Escaping Grace

I pulled my hair into a tight bun, my bangs falling around my face. We needed to practice some of our songs before the show next week, and I didn't know what song we were going to play now. I'd vetoed The Last Song is Ours, deciding it was too... Nice. Which is why we were at the studio last minute trying out songs.
"What do you want to try out?" Craig asked from the booth, and I paused thoughtfully. "How about our newest one," I suggested. So far it was untitled, but it was one of my favorites, I even had the lyrics tattooed across my hips. I know it was a strange place for a tattoo, my only one, but it worked for me.
"Sure. Whenever you're ready."
I nodded, and then the music started through my headphones. I closed my eyes, waiting for the song to slip over me. I sighed.

Nobody told me
It would be this hard
Nobody told me
You could leave these scars

So what if I'm not your perfect
So what if im not your girl
If theres one thing that you've taught me
its that this isn't a perfect world

If you want a different life,
You gotta make one for yourself

"Oh, hold on," Craigs voice suddenly interrupted the music, and I blinked. "What is it?"
"Ah, the music is off track. Take five and I'll grab you when Ansel here fixes it."
"Okay," I lifted my headphones off.
I stepped outside into the hallway and stretched. I felt good today, not stressed or worried about anything. It was three days before we opened for Black Veil Brides, and I hadn't heard anything from any of them. I'd glimpsed CC occasionally when he was with Vale, but he was steering clear of me too. They probably all thought I was crazy after my little fit.
i sighed, and walked towards the front, hearing the receptionist chatting. I peeked around the corner, seeing someone standing with a big bouquet of red flowers. Did someone send her flowers? I wondered as she laughed and smiled. She had her charming face on.
I shrugged, and headed back down the hall to the kitchen. Clarke and Nate were playing cards when I stepped inside. I opened the fridge, and shoved most of the junky items out of the way. I grabbed the last bottle of water, and turned, watching Nate toss down his cards in defeat.
"You win," he sighed. Clarke grinned, and took the soda out of the center of the table.
"I thought you were recording," Nate said in boredom, turning to look at me.
"I was, but the music was off or something," I replied, sitting down on the table.
"Oh. Hey, do you remember Georgia from L.A.?"
"How could I not? She was as dumb as a dead sloth."
Nate frowned at me. "She called me the other day asking how all of us were doint. I was thinking about driving down and seeing her."
"That's pretty far to go just to get laid," I commented, and he leaned away from me with an insulted face.
"We can't all be so lucky to get some as talented as --- ow," Nate yelped, and Clarke glared at him.
I rolled my eyes, and hopped off the table. "Smooth," I said, and left the room.
I sighed, and turned to head for the booth and see if the music was ready.
"Oh, Miss Kabinov," I turned as the receptionist called for me, "there's someone here to see you."
I frowned, and walked to the front.
"Ashley?" I blinked, seeing him standing by the desk with a vase of flowers in his arms. "What are you doing here?"
Ashley looked annoyed, but he forced a smile at me. He still wore his sunglasses, and I tilted my head curiously. I hadn't seen him simce he came to the apartment, and he didn't exactly seem excited to be here either.
"Well, the band tbought we'd, um, get you some flowers to thank you guys for playing for us on such short notice," he said, and I glanced up at the huge vase of red roses.
"Well, that was sweet of you, but I think everyone would have preferred alcohol," I said in amusement.
I took the flowers from him and set them on the desk. I nabbed the card out of the flowers, but Ashley jerked it out of my hand. I stared at him.
"Um, don't open it until later, okay?" he said, looking uncomfortable. I held my hand out. After a moment, he dropped the card back.
"Is everything okay?" I asked, suddenly anxious. Did he not want us to play anymore? Had I messed everything up for us? Oh no, no, no.
I think he saw the panic on my face, because he reached for my shoulders. "Hey, don't freak out, okay? Everything is good."
"Do you not want us to play anymore?" I asked, and my voice was small. I had ruined everything.
"What? No, no we do," Ashley said hastily, and he took off his glasses.
"Oh my god! Your face!" I gasped. He had the worst black eye.
"Yeah, it looks worse then it is," he shook his head, "don't worry about it. But hey, I'll see you Friday, okay?"
"Um, yes. But what happened?"
"Ah, just a friendly punch between friends," he gave me a grin, "over a prerty girl."
I blushed.
"But why would anyone hit you, friend or not? You have such a sweet face," I teased, gently patting it. He blinked, and then grinned at me. "I just wish I could've got to you first," he sighed, and I looked at him in surprise. "What?"
"See you later, sweetcheeks," he waved and placed his glasses back on as he headed out the door.
I looked down at the card, and then ripped it from the fancy envelope. I flipped it open.

Sorry about being an asshole
See you Friday
Andy

Oh. Well he was an asshole.
And did he punch Ashley? I pursed my lips. I was still really pissed at him, he was a complete douche. I glanced st the flowers. They were pretty.
I leaned over and sniffed.
And they did smell good.
And I did like roses.
I sighed, blowing my hair out of my face. Fine. I gave the receptionist a smile and then lifted the surprisingly heavy vase and carried it to the kitchen.
Clarke and Nate looked at the bouqet in annoyance as I set it in the middle of the table, disrupting their game. "Isn't it pretty?"
"Who's it from?" Clarke asked, moving it out of his way.
"Um, Ashley just dropped it off... For all of us from them. To thank us for playing for them," I said brightly.
"I would've liked alcohol instead," Nate sighed, and flipped his cards down. "I win."
Clarke grinned, and tossed his cards down. "Fuck," Nate muttered, and shoved over a bag of cheetos.
"Okay, where's Vale anyway?" I asked. "It's not like her to be gone so long while we're working."
"She got a call and stepped out twenty minutes ago," Clarke replied, but he didn't seem very interested.
I texted her, asking her where she was. After a few minutes, she popped back into the kitchen with the goofy smile on her face that told me who she had been talking too.
"Hey, pretty flowers. Who are they from?" she asked, smelling them.
"Ashley brought them over as a thank you for playing for them," I said.
"Oh." Vale frowned. "Why couldn't they just buy us some booze?"
I grinned. "So hows CC?"
"Oh, he's good," she gave me a smile. "They're excited for us to play."
I hope so, I thought, lifting one rose

Notes