House of Gold // Adopted by Tyler Joseph

Album

I'm glad those times were over. I'm glad I was a new person, Lily Joseph. New album–first album ever. At seventeen. The incident, or the rape, really had taken it's toll on me in the past.

But here I was again, stronger and ready to face the world.

"Love you." Dad waved me goodbye as I walked into a photoshoot. And no, not a modeling agency. It was a photoshoot for the album.

I chose out my wardrobe, smiling for real at my set behind me. It was very Vices and Virtues inspired, an album by Panic! At the Disco.

The shoot was done, I was so proud of the photos. Me, unedited, crossing my legs with a dark elegant mask, a lace dress, and red lips. Old golden phone in one hand, and more props behind me. I felt grown up, felt edgy and not so stereotypically girly and lacking lyrical depth compared to many teens my age, who were in the industry.

Dad saw the pictures, cheered and hugged me. As he was squeezing me he began to sniffle, I laughed.

"Dad, are you... crying?"

"My girl's all grown up." He wiped his eyes as I giggled.

"I'm not all grown up Dad. I can't wait until the album drops next week. Can't wait to see you cry then."

"Oh stop it. Let a man cry." He sniffed again as I kissed his tear-stained cheek.

"Love you."

"Love you more."

                                  |-/

It was the album release party day. I'd strung up balloons as managers ordered me to relax and let them handle it.

"You're gonna break a heel hanging up those streamers." She said to me, I chuckled and let them do it.

"Lils, it looks fantastic!" Dad was going out all night with Mom, first dinner and then a movie. That meant it was my time to talk to the boy I'd been texting, guitar guy Austin Feinstein.

And well, I wasn't old enough for dating apps yet, the thought scared me. But we met online, I followed him because he was a fellow musician, and I admired his style.

"Mama!" I called out as she came in from the other room.

"Yes dear?"

"I'm going to meet Austin for the first time tonight."

"Really? Oh be safe with anybody you talk to sweetie." She'd still told me as I nodded. My manager would be watching over me anyways.

I'd made a small amount of friends in LA again, ones that didn't use me, because many were more famous than me.

Some were musicians, models who lived healthy life-styles, and even actresses and actors. We were called the C-list celebrities, but who the fuck cared?

Well, except the couple of really famous 'friends' I'd made, like the boys from Five Seconds of Summer. I think they came to promote their tour mostly, because no way in hell they actually enjoyed hanging out with an alcohol-free seventeen-year-old.

The first group of people to arrive was my makeup team. I laughed at the idea, because yet again, they weren't considered my peers.

And I had a calm conversion with my hairstylist over the hors d'oeuvre's, as more people entered. I got up to greet less people, because when Austin came, I wanted him to come to me.

I was showing my friend Kaylee, her parents were in the music industry, Austin's profile.

As I was, she whispered to me. "Is that him?" Kaylee pointed to a tall awkward guy with brown round frames on. He was dressed in all black, and smiled shyly when his eyes met mine. Blue eyes.