Faithless. ~2~

1

I wake up to the feeling of the tour bus slowly rolling to a stop. I groan as I roll out of my bunk and rub at my sleepy eyes. Behind me, in the front lounge, my brother, Andy, was making a pot of coffee for those residing in the bus that liked such things, while I gather a change of clothes. 
Scrolling through my phone as I step into the back lounge, I decide to turn on Asking Alexandria while I got dressed. Looking in the mirror as I get my makeup and hair done, and sighed as I looked myself over. I'm relatively short, with long black hair and blue eyes. I have a few tattoos and a lip piercing, but other than that, I feel like I look rather plain looking.
The back lounge door opens and Ashley Purdy pokes his head in with a smile. He is the bassist for the band, and I'd consider him as one of my many older brothers. 
"We're all gonna head to catering you want to tag along?" 
I return the smile as I pause my music, pausing it in the middle of Not the American Average. "Yeah, I could eat." 
It's another easy going morning, no one in the band was running late, which was the real miracle because CC, our drummer, almost always sleeps in. "Morning, Sunshine." 
As always, a smile spreads across my face as I turn around to face him.  "Good morning." Of all of the members of Black Veil Brides, CC was my favorite. He's the only one that treats me like I'm more than just Andy's little sister. 
"I heard you tossing and turning last night, you okay?" He asks as he put his arm over my shoulders. 
I sigh as I wrap my arm around his waist. "Yeah, I'm okay, I just couldn't get comfortable." That is almost the trust, tour buses aren't known for being the most comfortable thing in the world, but also my brain was too loud last night. 
I'm starting to get stressed out about my videos for My Digital Escape, as well as my life with Andy and Juliet. With how over protective and controlling he is, over me at least, I'm never going to be able to date, or talk to anyone romantically any time soon. Not that I wanted too, mind you, it just would be nice to not have to worry about getting in trouble for doing such things. 
"Well," he says, breaking through my internal monologue. "If you ever need to talk about anything, I'm here, okay?" 
"I'll keep that in mind. Thanks, CC." 
The moment we got into catering, I take my vlog camera out of my backpack and started filming. 
"Good morning, My Digital Escape, it's me, Ella, and today, I'm joined by CC." I angle the camera up toward him. 
"Hey, guys." He gives the camera a smile. 
I point it back to me. "It's Warped Tour, day four, and we're still looking hot." I give the camera a wink as a few of my friends come in. Those being Shannon Taylor, Jordan Sweeto, and Damon Fizzy. 
"Look at who the fuck it is." Shannon says as she points her camera at me. "Looking good, Ella, you know I love you in those shorts." 
I give her and the camera a pose, accidentally pressing myself up against CC in the  process. "I know you do, Baby. I wore them just for you." 
Damon laughs as he looks at the two of us. "This is why you guys get shipped." 
I quickly step away from CC as Shannon runs into my arms. "It's not just a ship!" I call to Damon. 
"It's a life style." Shannon as she kisses my cheek. We giggle quietly as we turn off our cameras. "So, you have an exciting morning?" 
"I had an Ella like morning." I say with a shrug as we line up behind CC. "Nothing all that exciting." 
"Lemme guess." Shannon starts with a grin. "Andy was making a pot of coffee that no one is going to drink." 
"Yep. And Ash asked if I wanted to go to catering with everyone." 
"Which you did, and CC called you sunshine." She nudges my side with her elbow. "Like he always does." 
I nod slowly with a smile. "And that concludes my morning. A regular morning in the life of one Ella Biersack." 
After we had gotten our food and sat down, I lean my chin against my hand and glance around catering. Most of the other bands were here, or at least members of the other bands were here, Kellin Quinn and Justin Hills from Sleeping with Sirens with them was Jade Quinn, who was day tripping it while she wrote an Article for Kerang. I have hung out with her before when she has interviewed my brother's band in the past, I like her. 
I look toward the entrance as Ben Bruce, Cameron Liddell and Dawn Cassells come in. Asking Alexanderia are good friends of Black Veil Brides. But while we were friends with them, they were still everything my brother didn't want for me. I suppose that's what drew me to them. It also helps that Cam's pretty good looking. 
"So," Kyle says as he sits down next to me and the rest of MDE slowly joins us. "Are you going to keep longingly stare at Cameron Liddell, or are you going to shoot your shot?" 
"Mmm, I think my shot is gonna stay in my pocket." I say as I look away from Cam and down at my bagel. 
