How do you heal?

Chapter 56: Big Break

Annie hopped off the stage at Maude's and walked over to the bar to check her phone. About six months ago she had finally accepted an offer to be a guest singer for a local band. The band's lead singer, Vik, had talked her into it by promising they would only ask her to do covers and requesting a minimal time commitment. Practice every other Wednesday and one set at Maude's once a month. They played other venues but used their monthly spot at Maude's and the cover set to film promos. Vik thought having a female helped their videos get views.

Alex: I told you Pietro would stop if you asked him.

Annie had texted Alex about the breakfast interaction before she got to the bar.

Annie: You are all knowing and I bow to your supremacy.

Alex: Finally. How was your show?

Annie smiled and went to reply to Alex when someone slid up next to her and tapped on her shoulder. She turned expecting to see Vik or one of the other band members but was met with Kat's face.

"Hey Allie, you guys did great up there!"

Annie had tried, for the most part unsuccessfully, to avoid being around Bucky's new girlfriend in the six-ish weeks he'd been back. Around the compound their interaction consisted mostly of Kat's mocking glares and shoulder checks when no one else was looking. At Maude's however, there was no one around for Kat to play nice in front of. Annie sighed heavily and gave Kat a tight smile and said curtly, "Thanks." Before turning back to her phone.

Unfortunately Kat continued. "I just think you are so brave to get up there with those guys, I mean they are just awesome."

Annie didn't look over and began texting angry emojis to Alex as she replied. "Yeah, they are something."

"And I just think it's so awesome how you don't care what people think. I mean if I were you I could never get on a stage without hair and make-up."

Feeling as if her retinas might detach from rolling her eyes so hard Annie stood from her stool and turned to face Kat. Despite Kat being in heeled boots Annie stood eye level with her. Kat looked to be in her mid twenties and had the classic 'mean girl' attitude of someone who'd peaked in high school and hadn't realized it yet. Annie had been dealing with girls like Kat her entire life and firmly believed in the 'if you ignore it it will go away' method but at this moment she really wished she could channel Alex's fuck off attitude. However, she realized that for the foreseeable future Kat most likely wasn't going away and well...Annie hated conflict. So she blinked slowly and asked, "Did you need something? I've gotta get out of here and Vik wants to talk to me before I leave." She's not worth it, she doesn't matter, she has no effect on your life.

"Actually yes, Buckaroo mentioned that you are like the 'superhero secretary' or whatever and I was wondering if you could tell me his schedule? I'm trying to plan a little romantic getaway weekend as a surprise. That compound is always so crowded and I like to get loud, if you know what I mean."

Annie could feel her brain shut down at the pure audacity of what Kat just said and had to give it a moment to reboot. She looked away as she tried to compose herself and saw Vik walking toward them. Thank fucking gods. "I'm sorry, I'm not allowed to discuss employee schedules for safety reasons. If you want to know when Bucky is available you'll have to ask him."

Annie tried to walk away and meet Vik but Kat grabbed her arm. "Oh come on Allie, I'm his girlfriend. Can't you help a sister out?"

As she looked down at Kats hand on her arm. She had never wanted to hit someone before, it was a very strange feeling. Almost like her muscles were trying to override her brain. "I'm sorry." Annie said, glaring daggers as she pulled her arm from Kat's grip. "Unless you're his emergency contact I can't discuss that with you." She turned and smiled at Vik and started to walk away.

"Well how do you know I'm not his emergency contact?"

Annie grinned wildly. The question was stupid, Annie knew all the Avengers contacts as it was literally a part of her job but Kat was an idiot. She knew she shouldn't answer because it was none of Kat's business and telling personal employee information could get her into trouble but since it was technically her information too she didn't see the harm. And honestly what would Tony do, fire her? So she looked over her shoulder with an innocent smile and said, "Because I am." Annie suspected telling Kat this fact would cause drama later but for once in her life, she didn't care.

Annie and Vik stood outside of the bar waiting for her Uber to show up.

"So I talked to Maude last week and got the rest of the dates for the year. Jer sent them to that label guy he's been talking to and they are sending a talent scout to the show next month!" Vik told Annie, excitement evident in his voice.

"That's awesome Vik, can you send me the dates so I can tell Tony when I'll be off and do you want me to skip the next one so you guys can do all originals?"

"Right," Vik said, pulling out his phone and handing it to Annie to show her the dates. "No, we definitely still want you to come but we are going to do the cover set first to get the crowd revved up."

Annie only half listened to Vik spout the changes they were planning to make for the scout as she scanned the dates on his phone. September... Annie's heart dropped. September 16th. Charlie's birthday. "Vik wait, I'm sorry but I can't do that date."

"What, why?"

Annie stammered handing Vik his phone back "I just..uh..that date isn't good for me. If you could move it..."

Vik cut her off. "Jer already confirmed the date with the scout, we can't move it."

"Then just don't do a cover set, you guys have enough originals to fill the time slot."

"Annie, please. Half our social media followers came from you and those covers and they really get the crowd going. We can't not do them."

Annie sighed and checked her watch, her Uber would be pulling up any second. "Vik, it's really not a good day for me. Could you just sing the covers?"

Vik shook his head and took Annie by the shoulders. "You know most of those songs are out of my range, we picked them for you! Please is there any way you can make it work, we really need you."

Annie felt her phone vibrate as a car pulled up in front of the bar that she assumed was her Uber. She looked at the pleading face Vik was giving her and took in a deep breath. "I'll do it." Vik began to celebrate and she put her finger up. "ONLY if you guys agree to donate all your door earnings from that night to the animal shelter." Annie had been giving her small cut of the gig money to the local shelter from the start and she figured if she was going to do something she really didn't want to she was at least going to get something good out of it.

Vik smiled. "Deal!" Annie shook her head and began to walk to her Uber. "Hey, maybe you could ask your boss to come? Really get the crowd going!" Vik called after her.

"Goodnight Viktor." Is all she said over her shoulder as she climbed into the car.