Chapter One
I hesitated in the door way, as my mother looked up at me, I couldn't believe what I was about to do.
"Of course sweetie, what is it?" she asked.
I sighed, "Mom, I need to ask you something. Now please don't just react right away and yell at me. I want to ask this, for Joey."
"Alright dear, now what is it?" she was getting impatient; I could hear it in her voice.
"Well, Joey has tickets for a concert and she wants to know if I can go too." I said, with a pause but then continued, "She already has a ride her mom is going to drive her, so you don't need to worry about me getting lost on the way there. Her dad is also going to pick us up."
"Well, what time is the concert, where is it, and when will it be over?" she asked, I could tell she was going to play 20 questions with me now.
"The doors open at 5:30, its downtown, and I think it'll be over around 10 or 11." I said then bit my lip.
“As in Chicago?" she snapped.
I sighed, "I knew this was going to happen."
"What was that young lady?" she snapped at me again.
"That was nothing, sorry." I said, "But yes mom, Chicago. I promise I'll be safe, plus there will be a hundred other fan, so I won't be alone. Nothing could possibly happen."
She laughed, "Oh, so you think that just because people will be there as well, that someone wouldn't think to kidnap you?"
"No, I'm not saying that mom. Please, I asked that you not yell at me. I just wanted to know. I'm sorry. I'll tell Joey I can't go." I said as I began to leave the room.
I heard my mother sigh, "No. Come back here. You can go. I want you to go there and return with no complications, and no game playing. You'll need money right? Wait, you never told me when the concert is." she said, a little annoyed now.
"Umm... It's in two days." I said shyly.
She nearly fainted, "What do you mean two days? You think I just can pull money out of my ass Gabriella Marie Andriacchi?" she snapped.
"No, I'm sorry Mom. Joey told me about this, twenty minutes ago." I said. "I had no clue she had two tickets, she just told me."
"Alright, I'll go to the bank tomorrow. I'll give you a hundred dollars, for food and if you'd like anything from the concert, but that's it Gabriella. You have school work you need to be focused on, none of this concert shit. You have Harvard to be thinking about." she said.
"Yes mother, I know. This is the only time." I said.
I ran back to my room after my mother finally released me from her death glare, I jumped on my bed grabbing my phone as I fell. I had four text messages, all from Joey of course. I opened each of them up, so see what they said. Of course Joey was freaking out, because to her I was taking way too long.
"Well, what did she say?"I read the last one out loud...
I laughed as I started to type, "Surprisingly, she said yes."
"Whoa, you mean the wicked witch of the west, finally allowed you to do something other than school work and band practice?" I laughed, but she was completely right, my mother usually never let me do anything.
"Lol, yeah the wicked witch is finally letting me go out. She's even giving me 100 dollars. Isn't it awesome?" I couldn't help but laugh as I re-read that text.
I sat waiting for about 15 minutes when I starting to think about the concert, who the hell was I going to see, Joey always had a different taste in music than I did. I had also wondered if anyone else we knew would be going. I was sure Ashley would go; she goes to all the concerts in Chicago, even if she doesn't like the bands. She just loved to flirt with the band members. Then come to school the next week and talk about how she "almost" got laid by the drummer. Blah, blah, blah, but who knew. Just as I broke from the normal gossip in my own head, I heard my phone go off.
"Whoa, 100 bucks? My parents are only giving me 40. Lucky bitch. Lol."I smiled. I never get money, but when I would get money it was usually more than I’d expected.
"Yeah, anyways, what bands will be there? Do I know any of them?"I was starting to hope that maybe Winter's Halo would be there.
I waited, until my phone went off again, “All Time Low is headlining, and there are three bands before them."
"That doesn't answer my question, who all is playing? Maybe I should have cleared that up better, lol."I could just picture Jo reading that text and laughing.
"Oh, I knew that. Shut up. Um a band called Set It Off, some band called SetTheTrend, whoever they are. Some girl named Katy keep posting about them on the tour date, its freaking annoying. Lol. I guess her cousin is in the band SetTheTrend, whatever no one cares. Oh and the last band is We Are the in Crowd."I couldn't help but laugh at the comment about the random girl making an attempt to get her cousin's band big. But I didn't know any of those bands, I mean I heard a few of All Time Low's song, but I didn't know any of them word for word.
"Well those bands seem like they'd be good. I guess. All I know of All Time Low, which I'm sure is why we are going, isn't it?"
I was starting to fall asleep when I felt my phone vibrated, "That is exactly why we are going. You know me so well. Lol. Well I'm going to bed; I'll see you at school tomorrow. I love you best friend. <3" I just peaked at my phone with one eye open, the light was burning my eye horribly, but I pushed on and text back.
"I also will be going to bed. Love you too best friend. See you tomorrow. <3"
When I woke the next morning, it was still early. But as usual my alarm always went off early, so that I could prepare myself for the new day. Most days I would just go and sit in the shower for a while, as I allowed blood to fall from my arms. I had become so depressed with my life. The life my mother was trying to have through me, that I had numerous attempts at suicide. I wouldn't ever tell anyone that. I never wanted them to know how deeply I was really hurting. But I knew someone would find out sooner or later, as I had so many scars on my arms and legs. I heard as my phone vibrated and I looked at it. I had a text from my good friend Caty.
