3 Months Later




Dani blew her hair out of her face as she struggled to find her key. Her arms were loaded with books that she needed from the library as she dug in her pocket to find the ever evasive house key. Going to school here in America took some getting used to but Dani wouldn’t have changed anything for the world. To her classmates and her roommate she was just Dani. There was no bowing or formal introductions. She was an average twenty-four year old woman living her life. Thankfully she was allowed to use her mother’s maiden name here in America. No one would know she was Crown Princess Daniella Katarina Maria Therese Benaldi. Here in America she was Dani St James.

She was especially glad she hadn’t seen one glimpse of any member of the Royal Guard on the streets of DC. She wondered if Phillip had been joking when he said that she would need a battalion to keep up with her antics.

Suddenly her fingers reached the key. “Ah ha!” She pulled it out of her pocket and unlocked the deadbolt on the door. Pushing her way in, Dani sighed with relief. After a hard day of classes the only thing she wanted to do was relax. Keeping her word, she was a political science major at the University of the District of Columbia. Despite being away from the pressure of royalty, Dani knew that she had a responsibility to not only herself but her grandmother in keeping up with her studies. It was either get good grades or go back home. No matter how long the hours, she was going to make sure that she would get A’s.

Entering her apartment she saw her roommate, Nikki, running around as if getting ready for a date. Dropping her books on the couch, Dani grinned at her. “You look amazing Nikki. Do you have some hot date tonight?” She pushed her brunette hair out of her face.

Nikki turned around and her face lit up. “Dani! You’re home!” She ran and hugged her roommate. “I’ve never been so happy to see you.” She told her as she pulled back.

Dani laughed and shook her head. “Ok…you do remember it’s your turn to cook dinner tonight, right?”

Waving her hand, Nikki laughed. “Forget dinner!” She shook Dani’s shoulders. “The guy I was dating, that asshole Todd, well he was supposed to go with me to the concert tonight but I found him in bed with his ex-girlfriend this morning. He told me it had been over for months. HA!” She snorted sarcastically. “He was fucking her right there in the middle of the morning news.” She growled.

“Where are we going with this, Nikki?” Dani’s brows furrowed.

“OH right!” Nikki waved her hand. “Anyway I figured since he screwed me over, literally, I’m taking the tickets to the concert and the backstage passes and instead of him going with me. YOU ARE!” She squealed.

Dani’s face fell. “Nikki, I’ve got tons of homework. I can’t go to a concert tonight.” Her shoulders sagged. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to go, she did. But the thought of all the homework that awaited her made her shudder.

“Dani!” Nikki whined. “You have to go with me. It’s Black Veil Brides! I have to see my rocking sex god Ashley!” She waved her hands. “He’s not only the best bass player in the world but he’s gorgeous!”

Normally Dani would be the first one at parties but for some reason she was actually sticking to her grandmother’s plan. She actually studied hard and was getting decent grades. “Nik, really I should—“

“Hey, it’s Friday. It’s the weekend. Now go on and put your sexiest outfit on and put on some makeup. We still have time. I have front row tickets!” Nikki playfully pushed her towards her bedroom. “I laid out a BVB t-shirt on your bed. Put that on with your black mini skirt. Trust me Andy is gonna think you’re hot as hell when he sees you!” She giggled.

Knowing it was a lost cause, Dani headed towards her bedroom. Going to a concert might be some fun. Besides she heard a few of the band’s songs when Nikki played them around the apartment. She liked their music. “Wait, who’s Andy?” She called over her shoulder.

“Just go get dressed!” Nikki called out.


~ ~ ~


“I think I’m going to faint!” Nikki clutched onto Dani’s arm as they were led backstage before the show to meet the band. Since they had the backstage passes they were allowed to come backstage an hour before the show and do the meet and greet ahead of the concert.

Looking down at her laminated pass Dani turned to look at Nikki. “How the bloody hell did you get these anyway?” She followed the big bulky security guard as he led them through the maze backstage. Back home it was nothing for her to head backstage to meet who she wanted but she no longer was back home. Now she was an ordinary college student.

“Todd won them off the radio station for me and since we’re no longer dating, by asshole!” Nikki giggled. She put her hand on her stomach. “Oh…my…god! I’m going to meet Ashley Purdy!” She yanked on Dani’s arm.

Dani growled. “You keep tugging on my arm like that you’re not.” She teased.

“I’m so sorry Dani. This is just so amazing for me.” Nikki smiled shyly. “Aren’t you excited to meet Andy?”

“You keep going on about this Andy!” Dani exclaimed exasperatedly. “Why would I be excited about meeting him?”

Nikki stopped and turned to look at her. “Remember the day I was sitting at my computer and I was watching the BVB videos and you walked up to me? You asked me who was the singer with the voice of an angel and that was wearing such tight trousers that you could see his pulse through. The one with all the ink on his arms and the big blue eyes.” She smirked.

Suddenly Dani blushed as she growled and it was her turn to yank on Nikki’s arm. “Come on you’re going to be late to meet your Ashley.”

Nikki burst out laughing. “See! That’s him. The one that you needed that stiff drink for. Isn’t he hot as hell too?” She nudged Dani.

