Pulling Me Through
Finally, I'm back! Updates should be as frequent as they were before I went on holiday. I didn't get as much new material as I wanted to but it was a little hard to concentrate. Anyway, enjoy the next chapter.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Riley's POV
Well, being four months pregnant wasn't really different to being three months pregnant, except for the obvious. I was obviously bigger and people at school had finally started realising. I hadn't expected it to be this bad but how are people supposed to react when the 'emo' girl manages to get pregnant at eighteen with the 'emo' guy? Jake had been getting laughed at too which didn't make any sense. He played no part in me getting pregnant. If he did it would be... really disgusting. My dad had also been coming over a lot more to make sure everything was okay with me and the baby. He and Jake had also been getting on which was a huge weight taken off of my shoulders. Andy had also finished the song 'Die For You.'
I was woken up by someone singing. I didn't want it to stop so I kept my eyes clamped shut. The lyrics to the song sounded so familiar but it took me a while to realise what song it was.
The writings on the wall,
Your crimson touch is going nowhere,
I'll hang on every word you said,
And sink my teeth into this nightmare,
I finally realised that it was 'Die For You' and that the band were having band practice. Smiling, I slipped off the bed and headed downstairs. When my feet hit the bottom step, the music seemed to get considerably louder, but this time it wasn't coming from the basement. They were playing in the living room which was something I had never seen since I had first arrived. Ruffling my hair, I stepped into the living room and took a seat on the sofa which was placed in front of where Andy was singing, as though singing to an imaginary audience. When his eyes settled on mine, he smiled widely and I could feel a blush rising to my cheeks which was something I only done when I was in an incredibly cheesy mood. The song soon finished and the instruments were abandoned as they all focused their attention on something that was new in the morning. That something was me.
"We need to think of names" Andy sighed before he had even sat down next to me. Rolling my eyes, I racked my brain as I tried to think of names. The names I had picked when I was fourteen just didn't seem suitable anymore.
"Why don't you think of names and then I'll tell you if I like them" I suggested, giving up as I watched his face change into one of complete thought. It soon changed to one of confusion as no names were brought to his attention.
"Um, Jill?" As soon as he said that I knew he was stumped. He would never recommend Jill unless he had no idea what to call her.
"I'm thinking a definite no" I laughed as he sighed in frustration at not being able to think of a simple girl name. "I'm sure we'll think of something."
Andy shrugged as though it was no big deal, but even I knew that he thought it was. He wrapped an arm around me as I let my head rest on his shoulder. Being pregnant was a very tiring and the further along it got, the harder it became. I was convinced it was impossible to get used to pregnancy.
"In another five months, we'll be parents" Andy commented. I could feel a smile rising to my face, but it quickly got wiped off when CC spoke up.
"That baby is not what the world revolves around" He shouted. At first, I was taken aback, but soon anger took over. Andy person in their right mind would get excited over having a baby. I was just about to open my mouth to voice my thoughts when he got up and left the living room. Instead of leaving the house, he headed to the basement and all fell silent. How could such a nice morning turn out like that? The anger seemed to wash away from me as guilt took its place. I had been the one to make CC feel so angry and upset.
I stood up and headed straight for the basement, not stopping when Andy tried to grab my hand. Walking down the steps, I entered the basement. CC was sitting at the piano, tapping any random keys. He looked like he was fed up about something and I knew that it was my fault. I took a seat on the other side of the piano stool but it made no difference at all. I was beginning to think that he was starting to hate me.
"CC, what's wrong?" I asked as I placed my hand on his shoulder. His fingers stopped drumming on the piano and when he looked up; I thought I saw a tear threatening to fall.
"I'm not blaming you for anything" CC sighed, avoiding the question. At least it made me relax a little. I would be a liar if I said that didn't make me feel better about the situation.
"That wasn't what I was asking you" I said, stating the obvious so CC didn't get 'confused' this time. "Why did you bitch me out in there?"
CC looked over at me, sighing before he said "I feel as though everyone's gotten so obsessed about this baby thing that the band isn't full steam ahead anymore."
"So, are you blaming the baby for this?" I asked, my hands going for my tummy. I didn't mean to make him feel like crap, but that's how he took it.
"No! I wouldn't blame a baby for the bands problems" CC defended. "I just think that we need to focus on more than just one thing at the minute."
I did agree with him on that one. I did want the band to make it big, but that would never happen if all Andy and Jake were thinking about was the baby.
"If you feel like this then you have to talk to the guys" I informed, but he shook his head in an adamant manner.
"They'll hate me for dissing on the baby" CC half-heartedly laughed, gesturing to my stomach. I knew that he was trying to make a joke to mask the hurt he was feeling inside.
"They'll be angrier if they think you just acted like that for the hell of it" I informed. I could tell that I had struck a chord when he simply looked down and started to hit random keys on the piano. We stared at nothing for what felt like hours, the air around us thick with tension. CC finally broke the silence when he stood up and took my hand, leading me out of the basement.
