“Oh my God he’s adorable!” Gerard jerked back as Cas bounded over to him, engulfing him in hug. I grinned and watched as he slowly grew accustomed to the affection and gave him a small squeeze back.
“Cas get your ass off of him,” Ember demanded stalking over and pulling him away. “You probably scared the shit out of him!” She then turned to Gerard and grinned, sticking her hand out. “Hi, I’m Ember!”
“Yeah I know,” Gerard said accepting her handshake, “Frank’s told me a lot about you guys. He says you’re really good.”
“They are,” Ellie piped up distractedly from the corner where she was had given Riley his coffee and was know discussing the pros and cons of coffee over Red Bull.
“Eh,” Ember waved it off with a hand, “We’re good maybe, not really good,”
“She’s just being modest,” I told him stepping forward so that I could grab his hand. “I’m gonna have to get them signed to a proper label soon. I’ll miss them when they go.”
“We’ll come back in visit,” Ashlyn said speaking up for the first time, “I mean we can’t just not come back and visit the adorable couple.”
Gerard blushed and I squeezed his hand again, happy that they approved of my boyfriend.
The next half hour was spent talking to each other. They wanted to know all about our relationship. Even though I had probably told them ten billion times already from my gushing and bragging in between sessions they wanted to hear it again. I skimmed over the bad parts with Lindsey and lengthened the good parts to make it seem legit. They cooed and awed the entire time, especially when I told Gerard I loved him.
It was nice to have new people who didn’t know about us to tell our story too. Like I had said before, I missed my human life and they were making it seem like I had never lost it to begin with. There were no questions about being a vampire or sucking blood. Just nice human related things.
We were just two ordinary guys in love to them.
And some days I wish that that was really true.

---

Eventually Storming the Academy did actually get to practice. They hopped into the practice room while Gerard and I hit the sound booth. Ellie skipped out back to the front desk, blowing us kissing all the while.
Gerard sat nervously in one of the chairs, keeping his hands far away from the board, not touching anything.
I signaled for them to start and they launched into one of their songs, Resurrecting Butterflies
We fought for it all but it wasn’t our time
We’re not gonna make it after all
Failures in our name
Leaving scars across our veins
Bleeding grey to shade the world
Wasn’t our time…
I zoned out, bobbing along with the pace of the music. I glanced out of the corner of my eye and was surprised to see Gerard listening intently, a small frown on his face.
“What is it?” I asked pulling him out of his revere. He shrugged and pulled at the hem of his shirt. I sighed. “C’mon Gerard. I know you and I know you have something you want to say.”
“It’s nothing,” He shrugged again. I looked at him pointedly. “Ugh fine okay,” He caved after a minute or so of me just looking at him. “I had a suggestion but I know you like your bands to follow their own sound.”
“That’s true,” I told him, “But I’ll still give them suggestions if I think they need them. Just tell them and we’ll see how it goes. It’s still up to them.”
“Okay,” He agreed after thinking for a moment, “I just hope they don’t think it’s stupid. I really don’t know music like you guys.”
“I’m sure it’s fine. Here,” I directed him towards the button that would allow him to communicate with them in the other room. “Just press and hold that.”
He nodded and held it down, looking slightly bashful as he interrupted them. “Hey uh guys?”
“Yep?” Ember called out cheerfully not looking perturbed at all.
“I just had a suggestion for that last song? And Frank told me I should tell you…” He trailed off looking extremely awkward and cute.
“Shoot,” Came Ember’s reply through the speaker.
“Well I was thinking that you could maybe cut down on the drums just slightly. Like make them softer until you get towards the second verse and then pick them back up. Then maybe do the same with guitar but add an acoustic over it so it gives it a lighter feel too. That would also give vocals more of a spotlight cause I’m feeling like this is one of the more powerful songs and you need the lyrics to really stick out and not get as lost in the instruments.” He seemed to get more confident as he spoke, but as soon as he was done he inched away again and seem shy once more. We watched as they all conversed about what he said. It didn’t take long before Ember was turning around to us and giving us a thumbs up.

---

A half hour later they were ready to practice it again. It wouldn’t have taken so long but Ashlyn and I partnered up to write an acoustic part to the song.
We started up again but I was with them this time, playing the acoustic so that they could hear it with the rest of the song. If they decided that they liked it we would record Ashlyn playing it separately later. They were still looking for another guitarist so I helped out whenever they needed me.
I made sure Gerard was comfortable in the booth before heading back to them.
We played the entire song through and I felt my eyes widening as I played with them. One glance around confirmed that they were in the same state I was.
It was amazing. If the song had passion in it before, it was now bursting with it. Gerard’s suggestion had made it so that the song managed to keep a light sound to it while still sounding powerful at the same time. I was blown away with how good it sounded.
We finished the song and the room was silent for a second.
“Fuck yeah,” Riley cheered suddenly breaking the silence. “That was fucking awesome”
“Gerard oh my God thanks!” Ashlyn called out. Then she turned to me. “Get him in here right now!” She demanded. I grinned, stepping off the stool I had been on and placing the acoustic on the floor. It was rare to see Ash out of her normal chill mood. Sometimes I wondered if she in a parallel world was actually a bass player because she just always had a calm to her. At the same time though she had this electricity that clung to her and would show through in times like this. She was practically bouncing as I left the room to go fetch my boyfriend.
“If you can’t tell they love it,” I said entering the sound booth and walking up to him to hug him. “You made it like ten times better.”
“I’m glad I could be of use.” He said hugging me back. “Now do I get a kiss for all my hard work?”
“C’mere you,” I pulled him up and kissed him sloppily before pulling away. “Now they want to see you again.”

