Chapter 8: Carry This Picture (Dashboard Confessional)
A/N: The basic backstory for this chapter is that it's the day of the show. It's actually about what happens before the show even starts. Neither Craig nor Ashley are not going to be prepared for what comes next, both their lives will ultimately change forever, good or bad they will it face it. The Song/Title doesn't show up in this chapter, but will make an appearance next as apart of the set list.
The alarm goes off at 5 in the morning; Craig lets the alarm go off a couple times before he decides to get up. The station told him that he had to be there before 7, so he did have some time, but Craig is the type of artist who likes to be there early. So after he takes a shower, he gets ready and makes himself some tea. Ellie and Sean are supposed to pick up little Joey; Craig felt it unnecessary to make him wake up as early as he did. After Craig got finished he grabbed his guitar, text his bandmates to see where they were. Johnny his guitarist told him that he had just woken up and that he would be there as soon as he could to do the sound check. Janice his drummer was already there and was mad that no one else had arrived; she was always the one that made sure everyone was on time. And finally Steve his bassist had just got out of the shower. Everyone had told him not to be nervous; that the show would be great and that he would be funny and engaging when speaking to all the fans. No matter how many times he told himself that, he could not get pass the feeling that might screw things up. To clam his nerves he got in his car and drove to the coffee shop next to the club, and sat down on a bench, no one was there was expect for one employee who looked over to Craig a couple times but decided that it would be better to leave him alone with his thoughts. He saw that it was 5:30, he had about 15 minutes, and he looked outside the window and saw that the sun was rising. He just sat there for what seem to be like an eternity but was like for 5 minutes, not a single thought enters his mind. Craig liked to clear his mind of any thoughts that way he could at least for a few moments have no worries. As he came back to reality he felt better about the situation, so got up gathered his things and left the coffee shop not before leaving a 20 tip, he felt the kid had earned it for giving him his space. As he walked to the club he remember that someone told him that he had to go through the back, as he entered the building the noise was palpable, everyone was moving around, the catering people were setting up for breakfast, people from the radio station were scattered throughout the building making sure everything was going as planned. One of the P.A came up to Craig and told him that his bandmates were setting up and that he should meet them there. As soon he walk through the stage he could hear the fans outside waiting to come in, he didn't say anything. He let out a big sigh, and prepared for the biggest show of his life.
Ashley woke up to her cell phone going off, it was Liberty. She really didn't want to pick up her phone, Ashley thought to herself "its my birthday and some is waking me at 5:30 in the morning, fine I'll pick it up."
"Hello Liberty, what's going on" says Ashley as she finally gets up off her bed.
"Get Ready, I'll be at your house around 6, and we'll go get some breakfast, okay?" says Liberty who sounds extremely excited.
"Alright Liberty, I'll see you in a bit" says Ashley as she starts to pick out what she is going to wear, her mother had lent her a few things to wear since she didn't go home the night before.
Ashley gets ready and goes downstairs to make some coffee but sees that her mother is already up.
"Happy birthday honey, why are you up so early" says Kate while not trying to make it known that she already knew what was going to happen.
"Liberty is taking me out for breakfast, and then she said we could whatever I want. Although I don't have the faintest idea of what I want to do." Says Ashley with a confused look on her face.
"I'm sure you'll come with something honey, just remember this is your day, do whatever makes you happy, okay?" says Kate as she pours Ashley as a cup of coffee.
After Ashley finishes her cup of coffee she gets ready. Its 6 o'clock and Ashley hears Liberty honking on her horn just as Ashley begun to nod off, Ashley has never really said anything but she hates that Liberty is always on time especially now that she wanted to get some sleep. As soon as she gets into the car, Liberty hands her a blindfold.
"Excuse you, I am not putting a blindfold on, the last time I did this sort of thing my life went to hell. I'm not going through that again." Says Ashley as she hands back the blindfold
"Come on Ash please it will ruin the surprise. You have to put your trust in people. Look nothing bad is going to happen, okay?" says Liberty as she holds out the blindfold.
Ashley grabs the blindfold and says "Alright Lib but I better not regret this" as she puts it on.
They drive for a little bit and once they get to the location, Liberty says, "alright Ash, you can go ahead on take off the blindfold.
