Apocalyptic Love *On Hold*

Chapter Six: Live For The First Time

I felt movement from under me. I woke up and saw Eicca looking down at me, "Morning Sweetheart," he said with a smile. I kissed his nose, "Good morning," I said tiredly yet cute. He kissed my forehead, "How much more do you have to pack?" He asked, "Not much," I answered. We sat up, "We have our first return concert tonight if you want to participate," he said, "I could sing I guess, I don't want to play unless I need to," I said, "Very well," he said. I got up, took a quick shower, then changed.
I walked out of the bathroom to see Eicca dressed in ripped denim jeans, a grey graphic tee, and converse, "Wow Eicca, I've never seen you not wear all black before," I chuckled. He smiled, "Yeah I sometimes don't wear all black," he said. I grabbed my camcorder, flipped it towards me, then started recording, "Hey my LocksOfLove today is my last day in Sweden and my first day on tour with my boyfriend and his band!" I turned the camera towards Eicca, "This is my boyfriend Eicca, one of the Cellist from Apocalyptica, and because of him is the reason why I got accepted into the band," I added happily, "Hi I'm Eicca and I'm excited for Locks joining us on tour and joining our band," he said with a smile. I turned the camera back to me, "Let's go meet the rest of the band shall we?" I said. I walked into the from room to see only Mikko and Perttu, "Hey, where's Paavo?" I asked, "Still sleeping," said Perttu. I sighed, "Anyway, this is Perttu, another Cellist and Mikko the drummer. Say hi guys," I said, "Hello people!" They said in unison. I chuckled and then walked into the guest room and turned on the light, "Paavo, time to wake up!" I said. He grumbled. I turned the camcorder to me, "He's a grumpy puss sometimes," I said. I turned the camera back to him and poke his side with my foot, "Oi Paavo, wake up or were leaving without you," I said. He slowly sat up, "This is Paavo the third Cellist of Apocalyptica," I said, "Who are you talking to?" He asked, "This is for my vlog on YouTube," I said. He laid back down, "Really Paavo?!" I said annoyed. Perttu and Mikko came in, "We got this," they said.
They both grabbed Paavo by his ankle and began pulling him out the room, "Hey woah! Why?!?!" He repeated until we got him out of the room and into the living room. I cracked up laughing especially since I got it on camera. I turned the camera back to me, "Yeah, this is what I have been dealing with for about two and a half months and soon to be more! I love you my LocksOfLove and I'll see y'all on tour!" I said. I stopped the recording. I set my camera down on the counter and began putting my cello back in its case, "Get ready Helo, were going on tour," I said closing the case. I put all of my stuff in the front hallway then made sure I had everything, "Clothes, cello, recording equipment, girl stuff, chargers, and camcorder," I said going through my check list. Paavo walked up to me, "Got everything?" He asked, "Yeah, everything is packed," I said. He nodded and gestured for Mikko and Perttu to come over, "We'll put your stuff on the bus," he said. I nodded and they left to take my stuff to the bus. I walked back into the living room and looked around, "You going to miss being here?" I heard someone ask. I turn around and see Eicca standing in the guest room doorway, "I don't know, maybe. I've never traveled a lot so this will be a new experience to get used to," I said. He smiled and hugged me, "And I'm here for you," he said. I looked at him and he kissed me lightly. We pulled away and heard the door open, "Alright, everything is packed and accounted for except you two," said Perttu. I chuckled and we left. I locked the door and quickly ran to the managers office to drop the key off.
Arriving at the office I walked in, "Ah Locks, leaving already?" He said. I nodded and him the key, "We have a concert tonight in the next town over so I had to finish packing today so we can leave," I said, "Ah well have a safe travel and have fun performing," he said with a smile. I smiled as well, "I will," I said then left. I ran back to the bus and saw the guys standing outside waiting for me, "Alright, I've dropped off the key and everything is packed," I said, "You ready?" Asked the manager walking off the bus. We nodded and I took one last look at my apartment. I got on the bus and we began to drive to the first concert since the break down. I sat beside Eicca on the couch with Paavo while Perttu and Mikko sat on the floor talking to us, "So the concert is acoustic version of the songs plus a few Metallica songs," said Mikko, "And now that Grayson is here we can play Broken Pieces with lyrics live," said Perttu. Everyone nodded, "It's been a while since I sang that song," I said, "Two years," said Paavo, "Want to practice? We have the song," said Eicca. I smiled, "Sure," I said. Perttu scooted to the tv and placed the cd in the DVD player. He put on the track and the music started. I sang exactly like Lacey and it felt amazing to do so. When the song stopped they all clapped. I looked down slightly embarrassed, "Guys, it's not that great," I said, "You kidding?! That was amazing! We haven't heard you sing in several years," said Perttu. Eicca placed hand on my knee, "You were great and you'll be great," he said. I smiled, "And besides, it's an acoustic concert so there won't be over a hundred thousand people there," added Mikko. They all nodded, "Alright," I said giving in.
