The Leading Man (Multiband Fan Fic)

Chapter 36 - Early Starts

Katie's P.O.V

I slept in Dylan's room last night. I told him everything, staying up until 03:00, talking about one Mr McNally, and how I felt.
He convinced me it was a one off, as he often feels that way with girls, but I'm not sure. We swore to keep it between ourselves, and that was that.
Before the sun even started to rise, I was up and dressed. I couldn't sleep.

I left a note for Dylan, telling him where he could find me, and I headed to the hotel lobby, requesting a taxi.
I waited, it came, I left.

. . .

I payed, climbed out the cab, and walked up to the giant black gates, letting myself in. I took the black hat off my head, and followed the path, up a small slope, towards the middle of the maze.
I made a quick pitstop, on my way here...

I reached my destination, the sun rising, now hitting the stones around me. I kneeled down and placed the flowers just in front of him.
"Hi, dad..." I whispered. "I came home."

. . .

"... And they never said who it was from, but I've been playing it every night since. I can feel you there with me, as I play, but I feel like I'm outside of my body, as I play... It's like you're the one playing, and I'm the one watching you..." I saw Dylan, Eddie, Maria, Vince, Stevie, and Sherrie down at the gates.
Eddie nodded in my direction, and they stood talking to each other, before the boys opened the gate and came through.

"Dad... My band is here. I'd really like for you to meet them. They're my best friends." I looked to my dads stone, as they approached.
Dylan was the one wearing a hat this time, his brown Stetson, taking it off, as they reached me.
"Got your note..." He started.
I smiled, weakly, at him. "Dad... This is Dylan Chaser. He plays the rhythm guitar." I introduced him. "And this is Eddie Riot. He plays bass. Then, Vince Morgan, the new guy. He's our singer."
The guys all smiled. "It's nice to finally meet you, Frank. I promise we're all looking out for your daughter, as she is for us." Eddie smiled.
"We're also sorry we're meeting under these circumstances, but it's an honour, sir." Dylan tipped his head to the stone.
"Yeah..." Vince nodded, whispering. "An honour."

"Last, but not least... You remember Stevie, right dad?" I asked.
"Hi..." Stevie came and sat on my right, sitting on the path with me. "I reah'y miss ya, uncle Frankie." Stevie sighed.
"He misses us too." I told my cousin.
"Born August 2nd..." Dylan spoke out loud. "Monroe... Your mum..."
"My mum died on my dads birthday... Yeah." The loose ends were linked.
"Monroe, I'm so sorry!" Eddie gasped, sinking down to the ground, sitting behind me, to the right, between Stevie and I.
"It's my life... That's just how it goes..." I sighed.
Vince and Dylan shared a look, before Dylan waved the girls over, and they both sat with us.

Maria sat next to Eddie, hugging me from behind, while Sherrie sat in between Stevie and Dylan.

"My dad was my best friend. He and my mum did love each other, but they fell out of love with each other... They ended on good terms, each apart of the others family. I lived with my mum, but I'd bug her to see my dad all the time." I smiled, but my smile slowly faded. "But then there was an accident... I kept bugging my mum to see my dad, so she called him... I didn't mean for it to happen..." I started to cry, Maria holding me tight. "He was in his car... Coming to see me..." I sobbed. "He never made it... H-He... didn't see the car coming... H-he... He tried..."
"Shh... It's OK." Maria rocked me gently. "It's OK, baby." She whispered to me.
"Katie, that isn't your fault." Dylan looked at me. "You just wanted to see your dad... No one could of predicted what happened."
Sherrie reached out and held my hand, Stevie handing me his handkerchief.
We all stayed silent, as I calmed down.

"If I'd of just kept my mouth shut..." I mumbled.
"Monroe, this wasn't your fault. You need to see that." Vince started. "It was an accident. Your dad loved you so much, and he still does. Some idiot came out of nowhere, and unfortunately it was your dad who caught it. You had nothing to do with that. What happened was a freak accident. No matter how hard we try, we can't undo what's been done, but we can learn from it..."
"Monroe... Is this why you don't drive?" Eddie asked me.
I nodded. "I'm too scared to..." I whispered, wiping my eyes.
He nodded, understanding.

We heard the gate squeak open, before it closed again.
We all looked over.

A woman holding flowers, walking up the path, around us, then to the grave three up and opposite.
"He's a popular man." She smiled sadly at us.
I huffed a laugh.
"You're the third lot I've seen this week." She told us.
"Other people have been here?" Eddie asked her.
"Mhm." She nodded, placing her flowers at the gravestone she was at. "His brothers come all the time." She told us.

I looked over at her. "Brothers? More then one?" I asked.
"Yeah, the youngest, and the oldest." She replied, thinking about her answer before she did.
"Thank you." I smiled at her. "Thank you!"
I got up and looked down at my dad. "I'll come back, before I leave town. I love you, dad." I promised him, before I took off running.
"Monroe?!" Dylan called out to me.
"Dad?" The woman questioned.

. . .

I smiled, and crashed into the wall, looking around the shop corner. I knew this street all too well.
"Jesus, Monroe!" Dylan caught up to me first.
Vince was next, then Maria and Sherrie, holding hands, then Stevie, then Eddie.
"What was that for? That woman couldn't believe you're Frank's daughter. She made a fuss how you never visit." Eddie looked at me.
"Yeah, yeah..." I looked from my friends, to back around the corner.
"Where are we?" Vinnie asked, everyone looking.
I looked up at the sign, a little down the street, hanging up above the door. "Where I'm meant to be..."