave," I heard CC say.

"We are not leaving Miami until tomorrow morning," Andy snapped at him and CC squeaked.

"Why?" He asked.

"Because I said so, you go tell Jon that," Andy said and then CC walked away.

"You don't have to snap at them," I said.

"I know, but, I just don't want to leave you yet," he said. I nodded and pulled away from his chest and grabbed his hand. We walked out of the building and out to the bus. Something inside of me broke and I felt like I did when I was nine, helpless and broken.

Notes

Alrighty then. So I promised sad, and you got the first part. I am so deeply sorry for the three day wait for this chapter. I went to write it on Sunday, but then I didn't like how it was sounding and wasn't getting into it. So, I took a day or two to think it through and finally decided that Gustav died. There is a lot of emotion coming ahead, especially from Sadee and Charlie. There might be a few fights between Sadee and Lauren, there might be some drama with Charlie's mother. I haven't decided, but, there is a lot of emotion. And Andy isn't really in the next like two chapters, but after that he is. So, please don't miss him too much!!!!


Sadee's Outfit:
http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=138216582

Smiles!