A few hours later we arrived at the venue, "We got about an hour before we perform but we can go ahead and set everything up," said Paavo. We all nodded and began unloading the equipment and bringing them into the venue. While setting up a guy with long, wavy hair walked in, "Eicca, Ette näköjään vihdoin tehnyt sen," he said. (Eicca, I see you guys finally made it.) Eicca nodded, "Joo, meidän bussi hajosi," he said. (Yeah, our bus broke down.) The other man looked at me then back at Eicca, "Onko se hän?" He asked him. (Is that her?) Eicca nodded. He walked up to me, "Hei, olen Tipe on mukava viimein tavata," he said. (Hello, I'm Tipe it's nice to finally meet you.) I smiled, "Olen Grayson, on mukava tavata myös sinut," I replied. (I'm Grayson, it's nice to meet you too.) Eicca walked up to us, "Glad you guys can finally meet," he said, "Is Tipe the vocalist for the tour?" I asked, "Indded I am," he said. I looked back at Tipe, "I'm sorry I didn't know you spoke English as well, I'm used to talking in Finnish," he said, "Oh no it's fine! I'm glad I was able to hold a conversation in Finnish," I said. He smiled, "Thrity minutes till show time," said the manager. We nodded and finished setting up. We went to the waiting room before we perform, "You ready Grayson?" Asked Paavo, "Slightly nervous but I'll get over it," I said, "You just playing Cello?" Asked Tipe, "She will also be singing a Broken Pieces," said Perttu. We chatted a bit more until the manager came in, "Alright, show time," he said. We all got up and walked into the area. Everyone cheered, "Hello, and welcome to this special performance. We shall play acoustic versions on song and we have a little treat for you guys later. Let's begin," said Eicca. Looking at the stage we sat Paavo, Perttu, Mikko, Me, and Eicca with Tipe in the front. We started with End Of Me then I Don't Care. Tipe left and we began playing One, Enter Sandman, and Nothing Else Matters. At the end on the last Metallica song I put my cello down, "Ready to sing?" Asked Eicca. I sighed, "Yeah, I think so," I said. Eicca grabbed the mic that was beside him, "Alright, it's time for the surprise. We would like for all of you to close your eyes and to not open them until you hear the lyrics," he said. Everyone closed their eyes and I got up and sat at the stool in front of the guys. I turned to Eicca and nodded for him to start. He then started us off. I began to sing at the right moment, sounding like Lacey, everyone opened their eyes and looked at me in surprise as they began taking pictures and videos. I smiled and continued to sing. The song ended and everyone cheered. We all stood up and took a bow. I smiled as I walked back to beside Eicca with everyone still clapping. We ended the concert with Not Stong Enough. At the end do the song we all stood up and took a bow, "Thank you everyone! Hope you enjoyed the show good night!" Said Tipe. Everyone cheered again as we took one finally bow and left back to the room. Tipe was the last one in, "Wow Grayson, you sang greatly," he said, "O-oh it's noting really, but I guess it was good for being live for the first time," I said. Tipe looked at me surprised, "Really?!" He said. I nodded, "Last time I performed it was in Helsinki while I was studying abroad and they happened to be there. We meet and Eicca took me to the after graduation dance and in honor of the best musician, which was me, I performed with them but it was years ago, still slightly blurry though," I said, "Is your memory still fuzzy after what happened?" Asked Eicca sounding concerned. I nodded. Just then the manager walked in, "Grayson, I can't tell you how much I am glad I let you join Apocalyptica! You were amazing!" He said, "Thank you sir," I said smiling. He turned to the guys, "Great job, in a few months we'll be be traveling to LA to shoot the music video for Not Strong Enough and Broken Pieces," he said. They nodded, "Alright, be back on the bus in half an hour," he said then left. Tipe walked up to us, "This was a great show, I can't wait for more of the tour. You going to continue to perform with them Grayson? You did great tonight," he said. I nodded, "Yup, I'm officially a part of Apocalyptica," I said, "I'll mostly play cello but if needed I'll sing the other songs," I added.
We packed the equipment back into the bus and I grabbed my camcorder and laptop. I placed my laptop on the table and sat in the booth of the bus beside Eicca. I started recording, "Well my LocksOfLove, I just did my first performance with Apocalyptica and I think it went really well," I said. Eicca made me face the camera on both of us, "Locks is maybe the best female singer I have ever met and I'm glad I did," he said looking at me. I blushed lightly and giggled, "And I'm glad I met you," I said looking back at him. He pecked my lips and I put the camera back on me, "Hope you guys are enjoying yourselves cause I know I am! I'll do my best to upload at least once a week but I can't make any promises. Later my LocksOfLove I'll unlock y'all later!" I said. I stopped the recording and began uploading the video. Just then the manager came in, "We're leaving in ten minutes," he said, "I only need two," I said typing a description for my video. Two minutes later the video finished uploading, "What's this?" Asked the manager, "My YouTube page. I do vlogs, music covers with my cello, and do play throughs of random games," I said, "Interesting," he said. I smiled as he walked to the drive of the bus. I turned my laptop off and placed them off to the side, "At the next venue I'll check on it," I said. Paavo, Mikko, and Perttu finally made it back on the bus, "Why you three so late?" Eicca questioned glaring at them. They went slightly pale, "Ah well we just stayed behind for a few minutes," said Paavo, "You guys were giving autographs weren't y'all," I said, "Yeah," said Mikko. Perttu smacked his stomach, "What? It doesn't do us any good lying," he said. They rolled their eyes and sat somewhere as we began driving to the next city.
I decided to change into some black shorts and a red tank top for bed, "Since this bus was only made for the five of us you'll have to bunk with someone," said Mikko, "Well we already know who that will be," teased Perttu. We all chuckled, "It's hard to keep those two apart no matter where they go," said Paavo, "Yeah well look who's talking married man," teased Eicca. The whole bus erupted into laughter, "Alright you got me there," chuckled Paavo. About two hours later the manager came back from the front of the bus, "Alright let's get some sleep, tomorrow's concert isn't acoustic so we need our energy and voice," he said. We nodded and went to the bunks. Eicca pointed to his and I went ahead and climbed in. He climbed in after me and closed the curtain. I smiled and snuggled up to his shoulder, "I love you Eicca," I said looking up at him in the dark. He wrapped his arms around my waist, "I love you too Grayson," he said then kissed me lightly. We pulled away and started to fall asleep. I love my life now.