Gonna Be the Death of Me (adopted by Brendon Urie)

//eighteen - better things//

Song of the Chapter: Let's Talk About Your Hair, Have Mercy

It was getting to be April, the early spring air very apparent as Eva walked off the bus to walk around and explore the city they were stopped in. They were in Florida for the next few days, slowly making their way through the state. Currently, they were in Miami where the air was thick with heat. The girl pulled off her sweatshirt and tied it around her waist as she made her way around the outside of the venue, signing things for fans and starting off down the street towards a coffee shop.

"Two cappuccinos, please" Eva spoke quietly, watching the barista smile and nod before walking away and making the drinks. The worker returned and took the money, handing back change and a small note, which Eva didn't read until she left the crowded store. When she opened it, she saw the scribbled and messy handwriting writing out a message. "Dear whoever you are, don't do that to yourself. You're worth more." The small girl looked at her exposed arms then smiled and looked up, pushing hair from her face as she looked into the cafe window, meeting the gaze of the employee as she mouthed 'thank you' and walked back down the street towards the fans and buses. When Eva reentered the bus, she handed her drowsy father the second cup of coffee before sitting down next to him and smiled while staring at nothing, just thinking about the note. "Thanks sweetheart," Brendon mumbled as he sipped the drink carefully and wrapped a long, tattooed arm around her.

"No problem, Dad" Eva replied leaning into him and taking a sip from her own cup. A phone started buzzing in Brendon's lap as he picked it up and smiled immediately when the voice filtered through. Sarah spoke to him lovingly, and Eva only smiled more. "Tell her I love her and miss her," Eva shouted back as she walked out of the buses again and into the spring weather. She sat outside on the pavement, watching things move past her while she stayed still. She could still hear Brendon talking, but it was more murmurs than distinct words from where she was sitting. Eva leaned back against the bus and closed her eyes, letting the sunlight sink into her skin. That is, until a shadow came and disturbed the peace. Two hands lifted her up over their shoulder and she looked back up and saw a grinning Pete carry her into the building.

"What are you doing?" she laughed while ignoring the being carried against her will and checked her phone. Pete only chuckled before continuing to walk through the back stage. Finally, he set her down on the large, mainly empty stage as she regained balance and playfully punched him in the arm. "Seriously, what are we doing here?" Eva asked as she pulled two stools from the boxes and set them down where the duo stood. "I don't know, talking? Living? You looked at peace out there, you're not wearing sleeves, I just wanted to check in." Another of the countless grins from today appeared on her face as Eva hugged Pete tightly before sitting back down. "I'm good, better. Still getting used to the whole needing sleeves thing. It still makes me a little upset to see them, but today, someone gave me a note." Eva slipped it from her phone case and handed it to Pete, who read it and matched the girl's grin. "And Theo is back to normal mainly. People have kind of forgotten everything that happened, which I'm grateful for. Just things are coming to back how they were that day, before all of it broke out. That day, that show was spectacular." The older nodded happily and stared at the blue-haired young woman sitting next to him as she stared out at the empty stadium. "Things are starting to be worth it again Pete." With no hesitation, the bassist's arms were wrapped around his niece of sorts neck.

-----

Soon enough, after helping crew set up a bit, Eva ran back to the bus to grab everything for the show, running directly into Dallon as she entered and falling backwards onto the ground. "Fuck," she muttered as she fell down and landed on the carpet before looking back up to the freakishly tall man. "Don't tell Dad I said that," she chuckled as she took Dallon's extended hand. He nodded and laughed before pushing her towards the back to get the stuff. Eva pulled out a cropped t-shirt and leggings before getting a bag of her show makeup and finally picking her bass case up. The acoustic she would need for a cover that night was back stage already. She changed quickly, not wanting to do it in the venue, then ran back out to meet the rest of the guys. Dan picked her up and threw her onto his back as he ran into the building. Eva erupted into laughter as he placed her onto a table where she could finish getting ready.