All it was for the next verse was Matt and Julian playing and me belting out the lyrics, as if my life depended on it... Well if you about it, it really kinda does. If I wanna do what I’m doing right now for the rest of my life, now is the time to show them what I’ve got.

He talks of San Francisco, he's from Hunter's Bar
I don't quite know the distance
But I'm sure that's far
Yeah I'm sure it's pretty far

Everything cut off and once again, but the awesome cheering of the crowd. Two down one to go. I walked to the front of the stage smiling, and catching my breath.

“Thank youu,” I said with a small laugh, as they calmed down, “Now this next one will never be as good as the original but we tried pretty damn hard. This particular band that we’re covering right is here, in this arena, and I had the privilege to sit and talk with them for a moment, so here it is, if you can guess then you already know the words,” I said smiling and hung the mike up on the stand as the crowd went silent. I turned to the guys and nodded and Matt started the riff of the notes, and the crowd cheered loudly. I hung on the to the mike and waited for my time to enter again. The crowd went completely insane, and I scanned for a moment locking eyes with Brandon, and I gave a wink, easing up on the mike breathing in for the first verse.

A cloud hangs over this city by the sea,
I watch the ships pass and wonder if she might be, (might be)
Out there and sober as well from loneliness,
Please do persist girl it's time we met and made a mess


I sung and moved about the stage as if I thought Brandon would, and after the first couple lines of the first verse, and I couldn’t help but smile and feel comfortable in anything I do.

I picture your face at the back of my eyes,
A fire in the attic, proof of the prize
Anna Molly, Anna Molly, Anna Molly,
doo doo doo doo doo do doo doo doo doo doo do

A cloud hangs over and mutes my happiness,
A thousand ships couldn't sail me back from distress,
Wish you were here, I'm a wounded satellite,
I need you now, put me back together, make me right

I picture your face at the back of my eyes,
A fire in the attic, proof of the prize!
Anna Molly, Anna Molly, Anna Molly,
I'm calling your name up into the air,
Not one of the others could ever compare,
Anna Molly, Anna Molly!

At this point it was just Tristan keep a high tempo rhythm on drums, and Matt playing a few cords at a time. I stopped, putting my arms up at the ‘wait’s and held them there, singing in front of the mike I scanned the crowd as Matt’s solo strung out, with Tristan in the back and Julian playing his echo cords. But for the next part it was just Tristan keeping a steady medium tempo, and I sung out the next verse.

I picture your face at the back of my eyes,
A fire in the attic, proof of the prize!
Anna Molly, Anna Molly, Anna Molly,
I'm calling your name up into the air,

Not one of the others could ever compare,
Anna Molly, Anna Molly!

For the next verse the guys all sung out the chant while I sung the 'Anna Molly's out loud into the mike.

Wait... there is a light... there is a fire
Defragmenting the attic, (Anna Molly!)
Fate? Or something better? I could care less,
Just stay with me a while (Anna Molly!)

Doo doo doo doo doo do doo doo doo doo doo do (OH!)

Belting the last part out on my knees, everything stopped and the crowd went wild once more, but with more umph. I smiled as the guys came up by my sides and we took a small bow, “We’re Atrophy and it was awesome doing this, see you guys in the crowd, thank you!!” I said into the mike putting it quickly back on the stand, and we scurried off stage. Happily jumping, and once we got back stage we piled into a group hug, “holy shit, holy shit, holy shit,” was all that all of us could say and smile like retards. We could hear the announcer girl trying to calm the crowd down she could announce Acceptance.

“Hey,” we heard someone say and we stopped jumping to turn around and see the guys of Acceptance standing right in front of us, “You guys were awesome, keep it up,” the lead singer Dan say, and they smiled as Tristan managed to spur out a ‘thanks’ for the rest of us, as the band walked around us and through the curtain giving us the thumbs up.

We all gave each other the look.

“That was the shit,” Julian said and we hurried off to the locker room to put our stuff back in the cases, hurrying back so we could watch Acceptance play.


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“You guys were soo good,” Mina squealed as we walked back into the almost empty locker room, she jumped up and down and happily jumped into my arms, and hugged me. Riley exchanged the guy hand clap thingy they always do, until Mina and him switched and she shared her round of hugs. Riley pulled me into a tight hug. “You did awesome, and I got some great shots,” he said holding up the camera as he pulled back.

“Thank you mister,” I said smiling, and grabbed his hand ready to drag him out to the crowd, “Let’s go, I wanna see Acceptance,” I said and dragged him towards the exit of the locker room.