"But what if you didn't keep it?" Shannon asks as she pokes at my side. "The worst he could say is no." 
I give her a blank look as I took a bite of my bagel. I took a time chewing and swallowing before I spoke. "Uh, no, actually. The worst that could happen is that I end up on a true crime documentary after Andy fucking kills me." 
The three of us lean back to look at the table my brother and the rest of the band is sitting at, and he was, in fact, watching me like a hawk. 
"Yeah, maybe that's a bad idea." Kyle says as he leans forward and gives me a semi-serious look. "Surely, there's a moment that he's not watching you, right?" 
I sip my Monster with a shrug. "I don't know. Maybe while they have a set and we have meet and greets going on?" 
They smile and Kyle turns to look at Bryan. "Hey, Bryan?" He asks as a grin slowly spreads across his face. "When is our meet and greet today?" 
Bryan takes a moment to chew and swallow his food before saying. "It's at four thirty, why?" 
"Just wondering." Kyle says as he turns back to face me. "And Black Veil Brides plays at five thirty." 
I smile as I set my can down in front of me. "And Asking plays later tonight at eight." 
"So, you have about an hour to work with." Shannon adds as she takes her phone out. "Besides, it would be a great opportunity to get Cecily some merch." 
Cecily is another one of the members of MDE, she's the younger sister of Shannon's boyfriend, Tyler Hagen. He wasn't able to come on tour with us, and that meant that he didn't let Cecily come either. 
"You are completely right." I say as I get to my feet. "It's just merch, and what's the harm in that?" I give Kyle and Shannon a wink as I went and sat at an empty space at Asking's table. 
It's odd to see Dawn here without Danny. They were always joined at the hip. I hope that nothing too bad was happening between them. 
"Ahh, Ella," Ben says as I sit down. "Finally taking a walk on the wild side, are we?" 
I shrug as I lean my chin in my hand, but still give him a smirk. "What if I am?" 
"Then you've got balls, Biersack." He says with a chuckle. "But either way, how can we help you on this fine Wednesday morning?" 
"Well, I have a friend that couldn't couldn't make it on tour," I explain as I slowly turn in my seat to face Cam, who was sitting on my left. "You guys are one of her favorite bands, and I was wondering if I could come by later and get some stuff from you guys?" 
Cam glances at me, then to the table behind me, before he gives me a smile. "Sure. What time are you thinking? I'll come and get you." 
"How does five fifteen sound?" 
"That sounds great, I'll see you then, Ella." He says, still giving me that kind smile. 
I give him a smile in return as I get back to my feet. "I'll see you then, Cam." And then I hurry back to my table.
Feelings weren't usually something I did, mostly because I never really had the chance to get attached while I live with Andy and his fiancé. But also because I have the belief that to love was to destroy, and it's an unwavering belief. 
"We should also try and get some stuff from Pierce the Veil." Kyle says as I sit back down. "And from Of Mice and Men." 
"I'll have the Asking stuff today." I say as I finish off my bagel.
"So, you're seeing Cam tonight?" Shannon picks up my monster and takes a sip from it. 
I nod as I cross my arms over my chest, and lean back in my seat. "Yup. At five fifteen." 
Alex sits down to me with Damon in tow. "What's this about Cam and five fifteen?" 
"Ella has a secret meeting with Cam later today." Kyle says to them with a grin. 
I roll my eyes at that. "No, it's just me getting merch from Asking for Cecily." 
"But you're doing it behind Andy's back." Shannon points out as she passes my drink back to me. "Therefore, secret meeting." 
"Yeah, but saying it like that makes it sound like Cam and I are secret lovers." And while that thought was appealing, it's a ridiculous thing to want, or even hope for. The chances of Cam feeling any sort of thing for me is a million to one, and the chances of Andy not murdering me is even less than that.
Besides, isn't there some sort of rule about friends going for little sisters? I'm sure Cam would be breaking a million bro codes.
I blink back into focus as Alex shakes my shoulder. "Hmm?" 
"Shannon, Damon and I are going to help you get ready." She says with a grin. 
"This isn't a date though." I sound almost as puzzled as I feel. "Aren't those kinds of get togethers saved for dates?" 
"This might not be a date, but it wouldn't hurt to look cute." Damon says. 
Sensing that I wouldn't get out of it, I agreed and the rest of breakfast went by smoothly before I followed Andy and the guys to soundcheck, making sure to give Cam a smile on the way out. I feel smug when I notice his gaze following me as I left catering. 
+++
At the Black Veil Brides soundcheck,  I sit on the edge of the stage as I text with Shannon, Alex, Damon and Kyle in a group chat that they had created after breakfast. 

