Hold Onto Me

~

I felt my chest tighten as those three words left her mouth. No, this is couldn't be. There was no way they'd come here. I couldn't go, they'd recognize me and everything I had worked so hard to get in the past three years would be ruined in a day. I knew I couldn't handle seeing any of them, especially Zacky. It was hard enough raising his daughter, but actually seeing him, no. That would be too much.

"Ainsley, I'm sorry but I can't go." I said softly.

"But Izzy... I have to go, I spent all my money on these tickets. Please."

"Ask Lauren. I'm sure she'd love to go."

"I already asked her, she has to get Trevin from Landon tomorrow night. You're my only hope."

"Fine, fine. We'll go. But I'm staying at the bar." I sighed, in defeat.

"That's fine! I'll see you tomorrow, I have to be home before mom."

I walked Ainsley to the door and made sure she got inside her house before shutting the door. I fell on the couch and groaned, placing the couch pillow over my face. I felt Teddy jump up on my stomach and curl up. I heard Melody's light footsteps as she rolled her suitcase into the living room. She took the pillow off my face and giggled at me. Teddy jumped off me and ran to the kitchen, barking again.

"Teddy, come here." I called, annoyed.

I bent down to pick Teddy up and Dee opened his dog crate door. After I shut the door, she stuck her fingers through the holes, petting him.

"You ready to go to Nana and Pops?" Lauren asked, walking in the room.

"Mhm! Mommy, are you coming with us?"

I nodded and picked my daughter up as we all headed towards the door. Lauren picked up the little suitcase and I went to put Melody in her car seat. Once she was buckled in, I ran back in the house to grab my purse off the kitchen counter. I turned off all the lights and quickly locked the house door. Lauren was in the passenger seat so I assumed I was driving.

Lauren put in a cd and turned it up a bit. I heard Melody gasp and squeal from the backseat as her favorite song played. I couldn't help but smile when she started singing along with Blondie. Even though she reminded me so much of my old life, Melody was my everything. She was the reason I worked so hard to finish school and get in a practice, the reason I did what I did back in California. I wanted to give her the best life I could.

Once we got to to Nana's house, Mel started bouncing in her seat. I put the car in park and turned it off. She fumbled with her car seat buckle but couldn't get it unbuckled. She huffed and pouted as I got her out. She ran to her pops, who picked her up and spun her around.

"Marissa, doll, you look amazing." Sharon smiled as she walked up to me.

"Thanks, Sharon. Here's her suitcase."

"She's something else, kid. She reminds me so much of you when you were little." She chuckled.

"Haha she acts just like me, doesn't she?" I grinned.

"Your mom would be so proud of you." She smiled softly.

"You think so?"

"I know so. You're raising a wonderful and beautiful girl, you've got a great job, and you're engaged to an amazing man."

I looked over at her and started tearing up. Melody came running towards us. Sharon picked her up and she leaned over and kissed me on the cheek.

"Bye mommy! I'll see you later!" Melody smiled as she wrapped her arms around my neck.

"Bye baby doll. Be good for nana and pops, okay?"

"I will."

"I love you, sweet girl."

"I love you too, mommy."

I watched as Sharon carried her inside the house before I got back in the car. This time Lauren was in the driver's seat. As she pulled away from the place my daughter was, I couldn't help but feel sad. I hated being away from her, it was almost as if I had nothing to do when she was gone. I hated that feeling. I had no idea what to do with myself.

"Earth to Marissa!" Lauren screamed in my ear.

"What?"

"What do you wanna do for dinner?"

"I'm not hungry."

"Riss, you have to eat. You'll see Mel Sunday." She knew what I was thinking and let out a sigh.

"I know, but I don't know what to do without her."

"Just have a relaxing night and get ready for tomorrow."

I groaned as she reminded me of what was going to happen tomorrow.

"I still can't believe you did that to me!" I whined.

"Hey, in my defense I didn't know it was Avenged Sevenfold until after you agreed to take her."

"How about I go get Trevin and you take Ainsley to the show. They won't recognize you."

"Marissa Roman Quinn, would you shut the fuck up. I was around them long enough, I'm pretty sure they'd recognize me. And no, I'm not sending you to my ex-husband's house to get my kid. That's just so wrong." She laughed.

"I can't get out of this, can I?"

"Nope."

I groaned and threw my head back, knowing she was right. There was absolutely no way I could get out of this. I knew Ainsley had spent a shit ton of money on those tickets and as much as it pained me to go, she would be devastated beyond belief. I could sacrifice one night for her happiness, right? I mean, that is what I do anyway. Ainsley was just a 17 year old girl who wanted to go see her "favorite band" and I couldn't take that away from her. I'd been in her shoes before.

"How in the world did I not know they were her favorite band?" I laughed, putting my feet up on the dash.

"I guess the same way I didn't know either?"

"Cheers to getting fucking smashed tomorrow night!"