The interview(and interviewer) are completely made up. Just FYI.

We were on the bus. I was getting ready to leave for an interview, but first I had to explain to Cherry that I was leaving and she couldn't come. I crouched in front of her.
"I have to go for a little while so you're going to stay with Emerson, okay?" I asked Cherry. She shook her head no. I sighed. "Stargazer we really can't argue about this. You have to stay, okay?" She wrapped her arms around my neck.
"No!"
"Please work with me here, Cherry. Just sit at the table and color with Emerson. I'll be back before you know it." She shook her head again. I picked her up and sat her at the table so she was facing Emerson. I put her coloring book and crayons in front of her. "I'll see you in a little bit." I kissed her forehead and headed for the door.
"Deedee!" I turned to look at her, my hand on the door knob. "Pomithe?" She stuck two fingers in her mouth. I smiled.
"I promise, Stargazer."

———

"It's been awhile since I've talked with you. Year and half? Two years?" Shelby asked, tucking a strand of purple hair behind her ear.
"Yeah. Something like that." I replied. She smiled and looked down at the iPad in her lap.
"A lot's happened since I last saw you. Side B, more tours, broken bones."
"Yeah it's been fucking crazy."
"What would you say is the craziest thing that's happened in the last two years?"
"I'm a dad now." I grinned and looked at the camera.
"Yes. I wasn't sure if I should mention it or if you wanted to keep that more private."
"Honestly it's hard to keep anything private anymore." I laughed and she did too. "Everyone knows anyway. It's too late to hide it now."
"What's it like being a dad while in a band? I've never talked to any band members who are parents so I'm genuinely curious."
"It's hard, y'know, the constant traveling isn't as easy for her as it is for me. She needs a more consistent sleep cycle than touring allows, but she's really good. Even when I keep her up way too late. I have a lot of respect for my mom as it is, but now that I'm a parent I have even more. Kids aren't easy. But worth it. Honestly I think it's helped mature me a lot. Having someone who depends on you for everything does that to a person. It's been keeping me out of trouble a lot because I can't be fooling around as much anymore. I have to take care of her."
"Do you mind if I ask a question about your daughter?"
"Nope. Go ahead."
"What's her name?"
"Cherry."
"Aw, that's cute. And how old is she?"
"She'll be five in four weeks."
"Wow."
"Yeah. I'm trying to work out the logistics of throwing her a birthday party while we're on tour. It's not working very well yet." I chuckled and she smiled.
"Now you adopted her, right?"
"Yeah. It was finalized the first week of April."
"That's so exciting."
"It is. Every now and then it hits me that I'm a dad. I have a daughter. It's just crazy. But I wouldn't trade it for anything. I love my life. So much. And I honestly can't imagine life without my little Stargazer."
"Stargazer?"
"Hmm? Oh, yeah. That's what I call Cherry."
"That's so cute. Oh my gosh." I smiled. She cleared her throat. "So going back to tour, you've got Sonic Temple festival coming up here in just a couple weeks."
"Yeah."
"That's pretty big."
"Definitely. We're very excited to play. We love festivals. It's always a different vibe compared to a regular concert. Plus most of the people there don't know who you are so you always have to try a little harder to impress."
"Right. Obviously. Who are you most excited to see at this festival?"
"It's a toss up between the Foo Fighters and Joan Jett."
"Both amazing artists. I can't make it this year, but I'll definitely be finding videos on YouTube after the fact." She flipped her sheet of paper over. "So you have the festivals and the funeral tour." I nodded. "And then what?"
"And then some down time." The interview went on with the typical questions about the music and our style and art.

———

I was getting increasingly worried about Alana. She hadn't spoken much since tour started and I wasn't sure if she was eating, not mention I hardly saw her because she spent all her time in her bunk. Eventually I chalked it up to her not knowing any of us. It was a logical conclusion. So I checked up on her occasionally and I made sure she ate and that was the best I could do. I had other things I had to do. I had a daughter and technically speaking, I was at work. Interviews, meet and greets, concerts. But I probably should've made more of an effort.

———

"Puppy!" Cherry gasped and giggled, looking back at me. I smiled. She looked back at my phone.
"Stick you're tongue out." She did and got wide eyed while giggling. For the next few minutes she occupied herself by sticking her tongue out and putting it back in. Then she moved on to the next filter. I sat her down on the floor with my phone, which probably wasn't the smartest idea, and then climbed up onto the stage for soundcheck. Alana was sitting with her back to the wall, earbuds in, eyes closed. I sighed. I was pulled from my thoughts by Cherry giggling. She was standing, pointing the phone at me.
"You 'ook funny!" She said. I smiled and stuck my tongue out at her. She stopped giggling. "Uh-oh."
"What'd you do, Stargazer?"
"I no know." She said coming over and putting my phone on the edge of the stage. Then she ran around, talking to herself and looking at and under everything.

For one shining minute life seemed almost perfect. But like all good things it would come to an end. And much sooner than I(or anyone else) would've liked.

Not my best. Sorry. But I updated so yay!

Avery L.