What about that red dress? Damon suggests. It's cute.

I think that sends the wrong message. I reply

That you're available? Kyle asks 

No, that I'm interested in dating. 

I put my phone down when CC sits down next to me. He gives me a water bottle, which I thankfully sip from as I cross my legs under me. 
"So, how is the world of Ella right now?" He asks as he crosses his legs under himself as well. 
I shrug as I fiddle with the lid on my water bottle. "It's okay... but busy." I mutter as my phone continues to buzz. 
"New videos or something?" 
"Or something, it's about... boys." I say, sounding more shy than I was meaning to. 
CC give me a cheeky grin as he turns to face me. "Oh? Since when do you talk about boys?" 
"Since today, apparently." I take my phone out of my pocket to check on what was being said, right now my group of friends were trying, and failing, to make a ship name for myself and Cam. 
"You don't look all that please." He notes as looks over my face, and down at my phone. 
I slowly nod as I shove it back into my pocket. "You know me, CC. I don't do boys and feelings. It's all... it's all too complicated." 
"Love usually is." He agreed before quickly adding. "But you're young, you should fall in love as much as you can. Why are you afraid of it?" 
"Because love often leads to heart ache, love hurts and breaks and destroys everything in it's path when it's given to the wrong person." CC has always been the one person I can fully be honest with, of all my friends, he's probably my best." 
"Besides," I add as an after thought. "I'm just getting merch, it's not like I'm going on a date." 
"Which band are you getting merch from?" 
"Asking Alexandria, at five fifteen. My friends want me to look cute." 
"Because...?" 
"Because Cam is coming to get me." I say with a defeated sigh. "But it's not anything romantic." 
"Didn't you have a crush on Cam?" 
"Yeah, but that was ages ago. I'm over it now." If only, truth is, I don't think the kind of crush I had on Cam ever really goes away. When we had first met two years ago, we couldn't be separated that whole tour or at meet ups after wards. Something about him has always gravitated me towards him. 
"But you can see why your friends in My Digital Escape want to see you get with Cam, right?" 
I consider this for a moment as I finish my water. "I suppose." 
"And the only thing stopping you from going for Cam is your belief of love?" 
I glance behind him and at Andy, who was doing some vocal runs. "No, I suppose there's couple other things, like Andy and how I'll never be able to date in my lifetime." Though that was partially because he didn't want to see me hurt and shut down again. 
"Yeah, Andy's... well, Andy." CC says, both of us knowing that he's being rather unhelpful right now. 
"Don't I know it." I mutter as I blew my hair out of my face. 
CC smiles as he reaches out to ruffle my hair. "How about this, I'll talk to Andy about cutting you some slack, and I'll take you out for dinner tonight." 
"Anywhere I want?" 
"Anywhere you want." 
"Sweet, thanks, CC." I give him a big smile as I get to my feet and brush my shorts off. "This sounds like a lot of fun." 
"It's no problem, Sunshine." He says as he stands up with me and pulls me into a hug. "Now, enjoy the rest of sound check and then you can do whatever you want." 
This is something I've always liked about CC. He always goes out of his way to make me happy.
+++
CC's POV: 

As I walk way from Ella, I see her smiling to herself as she looks down down at her phone. She's always so love in her little world, it's nice to be able to break through it every once in a while. I set my water down as I sit back down behind my drum kit, and look up as Andy approaches me. 
"Is everything with Ella okay?" He asks. 
I nod as I pick up my drum sticks and put my earpiece back in. "Yeah, she's fine but... I think you could cut her some slack, man." 
He raises an eyebrow at me before he turns around to look at Ella then turns his gaze back to me. "Why do you think that?" 
"Would you rather have her trust you enough to know what she's up to, or have her sneak around behind your back and possibly be in danger?" 
I'm not going to rat her out for seeing Cam, but I am going to help her out as much as I can. I know I'd rather know what she was up to, but I'm not in Andy's shoes, and I'm lucky enough to be among her most trusted. 
"I suppose you've got a point." He finally says before he takes a drink of water. "Why do you bring this up?" 
"I told her I'd talk to you about you're over baringness." I look down at my drumsticks and lightly tap them against one of the drums in front of me. "I'm taking her out for food tonight." 
"Like a date?" 
"No, just to give her a good time." 
Seeming to agree with this, Andy says nothing else on the subject as soundcheck continues. 
As I go through soundcheck, I glance at Ella every now and then, my mind wonders to the possibility of dating her. I don't know why, but I like that idea. Now, I just have to figure out when that happened.