Bleeding Out: Chapter 28: Summer Tragady
(*Alison's POINT OF VIEW*)
Months later, after the EP called My Own Sun was released and Black Veil Brides started working on record number 3, on June 17th (Father's Day) Andy gave me a call. Black Veil Brides were on tour, and they occasionally played with Motely Crue and Slash. They were estatic about going on this tour and I was happy for them aswell.
"Hey baby, what's up?" I greeted Andy happily.
"Ali-" Andy's voice broke. "I...I uhm-" His voice broke again.
"Andy, what's the matter?" I asked, getting serious.
"I need to go home. And-" Andy took in a shakey breath. "And you need to pack your bags for Ohio." His voice sounded raspy.
"Ok. Ok, I'll get packing right now. What's the matter? What happened?" I asked, rushing to our bedroom to pack for me. We finally converted my old bedroom into a guest room again.
Andy took in another shaky breath. "My mom's dad died. Uhm...my-my grandpa died, Ali." And then I knew he was crying. I knew it deep within me. I could also tell that he wasn't breathing, like I do when I cry.
"I'm so sorry. I am always here. And when you get home, you can brake down right as you walk through the front door. You can wail on the plane. But, right now, you gotta pick up-" I sucked in a breath, wanting to cry for him. My heart broke in two. "And go. I won't move until you walk through the front door. Everything will be taken care of. You don't even need to pack if you don't want to."
"I'm gonna play the show tonight." Andy sniffled. "For him. In memory of him." That caused me to shed a few tears as well.
"He would have loved that." I didn't even sniffle, I didn't want him to know I was tearing up and crying ever so slightly. I was to be strong for him. He needed someone to lean on.
"We'll be on a plane as soon as the show is over." Andy coughed a few times.
"Breathe, Andy." I said and I waited him to take several deep breaths.
"My dad said to be a warrior." Andy said suddenly, after his voice went back to normal.
"Don't get too caught up in that. You be a warrior in front of your mom and your dad. But, in front of the boys, Sammi or I...be a man who just lost his grandfather. You need to greive. Don't get caught up in being a warrior." I said earnestly.
"Ok." Andy took another deep breath. "I'm ok. I'm ok. I'm ok. I'm a warrior. I'm ok."
"I love you so much. It's ok not to be ok. It's ok to feel weird."
"I love you." Andy said, I could feel how much he meant it. "I'll be home soon."
"Bye." I said in one breath.
"Bye." Andy repeated, almost like a zombie.
~
I heard the front door open and I walked out of the bedroom to see Andy come through the door.
"You know what?" Andy asked me. "I'm going to be completely honest. I'm not ok. I miss him more than...than...AIR. I miss him more than my sanity! My first thought waking up after the plane ride was that he was dead and I'm not ok. I'm not." Andy said loudly, almost angrily. "I'm not ok." Andy's voice broke. I didn't say anything. I didn't have to. Vikas was now dancing at our feet but he suddenly realised no one was paying him attention so he went back to his bed as I ran to Andy. I gripped him in a hug and he burried his face in the crook of my neck. I put a hand on the back of his head and pressed him to me. We stayed like that for a long time, even after Matt came out of his bedroom. Matt just sat down in the kitchen chair, waiting for Andy to be even slightly more ok. No one rushed him. I pet the back of Andy's head and then literally three minutes later, Andy unbound himself from me and I got on my tippy toes to wipe the tears from his cheeks. I only met Urban Flanders once, last Easter. He was so suporitive of Andy and Black Veil Brides. I also took a liking to him and he me. He was the kindest soul on Earth. When I told him I was in a band, he said he'd check us out as soon as possible. He, almost a stranger, was already supportive of me. He supported anything of Andy's, even girlfriends. And over the course of that Easter celebration, I became attached to the kind soul. I found out Urban was the man who said the "Call to Arms" on We Stitch These Wounds. He would forever be immortalised in his grandson's band. I thought it was so sweet, looking back on it, during the time Matt hugged Andy and gave him his condolances.
"Did you pack?" Andy asked.
"Mhm." I nodded.
"Ok, then I'll go pack." Andy said, almost numbly. It was like he was in a trance.
"You sure? I could pack for you." I called to him as he went to our bedroom.
"No, it's ok. I wanna keep myself busy." Andy called to me as I heard him open a drawer.
"He's a wreck." I whispered to Matt.
"I know." Matt whispered back.
"Will you stay here and take care of Vikas and the house?" I asked.
"Of course. I wasn't planning on going to the funeral. I didn't know his grandfather and I feel like it'd be werid if I went. You know?"
"I understand." I squeezed Matt's shoulder. Vikas walked into my boyfriend and I's bedroom. He circled around Andy's legs slowly until Andy pet his head and kissed his snout.
"He'll be ok." I tried to reassure myself. 'He'll be ok." I said as Matt and I continued to stare at Andy.