Recap:

30 minutes later and Skylar informs me she's almost finished. I have no idea what to be expected, all I know for sure is that my hair is styled, and my makeup is what Skylar keeps calling an 'adorable punk' look. "How much longer, Skye?" I ask, sounding like a whining child.

"You'll be done in a second if you quite squirming." Skylar tells me lifting my chin back up as she brushes the last bit of makeup on my face. "There. You're finished." She says with a proud smile and hands me a mirror.

I take the mirror and smile in awe. The blue in my hair looks even better than I had expected, the shades flawless blending into one another. As for the makeup, Skylar definitely did phenomenally, and now I understand what she meant as adorable punk. The makeup has a punk look but not daunting. "So, what do you think?" Skylar asks.

"I love it. Thank you, Skye." I tell her with a hug. "And thank you too, Mom, for letting Skylar do all of this."

"Of course, darling." My mom says pulling me into a hug. "But you have to do me a favor."

I pull out of the hug with a puzzled look on my face. "What?"

"You have to tell me how your dad reacts to the blue hair." She says with a smirk, and we both end up laughing. "But also, make sure he doesn't push you around too much. I know this summer is going to be tough, but I want you to promise me you won't let him get you down. Deal or no deal, I want to have the same Andy I've always known back."

"Yes, ma'am. I'll make sure." I respond, my voice just above a whisper.

"Good. Now, c'mon, you two. Let's go eat a bunch of junk food and have a movie marathon." She says with a smile.

"Yes!" Skylar and I say simultaneously fist bumping. We spent the rest of the night like that, sitting on the couch, eating junk food, and watching random chick-flicks, and I can honestly say, there's no other way that I would want to spend my last night before leaving.

//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\

"AAANNDDYYY!" Someone shouts right next to my ear, drawing every syllable out, and unfortunately for them, my reflexes kicked in. My fist swings out, and I hear them yell in surprise. "Why do I always forget that she has the worst reflex. Well, more like the most painful reflex."

"Hey, at least you remembered to doge it this time." Another voice chips in with a sarcastic cheer. "And did you ever think to try waking her up without yelling in her ear?" 

The first voice returns with, "Yeah, but it's not as much fun that way. Fine." There's a pause, and I can feel someone gently shake my shoulder. "Andy, wake up."

I groan in reply and pull the covers farther up over my head. "No. You are not going to just lay there and ignore me." The first voice says sounding upset. "You better get up or I'm calling Skylar to do it."

I sigh, sitting up and glaring at Luke. "There's no need for drastic measures. I'm up."

"Good. I knew that would work." Luke said gloating to Danny, who rolls her eyes at his childishness. 

"Um... Band Mom, I think Andy's sick! Her hair has turned blue!" Luke yells as he stares at my hair. 

"Yeah, what happened to you?" Damian asks also staring at my hair.

"I dyed it last night. That's why Skylar was here." I tell them laughing at their worry. "What do you guys think?"

"I like it." Matt tells me giving me a high-five. 

"I think it looks great, it really compliments your skin tone." Danny says, sitting beside me. I thank her and smile at the brunette. A compliment from her means a lot, I've seen girls who would do almost anything to get a compliment from her, which is probably because of her model status. I'm serious, she works as a model in her free time. 

Skylar walks into the room and starts pulling me off of the couch saying, "C'mon. We only have a couple hours before your flight leaves, so you have to go get dressed, we're going out for coffee before you go." 

"Do I have to go?" I ask with a pout and forcing her to almost drag me along.

"Yes, you have to go get dressed, otherwise you'll miss your flight, and I won't have you pouting all day." Skylar says as she tries pulling me up the stairs. 

"Can't I just miss my flight?" I ask, giving in and walking up the stairs.

"No, you can't if you do than your dad might pull a loophole saying 'you didn't arrive on time.'" Danny says and I almost jump because I didn't realize she was behind me. 

"Good point. I'll go get dressed and meet you guys back downstairs." I tell them as I head towards my room, grab the clothes I left out for today, my makeup bag, and quickly get ready. To my surprise, it only takes me about 20 minutes to get ready, makeup and all. I walk out of my bathroom doorway and  downstairs. I walk over to Skylar and ask, "Did I do the makeup right? Because it seemed way to easy to be right."

"Wow. Actually, yeah you did it right, and it looks great." Skylar says analyzing my makeup. "And don't forget this." She says handing me one of her ear cuffs. "Perfect. Now, LA better get ready because they've got one gorgeous punk singer heading there way."

I roll my eyes, "I just wish you guys could come with me."

"We do too." Luke says giving me a reassuring smile. We all stand there for a moment in silence, each of us wanting to say something, but not sure how to word it. Our silence is interrupted by my mother when she walks in and asks, "Weren't you guys planning on going out for coffee?" 

"I guess, if it's alright with you." I respond.

"It's fine with me, and we'll take you to the airport after that. The rest of you can come to say goodbye if you want." She offers, to which everyone nods. "All we need to do is put your bags in the car, and we'll be on our way."

"Guys, would you to go get them? There inside the room, right by my door." 

