You're Not Alone

War of Change

(Jen's POV)

I sat in the venue while the guys did soundcheck, getting lost in their music as I always did. I closed my eyes and let the sound of "O.G Loko" fill my ears.

Suddenly, I felt someone tap me on the shoulder. I turned my head to face a girl who looked about my age. But I could tell that she wasn't some crazed fan who'd gotten into the venue somehow. She wore a pass around her neck.

I instantly felt jealous of this girl. Her brown hair was perfectly straight and parted to the side, her eyes a deep emerald green. She had a nose ring and a tattoo of swallows on the side of her hand. I suddenly became very self conscious.

"Hey! You're Jen, right? Austin's daughter?" She asked in a voice that was sweet like honey.

Yep. I was definitely jealous.

But still, I smiled and nodded. "That's me."

She returned the smile. "It's wicked cool to finally meet you! I've heard so much about you!" She exclaimed, extending her hand. I shook it. "I'm Jodie. Jodie Burrow. My dad used to drive the bus for Of Mice. He's the merch guy now."

"Oh! Cool!" I said, excited that I'd finally found a girl my age that didn't hate my guts. "Why haven't you been on the rest of the tour?"

Jodie tossed her hair to the side, my envy grew stronger by the second. "Being miles away from home was never really my thing. I'm tagging along for a few days then staying here. This is my hometown." I nod and smile, my own shame bubbling inside my stomach. "My friends and I are having a party later. You should come."

I almost laughed. What was this girl with perfect skin, perfect
hair, and a gorgeous smile doing inviting me, of all people, to a party? But I wasn't one to argue with a good thing.

"Sure! Sounds great!" Jodie punched her phone number into my phone. She waved goodbye and flipped her hair. "Come find me after you ask your dad, okay?" I nodded and we parted ways.

It was still weird to think of Austin as my dad, for whatever reason that may be. I hadn't even called him "Dad" since the night of the adoption. Not yet, I thought. Just not yet.

I found Austin as soon as Pierce the Veil and the guys took the stage. I ran and hugged him as tightly as I could.

He laughed and squeezed my shoulders, rubbing my back. "Hey, kiddo. What's up with all the squeezing and squishing?"

"You guys did great. I mean, you always do great, but you did especially well tonight considering how you told me your throat was hurting and..." I rambled on until Austin interrupted me.

"Alright, what's going on, Jen? You're never this talkative." He chuckled.

I smiled up at him. "I met this girl and she's really sweet. She invited me to a party tonight."

Austin smiled again, probably just as happy as I was that I was finally making friends. "Of course you can go. What's her name?"

"Jodie Burrow."

The smile quickly disappeared from his face. "Burrow?" I nodded. "As in Adam Burrow's daughter?" I nodded again, not liking where he was going.

He knelt down next to me, and I could sense the anger spawning inside of him. "Jen, I know you haven't been making many friends because of this lifestyle, and I'm sorry. But you're not friends with Jodie Burrow." I was taken aback at how stern he was being. "When I say 'no', I don't mean 'maybe.' I don't mean 'yes.' I mean no. I've known Adam Burrow for a lot of years. I never trusted that bastard. Alan used to always say that he wasn't such a bad guy. Well, I tried to be good to him. But I can't, not anymore." He leaned in closer to me and lowered his voice. "As your father, I will not allow you to spend any time with him or his daughter. No parties, no going to the mall, not even talking on the phone." I almost laughed in disbelief. Jodie wasn't anything like he made her out to be. "My mom always said there was something off about Adam. I just wish I'd listened to it sooner. No party. I hope we're clear on that."

He rose and started walking away. I grew angrier and more upset by the minute. "We're not clear." I said, knowing he heard me. He turned around, looking just as angry as I felt.

"What did you say?"

"You and I aren't clear about any of this. We couldn't be less clear!"

"Jen, I know you-"

I cut him off, and said something I wish never left my mouth. "Just because your mom died doesn't mean you know anything about what it's like to be me! You don't! And you don't know anything about Jodie either. She's kind."

"Jen-"

"SHE'S NICE TO ME!"

"I don't care what she is! Her father is an irresponsible, selfish, son of a bitch!"

"I know you know what it's like to not have a mom! But your mom wasn't abusive! She didn't turn force you into sexual slavery! She didn't beat you, and cuss at you, and tell you how worthless you were!"

"WELL MAYBE IF SHE HIT YOU A LITTLE BIT HARDER, YOU'D KNOW HOW TO RESPECT PEOPLE!" His voice boomed all around. All action around us seemed to stop. Everyone backstage stared in awe. Tino and Alan stood, staring with their mouths agape.

"Austin-" Alan started to say.

Tears streamed down my face and my hands shook. "Why would you say that?" I squeaked.

Austin looked just as shocked at what he said. "Baby, I'm sorry. I didn't mean-"

"If you didn't mean it, you wouldn't have said it." I turned on my heel and broke into a sprint.

The tears dried on my face and the wind rushed against me. I didn't know where I was running to. I just had to get far away from them.

I felt like Jen and Austin's relationship was too storybook perfect. I had to throw something like this in there to keep it somewhat realistic.

I know I haven't updated in a while, and I'm sorry. School has me very stressed and consumes all my time.

Title creds: War of Change by Thousand Foot Krutch.

Thanks!

Gracie.