"Hey Jo told me ur going 2 the concert with us. Yay! I'm so excited u finally get 2g out." I laughed as I read the text.
Caty was always someone I could run to when I needed them. I wouldn't call her a best friend, but she is a very good friend of mine. I was glad to see I wouldn't just be Joey at the concert, that I'd know someone other than her. I mean it was my first concert, so I was a bit nervous.
"Yeah, my mother actually said yes. We were both surprised. We thought she'd be a bitch as she usually is about that kind of shit, but she let me. Lol. But I'm glad you'll be attending with us."
I set my phone down and made my way to the bathroom. For the first time in a long time I forgot my razors in my room. But I was so happy that I forgot that I had even been cutting before. I took my shower, and made my way back to my room in my towel. I had a towel in my hair, and I laughed at myself in the mirror before looking down to check my phone.
"2 messages."I laughed; one was from Joey and the other from Caty.
"Gabby, y is it u always have 2b so proper" I couldn't help but laugh as I read the text, I loved to be proper, I always have, but seeing all the errors my friends make always made my day a little brighter. "I don't know. I guess I just like to be. Lol."
"Hey, Gab. I hope you don't mind. Cat is coming with us to the concert." well it was a bit late to tell me now, but I didn't mind at all. "Nah, I don't mind at all. I actually enjoy when Caty is with us. But I got to finish getting ready; I'll see you at school."
I finished get ready for school that day. I wasn't one for appearance, but I would always be sure to wear a hoodie to hide my scars. I also never wore shorts. Chicago wasn't always the greatest city to wear shorts in, other than the summer. I mean, they don't call it the Windy City for nothing. But it was the start of the winter, so it was pretty cold. I hated coats, I never wore them, but I did have one coat I absolutely love, it was my red leather jacket. I figure I'd wear it to the concert to look cute. I threw on some skinnies and white t-shirt, as well as my favorite Superchick hoodie.
I made my way to the kitchen, grab a granola bar then headed out. It was nice to have my own car. I had earned it with my straight A's sophomore year. It was great car; it was actually a 2010 Mustang. I loved that car, as did all the guys at school. But because of all the harms I've done to my body, I'd never think to date any of them. They would all great grossed out after they saw my body.
I pulled into the parking lot at school to see all my friends standing around Joey's car. I pulled into the spot that they cleared out of the way of me for. I smiled, they always saved me a spot, mostly to get all the guys to come near us, but that's not important.
"It's about time you got here Gab." I heard Caty say.
I laughed as I got out, "Yeah, yeah. Shut up."
"So the witch said yes?" I heard Ashley say.
"Um... Er, yeah. But could you not call her that?" I asked.
Caty and Jo laughed, "Oh so they can call her that, but I can't?"
"Umm, no not exactly. I don't exactly like you." I admitted.
"Whatever Gabby, you're just a stuck up bitch anyways." Ashley said as she walked away.
"Please tell me, that thing isn't coming with us?" I asked.
They just stared at me, and I sighed. Fuck, now I have to deal with her as well. I couldn't help but hope that Ashley's best friend Marjorie would be coming as well. Although they were both attached at the hip, so I'm sure she was. I laughed as I thought that.
"What?" they both asked.
I laughed harder, "Oh nothing, just thinking about the fact that Marjorie and Ashley are attached at the hip, and because of it Marjorie will also be attending this concert."
"You're so right." Joey said.
"I didn't even think of it like that, that's priceless." Caty said.
We made our way to class; I knew it would just be a slow day. School days were always slow. Hell I never even had to listen, I just would act as though I was, because I knew with the way my mother drilled me, I already had all the work in my head. I sat and doodled in each class. I couldn't help but think of each band, so I pulled my phone out, I just happened to have Spotify on my phone, and because I have a credit card, I had premium. I listened to a few of All Time Low's songs, but then switched over to Set It Off to listen to them. The first song that played was "Horrible Kids." I chuckled a bit at the song name, but then listened closely to each word.
"Watch your step around these words ‘cause, they're gonna get you, and they’re gonna to get you in the end. I swear it's not a disease it's just a game of pretend, a game of pretend. Why is it me they're after, couldn't they pick another one. Someday I'll spit their laugher, and bit their tongue."
I sat horrified at first, but I kept on listening. I couldn't help but get the feeling of wanting to bob my head. I wasn't one to listen to rock music, I actually hated it, but I kept listening.
"Picture this he was just a kid, not knowing where to begin. He wore all the wrong clothes followed all the wrong trends. Persecuted for the things he did. Picture this he was all alone, without a friend to call his own so he sat on his bed. With the thought in his head, wish the wishes that they all were dead. But then he saw the light, gained the will to fight. Saw the victory was in sight, but soon they all will see."
I felt as the phone vibrated in my pocket, and the teacher was trying to get my attention. I pulled the headphone from my ears quickly, and looked up just as the teacher walked over.
"Ms. Andriacchi, are you alright?" she asked.
I sighed, "Actually, no I'm really not. Can I be excused to the nurse’s office?" I asked.
"Yes, of course. Here take a pass." Mrs. Moyer said.
"Thank you." I said as I grabbed the pass and left the room as the lyrics echoed through my head.
"Horrible Kids, would you look what you did. It was your ignorance that formed a beast with your wit. Horrible Kids, Horrible Kids, Horrible Kids, look what you did!”