Escaping Grace

I chewed my lip as we walked up the steps. We were doing the Interview, and I had never been so nervous in my life.
"Stop freaking out," Andy said, holding the door to the building and letting me walk in first. "You'll give yourself a headache."
I sighed, glancing around the lobby of Rockstar Magazine. Posters of various bands they'd interviewed lined the walls, and the floor was bustling with people. They kept it decorated in reds, blacks and whites, and even their employees had to dress in those colors.
I kept my aviators on as we walked to the front desk where a girl with fire engine red hair sat, looking bored as she pecked on a tablet in her lap. She looked up as we stepped up to her.
"We're here to see Ilana Kova," Andy said, taking off his sunglasses. Fire Engine sighed, as if having to move from her tablet pained her, and clicked a few times on her computer.
She suddenly straightened. "Ah, Mr. Biersack and Ms. Kabinov?"
"Yes."
"I'll let Ms. Kova know you're here," she said hastily, grabbing the phone and pressing a number. It rang a few moments before anyone answered.
"Ms. Kova? Yes, they're here. Yes early," she glanced at us, reddening slightly at whatever she was asked. "Er, I can't tell, ma'am. Yes. No, not really. Okay, I'll send them up." she practically slammed the phone down.
"Ms. Kova will see you now."
Andy nodded, and he took off the elevators. I followed him, and he hit close before anyone else could join us.
"Ilana is like a dog with a bone. Don't give her any openings, alright? Always think before you say anything, and don't let her get to you."Andy warned me, and I shifted nervously.
I pressed my palms against my camo green skinny jeans. I'd dressed slightly nicer then I really wanted to, mostly because Vale had picked my clothes out and vetoed everything I'd picked. My loose black shirt with my green jeand and black boots I normally only wore during concerts were what she'd dubbed "interview worthy."
The elevator dinged, and we stepped out onto the third floor. Andy took my hand, and I threaded my fingers through his as we walked down the hall.
"Don't be so nervous," he told me, bumping my shoulder lightly. "She smells fear."
I sent him a slight smile, and he let go of my hand as he knocked on a bright red door, the columnists name scrawled across it in white letters. It opened immediately, as if Ilana Kova had been hovering behind it in wait.
Good lord.
She looked like Rita Skeeter off Harry Potter.
Her hair was bleach blonde and in bouncing curls around her face, and she wore small glasses on the edge of her nose like a snooty librarian. She wore a red skirt suit to match her outrageous red lipstick.
"Ah, Andrew, so nice to see you again." she beamed, and then directed her gaze at me. "Ahh, Liliya Kabinov, so nice to meet you. You have such a beautiful name."
"Thanks."
"Please, come sit," she motioned us forward. We sat in the two armchairs in front of her desk, and she plopped down on the edge, her skirt splitting almost to her hip.
I frowned.
"I'm so glad you both agreed to do an interview with me on such short notice for next weeks edit." she chattered, holding a legal pad in her hand, a pen tapping against it.
"No problem," Andy shifted. "But we don't have a lot of time."
"Of course, down to business." She cast her eyes at me. "Is it too bright for you, Ms. Kabinov? I can shut the blinds if you like."
I blushed; I was still wearing my sunglasses. I hesitated, then took them off.
"My, my!" She stared blatantly at me. "What did happen to that pretty face?"
"I was in an accident," I grimaced. "I'd rather not discuss it."
"Very well," she tilted her head, as if wondering how far her luck would go.
"What did you want to talk about?" Andy asked, his eyes narrowed. "As I said, we've got a tight schedule."
"Right. Of course, my apologies." she said briskly, and glanced down at her notebook. "Anyway. Tell me, how did your bands meet up?"
"Managers. We needed a band to open for us and Escape from Grace was an up amd comer. We all voted and our manager asked theirs." Andy shrugged.
"How normal." she ran a pen through her question sharply. "And the rumors about a tour?"
"No comment." She marked through the question again.
This went on for a little while, she asking the usual interview questions and Andy answering quickly. I barely had to say a word, which was a great because Ms. Kova really intimidated me.
"Now, let's get down to the fun part," she smiled, and I felt like Cruella De ville was about to make her entrance.