“Okay, Guys C’mon,” he said waving the rest of the guys over and they followed. We stopped outside of the door and I let go of Riley and we all walked down the hallway. There was a comfortable silence in the air, we all wanted to say something but didn’t want to ruin it, “I’ve never seen a crowd go wild like that,” Tristan spoke to break the silence. No one answered, because it wasn’t needed. Our silence was our answer, because we knew that no one ever saw a crowd that large. If we were to be looked at from a third party outsider, we all look like idiots. We all had goofy smiles on our faces, and couldn’t get them to go away, not that we were trying very hard. Inside we all wished this moment could last forever, and we hope we made a lasting impression, but even if it didn’t, we knew that this would leave an imprint in our memory banks. We all looked at each other, and it sounds completely cheesy but we laughed. Personally I didn’t understand what was funny, I don’t think any of us did, but it was somewhat the moment that made the thought great. We hoped that we could stay right here, in this moment forever but we knew that we couldn’t, and thought it broke our hearts, we moved on because there was nothing that could break our spirits right now.

We got to the end of the hallway and entered the arena, receiving praise from people left and right. All we could do was smile and give a ‘thanks’. I smiled as we walked along, I could see Brandon, and he waved me over. I nodded, “Here guys come on over here,” I said and led them over to where Brandon and the guys were.

“Hello again,” I said and Tristan, Matt and Julian looked at me funny, “Before we did the interviews remember I told you I sat down and talked with the guys here, Incubus, this is Tristan our drummer, Matt lead guitarist, and Julian our bassist,” I said motioning to each as I went. My guys shook Brandon, Mike, Ben, Jose, and Kilmore’s hands.

“Nice to meet you guys, you all did awesome, see Roxanne we told you it would be okay,” Mike said turning to me, giving me a shoulder nudge,“You were right, thank you,” I said nodding.

“You guys performing tomorrow right?” Tristan asked out loud,“Yeah, we’re just hanging out today,” Ben spoke up from next to Brandon.

“Nicee,” Matt said, and just at that moment a man in a gray business suit called over to Brandon and the guys waving them to come to him, “Well we gotta spilt, see you guys later,” Jose said pointing toward the hallway and we waved as they walked away. As soon as they were out of earshot, Tristan slapped my shoulder, they all gave me looks, so I held the shoulder in pain and gave him a look.

“What the fuck was that for?” I exclaimed not too loud.

“You met Incubus!” Matt spoke up and they all crossed their arms in unison. Ew. “I know, I told you earlier,” I said looking down with a pout.

“It’s the after shock” Julian said and turned to the guys, “I’m internally freaking out, anyone up for food,” and they all nodded.

You give me the money and I’ll go,” I replied and they sighed and each handed me five bucks, “Be right back,” no sooner did I say that, a group of girls rushed up to them gushing about how great they were. Looking back where I was going I laughed, but that laugh was shut down when I bumped into someone. A pair of arms wrapped around my waist to steady me, and I looked up a little to see McGorgeous. Perfect timing. “I’m sorry,” I said stepping back, pushing a wavy brown strand out of my eyes. He smiled brightly, oh my god.

“It’s fine, don’t worry about it” he said and settled his hands in his pockets like he was going to stay a while, “that was some performance you put on up there, I wouldn’t have pegged a Piggly Wiggly employee as a rockstar” he said looking me up and down. My head shot up, and I laid a good look on him for a moment. It was him! The kid with the sunglasses from the day with the lady with the clingy kid! Awkward.

“That was you? I thought you looked familiar,”I said wagging my finger in his direction, my surprised facial expression not fooling anyone, “So what are you stalking me?” At the stalk part I poked him in the chest, and he laughed a little girly laugh. I raised my eyes brows and laughed at that.

“I’m not stalking, I’m interrogating,” he assured smiling, and I looked down. His eyes were a velvety brown that I felt could see right through me. I couldn’t be around him, I had things to do. But now I’ve got a name to a face, and know what he looks like, so I’d be able to find him again.

“Sounds interesting, and I’d love to hear some of your questions but I gotta go, things to do,” I said giving a small wave and walking passed him witnessing his confused expression as I walked away. Walking up to the Hamburger booth, I place my order, “three orders of fries please,” once the server went to go get the make the order, I turned to my left towards the stage where Acceptance had started off their set with ‘So Contagious’. I bounced my head to the guitar as Dan’s voice echoed through my ears, but was interrupted by another voice.

“You know, I hate it when a girl you’re trying to talk to rejects you before you even get her name,” came the soon familiar voice to my right. I laughed hanging my head. I turned to see the boy again. I gave a smile, and his eyes lit up, “there you go,” he said.

“It’s Roxanne,” I said holding out my hand, he gladly took it in both of his giving it a squeeze, and then softly letting go. The feel of his hands on mine sent a round of shivers up my spine.

“I’m Joe,” he replied and I nodded, he had interesting style. He wore a pair of blue jeans, white converses, and a pink and white striped dress shirt with a black and white vest over it. Interesting but still hot, “Nice to meet you Roxanne.”

“Same to you Joe, even thought I already knew your name,” I said giving a head tilt to him once again, testing his name on my lips, he seemed to have liked the way he sounded, his face said it all.

“Mmm. So do you get it a lot?” he asked and I was immediately taken aback by what it sounded like he was saying. I could feel my face mangle.

“Get what?” I asked hoping to God what was going through my mind was not what I thought.