---

The rest of practice I stayed with Gerard in the booth. He only threw in a couple more minor suggestions, none of them making quite as big as an impact as the first one, but each still helpful.
“You know Frankie,” He began as we watched STA pack up their equipment and get ready to leave. “I think it’s about time that I went out and found a job. I miss working. It helped me feel human.” He said the last bit in a hushed tone even though the band across the room couldn’t hear. I understood what he meant about the job. I knew my job helped me through the transition.
“What are you thinking about?” I asked, leaning back in my chair just far enough so that it wouldn’t tip over and fall taking me with it. “Like a job like you had before at the music store or a bigger one?”
“I’m not really sure at the moment,” He looked thoughtful, “Maybe something where I get to be alone more so it’s not as tempting.”
“Maybe like an office job?” I suggested, “You’d be alone in your cubicle.”
“Possibly,” He replied spinning around in his own chair. “But it would have to be a really good job, not an extremely boring one.”
“Hey guys!” Cas called from across the room. “We forgot to tell you.”
“Tell me what?” I asked sitting up and giving them my attention like a good manager. They were all grinning and Cas was bouncing with excitement.
“We got a gig this weekend,” Cas began. He was smiling so wide I thought his face was gonna split like some joker shit.
“And…?” They had gotten gigs before so I wasn’t sure why this would be such a big thing for them.
“And the band that we’re opening for just so happens to be the one and only Misfits!”
That was when my chair failed me and I fell backward hitting the floor. Gerard next to me didn’t even check to see if I was okay. He sat frozen, gaping at them with wide eyes.
“How the hell did you manage to open for Misfits and how the hell did I not know about it!” I cried out, sitting up and rubbing my head. I kinda felt like a failed manager. I was supposed to get them the best gigs that I possibly could and I didn’t meet that standard. Not by far.
“It was me who sorted it all out,” Cas said proudly. “That’s why I got to be the one to tell you. I know the bassist of the band that was originally suppose to open for them on tour. His band was having some issues though,” He paused for a second “Well actually a lot of issues and it got to the point where they just couldn’t play together. That left the Misfits scrambling for an opening band. He recommended us to them so now we’re opening for them.”
“Wait wait wait,” Realization dawned on me, “Oh my God are you touring with them?!”
Ember laughed, “Ha I wish,” I immediately deflated a little. “Since it’s on such short notice their just booking a band from each city that they go to. There’s only like five more shows on the tour so it’s not too much hassle.”
I was disappointed but she was right. That would involve getting them moving around in either a bus or by plane and getting the funds for it and running merch. The list went on and on.
“Oh my God!” I cried out, panicking again, “We need to get you guys some merch to sell. Hell we need to design some merch.”
“Gerard can do it?” Riley suggested taking a swig from the water bottle he was holding in his hands. “I mean if he’s okay with it. We’ve seen your work Gerard and it’s really good.”
The other members of the band nodded their agreement while Gerard slowly began to unfreeze and instead started blushing.
“I mean if that’s what you guys want,” He stated bashfully. He was just really adorable right now.
“Then it’s settled, merch is covered,” I said standing up. “Remind me to tell Ellie to find a company to make it on the way out.” Gee nodded.
“Just think!” Ember burst out, “In a little over a week we get to play with Misfits!”
“And we’ve got a lot of work to do in between then,” I reminded them trying to act like a manager for once. On the inside though I was screaming. I was gonna meet the Misfits.
Maybe this life wasn’t so bad after all.

Notes

Tummy tummy tummy. I really want a toned tummy. Is that bad? Like I'm not encouraging it or saying that you need one to be pretty, I just kinda want one. I mean if you have some weight on you go on and rock it. You wanna lose some of that weight then do it, but do it in a safe and healthy matter. Just be comfortable in your own skin. You don't always have to impress other people. If you wake up in the morning and look in the mirror and say "wow, I'm not perfect but I look pretty damn good today" then that is all that matters. Your opinion of yourself is the only opinion you need. You don't like your hair color? Screw it, dye it. Don't like how much you weigh? Check to see if you are the weight you need to be. If not and you wanna change that then do it in a safe way. Just love you. Good body vibes to all of you. You're perfect.