The Man Behind the Makeup

Chapter 13: Home

When our lips met, it was like fireworks. It was completely ironic because when we kissed, actual fireworks started to explode in the sky above us. We pulled away and looked into each other's eyes and I giggled.

"Ironic, eh?" He chuckled and nodded. We just turned our attention to the bursting colors in the sky. I smiled as he laced his fingers through mine, giving them a light squeeze. "Happy Warped Prom, Prom King."

"Happy Warped Prom, Prom Queen."

We decided to get off of the roof and go to bed after a few hours considering it was late and the fireworks ended a long time ago, along with the party. We hugged and I left back to the bus feeling like Beyoncé. Like, you know the feeling of being all happy and lightweight and on top off the world? Well I liked to call it the Beyoncé feeling.

Three weeks later

After sliding on my shorts and placing my bracelets on my wrists, I sadly walked out of the bathroom. Today was the day after the end of Warped Tour and everybody went home. After I double checked my suitcase and purse, I slid on my sunglasses and sandals, solemnly walking out into the hot parking lot filled with tons of people hugging and saying goodbyes.

"You're just too cool to show off your tears, eh Stevens?" I chuckled as Kenny appeared behind me and we wrapped each other in a hug.

"Says the one who never cries." He laughed and kissed he top of my head. He was like a father figure to me, without all the crazy demon things.

"Oh, and she shoots me down with one of her clever comebacks!" We laughed and I lightly punched him in the arm. "I'm gonna miss you, kid."

"I'm gonna miss you, too." We hugged one more time and then he left. Where was Ronnie and everybody else? Somebody tapped my shoulder and I turned to see Alex, Oli, and Ronnie all with their arms wide open. "Group hug!" I was stuck in the middle of everyone and held the three of them very close to me. Ronnie especially because he knew more than probably my own brother knew about me.

If you really think about it, there is 'good' in every 'goodbye'. So when you leave people you are close with, it tests your friendship to see if it was real or not. I knew for sure that everyone in BMTH and FIR were my friends. I was going to be bringing Alexia back home with me because she had nobody and nothing to go back to. We all pulled away and gave each other separate hugs. Oli kissed the top of my head and smiled at me as he pulled away.

"We will see each other again. I promise you Anna-banana." I smiled back and nodded as I kissed his cheek.

"I hope so Oli-saurus." I turned to Ronnie and just broke down in his arms as I had a sudden realization hit me that all of these people were my family. Warped Tour is like a huge, summer long family reunion that is fucking amazing and when it's over, you don't want to let go of the ones you love.

"Aw, Anna." Ronnie held me tight and rubbed my back as I clung to him for dear life. "I'll make sure to drop Willow off for some cute pictures." I giggled and he pulled away, pushing up my sunglasses and wiping away the tears of blood and little bit of smudged makeup. I work as a professional child and family photographer out of the house. Sometimes I do weddings, too, but not as much as family. It honestly wasn't that bad of a profession.

"You better. I'll miss you both dearly, Ron Ron." He chuckled and kissed my cheek.

"We'll miss you, too kiddo." We parted and I pulled back down my glasses as I went around hugging people from bands I wasn't super close with, but still were kinda friends with. Until I met up with Kellin and Copeland. He set her down on the ground and she came running towards me and I crouched down, opening my arms for the little girl.

"I'm gonna miss woo Anna." I could feel her tears wet my shoulder.

"I'm gonna miss you, too. Now enough tears." I lifted her up and spun her around, blowing a raspberry on her belly as she laughed really hard. I set her down and she went back to Kellin. "You best take good care of her." He rolled his eyes and pulled me into a hug.

"You know I will. I'll bring her over for pictures and family photos for sure." I smiled and kissed him on the cheek.

"Good. I'm gonna miss you both." I kissed the top of Cope's head and waved as they left.

I thought it was weird that the only person I hadn't seen was Andy. Oh well, maybe he already left. I walked over to Alex and we both left, putting our luggage in the back of the cab as we left to the airport. Once we were both comfortable in our seats on the plane, she spoke up.

"Do you think your brother will like me?" I patted her knee and nodded my head.

"I know he'll love you. He will probably be happy now that I actually have a friend to hang out with more instead of constantly bothering him." She laughed and the plane took off. California, here we come.

***

"Dustin, I'm home!" I yelled as we walked through the door. I shut it and he appeared at the top of the balcony that over looked the living room. We kinda lived in a small mansion.

"Annabelle!" He ran like a kid down the stairs and tackled me into a hug. I laughed and squeezed him back. He pulled away and looked at Alex. "You must be Alexia, Anna's new friend." He hugged her and she looked surprised at first, but quickly hugged him back.

"That's me." She smiled and he smiled back.

"Well, I'll order some food and you can go get settled in your new room. Second door on the right, it's right next to Anna's." I rolled my eyes at how much he was acting like a house wife.

"He's not always like this. C'mon, let's go." She giggled and we walked up the stairs and I opened my door, threw my bag in and heard her gasp as she opened the door next to mine. I laughed and leaned against the doorway. "Sorry it's not much, but you can add more too it all you want."

Alexia's POV

As soon as I walked into that room, I gasped at how beautiful and clean everything was. There was a closet, connected bathroom, and a queen size bed in the middle of the room with a white fur rug sitting at the end of the bed on the floor. I walked over to the closet door and opened it to see that it was a huge walked in closet.

"Sorry it's not much, but you can add more too it all you want." I looked at her as she leaned against the doorway like she was crazy.

"It's perfect!" She laughed and walking in, pulling me into a hug. I didn't even realize I was crying until my body shook with a hard sob. "T-thank you so much for all of this Anna."

"You're welcome. You are practically family now and all I want is the best for you." I pulled away and smiled a her. "Why don't you get yourself settled while I go unpack my things and send some pictures to my manager?"

"Okay." She nodded and walked out of the room, while I turned and grabbed my suitcase and started pulling out my clothes. I honestly didn't have much. Only a few shirts I bought at Warped Tour, underwear, and two pairs of pants that I had at the hotel I was staying at. I hung them up in the closet and put my underwear in the dresser that was set up against the wall.

The room was white except for the bedding being a soft purple color. Her house was huge and I just couldn't believe that she would let me stay with her. She accepted me and let me move into her home with no questions asked. She is the only person in my life that actually seems to give a shit about me.