Unexpected (Avi Kaplan)

Oath

Ivy's POV

Jacksonville, Florida was so much different than I anticipated. It was much more historical, but that didn't mean the audience last night was any less modern and intense. We performed last night and had a meet and greet today. Well, they did. I just went along because I had nothing better to do.

I wasn't expecting to have people want to take pictures with me as well. It was fun. The end of the line was near, and I sat next to Avi, smiling as a man in a very nice business suit walked up. "Hi there," I heard Kirstie said, laughing slightly at how chipper she was.

"I'm not here to talk to you. I'm here to talk to her," he said pointing at me. I frowned a bit and furrowed my brows as I sat up a bit straighter.

"What can I do for you, sir?" I asked curiously, putting on my best fake smile. There was really no need to be so rude.

"I saw your performance last night and I must say, it's not often I find raw talent like that. All you need to know is I'm from Big Machine Records and I want to help you. I have the means to get you big and fast. At least, faster than you are now," he said as he pulled out a small white card. "Here, take this. Take your time and think about it. Research us. I'm sure you'll be surprised at the people you can work with. I'll be expecting a call." He handed me the card and walked away, leaving me dumbfounded.

He was expecting me to switch labels. Practically choose between my friends and my dreams.

I could feel everyone's eyes on me, but I couldn't look at them. I couldn't face the fact that I was actually considering it. I placed the card to the side and put on a smile until the end of the meet and greet. Once we got back to the hotel, we all piled into Avi and Kevin's room. It was nearly a month into the tour and it was the first time I wasn't put in a room with them. I didn't mind, but the break was nice, and the girl time I got to spend with Kirstie was especially nice.

Kevin and Mitch took Kevin's bed while I climbed onto Avi's and immediately curled up, my head in his lap. Scott took the office chair, leaving Kirstie withe the plush chair that seemed big enough to swallow her whole.

It was silent for a while, and I took the opportunity to carefully look over the card I got. I'd be lying if I said the chance wasn't there. It was just a matter of if I took it or not. "You should take it."

I looked over at Scott quietly and shrugged. "I don't know. I-"

"It's an opportunity to further your career that you need to take," Mitch chimed in, but even I could hear the sadness in his voice. It meant the chances of me seeing them as much as I'd like would be a lot less, and I think he realized that.

I felt tears pricking behind my eyes, making the back of my throat burn, but I quickly blinked them away so I didn't mess up my makeup. "What did I tell you the first night of the tour?"

I looked up at Avi and shrugged. "You told me a lot of stuff," I said before returning to my position and and staring at the card.

"I told you we support you. That goes for everything," he said as he gently sifted his fingers through my hair, helping me relax a bit.

"Yeah. It says here you can work with people like Jennifer Nettles, Taylor Swift...REBA," Kirstie said, staring down at her phone in shock. "You've gotta say yes," she said with a wide smile.

Kevin was the only one that didn't say anything. I looked over at him to find his eyes trained on Avi, studying him carefully. "What do you think?" I asked him with a small frown.

"The opportunity is there," he said, finally looking at me with a slight smile. That didn't mean he wanted me to.

"I need to think about it, and you guys need to be arranging, not worrying about me," I said as I got up and stretched before I fell asleep. Without another word, I walked out, heading down the hall a ways to mine and Kirstie's room. Walking in, I grabbed my notepad, a pen, and my guitar, heading downstairs and outside. I didn't walk long, just long enough to reach the nearest park.