Andy looked like he was steeling himself.
"Now, I have seen quite a gaggle of photos of the two of you holding hands and running around together, so I'm very curious about this." Here it comes. "Can you confirm to our readers that you two have struck up a whirlwind romance?"
I rolled my eyes.
"No," Andy looked annoyed. "We're just friends. We all hang out together due to the fact we're performing."
"And what about your drummer and your guitarist?" she raised a painted brow.
We looked at each other.
"Not officially," Andy said after a moment. "We can't really say anything. You would have to ask them."
"Ah." she scribbled her pen across her page. "So no romantic feelings toward each other?"
"No."
"How disappointing. I know our readers were hoping for a different answer. I know my daughter Clara thought you two such a cute item."
THAT FANGIRL.
I still hadn't gotten over her little article about us. Of course it made more sense now.
I sighed. This was giving me a headache.
Andy glanced at me, and then straightened. "Was that all, Ms. Kova?"
"Not quite yet, no," she frowned at him. She turned on her desk and faced me with that dangerous smile on her face. "I have a few questions for Liliya."
"Leah," I corrected, almost wincing at hearing that name.
"Excuse me, Leah. Do you mind?"
"Um, no, go ahead."
"Good," she looked excited. "How long has your band been together?"
"Three or four years now."
"Mhm. And how long has it been since you've, ahem, escaped from your hometown of Graceland?" She just couldn't help herself, could she?
"A year and a half."
"And do you still get to see your family since you live so far away?"
I pressed my nails into my palm. "Yes."
She scribbled again. "Are you close with them?"
"What does this have to do with anything?" I felt annoyed. I didn't want to talk about my family.
"Just trying to get to know you better, dear." she scribbled again. "I see there is no record of you dating anyone since you've been in California, yet your guitarist Has been seen out numerous times."
I almost said Vale gets around, but thought better.
"I don't date." I replied, and Andy glanced at me.
"Oh? Why not?" I had peeked her interest.
Ehhhhh. "I was in a bad relationship when I was younger. Dating is overrated. I've just decided it isn't for me."
"How very lonely for you." she frowned. I didn't reply.
"Well, I don't have any further questions." she tapped her pen thoughtfully. "But I would like to interview you again. You and your band." "
Okay."
she suddenly smiled brilliantly. "I am so glad the two of you came in today to let me interview you."
Andy and I stood quickly and hastily left.
That had gone a lot better then expected.
I felt myself relax as we stepped into the elevator. We hustled to stand in the back, and I hastily donned my sunglasses as I saw a woman give me a pitying look.
"That was less painful then I thought it would be," I murmured, and Andy shrugged. I stepped closer to him as the elevator became more crowded, and he slipped his arm around my waist. I shuffled uncomfortably as the elevator became overly warm, and we barely managed to squeeze out of it when we reached the lobby.
We couldn't have been here more than an hour, but I had never been happier to leave a place.
We stepped out onto the street, and I sighed. I ran a hand through my tousled hair, and turned to Andy. I'd gone back to the apartment last night seeing as our new reinforced door had arrived, amd I'd missed my bed more then I had realized.
But I sort of missed not sleeping beside him too.
"I'll see you tomorrow," I gazed up at him. He nodded, putting on his sunglasses. "I'll pick you up from your place," he told me, and I hesitated.
I really wanted Danny to come to the show, but I didn't know how to ask Andy if he could ride the bus with us.
"What is it?" Andy asked when I didn't say anything, just looked at him.
"Um, I was really wanting Danny to come to the show..."
"He can ride with us. Your brother is cool." he shrugged.
"Really?"
"Yeah." I felt a smile. I had been worrying about how to ask him about it, and this made everything so much simpler.
Andy shot me a glance, then caught my hand and began pulling me toward his car. "I'll drop you off at your place."
I hesitated, and pulled to a stop.
He looked back at me.
"What is it?" I was wearing my glasses, so I know he couldn't see my eyes, but I averted them regardless.
Did I really want to bring this up? I needed to, but maybe now wasn't the right time for it.
"Nevermind," I shook my head. "We'd better get going."

Notes