"Fine, but only because you're our friend." Damian says, bring the other guys with him.

"Thank you." I call after them, as I walk with Skylar and Danny out to the car.

20 minutes later we're all sitting around the table at the coffee shop, talking about anything and everything. "Do you guys remember how we first became a band?" I ask them with a smile. 

"Ooh! I never heard this story! How did it happen?" Danny asks, leaning in and listening intently.

"Well, it all started with a guitar pick..." I say, looking around the table and smiling as I remember the story, and just as I'm about to continue the story, someone from behind the counter calls my name. "You guys tell her the story, I'll be back in a second." I get up from my seat and head to the counter to pick up my drink. "Thank you." I tell the worker with a smile as I grab my drink and walk back to the table, where my friends are animatedly telling the story of how we became a band.

"So I'm sitting in the back of the class watching the two of them go at." Damian says trying to hold back his laughter.

"Oh. This is my favorite part." I say taking my seat and continuing the story. "Luke eventually had to intervene. I don't even remember how he did it, but somehow he managed to convince Skylar and I to stop yelling, and that we would have to work out a compromise of some sort."

"After that we mashed the two together, and found out we really worked well together, when we weren't arguing that is. We ended up with failing, but made an awesome band." Skylar finishes.

"That is the coolest story ever. Why haven't you guys ever told me that one before?" Danny questions with mock anger. 

"I guess we just forget people haven't heard it yet." Damian says with a shrug. 

"Sorry, to interrupt the fun, but we have to leave for the airport now." My mom says with a sympathetic look. "You guys can come with and say goodbye if you want."

"Yeah, we'll come. We couldn't let Andy leave without a proper goodbye, now could we?" Luke says as we all stand up and he slings his arm around my shoulder.

I roll my eyes at him, and tell them. "I'll drive with my mom, and I guess you guys can follow in the van?"

"Sounds good. Meet you at the airport!" Matt says, and with that we each head out to our cars. 

I climb in the passenger seat next to my mom, and it really hits me that I won't see her for the rest of the summer. She catches me looking at her, and says, "Uh oh. I know that look. What's upsetting you?"

"Nothing. I'm just going to miss you." I reply and turn to look out the window to hide that my eyes are tearing up. "I'm sorry we didn't spend much time together before I had to leave."

"You don't have to apologize for that, Andy. I'm glad you spent time with your friends before you left, I know how much they mean to you. You and I spent plenty of time together, even before you knew you had to go." She tells me with her encouraging tone, but I can tell she's trying to cover up her worry. 

"I know." I pause for a moment, turning back to her as I think over my words carefully. "Mom, I know I already made a promise to you, but I need you to make one to me." I wait to make sure she's listening before I continue. "I want to you to promise you won't worry about me too much. I'm going to be fine, I learned a long time ago to keep a thick skin, especially when it comes to dad. So promise me you won't worry to much, I know I can't keep you from worrying, but I just want you to promise."

She sighs, and for a moment she looks like she has the weight of the world on her shoulders. "Alright, I promise. I just wish that you didn't have to learn the hard way to not let things get to you. But I know you're stronger than you think. Now, let's see if we can't cheer up before you have to go." So that's just what we do, we turn on the radio and sing along at the top of our lungs and laugh until we can't breathe. And before I know it, we're pulling up to the airport, and the euphoria of the past few moments quickly fades. I sit there for a moment, not wanting to get out of the car and say goodbye to my home, family, and friends for the next few months. But I have to go, I tell myself as I unbuckle my seatbelt and get out of the car. 

I step out onto the curb and see the guys unloading my luggage, and the rest of them waiting in line to say goodbye.  Once all the luggage is unloaded I say goodbye to each of them in turn. First I walk up to Skylar, I can tell she's trying not to get emotional. I hug her and say, "Don't worry, Skye. I'll be back before you know it." I pull back from the hug, she just looks me in the eye and nods. Knowing Skylar, she'll be all tough right now, but once I leave she'll start getting emotional.

Next is Matt, who just stands still for a moment with his hands in his pockets before he says, "Nice ear cuff." Typical Matt, getting distracted from the subject at hand. "I'll see you soon, Andy. Send me some pics of LA when you get there."

"It's a deal. I'll send you a ton of pictures, so you can see what LA's like." Matt nods in reply and I continue on. "Luke, keep everyone on track for me. I don't want to come back to no band, it'd be like coming home to no family."

Luke just nods his head biting his bottom lip. Although he's trying to hide it I know he's getting emotional, before I can say or do anything else he pulls me into a tight hug and whispers to me, "I'm going to miss you. Do me a favor, and don't let your Dad get into your head, alright?" I give him a nod and promise him I won't.

The next goodbye comes in a pair, both Danny and Damian stand side by side with smiles on their faces. Danny doesn't say anything, instead she lets Damian talk. "Well, I have to say you're in for an adventure. I wish we could come, but just remember we're all only a phone call away. We'll miss you, weirdo." When he finishes I get crushed in a hug by everyone, Danny included.