“You’re name, like the song, you know the Police?” he explained trying nervously to lead my mind the other way using his hands to speak as well. Italian.

“Oh that, yeah, I do. Actually this curly haired kid I bumped into in the hallway earlier asked me the same thing,” I said and he avoided my eyes, looking down at the ground. I smiled a bit knowing exactly what was going on, “You know him don’t you?” at this he looked up and laughed.

“You caught me,” he said holding up a hand for a moment, “I think you might’ve met my brother, curly hair right?” I nodded, “Yeah that’s Nick, he’s the almost squirt of the family, “ I laughed a little, as the server handed me two plates with the fries on it, I began to walk a little bit, he followed close to me.

“Mm, so now I know two of your brothers, any more I should know about?” I asked referring to I’m guessing his littlest brother from the supermarket, and now his other brother Nick.

“Yeah one older one, Kevin. He’s here somewhere. Maybe you’ll bump into him too,” he said leaning against the table poking fun at me, “I’m a bit of klutz sometimes, it’s against my will,” I said pushing the lever thing from the ketchup dispenser to the fries. He smiled.

“Happens to the best of us,” he sighed, “You’ve got brothers?” he asked and I nodded.

“Yeah an older one, off in college, and one younger one, about your littlest brother’s age,” I said turning around leaning against the table as well smiling as I thought about my family. They were gonna be here today but my little brother’s sick, and Hayden has tests. Looking out to the crowd as the band played their next song ‘Breathless’.

“Ouch,” he said and I shook my head, and held up my hands, “No no, they’re not like that. Well the little one James sorta is, but my older brother’s like my best friend. He’d never” I said smiling and he nodded with an understanding smile, “What about you? You beat up on your brothers?”

“Nah, I’m not really that kind of person. We’re all just really close,” he said looking out as if he were thinking about his family just like I was.

“What kind of person is Joe huh?” I asked and he looked my way, “Well I wouldn’t wanna tell you know, we just met, these kind of things take time,” he said smiling at me. He was good at this, knew exactly what to say.

“Oh really?” I asked raising my eye brows at him, “Fortunately,” he replied and I could feel the sting in my cheeks from keeping my smile up.

“Unfortunately, I haven’t got any,” I replied grabbing the fries, “And I got to go. It was nice meeting you though Joe,” I said giving a smile trying to use the information my mom gave me no matter how much I wanted to stay and talk to him ‘always keep them wanting more, make them follow you.’ I was beginning to walk away when he spoke up.

“Wait!” he called, and I smiled to myself a bit before turning around with raised eye brows, he had a puppy dog look on his face that I couldn’t help but get sucked into, “When will I see you again?” he asked and I suppressed the urge to smile like a complete retard.

“Well, that’s up to you now isn’t it?” I said smiling, I gave him a wink and turned around leaving him there to go find my band mates, and Mina to tell her about my run-in. I wasn’t exactly happy with the answer I’d just given but it’s true isn’t it? I mean he’ll probably be here tomorrow, so if anything he’ll be performing, I mean he’s obviously of a higher status if his brothers and him were in the locker room and press room and junk. They don’t let just anyone in there. But it’s okay because if he doesn’t find me, I’ll just look for him.


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I walked around sadly and couldn’t find anyone, I felt like a lost puppy, and the french fries I had were getting soggy from the ketchup so I just tossed them in the garbage. It’s partially my fault right now that I can’t find anyone, but it wasn’t a mistake meeting Joe. He was so nice, charming, but that’s exactly what guys are in the beginning, I’m not saying they’re all liars but some change over time and I don’t wanna be the one to experience that change. It’s harsh. I mean c’mon, if you were.....

“ROXANNE!” I heard someone call, and I turned around to see Riley running towards me, he was really excited about something, but I couldn’t understand what, he made his way over to me and stopped for a minute, “Hurry,” was all he said and he grabbed my hand and dragged me towards the hall to the locker rooms.

“Riley what the hell is going on??” I asked as my arm was being yanked down the tan hallway. We were almost to the door and Riley hadn’t answered me. I guess I’d have to find out first hand. He pushed open the locker room door and we ran past a few bands stopping in our corner where Tristan, Julian, Matt, and Mina were standing with a man in a pair of jeans, and a funky black and white checkered shirt and black jacket over it. He had blonde spikey hair. What’d they make a new friend or something?

“Ah there she is,” Tristan said walking around behind me and pushing me gently by my shoulders towards the group, “Rox this is Johnny, he’s a manager from EPIC,” at this I turned around and looked at Tristan with wide eyes, he motioned for me to turn around and I smiled, “It’s nice to meet you Johnny,” I said happily holding out my hand, he took it in his own, and shook it smiling.

“I have a proposition for the four of you,” he spoke with a smile and we all froze...