Andy's POV
We all sat, anxiously on the sofa. What could have made CC so angry and upset?
Our heads snapped up when we heard a noise behind the sofa. Seeing CC and Riley return, we smiled brightly, but it was obvious that it was forced.
"CC, tell us what's wrong" Jinxx sighed as CC took a seat opposite us, ready to explain everything.
"I'm so happy for you guys with the baby and everything, but nobody's doing anything for the band anymore" CC rambled. It all went silent again as everyone thought about what he had said. Surprisingly, I found what he said completely reasonable. In the midst of enjoying the thought of caring for a baby, we had completely forgotten about the band.
"We're going to focus on the band again as well as the baby" I reasoned. A grin broke out on CC's face as he embraced me in a typical man hug.
"I wasn't trying to make anyone upset" CC sighed. I gave him a confused look, but all became clear when he gestured to where Riley was sitting. She was crying.
"What's wrong?" I asked as I hurried to her side, but she waved away my concern quick enough.
"I hate hormones" She replied as I laughed loudly and pulled her closer to me. I hated seeing her upset even if it was just because she was pregnant.
"Are we all good now?" CC asked. I let my attention turn to him for a moment but my arm stayed around Riley.
"We've always been good with each other" I grinned, his face changing to one of calm when he heard me say that. He took a seat opposite me but still stayed silent just in case I was still mad at him.
"I think we should try and make a music video" CC voiced. He looked as though he was only suggesting that because he knew it would never happen, but I couldn't help piece a music video together.
"What song?" I asked. CC's mouth went wide at the mere prospect of us making a music video.
"Knives and Pens was the first song we ever wrote" Jinxx suggested. It made sense since it was the first real thing that made us a band. I nodded at the idea as I thought about the lyrics. Suddenly, I had the perfect idea for a music video.
Riley's POV
Andy jumped from his seat and hurried over to the table, the band and me following suit. When we were all sitting around Andy, we stared as we waited for him to tell us what his plan was.
"We need a kid who's going to act like he has a crap life for being 'emo' and being different to everyone else" Andy informed. I knew how personal this was to him as it was about what his life was as a kid but I was the one who could see a problem in this plan of his.
"We haven't got a camera man or a kid and the only set we have is this house" I explained. I expected him to realise how far-fetched this was, but the grin stayed on his face.
"I have a next door neighbour who's thirteen and we can get into school on a Saturday too and Sammi's good with a camera" He defended. I had to admit, everything he said there made perfect sense.
"I suppose I'll text Sammi" I sighed, pulling my phone out. Typing as quickly as possible, I thought about how the final video would come out. I was soon done and sent it to her.
Can you come over with a video camera?
-Riley
I put my phone back in my pocket as I waited for a reply that could make Black Veil Brides. Jake bustled past me as he hurried to get instruments into his car and Ashley was making sure that I didn't try to help anyone.
After about ten minutes, Sammi arrived with a camera in her hand. She looked like she was excited to start filming.
"Why did you need me to be a camera woman for the day?" She asked me as she sat down next to me since Jinxx stopped her from helping as well.
"They're going to be making the first Black Veil Brides music video" I informed. A grin broke out on her face when she realised her camera skills would prove to be very useful.
"Riley, can you ask the kid next door if he wants to be in the music video?" Andy asked. Sighing, I pushed myself off the sofa and nodded. Sammi followed suit as we hurried to the next door neighbour's home. A small kid lived there who looked up to Andy so it seemed he would definitely want to be in the first Black Veil Brides music video.
Knocking on the door, I waited for someone to answer. It didn't take long for Mrs Price to open the door. She had taken a sudden liking to me ever since I got pregnant so when she saw me a smile rose to her face. I smiled back as she wrapped her arms around me in a brief embrace.
"What can I do for you?" She asked, her eyes flickering down to my belly. She had always been the one to help me with any pregnancy problems.
"We're making a Black Veil Brides music video and we were wondering if Cameron wanted to be in it" I explained just as Cameron appeared at the doorway with a smile planted on his face when he saw me.
"If he wants to then it's fine with me" Mrs Price answered as Cameron flashed us a confused look, knowing that we were talking about him just not knowing why he was the topic of conversation.
"Cameron, do you want to be in the Black Veil Brides music video?" I asked. His eyes went wide as he nodded uncontrollably.
"Where will he have to go?" Mrs Price asked. Of course she would want to know. Who in their right mind would led their kid go with people who you don't really know that well?
"We're just going to the high school and then we'll bring him back here" I answered as Sammi nodded to re-enforce the idea that it was all safe.