“Ok ladies. Here is the Black Veil Brides’ dressing room. They are expecting you. You get 45 minutes with the boys. I’ll be back to take you to your seats before the show starts. If you need anything the boys can help you. Got it?” The security guard looked at them.

“Got it.” Nikki nodded.

The security guard knocked on the door. “There here boys.” He opened the door and ushered the girls in.

Dani walked in with Nikki and she swore she was walking back in time to the sins and temptations of the old Roman Empire. The members of the Black Veil Brides sat at various places in the room as they put on finishing touches of their gear for the night. She had no idea what to think only that there were five very handsome men and only two of them.

Suddenly a tall man with long dark hair and tight leather pants that hung low off his hips came walking towards them. Dani heard Nikki squeal in her ear and she tried her best to shake her off. The man gave both of them a huge smile as he held his arms open. “Welcome ladies. The madhouse is open. I’m CC.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, CC.” Dani gave him a slight bow of her head. It took all her efforts not to curtsey right there. Old habits die so hard.

“Whoa, nice accent!” Jinx’s head snapped up.

Before she knew it, the man she hadn’t expected to be attracted to at all turned around and stared at her. Dani found herself swallowing hard. Andy Biersack, the lead singer of the band was wearing those blasted leather trousers she teased about before and they were like CC’s, hanging low off his hips. Only they were made worse when he stood up. He wasn’t wearing a shirt either and she could see all the inked up designs of his tattoos that dusted his body. His dark hair was shorter and yet it was his electric blue eyes that caught her attention right away. “What kind of accent is that?” Andy asked her. “It’s…musical almost. I like it.” He gave her a full smile.

Dani tried not to panic. She couldn’t tell them where she was really from. Most times she told people she was from London and they bought it. Yet she doubted they would believe her here. Clearing her throat, she tried to break away from the spell of his smile and she found herself blushing. “Thank you. I’m from many places actually. I’ve lived in London, Roma, and even Greece.” She laughed nervously.

Andy couldn’t stop smiling at the dark haired woman that stood before him. He reached down and took her hand and brought it to his lips. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Andy.” He brushed his lips back and forth over her knuckles.

It was as if her heart began to thump in her chest. Dani swallowed hard as she tried to remember how to speak. “Daniella. But---um—everyone just calls me Dani.” She managed to get out.

“Dani, I like that!” Andy burst into another smile. He found he couldn’t take his eyes off her. She was beautiful. Her long dark hair fanned over her shoulders and her dark eyes made her look almost exotic.

Ashley came up to them and put his arm around Nikki. “What’s your name gorgeous?” He winked at her.

Nikki almost had a heart attack right there. “I’m…Nikki. Dani’s roommate.” She beamed up at Ashley.

“Pleased to meet you ladies. Ashley chuckled.

Just then the door to the dressing room opened and Andy’s cousin, Joe came barreling in as he held his left hand. “Dude, I’m gonna kill one of the stupid roadies!” He winced as he looked to be in great pain.

“What the fuck happened to you?” Andy looked over at him.

“The dick slammed my hand in the door as he was walking out to get shit from the truck!” Joe cried out. “I think my fingers are broken!”

Suddenly the room erupted in chaos as Andy started to yell at Joe and then the rest of the band members were giving Andy advice about how to take care of his cousin. It became a free for all as people were trying to be heard.

Dani immediately went into action as she moved over to Joe. “Excuse me?” She tapped him on the shoulder. But he paid her no mind. “Excuse me Sir?” She tapped him on the shoulder again. But he was too busy yelling at Andy. She sighed and finally put her fingers in her mouth and whistled loudly. Suddenly everyone froze and looked at her. She laughed nervously and then looked around the room, finally looking at Joe. “Um..excuse me Sir, can I look at your hand? Back home I’m a registered nurse. It’s part of the training I have to do.” She told him. It wasn’t exactly a lie. Her mother had been a nurse before she had met her father and Dani found it a worthy profession. So on one of her AWOL attempts from the palace she enrolled in nursing school under a different name and graduated at the top of her class in London. Of course when they found out who she really was, they refuse to give her the degree.

Joe looked at Andy warily. But Andy waved his hand as if to say, go ahead. He gingerly moved his hand over to Dani. “Just please be careful.” He whispered.

“I’m not going to do anything that a doctor would do. I’m going to make sure that your bones aren’t broken. I’m sure you’ll need to still see the medic.” Dani assured him. She then performed the necessary tests to determine if the fingers were crushed. “Hmm judging by the blood flow you have to your capillaries and the way your fingers are moving, they aren’t broken. Still I’d get an x-ray to make sure 100%. But right now you want to put ice on this injury STAT.” Dani looked around and she grinned as CC threw an ice pack at her and she caught it. She then laid it on Joe’s hand. “There. Now go to the medic and head to the hospital.”

Joe gave her a gentle smile. “Thank you…um..”

“Dani.” She returned his smile.

He headed towards the door. “Dani, thank you.” He looked towards his cousin. “You take care of her tonight. Make her feel like a million bucks!” He laughed as he left the room.

Andy found himself staring at Dani once again as he smirked. “I plan to. Man, you’re full of surprises there Dani. Makes me wonder what else you’re hiding.” He teased.

Dani laughed nervously. “You’ll never know.”

Notes