End Ch3

Ch4

Time just seemed to fly from there, two days later we’d been called by the President of EPIC Records and had been asked to sign a deal, they say our music will do great things for our demographic. Hey, they don’t need to sugar coat the reason man, just tell me the answer and I’m square. It’s surprisingly been about a month and a half and we’re already almost done with our first album consisting all of song we ourselves have written. It’s coming out in a month the single which the label chose to be ‘Misery Business’ is out and is third most downloaded song on iTunes, next to Daughtry’s ‘It’s Not Over’ and ‘The Way I Live’. The video [set at a carnival -that was Matt’s bright idea is going to be released to TRL tomorrow, and then we’re scheduled to make an appearance at The Bamboozle in New Jersey. If anything that’s what we’re more excited about. It’s much bigger than Sacmore, and has about 150 different bands. I couldn’t be more stoked, and its only two days away.

Even though, we got our record deal, I couldn’t be more disappointed at the fact that because we got the deal we aren’t able to spend as much time with our families as we used to. It’s a let down, because they’re my core and they hold me together. Sure, I’m homesick, I’m a child -screw off, I love my family. I miss our Sunday dinners, and how every time Hayden comes home, it’s an excuse for a party. I miss tucking in my little brother, and having late night movies with Hayden and James. Two in the morning, and having root beer floats with gummy bears in them. Those were good times. Making confetti cupcakes with Mom, and going for games of racket ball with Dad. Jesus, I’m this bad and it’s only a month into our road to stardom. I don’t know how I’m going to handle it when we go on tour. Shit. This blows, and I least I know I’m not the only who feels this way. The guys, and me stayed up late last night in our hotel room talking about good times with our family and some friends that we missed. Matt, Julian and I could all tell that Tristan was missing Mina, what we didn’t know is if they were official yet, they held hands now and he kissed her in public, but no word on if things were ‘sure’ yet.

We had a video meeting with the executives of EPIC records two days after we were approached by Johnny, and that was when we signed the contract, which went well. The four of us pegged them to be all uptight businessmen, but when we were ready for the conference our camera cut shot their’s too fast and saw that some were lounging around the conference table with their feet on it, talking about the Yankees and how they’ve been doing pretty well the past couple games. Needless to say we got along great with our label aside our fifteen minute conversation about the Yankees putting the ‘How ‘bout them Yankees’ conversation starter to use.

Today though, we’re in New York just shopping around, and we’re gonna stop over to our houses tonight, being as we haven’t seen our parents in three weeks, and we’re all crying about it. So we’re sitting in a limo, and we’re touching just about everything. Tristan’s playing with the weird seat belts, I’m amazed by the cable tv, Matt’s playing with the compartments, Julian he’s playing with the lights, and Riley -yesterday we got a phone call from Cosmo Girl! Magazine about doing a photo spread as a sort of ‘Photo Diary of...’ article being as we’re a new band, and we all agreed on the condition that Riley be our photographer for this in fact article. The editor not only happily agreed after seeing some of Riley’s photography of us, but also agreed to give Riley an exhibition as a photographer for the magazine, which we agreed to as well. He basically had it in the bag- and he played with the buttons, “Guys I figured it out,” Tristan exclaimed popping the lock out of the seatbelt and we all shared a round of ‘Oooo’s and ‘Ahhhh’s, that is until we realized that he didn’t actually figure it out but rather broke it. He scrunched his face and buried the seat belt in the seats.

“This is amazing,” he said flipping through the cd’s in one of the compartments, and we all shared a silence of agreement. The limo stopped down the street from Virgin Records in Time’s Square, and the sleek black one way window slipped down like in all the cool movies, and the driver spoke to us, “This is where I’m supposed to dump you guys,” he said, at the beginning of our journey, we had sat in the seats by this window thing and had interesting conversation with the driver who’s name ironically for me came out to Ronny. [Remember Ronny, my boss? Piggly Wiggly? Time for some backtracking? He gushed to us about his wife and two kids and how she was pregnant with another one, a boy that was going to be coming any day now. It was beautiful to hear. He was so ecstatic about the family that he already had and the fact that he was getting another kid made him all the more excited. We all smiled and shared stories about our families and how much we missed them. I could tell we’d be good friends with Ronny.

“Thanks Ronny,” we all said and hopped out the car as he rolled down the passenger side window that we all leaned down to look into.

“Remember you guys, just call me when you’re ready to leave, alright?” he said and we all nodded, and gave a wave as he drove off leaving us in the fork in the road by the cup of noodles building, and Riley stopped for a moment looking at the four of us.

“Stay right there, this is perfect,” he said lifting his camera from around his neck, and walked about 6 feet away from us. He said this was going to be great for this article. People quickly caught on that he was taking photo’s and moved out of the way, clearing the space between him and us, “Put on the Rockstar attitude guys,” he said pulling the camera up to his eyes. The four of us looked at each other, and smiled cheekily. They all leaned down around me who was strategically ordered to stand in the middle, and flashed the rock star symbol, and stuck out their tongues, and I just laughed at the asshole faces they were making, “Nice, now serious faces,” the three stood up straight, trying to do that whole ‘I’ma-badass-rockstar-but-don’t-need-to-show-it-off’ look, and shoved their hands in their pockets, squaring their shoulders, so deciding to be a rebel, I put my hands in the back pockets of my jeans, and lean over and smiling a big goofy open mouthed grin, causing Riley to laugh, “That ones a keeper,” he said smiling letting the camera hang from his neck once again, “Where to first?” we all looked at each other and shrugged.

