One Million Branches

Part Twenty-One

*2 Years Later*

It’s been two years since I left. I broke up my band and took up photography. The day I got back to San Diego I moved out all of my stuff and moved in with Austin a few blocks over. I take pictures for OM&M so I still technically tour a lot. I haven’t talked to any of the other bands except OM&M after I left. No one knows where I am or what I’m doing. I think about Vic, Mike, Jaime and Tony a lot. Well I think of Tony more than anyone. He’s on my mind almost every single second of the day. I always think about if he misses me and still loves me but I completely doubt it. I just left. Even though the guys haven’t seen me at all since I left I see them all the time when I’m at stores or just driving around. I saw Mike the other day at the grocery store and it took everything in me to not hop on his back and hug him for hours. I want to talk to them again but I’m completely terrified. I’m afraid that they hate me and that they don’t want to see me again. Even if they do see me they wouldn’t recognize me because my hair is now blonde with blue under.

“Liz?” Someone says snapping me out of my thoughts.

I look up and look over at my door.

“Hey, Aus.” I say with a smile.

“You alright?” He asks.

“I’m fine.” I say.

He walks over to my bed and sits down.

“No. Tell me what’s wrong.” He says.

“Just thinking about them again.” I say pressing my head to his shoulder.

He pulls me into a hug and rubs my back.

“Lizzy, you have to face your fears. I know you don’t want to but you never know what’s going to happen if you don’t try. I haven’t seen you happy since you left Tony and the rest of the guys. You just kinda always have a sad look plastered on your face and I miss seeing you happy. I miss seeing you perform with Mitch, Aaron and Travis. I miss seeing the smile glued to your face when you see your fans and do signings. I miss seeing your face light up when you would see Tony after performing and I especially miss the girl that everyone loved unconditionally. I know you’re afraid, Liz. I know you are but if you don’t face your fears you’ll never know what could happen.” Austin says with tears falling down his cheeks.

I push my head into his chest and just cry.

After about five minutes I pull myself together and we sit there in silence.

“Wanna go get a milkshake?” He asks.

I nod and laugh a little bit.

I pull on one of Tony’s sweaters along with my black vans.

I pull my now blonde and blue hair into a ponytail and grab my phone.

I walk out of the house with Austin and he drives us to the nearest dessert shop. We pass by Vic and Mike’s house and I take a sharp breath in. I hold back tears as we drive in silence and arrive to the store.

We walk up to the counter and I order a pistachio milkshake and tell the lady my name. I step to the side as Austin orders and I mess with my phone. The door rings as someone walks in but I stare at my twitter.

“Hey Austin!” I hear behind me.

I freeze from the voice recognizing it immediately.

“Hey man!” Austin says.

“Is that your girlfriend?” He asks.

“No.” He says trying to change the subject.

“Why does she look so familiar? I feel like I’ve seen her before.” He tries saying quietly.