Unbreakable

“How the hell did you do all did this in heels?” Dave asks. He's looking at the LED boards and, lights, and amps like they were placed by God.

“They're kitten heels,” I shrug. I put a strip of tape over the last uncovered cable, and dust my hands of triumphantly.

“I don't know how you do it,” Dave smiles and shakes his head.

“Never underestimate the abilities of a confident woman,” I smile.

“Amen to that!” Andy exclaims from the wings. “You truly are amazing Lace.”

“Oh stop it darling,” I walk over and give him a friendly peck on the cheek. “What are you doing here so early?”

“Hotels get boring after a while. And I think Ashley mentioned something about dressing room sex.”

I can't help but laugh out loud. “So he roped you into bringing him early?”

“Well he bought me cigarettes so I couldn't resist.”

“Andrew Biersack,” I pop my hip and point a scolding finger at him. “You let him use your vice against you to help him appease his vice?”

He takes a second to think about what I just said. “Well when you put it that way…”

I chuckle and pat his cheek. “You're cute.” I walk over to my sound board. My lips curve up in a smile as I play a little riff on the synthesizer. “The acoustics are great in here.” I switch the synthesizer over to a piano setting, and play one of my original songs. I sing softly under the piano. I don't want anyone else to hear me. “I can feel you all around me, thickening the air I'm breathing, holding on to what I'm feeling, savoring this heart that's healing,” I play a chord with dissonance, and then fade it into a diminished chord.

“Laci that was beautiful,” Andy says. “Did you write that?” I give him a small nod. Did he hear me singing? “You should start performing again.”

“Oh no, I'd rather stay behind the scenes.” I switch the synthesizer back to the normal setting, and get set up for sound check. “Alright, I need all of the techies out here in one minute!” I call out.

“You don't belong behind the scenes, you belong on the stage.” The techies run around in a flurry of black skinny jeans and sweatshirts to go with them.

“Andy listen,” I fumble with a few amp cables to make sure they're plugged in all the way. “I tried the whole lead singer thing. It didn't work out. I'm finally in a good place, I don't want to mess this up.”

“Remember the way it felt to hear a crowd of people chanting your name? Do you remember the amount of pride you felt when they sang along with you? How could you give that up? How could you give up on your fans?”

His words strike my core. “Andy I-”

“Lace, just think about it okay? You'll have a band to play behind you, and a huge support network. Your talent can't go unheard.”

I don't know what to say. He's disarmed all of my defenses. So I turn to the techies who are patiently waiting for sound check to begin. “Okay guys let's start with drums.” I catch Andy shaking his head and leaving. But in his wake, I feel nothing but disappointment.

Notes

Hey sorry it's short, and kinda depressing. I had to get a chapter up before I go to the therapist tonight. I'm super nervous about it, it's my first time ever going to one. I know it will be good in the long run, but I'm still super nervous. Anyway, thank you all so much for reading, have a good night loves :)