Anchor

"No WAY, Cael's much too...." Charlie wrinkled her nose. "Just... no. We'll have to find a guitarist somewhere else. We can't have anyone highly religious, that could end super horribly for us."

Katlynn nodded and sighed, her head falling onto the table. "She's broken down to the small town way of life," She sighed again.

"Go to high school," Ryan started.

"Find your high school sweetheart," Katlynn continued.

"Barely graduate," Charlie continued.

"Move in with said high school sweetheart," Ryan sighed.

"Inevitably get pregnant young and get married during the early stages of pregnancy or after the kid is born," Katlynn looked to Charlie to finish.

"And forever dreaming of how some day you'll leave this small, retched town and follow your dreams. Only ever dreaming, never ever grasping." Charlie finished quietly.

There was a knock on the door and Ryan got up. "I've got it," He told them, heading to answer the door.

"Did you order pizza?" Katlynn asked Charlie who shook her head, looking around their small apartment.

"It's probably Mrs. McFarland needing sugar again," Katlynn reasoned with herself.

"Uh, Charles, you should probably get out here," Ryan called into the kitchen.

Charlie rolled her eyes and stood up, walking to the door. "I told you before Ms. Jefferson, it wasn't use playing the loud music, we go to Ryan's house for our ba-" She froze seeing 5 people who were definitely not her annoying neighbor who always complained about the loud music they never play. Secretly, Charlie thought that Ryan must remind her of her son who died in the war. She had seen the pictures.

But no, it was not her. Standing in her doorway was none other than the members of Black Veil Brides. "I uh," She blushed slightly. "Um, come in?" She looked at Ryan, a little confused and slightly shy.

Andy almost forgot to move. He hadn't realized she would be this beautiful. It was only after Ashley nudged him that he realized he had been staring at the very obviously nervous girl. "Uh, yes," He cleared his throat. "Right. Thank you." He nodded to Ryan and they all piled onto the couches.

Katlynn walked in, spit-took her tea and blushed, running to her room to put her clothes on rather than in her pajamas. Once she came back out in a sweater, jeans, and her curls in a bun, she stood beside Charlie awkwardly. "I'm Katlynn," She introduced.

"I'm Ryan," Ryan nodded in greeting.

The two members shook the other band members' hands. "I'm Charlie," Charlie spoke shyly.
Andy, ever the ladies' man, took her hand and kissed the back of it, shooting her a wink.

Charlie looked away, the ever so slight blush dusting her cheeks.

"So, uh, not that I'm personally complaining or anything, but why are you here?" Katlynn asked.

"I need an opener for my Andy Black tour. Jinxx showed me your guys stuff, and I would like you to open for me, all over America and Canada, as well as a stop in Mexico City." Andy stated, getting right down to business.

He counted the members in front of him in his head. "Wait, don't you have another member?" He asked, looking around. "Is she on her way?"

"Somethings on its way alright but it ain't her." Ryan coughed.

Andy looked at the group confused. "She fell into Small Town Syndrome." Charlie explained, a tinge of sadness in her voice. "She's pregnant and therefore refuses to play in the band anymore."

Jinxx looked up. "Small Town Syndrome. You guys have a song named that," He looked between everyone.

"We wrote it a little while ago actually. Our fame started to climb. We were thinking about heading out to Cali or even just Toronto, and get out of retched town," Katlynn explained.

"That's okay, we can get you a new guitarist," Andy waved it off. "Do you have a manager I need to speak to?"

The three shook their heads. "Between all our resources, we've never had a need for a manager. We've had a little help from a local band, Disturb the Dead, but they got jealous since we were more popular yet they've been around longer." Ryan told the members of the other band. "So, it's just us."

"Can you leave at the drop of a hat?" Andy asked them.

They all nodded.

"How would you three like to open for the Shadow Side: Homecoming tour? We would need to leave right away to get things like buses, merch, fees, payment, albums, EPs and such all figured out, and-"

Hint of Whiplash did a group hug. "Yes yes yes yes yes!" Katlynn squealed.

"I'll go pack!" She shouted, running to her room.

"I'll be back here in half an hour with my stuff," Ryan booked it outside.

Charlie had tears in her eyes. This was it. This was their big break. They would be getting out of this town, and she would never have to look back. Her dreams, their dreams, were finally, FINALLY coming true. "Thank you, thank you so much," She whispered to Andy as the other band members explored the house, especially the kitchen.

"Of course. Talent like your bands doesn't come around often, so I'm glad we could be the ones to discover you." He smiled charmingly.

The other lead singer grinned and ran off to pack. Andy walked around the apartment, studying the art on the walls when he overheard a phone conversation.

"Mum, stop no, listen to me. You can't stop me from going, I'm 19. I don't live with you, I pay my own bills, and TAXES mum I'm an adult." A pause.

"Mum no, listen. You always told me that when you go to the bar, you hear people down there talking about some day. Someday they'll leave, someday they'll make a name for themselves, someday they'll quit their job and move to the sit. You said they were the people who talked about make the most of their life in high school and are still talking about it now, 35 years later, never having done anything. But mum this is it. This is my big break, my bands big break. Me and Kay have been dreaming about this for 10 years mum, I can't pass this opportunity up." Another pause.

"Yes mama, Andy Black. That's the one, remember? I showed you his band a little while ago." Another pause. "No mama I will not tell the man who has the intentions of taking us on tour with him that you think he needs to eat a cheeseburger." A short pause.

"Because mama that's not how one should treat someone like him." A tear rolled down her cheek as she laughed, but her laughter died quickly. "Mummy you aren't losing me. I'll always be your daughter. The tour has a stop in New York. I'll send you the details. We'll go and see Kinky Boots on Broadway, just like we always planned. I'll fly you out and we will do everything we dreamed of. It stops in Nashville too, we'll take nana to the house of Rock." Another pause as more tears fell.

"Of course, mum. I love you too, I'll see you as soon as possible. Bye."

She threw her phone onto her bed and wiped her eyes. "Is everything okay?" Andy asked softly.

Charlie jumped and wiped her eyes. "What? Uh yeah, sorry." She sniffled. "I'll be out in a few."
Andy nodded and went to walk out before pausing.

"By the way, we have a break in New York for a while. And flying your nana and mum out a few times shouldn't be a problem." He promised her.

"Thank you," She whispered.

Andy shot her a dazzling smile and walking to the living room.

Notes