"I suppose it wouldn't hurt" She sighed as Cameron stepped off the doorstep. "Dinner's at seven" She shut the door. We headed back to our house but with Cameron by our side this time. Opening the door, I gasped out as I was almost hit in the face with instruments. The hallway had everything you would need for a music video. The instruments stood in the hallway and a laptop which I recognised as Andy's. A camera stood there too which I knew belonged to Sammi, but there was one thing I didn't understand. Pieces of paper lay on top of Andy's laptop and when I got close enough to read them I found some pretty nasty insults. Decorated in fancy colours and writing, I read the words 'fag,' 'emo' and 'go kill yourself.' I knew that Andy had the plan of what the music video was going to be like, but I didn't think it would be this drastic. But, who was I to question it?
Just then, Andy came into the hallway, picking up the two guitars on his way. He smiled at me when he saw Cameron.
"Hey Cameron" He greeted. Cameron looked up at Andy with complete awe marked on his face.
"Hi Andy, Hey Sammi" Cameron greeted back as Andy brushed past him to get the two guitars in his hands in the car. Everything moved pretty quickly and before I knew it, I was sitting in the car next to Sammi. Andy drove as smoothly as possible to avoid damaging any of the instruments that we somehow managed to fit in the back of the car. The drive was pretty much silent except for Cameron, who was talking about how amazing it should be to be in a music video.
We arrived at the school and spilled out the car. Sammi and I led Cameron into the school while the band set their instruments up. Andy soon wandered over to us. He looked Cameron up and down and I suddenly felt bad for the young boy. It looked like Andy was scrutinizing him.
"You've got long hair so we can make it bigger and we can put some eyeliner on you and get you a black tee shirt" Andy mumbled to himself.
"We'll do his hair and makeup and find him a black tee shirt" Sammi sighed as she took my hand and gestured for Cameron to follow us. He done exactly as Sammi said as Andy headed back to where the band stood.
Andy's POV
I hurried over to where the band was setting their instruments up in the gym.
"I was that Cameron should go to his locker and see the nasty notes and stuff. He should go home and should be writing in some notebook and just stuff like that but Sammi's better at deciding things like that" I explained. Looking around, I suddenly felt self conscious as all their faces were blank. I couldn't help but think that they hated the idea.
"I like it. You should go find Sammi and explain it to her" Jake finally said. I could feel a smile break out on my face, but I refused to let them see it. I didn't stick around. I ran to where Sammi, Riley and Cameron would probably be.
I walked through corridors and looked in every classroom I went past. Finally, I found them in my English class. Cameron's hair was a lot like mine used to be when I was thirteen and his eyes were coated in a thin line of eyeliner. He almost didn't look like the Cameron that I had grown used to being my next door neighbour, but when he turned and smiled at me, he was back to the Cameron I knew.
Hurrying over to Sammi, I explained the concept of the video. I couldn't help but get the feeling that she hated it.
A grin rising to her face she said "That's a great idea. I'll go put the signs on a locker" She took the pieces of paper from my hand and left the English classroom. Riley gave me a small smile as she handed Cameron a black tee shirt. He pulled it on over the tee shirt he was already wearing.
"I'll be in the gym" I sighed as I left her to help Cameron get ready. Making a music video was a lot more difficult than I thought.
Riley's POV
After Sammi had put the signs on the locker she came back to get me and Cameron. We both followed happily. We soon reached the locker that had the cruel pieces of paper taped it to it. Sammi looked over at me and Cameron with a wide smile as she gestured for Cameron to get closer to her.
"What you need to do is walk up this hallway and over to this locker" She said, jabbing the locker with her finger causing the locker to make a tinny banging sound. "Look at the bits of paper and tear them down, throwing them to the floor."
"It sounds easy enough" he sighed, hurrying up to the top of the hallway. Sammi took her space behind the camera and gave them the thumbs up. He walked down the hallways with a look of complete anger marked on his face. He stopped at the locker and grabbed the pieces of paper. He ripped them down and sent them hurtling to the floor before Sammi stopped recording.
"That was perfect Cameron" She cheered as she smiled brightly.
The rest of the day was a blur and I could barely keep my eyes open for the duration. It had been a long day and I was ready to curl up in my bed and sleep forever.
When it reached seven at night, Sammi finally announced that it was a wrap. People were embraced as it hit home that the first Black Veil Brides music video had been made. I let Andy steer me back to the car. When everyone managed to clamber in, we drove home in silence.
When we arrived home, I took Cameron back to his home. Thankfully, I managed to avoid talking to Mrs Price. Heading back home, I stepped over the doorstep and made my way upstairs. Vaguely, aware of Andy's footsteps behind me. He followed me to the bed and wrapped his arms around me. I could feel myself drifting off when I thought of something that made my whole day seem ever more worth while.
"Savannah is what we should call her" I sighed. It took Andy a while to respond but he finally did.
"Savannah is an amazing name" He agreed but I didn't get a chance to say anything else as I feel into a sleep too quickly.
Hope you enjoy this chapter and please review!