Rum and Coke

Matt watched as his daughter entered the green room that he and his band were in. Matt couldn’t help but smile every time he saw her. She was almost the spitting image of Val with her long layered blonde hair and sparkling blue/green eyes. She was his pride and joy. He would give up anything just to see her happy, which is why most people who knew her wondered why she’s not stuck up. Kay is actually very grounded, considering how she grew up in luxury.

“So, what did my favorite girl find out?” Matt asked as Kay opened a can of coke beside him.

“Well, I found the band you’re going to choose.” She said with a smug smile.

“Do explain, Little Shadows,” Christ said, leaning his elbows on his knees.

Kay just grinned. “Oh, you’ll see. Right through that window, actually,” she added, pointing to the viewing window that was actually a two-way mirror.

“You’re not going to tell us who they are?” he asked. Why he was shocked, Matt had no idea. You would think that he would be used to her by now.

“Where’s the fun in that?” she laughed.

Everyone laughed with her, including Johnny, when Val came in.

“And there’s Shad’s other favorite woman!” Zacky laughed, pointing to Val.

Val looked between the six of us before shaking her head. “Did you get it?” she asked her daughter.

“Yupp, right here! They’re the ones, I swear,” Kay gave her a small flash drive.

“Good, Matt, I’m borrowing our daughter for a bit.”

Matt immediately seized Kay around the waist and pulled her into his lap. “No, she’s mine, how many times do I have to tell you that, woman?” Matt asked his wife jokingly. She was used this. Ever since they first brought Kay home from the hospital, Matt would always insist on holding her. He was very overprotective of his daughter and everyone knew not to mess with his baby unless if they had a death wish.

As predicted, Val rolled her eyes. “Fine, she’s yours, but if you really want her completely, then figure out a way to go back in time and youcan be the one in labor for 48 hours!”

Matt tipped his head in thought. “It won’t take that long, seeing as how she was waiting for her daddy.” He smiled, remembering how as soon as he came into the delivery room Kay was born.

“Ya know, I’m still here,” Kay said as her dad tightened his hold on her.

“Hey, Shads, if you had to choose between them, which one would you pick?” Rev asked. “I say Kay.”

“I agree,” Brian chimed in.

“I’m gonna go with Val on this,” Johnny said.

“That’s not fair,” Kay interjected as she tried to wiggle her way out of her father’s grip.

“Oh, no, I want to hear this,” Val said, grabbing a hold of her daughter’s wrist and gently pulling her out of her father’s hold. “Who will it be, Matt?” Val asked with a smile.

Matt looked as if someone had just denied him of some coveted material possession. He kept shifting his gaze between the two women with his jaw hanging open. “I-I don’t know.”

“Matthew,” Val said sternly.

Kay was getting a tad on comfortable. “No, seriously, don’t make him chose!” She protested. She really didn’t want this to end in a fight. She didn’t want my parents ending up like her Uncle Brian and Aunt Michelle. “Know what? I don’t want to know, I’m going to help the Berry’s set up.” She said quickly before dashing out of the room.

In her haste, she ran into someone. “I’m sorry. I’m such a klutz,” she told them apologetically while getting to her feet and brushing herself off.

He laughed. “Don’t worry about it. I’m used to beautiful girls running smack into me, but you’re one of the only two that have knocked me off of my feet.”

His smile was so charming, that Kay couldn’t help but blush.

“Hey, don’t I know you from somewhere?” He asked.

“I don’t know. You look kind of familiar.”

“I’m Ryan. I’m the drummer for Stereotypical Youth. What about you?”

“Kay. I work for Warner Bros. My parents are in charge of this entire thing and I just got roped into helping out.”

“Oh, that’s cool.”

“Wait a second! You’re in Stereotypical Youth?”

“Yea, why?”

“It all makes sense now,” she muttered under her breath.

“Care to share?” Ryan asked.

“Your singer punched my uncle when we were in New York.”

Ryan’s eyes widened in realization. “That’s right! Wow. How is he? Ellie didn’t break his nose did she?”

“No, it’s fine. He’s just a Prima Donna.”

“Well, that’s good.

“Yea,” Kay replied awkwardly.

“Well, I’ll let you get back to doing what you were doing.”

“Yea, see you around.”

He smiled and nodded his head before heading the way she had just come from.

“Oooh, better not let your dad see that. You’re dad will skin him alive for looking at you like that.”

Kay looked back to see her Uncle JB moving a speaker. “And that’s exactly why he’s not going to find out.” she smirked.

JB laughed whole-heartedly before walking away.