Ashley proceeds to do so; once she takes it off she reads the sign on the building. "WTOR presents the Danny & Darcy Show", and underneath that sign it says "Special Event: Invitation only". She doesn't know what to make of it, but then she sees something that startles her, she sees a bunch of people in line and most of them are wear Craig Manning T-Shirt and then she remembers that on the radio they were promoting a special show with Craig.
She looks back at Liberty and says "take me home Liberty, I don't want to be here. You told me nothing bad was going to happen"
"Ashley, look you haven't seen him in over ten years, remember time can mend old wounds. I'm sure he would love to see you, anyways there is no way I'm leaving, and your mom won't pick you, she thought that this was a good idea, so your out of luck lady, unless you want to walk home."
"My mom knew about this, why would you do this Liberty? What possible reason would you have for this. He probably hates me after everything I did" says Ashley who at this point doesn't know what to think.
"You don't think I've noticed that picture of you & Craig in your office, or your reaction any time one of Craig's songs come on the radio. You will always be in love with him and I'm sure he doesn't hate you, im sure that he thinks about you all the time. If you don't do something about it you will always regret it, okay so can we go in already, look I'll make a deal with you the first moment you feel uncomfortable we'll leave ok?" says Liberty as she starts to get out of the car
Ashley looks at Liberty and says, "Alright, I have a bad feeling about this. Lets just get in line"
They go up to the front the door and see the countless number of fans waiting to get in. They go to the end of the line where they overhear two fans talking one says to the other "I can't wait to meet Craig, I so want him to write a song about me, god I wish I was the girl he writes about, I'm that sure that their so much in love". The other one responses back "are you sure that the girl actually exist, I mean the way he writes those lyrics it makes me believe that the girl imaginary, if she did exist I hope she knows that she's gotta be one of the luckiest girls in the world, for anyone to write about her that way. Ashley and Liberty both look at each other and Ashley begins to blush a little.
They go inside and everyone could see that the stage was rearranged in order to create more of a intimate setting. They set it up in an oval with the stage where Craig would play was next to Danny & Darcy were set up from. There were three mics set up, one for every area. The chairs were set up in a way so as to give access to the catering services, and because this concert had no age restrictions the bar was blocked off. Ashley and Liberty sit in the back as to not attract any attention. The moment she sits down she sees Ellie and Sean in the front row, she immediately notices that Ellie is pregnant. Ashley doesn't want to get into an argument so she tells Liberty that she has to go the bathroom. As she finds the bathroom she sees a little boy walking around who seems lost. She goes up to him
"Hi, are you lost" says Ashley to the little boy
The little boy doesn't say anything in response
Ashley gives him a confused look and says, "Are you ok, little man?"
"I was told never to speak with strangers, they could be dangerous" says the little boy
She chuckles and says, "Oh, well my name is Ashley"
The little boy smiles and says, "My name is Joseph but everyone calls me little Joey"
Ashley smiles back at him and says "Well see where not strangers anymore. Let's go find your parents, I'm sure they're worried about you"
Joey looks at her in a very innocent demeanor and says "Well my mom's with the angels, or at least that's what my dad tells me. I never got to meet her, but I know my dad is around here somewhere. Dad, are you here?"
What Ashley sees next shocks her. Craig walks out of the dressing room and little Joey runs up to him and gives him a big hug.
"Where were you kiddo, I thought I lost you, can you please try not to do that again" says Craig as he holds him tight.
Ashley slowly backs away, she ask herself "could this be true, could Craig be a dad, does this mean he moved on with his life, and what about what Joey said that his mom was "with the angels", does that mean she dead". So many thoughts ran through her head, she did not want to make of it. So she went back to her seat.
"I wasn't lost dad, I was with my new friend, but I don't know where she went" says Joey to Craig
Craig gives a puzzled look and says "Ok, but remember what I said, you do not talk to strangers, ok"
"Alright dad" responds Joey
Once she got back Liberty could tell that something happened
"What happened Ash, you look like you saw a ghost, wait did you see Craig" says Liberty who now looks more concerned
Ashley turns to face her and says "Oh yea I saw him, but I also saw his son"
"Wait he has a son, when did that happened" says Liberty who looks flabbergasted
A fan overhears them and says, "The Rumor is that he does have a son, and he should be about 10 years old and was named after his step dad, although his manager won't cop to it"
Liberty looks at Ashley and says "what are you gonna do Ash'
"I don't know Liberty but this going to a weird day"