"I'll miss you too. I love you awesome nerds." I say laughing as much as possible when you're getting completely crushed by five people. "I'll be back before you know it, and I promise I'll send you photos, call and text as much as I can."

"Guys, we have to let go. It's time for her to leave." Danny says, which causes everyone to release me from the hug. I turn around and say the last and hardest goodbye, my mom. I walk up to her and wrap her in a tight hug, neither of us saying anything since we've already said everything. "I love you, Mom."

"I love you too." She whispers back. She backs out of the hug and wiping her eyes saying, "Here's your ticket, and I already got your bags checked. You'll have to go or you'll miss your flight."

"Thank you." I tell her, taking my ticket, and giving her one last hug. "I'll see you at the end of summer." I say, turning back for one last wave and walk inside the airport.

Through the next hour, I keep thinking about that moment, the look on their faces. I remember everything I can about that moment, because I know that will be the last time I get to see them for the next few months. Even on the flight, I look out the window and I can't help but miss them. C'mon, Andy, keep you're head level. You have a few hours to prepare yourself for what's to come, don't waste them. I think to myself, plugging my headphones and doing my best to prepare for what's to come. 

At some point I ended up dozing off, but that changed when we hit the turbulence. Yeah, I said turbulence, and seeing how this is one of the few times that I've ever flown it's not exactly comforting. So I spend most of my flight holding onto the armrests of my seat, eyes closed tight, and hoping that the flight will end soon. "Is there anything I can get you, Miss?" The flight attendant politely asks me.

"No, thank you, but may I ask how much longer will it be until we land?" I reply, cringing even further with ever bump of the plane. 

"We're scheduled to land at LAX in about 45 minutes." She tells me with a sympathetic smile and continues on her way. I sink into further into my seat, and turn my music up a little bit louder and doing everything I can to distract myself for the remainder of the flight.

Time passes quickly and I almost cheer aloud when the pilot announces we'll be landing. Once we touch down I grab my bags, make my way out, and since I'm completely unsure of were I'm supposed to be going just follow the crowd towards the baggage claim. I power up my phone and watch the bags come around the carousel looking for my bright blue cases. 

Nope. Nope. Definitely not mine. There it is. I grab the first of my bags off the carousel, setting it on the ground beside me as I wait for my only other bag. Luckily I was smart enough to use my duffel bag as my carry-on so I had less luggage to worry about. After a few minutes it finally makes it way through. Now I just have to head to oversize baggage claim to get my guitar, I tell myself. As I grab my guitar, I keep a constant eye out for any sign of my brother or one of my dad's many drivers, holding up a sign with my name on it, but I don't bother holding my breath expecting him to actually show up, right now I'm just looking for anything that would help me find out how I'm supposed to do or go. I pull out my phone, scrolling through my contacts and hoping he didn't change his number again. I press the call button, it rings a few times and just as I'm about to give up hope when his familiar voice comes over the line.

I breathe a sigh of relief. "Hey, Mason."

"Andy!" Mason practically shouts, "Where are you. I was just about to double check that your flight got in, because I can't seem to find you anywhere."

"Well where are you? I'll come find you." I tell him, as I keep looking around.

"Baggage claim. I figured you'd be over here, but I haven't seen you." He tells me. I wrinkle my nose in confusion, I'm still in the baggage claim area, how could he have missed me? I search through the crowd looking for Mason keeping in remembrance his appearance from when we last talked.

I finally spot him searching desperately like a lost child. "Found you." I say into my phone as I pick up my bags and walk in his direction.

"Wait where are you?" I watch as he turns all the way around, still looking for me.

"You're 3 o'clock." I tell him chuckling as I speak. He turns around in the opposite direction of me, and I can't help but laugh even louder. "You're other 3 o'clock." 

He finally catches sight of me, and his entire face lights up. He runs over to me screaming my name and crushing me in a tight hug. "Oh, Andy. It's been too long! I didn't recognize you with the new hair. It looks good... C'mon, lets get you home and you can tell me everything I've missed." I just nod returning the hug and letting him carry everything but my duffel bag and guitar.

We leave the airport and start heading towards the parking lot. "So tell me, how has everything been since we last saw each other in person? Oh, that's my car right over there." We continue our conversation during the rest of the drive and within seconds all the lost time between us dissolves.

After what seems like no time, we pull up in front of a huge mansion. "Andy, welcome home." He says climbing out of the car and grabbing my bags and even my guitar. "C'mon, you're gonna love the house. We even have a recording studio inside." He says the last part like its a secret.

I just smile at him. Mason hasn't changed at all, I guess it's true some people never do grow up. We walk up the front steps and into the house, within a moment I know for sure this is my Dad's house, because he goes for nothing less than extravagant.

"Mason, you're back. We have some business to discuss." Speaking of the devil, here he comes, the only person I have ever hated: my father. "Oh, I forgot you were going to the airport." He turns to me and actually acknowledges my existence. "Hello, Alexandria."

"Hello, Dad" I pause for a moment choosing my next words with extreme care. "Or should I just call you 'John' since you never really liked playing the role of my dad?