I’ve never had so much money that I didn’t know what to do with it, and now that I had it I well... didn’t know what to do with it. I knew that once I up mustered enough, I was going to 1.) give some to my parents so they could add on to the house like they’d always wanted to 2.) put some away in a trust fund for James for when he has to go to college 3.) help my brother with his college money 4.) Well, I don’t know. Once I hit 18 next March, I plan to buy my own loft in New York to share with the guys. We’d talked about it, among other things when we got signed, and it was something we definitely wanted to do, so we figured, eh, what the hell. It’d be fun. But right now, I had just enough money to go on a shopping spree, and Johnny had advised us to all buy some formal clothes among the other things that we planned to get. Nice. Plus the guys agreed that they’d go dress shopping with me anyways, they said it’d be fun to watch me try on stuff, which I think would be a first for me to hear from any guy. Maybe the first in history.

And damnit, I didn’t have a recorder.

“Rox?” the hand waving in front of my face belonged to Julian, and I snapped out of my reverie, and got back to reality.

“Sorry, it’s late but the fact that we A.) got dropped off in a limo B.) are going shopping to these fancy City shops to get formal clothes that probably cost as much as my mom’s mortgage, and C.) that we’re going on TRL tomorrow is just catching up to me,” I said using my fingers for each letter, the guys all shoved their hands in their pockets, and looked down to the ground as if they were thinking about it just as I was. It was a lot to handle for just 17-year-old kids, with a burst off career for a 23-year-old, and to think just two months ago, we were practicing for Sacmore in Matt’s basement. Tristan was the first to pop his head up.

“Well we can’t dwell on this forever. We got shit to do today, and now that we have what we’ve been dreaming of, we can’t let it just slip away, let’s grab it by the balls and run away with em,” Tristan said smiling like he was making one of those inspirational speeches in the movies where everyone agrees, and they skip down the street towards that rainbow after the storm, and live happily ever after.

“Oh yeah bro?” Riley said and we all chuckled at him, and Matt, Riley and Julian turned to start walking down Time’s Square. I watched as Tristan gave me his puppy dog look, and I hugged him.

“It’s okay, it’s the effort that counts,” I said and he gave me a quick kiss on my forehead, even though we weren’t together anymore, little things like that gave me shivers all the same. But he’ll always be more of my best friend than anything. I wouldn’t give any of them up for anything. He nodded and we walking behind the other three following them towards our first stop.


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“You guys ready yet?” Nick sighed leaning against the door post of their hotel room, in the heart of Time’s Square. Kevin popped out of the bedroom to their suit and shoved his phone and wallet into the pocket of his Levi’s.

“I’m done,” he said walking towards the door where Nick was standing, “Now where’s the metro?” Kevin joked and Nick laughed, as they saw Joe appear from the bathroom, his hair freshly gelled.

“I’m not a metro, I’m just slow when it comes to getting ready,” he corrected walking passed the two and into the hallway. Nick followed along walking next to his brother while Kevin closed the door that automatically locked, and caught up with his brothers.

“So where are we off to today?” Nick asked the two and Joe shrugged, while Kevin answered, “Fiona wants us to go get some clothes for events and junk and then we’ve got the rest of the day to ourselves.”

“Sounds good, I could use some relaxation,” Joe declared as they waiting for the elevator.

“Ditto,” Kevin spoke leaning against the wall and closing his eyes for a moment, “So Nick has Miley left you alone yet?” he asked giving a chuckle along with Joe who was leaning against the adjacent wall. Nick gave them both a look, “No.”

“That sucks man, just tell her you don’t feel the same way and need some breathing room. After being rejected she’ll just back off for a while,” Joe said and the two older brothers gave a laugh again as the ding sounded that the elevator had in fact arrived.

“Yeah, you should know huh Joe?” Nick retorted stepping passed the two open doors smiling, as Joe surprising laughed, and Kevin just watched the spectacle in front of him.

“For you information squirt, I was not rejected. This is just gonna take a little bit more work,” he said crossing his arms, “she’s a bit testy, but it’ll be worth it in the end.”

“If you make it to the end,” Kevin said and it was him and Nick’s turn to share the laugh. Joe’s face stayed straight, and he sighed.

“Well I don’t see you over here pulling anything,” he directed towards his older brother and Kevin raised his eyebrows

“Actually, I had my eye on her friend, so you can shut up,” Kevin said giving Nick a nudge and his little brother smiled and Joe just shrugged as the elevator stopped on the lobby floor.

“Whatever, I need to find her first. I think I should call EPIC, or maybe as Fiona if she can get the number,” Joe spoke again as they stepped into the lobby, seeing their manager Fiona sitting on one of the lounge chairs in her jeans and t-shirt, and talking away on her cell phone with her folder in hand.

