Live-in Nanny Wanted!

It has officially been a month and I’m doing a lot better. I’m playing shows like I used to. I’m just as energetic as I used to when I was a teenager. My bandmates’ moods all seem to be getting better, too. We’re not fighting as much and it’s a reassuring thing; it also means that we may tour with Taking Back Sunday after all.

“Hey, Frank! Wanna go grab a drink?” My new friend Lindsey asked. I met her a couple of shows ago. She had almost as many tattoos as I did and she was an amazing bass player. I smiled at her and got up from my spot in the van. We had been parked in a rest stop to just hang out with other people playing in the same venues. I’d been texted Gerard for a bit, telling him to look at the tour’s Facebook page, but was now sending him a message to tell him that I was going to be going out with a friend.

“Sure, but you’re buying because I already used my last quarters,” I said. She rolled her eyes fondly and pulled me along. Lindsey, I came to realize, was a person who liked to touched. It caught me off guard when she hugged me and kissed my cheek the first time we met, but it’s something I’m used to now.

“Okay, but next time we’re paid, I expect you to roll out the red carpet,” she said, putting quarters into the soda machine and pressing the buttons on our favorite sodas.

“Yeah, yeah. We’ll go to a Wal Mart and get you animal crackers, you fucking weirdo,” I chuckled. She had this weird obsession with the snack. She scoffed.

“First off, they’re amazing. Secondly, fuck you,” she tried saying with a straight face, but cracking towards the end and laughing, causing me to laugh as well.

“You’re going to end up hating them from eating them so much.” She looked at me incredulously.

“Do you know who you’re even talking to? I’m Lindsey fucking Ballato!” She exclaimed as she grabbed our sodas and handed me mine. I snorted. “That was attractive,” she teased upon hearing the sound.

“Shut up,” I laughed. “You were saying it like you were Keith Moon or something!” She looked confused for a moment before her eyes lighting up in recognition.

“Fuck you!” She said, punching me in the arm. I rubbed the spot she hit and grabbed her hand to pull her to a picnic table so we could sit down. My ass may have been numb from the position I was sitting in the bus, but that wasn’t going to stop me from sitting down again. We sat down across from each other. “So, Frank,” she started.

I laughed. “So Lindsey,” I replied, opening my soda.

“So, like, if this band stuff doesn’t work out, what are you going to do? Not that you guys aren’t good, it’s just… well, not everyone can make it,” she explained, looking down at her hands which were clasped around the unopened soda can. I tilted my head a little bit.

“Is there something on your mind?” I asked softly, my parental instincts kicking in. She shrugged.

“I guess I just don’t feel all that confident in my playing. I literally learned how to play bass last year just to be in this band,” she explained with a small chuckle. I smiled.

“Well, I say if you had that much motivation, then you should keep trying. And never stop trying,” I said. She looked up at me and instantly smiled.

“Yeah! You’re totally right! How could I not realize that?” She laughed, finally opening her soda and taking a good chug before hissing at the burn of her throat. “Thank you, Frank,” she said.I nodded at her.

“Anytime. So are you excited for the next show? It’s gonna be the biggest so far,” I said, my heart racing a little at the thought. She nodded excitedly, taking another drink.

“Fuck yeah! It’s gonna be awesome! I’m working on this new stage move and I’m excited for everyone to see!” She said, slightly bouncing in my seat. I chuckled.

“Can I see?” I asked. She huffed.

“No, it’s a surprise!” She said, sticking her tongue out. Looking at her tongue, I noticed some of her lipstick was smeared.

“Wait, hold still,” I said, reaching over and wiping the excess off. It was a stubborn minute until it finally came off. “It was a little smeared,” I explained. She laughed and thanked me.

“Hey! Frank! We’re getting ready to go!” My bandmate called out just as I’d taken another drink. I waved to him to let him know I was coming before getting up and tossing the can in the bin next to the table.

“I’ll see you at the venue,” I said to Lindsey. She stood up and immediately jumped into my arms, turning her head to kiss my cheek as I hugged her back. I laughed and we pulled apart. “I’ll see you, Linz!” I said as I walked away.

“Hey, that’s a good nickname,” she said, waving to me with a thoughtful look on her face.

My bandmates and I got into the van and drove off to our destination four hours away. I put in my earphones and laid my head against the window as I drifted off to my happy place.

*

I exited the stage extremely sweaty and filled with adrenaline. I was ready to go run a few miles.

“Frank, that was fucking awesome!” Lindsey said as she threw herself into my arms and hugged me tightly despite being soaked in sweat.

“Thanks, Linds!” i said, hugging her back just as tightly. “You’re up next, and I’m seriously excited to see that move you were talking about!” I said, basically pushing her towards the stage.

“Hey! Okay, I’m going! Jeez, impatient ass,” she giggled, moving away and onto the stage to help her bandmates set up. I grabbed a towel and started drying off my hair and face. It was a few minutes before one of their songs started playing and I immediately rushed to watch Lindsey with an unwavering gaze. I didn’t want to miss whatever move she had told me about. I was so proud of her, even having just met her. She seemed like she had some self esteem issues, but the fact that she didn’t let that stop her was admirable. She was actually becoming an inspiration to me, and I found that making me content.

I snapped to when I heard screams and cheers, and focused back on Lindsey to see her back bending until her head was almost touching the floor. I immediately cheered and watched in awe as she kept playing without missing a single note. After a while, she was right side up and still thrashing around the stage just as much as me.

God, she was fucking awesome.

Notes

Hey there! Here's a new chapter. I hope y'all enjoy it. Comment and let me know what you think!

Much love,
-OAIF <3