“Yeah it’ll be much easier for her to get it, than you,” Nick agreed as the three boys walked up to Fiona, her eyes catching on them before they got to her and she stood up still talking away on her phone. Once the boys got over to her, she motioned for them to follow her, and they walked towards the exit, and the boys all slipped on their sunglasses, stepping out into the city.

No one really knew where in the city they were, hell. No one knew they were in the city at all at the moment. So, its just about perfect. The three boys followed their babbling manager into the Escalade waiting outside for them. Joe could overhear Nick and Kevin talking in the back of his mind about what exactly they planned to buy and where they planned to go today, but the overwriting thought in his mind was his meeting with Roxanne yesterday. She intrigued him, and since he talked to her he can’t stop thinking about what he could’ve said to make her stay with him longer. In the back of his mind he watched a cute little movie of them together walking around the city hand-in-hand, looking through the windows at things they liked, goofing off in little shops downtown, looking through classic CDs in record stores uptown, and sitting down to eat in one of the sidewalk restaurants watching the people go by, and talking about random things. He couldn’t take his mind off anything but seeing her again and he watched as Fiona put down her phone finally, and sighed making conversation with the two other vocally active brothers. Joe just spaced off, thinking about how he could see Roxanne again. He felt helpless, but it wasn’t a bad helpless. The kind of-

“Joe?” he heard the other chime in, and he snapped out of his thoughts to notice that the car had in fact stopped. Was he really daydreaming that long?

“Uh sorry,” he said, and Nick and Kevin gave each other a look.

“Daydreaming about Roxanne huh?” Nick said nudging his brother’s shoulders, Joe blushed and Fiona narrowed her eyes at the boy.

“Roxanne Cardoza?” she asked, “From Atrophy?” Kevin and Nick nodded quickly. Fiona smiled, “You know I could, get her manager’s number and you guys could-“

“No thanks Fiona, I’m gonna work this one out myself,” Joe said giving Fiona a smile and ushering his brother’s out of the SUV, once his brother’s were out of earshot, he turned back to her, “Can you get it just in case,” she laughed and nodded a bit, “thanks, you’re the best Fiona,” he said and hopped out of the car, closing the door behind him.


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“Rox what about this one, it’s nice,” Tristan said holding up a yellow mini dress, and my eyes widened. Me being a big fan of yellow, I immediately loved it, and swarmed over to the rack that Tristan picked it off from. Finding the dress in my size I admired the stitching and how it looked perfect. I stoppped for a moment and narrowed my eyes at Tristan.

“Why are you so good at this?” I asked letting a sly smile escape my lips. He shrugged, and smiled brightly. He [along with the others had picked out 3 dresses that I already loved. One was this yellow dress, the second was a light pink mini spaghetti strap dress that I had found a belt to pair it with, and the last was a long black and white flower halter dress. I myself had picked up had picked up a vibrant pink shiny dress, that went to my knees. Now, I’m not really a girly girl. I hate pink, but for some strange reasons, I loved these dresses. It was awkward. But it’s okay. So I peeled off my black jacket, that I wore because for the end of August, it was surprisingly cold in the city. The fall was definitely coming. The clerk let me leave it behind the counter, and while the air condition was on blast for some retarded reason, I kept my striped white and blue American Eagle sweatshirt on with my straight-leg jeans, and gold moccasins. There was a woman who was following us all around the store, I had picked out two more dresses, one navy blue and long, and one black/white and mini. I turned around to see that the guys were still picking out some stuff, but when I turned back around I collided with toned chest.

OoOoOo.

I looked up to see a boy that looked a couple years older than me, with bright blue eyes, and spiky brown hair smiling down at me, his arms holding on to me to steady.

“I’m sorry,” I said as I backed away. He laughed, and put a hand up shaking his head.

“Its okay Roxanne,” he said my name and I turned my head a bit. Who was he that he knew my name? “Do I know you?” I questioned and he smiled, shaking his head.

“No I’ve just heard a lot about you, I’m Kevin,” he said holding out his hand, that I took and shook, nodding.

“How do yo-“ I was cut off from my next question by the woman who was helping my as she popped up next to us. “Miss, you’re room is ready,” she said and then stopped as if she had interrupted. Well, she did but I didn’t mind. This conversation kind of freaked me out, was this part of becoming known? I’m guess when random people know you’re name you’ve kinda... you know, arrived? Sure. I nodded turning back to ‘Kevin’.

“I’ve gotta go,” I said and he gave a small wave, and disappeared amongst the store.

Awkward.

I shook my head and followed the woman back to the room, giving her a polite smile, as I entered and closed the door behind me, putting the lock on it. Thank god it was one of those dressing rooms. I hate it when you go to look in the mirror outside the room, or go to get an opinion from a friend of family and the door locks you out. I smiled as this joyed me and I pulled the first dress off the hook. I decided to try on the white/black one first. It fit nice, and I ran my fingers over the smooth material deciding to go check it out in the mirror, because the people who made this room, didn’t put mirrors in them. Smart guys, really freakin smart.

Now I must be a serious klutz, because in my lifetime I’ve literally bumped into more people than I’ve talked to. It’s quite annoying. So, my luck decides to catch up with me for the second time today, but as I open the it’s not me who bumps into someone, but someone who actually walks into the door that I opened. Dear Jesus, I’m a fucking asshole.

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry,” I said placing my hand on the shoulder of this person, the person looked up holding the bridge of their nose, and it was him. McGorgeous... er...well ‘Joe’. He looked up and his warm brown eyes met mine, and twinkled with a smile. I immediately felt my inside tingle as he stood there, in a silver-ish-gray suit with a black button up underneath. It would’ve looked awkward on anyone else but it seemed to have worked for him.

“Well, Well, Well. It seems your klutziness has brought us together again,” he said sliding his hands in the pockets of his pants. I nodded, slipping my hands behind my back and leaning against the door, “Hey, it’s my good luck charm, what can I say?” I shurgged, and he smiled, and looked down to the ground.

“Hmm. I feel special, I’m a product of good luck,” he nodded, “So this is really a chance in hell moment eh? Meeting up again, in a dressing room of a random boutique in Manhattan,” he said adorably failing at changing the subject. I laughed giving a nod, the irony seriously was random.

“Seriously man, I’m starting to believe that you are stalking me. I mean, first my job, then Sacmore, and now this? I mean c’mon Joe,” I said poking some fun at him, and he chuckled. Shrugging, he turned to me again, “I know I’m lovable, but I don’t wanna attract the wrong kind.”

“Woah, what was that? The wrong kind? Thanks a lot,” he said throwing his arms down, and beginning to walk away, I laughed and quickly grabbed his arm smiling. He stopped and came back, giving up his joke and continuing, “Well you know, you didn’t give me a logical answer when we said goodbye, so you know I had to take the plunge myself,” I smiled at what it seemed he was implying.

He wanted to see me again. Haha, I know for a fact that he didn’t track me down, but it was nice to kid myself, “Hmm, someone’s stepping up to the plate huh?” I said giving a playful punch on the shoulder, and he held it acting like he’s in pain. He winced and gave me a puppy dog look, and I laughed, behind over and kissing the spot that I had hit. He smiled like a buffoon. I laughed at him.

“Well, I man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do,” he said and I chuckled a bit. He smiled, “So what brings you to Manhattan today missy, looking for some dresses?” he said feeling the material on the bottom of the mini dress. He nodded in approval.

“Manager sent us out to get some formal clothes, and besides that, just a day in the city with the band,” I said shrugging, nd tilting my head to him, “and you?”

“Ditto, why don’t you guys come with us? I mean it’d probably be more fun with a bigger group of people, and we could use the company,” he said playfully punching my shoulder this time, I giggled instead and then nodded.

“Sounds good, but I’m gonna need a favor mister,” I said to him smiling, and he narrowed his eyes, almost seeming afraid of my answer, “I just need to your opinion on which dresses I should buy,” he smiled and held up a finger, as I brung my finger back from pointing to the dresses in my room.

“As long as you help me pick out some formal wear as well,” he said, and stuck out his hand, and nodded holding it in my grasp and shaking it.

“Deal.”


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A pound of laughter escaped my lips as Joe made goofy faces in the mirror at the end of the hall as he stood in a black tux with a canary yellow button down under it, and I had on my yellow dress. I put a hand on the wall to steady myself as my laughter died down. He laughed a bit as well, and turned to me. As soon as I stopped laughing, we just stood in the front of the mirror examining the reflection for a moment.

I found it somewhat cute but mostly disgusting how we matched. But it wasn’t in a bad way. It was cute. We’ve been in the dressing room for just about 15 minutes just joking and checking out how the clothes looked in the mirror. So far, he’d given me the thumbs up on the black and white dress, and I had given the thumbs up on the silver suit, also the light pink dress, and he had a white suit, with a blue undershirt. These two were approved as well. I tried on the navy blue dress, which he commented ‘wasn’t as good as the others’ so I left that one behind, and I had to give the thumbs down on a pink suit that he tried on. He shrugged and said that he didn’t like it that much either. We had approved on my black and white floral dress, and he had changed back into his normal clothes saying that he had gotten enough of these formal clothes, so he appeared from his dressing room in a pair of jeans, pink polo and a black jacket like mine except with a hood.

He waited outside the dressing room, and while I changed into the last number I watched his white converses tap on the floor as he whistled a tune I didn’t know, “What song is that?”

“Only Hope by Switchfoot, they’re the best,” he told me like it was the most obvious thing in the world, but he was kidding. I smiled and pulled the hot pink straps to the dress over my shoulders. I exited the dressing room, to see Joe fiddling with his sidekick, but looked up when I opened the door he stopped.

I pretended not to notice as his eyes widened a bit with a smile and he watched me. I looked down to the floor at my feet as I passed him and walked up to the mirror. I knew that whatever he had been focusing on before I opened the door was now no more, and I smiled stopping in front of the mirror adjusting it. He popped up over my shoulder, and shot a goofy smile to my other shoulder, and I laughed and saw a flash off to my left. He smiled pulling his sidekick back to him and examining the picture.

“Hmm, not bad Cardoza,” he said as if he’s known me for years, and he showed me the picture. He was looking at the camera from my far right shoulder, with his smile beaming, and I was smiling looking into the mirror. I nodded.

“Keeper for the Myspace?” I asked referring to the internet sensation, that just about everyone and their mothers’ [literally had. I couldn’t lie. I ran two. A personal one of my own that is being flooded now every day now by friend requests of people I’ve never met, and our band page as well. It’s flattering and I happily accept, but I’m sure that Joe probably had one. He laughed.

“Nah, I think I were to put this on my Myspace, the fans would probably start a riot against you. This one is a keeper though, it’s gonna go on my picture collage, I’ve got pictures all over my walls,” he declared shaking his head and I placed a hand over my heart, and faked a sniffling, pretending to cry.

“That’s beautiful Joe, I’m honored,” I said jokingly and he laughed and turned me around by my shoulders and lead me towards my dressing room again. The feel of his fingers on my shoulders set off the race of shivers up and down my spine and I smiled to myself.

“Shut up Cardoza,” he said and I giggled as he opened the door and pushed me in popping his head in the door, “Definitely get that one, Nick and Kevin are up front waiting for me, so I think you’re friends should be done by now. I’ll be out there, alright?”

“Wait, wait, wait. Your brother is Kevin?” I asked referring to the boy I had bumped into upon coming to this very room. He smiled, “And how do you know my last name?”

“What you bump into him to?” he asked and I frowned, and pointed towards the exit, and not answering my second question, which made me wonder. Did he look us up on the internet? Did he read the SPIN magazine article from last month on us. I certainly didn’t tell him. I don’t know, last names aren’t hard to come by today.

“Get out,” I joked and he laughed closing the door. I’ve not even known the guy for a full day and he already knew me simply. I’m pathetic. So much for mom’s advice.

Leave them wanting for more. What if I’m the one wanting more?

End Ch4

Ch5

“It’s about time Rox,” Tristan said standing with Julian, Matt, Riley, Nick, Kevin and Joe. It was awkward seeing them all waiting for me there. Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t weirded out, but it was like a girl’s dream. Having a group of six attractive guys waiting for you. My life was slowly getting better and better. I liked it. A lot. I smiled stopping where they were conveniently standing behind the counter, where I had to do the credit card work. The cashier told me that it had already been taken care of, and she pointed towards Matt, Riley, Tristan and Julian. I smiled, and they looked at me weird.

“What?” Matt asked for all of them, as Nick, Joe and Kevin all turned to see what was going on. I pretended to cry, and hugged the four boys.

“My boys did something technical,” I said and they all sighed, “I’m so proud,” I continued and they all pushed me off of them, as the other three boys laughed at me, “What are you three laughing at?”

They six boys just all laughed at me as if it were some secret boy joke, and they walked for the exit. I stood there wondering what the hell just happened and how they all turned it so the joke was on me. The six boys walked out the door, but Joe stopped and saw me lagging behind. He stopped, and waited for me.

“Always the gentleman, huh?,” I said walking into pace with him, and out the door. He shrugged a bit, and smiled.

“I try,” he said once again shoving his hands in his pockets, something I’d come to notice that he did a lot. I frowned and pulled his hand out fo his pocket. He looked at me weird but I just nodded to him, and looked at his fingers. They were empty, and big. Well I mean he had no rings or anything. I put his hand down and then looked at mine. I had three rings on one finger, and my dad’s ring on the other. I had a thumb mood ring on the same hand, and on the other I had a ring with an eye on it and my dad’s thumb ring. Hmm. That was pretty big. I slipped it off and grabbed Joe’s hand again, as we walked slowly, “what are you doing?” he asked looking from my eyes to the ring.

“Well, I figured that since I’m probably going to be you friend for a while, you being my first actual friend in the business, I want to make it special to make sure, this friendship lasts, “ I placed the ring on his pinkie, the only finger it fit on. His hands were big, but I could tell they could warmly encase mine. I looked over to him with a dead serious expression my face, “I can’t tell you how much I hate fake friendships. They suck, soooo, I’m putting my father’s ring on your finger, to show how much I cherish our friendship, even though it’s the beginning,” I said and he nodded nicely, “it’s a lonely business, out there Joe. Everyone needs someone,” I said looking up towards the sky, with my arm around his shoulders. He was taller than me, so it was kinda hard to do this but I gave my best effort. It seemed to have worked because I felt him throw his arm around my shoulder as well.

“Yeah, it is a very lonely business, glad I have a friend,” he said squeezing my shoulders with a smile. I returned it and looked up ahead of us. The rest of the guys were gone. I stopped and Joe walked a couple steps before realizing that I wasn’t keeping up, “What’s wrong?” he asked, and I pointed ahead.