Start Anew (A Greta Van Fleet Fanfic)

One

*Three and a half years later*

I wonder if I look as dreadful as I feel. Standing in the middle of a grocery store, trying to figure what food to buy that would be okay being stored in a car. It's September, and pretty cool for the start of autumn, so my trunk can serve as a refrigerator, right?

A tug on my coat draws my attention down, where Lucy is pointing straight ahead. Normally, like any good parent, I'd tell her it isn't nice to point; but this is different. She's pointing at the doors to the grocery store, through which our mom's sister Claire had just walked. Shit.

Lucy and I duck behind a display of girl scout cookies. Dammit, this is the last thing I need today.

Claire was never the best aunt, especially in the last three years of my life. According to the court, she was the best available relative to take care of Lucy and I after our parents were killed. Yeah, right. Life with Claire was a living hell until two weeks ago, when she decided to kick us out. Why, I still don't know.

"Annette Mallory Jonas, what are you doing?" A familiar, screeching voice snaps above my head. I don't have to look to know it's her.

"I'm looking for girl scout cookies, Claire." I snarl back. "What do you want?"

"To see how well you're doing, of course," Claire puts on a sickly sweet voice, vile and mocking. "You know, it's not very ladylike to crouch like that, you'll never find a husband."

"Well, jeez, then what am I?" A strong, but gentle, hand pulls me up off the floor, then wraps around my waist.

I roll my eyes and playfully smack the stranger's arm, "We aren't married yet, you're still my fiance." Out of the corner of my eye, I see Lucy start to open her mouth and tightly squeeze her hand.

Don't say anything, don't ruin this.

"Why didn't you tell me you're engaged?" Claire asks in an accusatory tone.

"Well, she wanted to, but we decided that our engagement, and marriage, are supposed to be positive experiences. You know, free of judgemental, stuck up, bitches."

Claire scoffs and sputters, trying for a minute to say something before finally storming off. Once she's gone, the stranger moves their arm and we both laugh.

"Thank you, so much." I sigh in relief.

"No problem. You okay?" The stranger has a childish mischief in his eyes, matching the smile on their face.

"Yeah," I squeeze Lucy's hand again. "Thanks again. Ready to head out, Luc?"

"Are we gonna go to a hotel?" Lucy looks up at me with her olive eyes, just as large compared to her face as they were that night with Mr. Gibbs. Shit, I don't know if we can afford a hotel room tonight.

"Um," I start, before the stranger cuts me off.

"Hotel room? Are you guys just visiting?" He's smiling, but his brow is furrowed with what looks like worry. I open my mouth, ready to lie, but am cut off again; this time by Lucy.

"No, we live in them sometimes instead of sissy's car 'cause our auntie kicked us out."

I cringe. Over the past couple weeks, I've been trying my best to keep our homelessness a secret. The few people who've found out have always had the same reaction; always scoff at me and label me as selfish and lazy. It gets so tiring.

"..oh," The stranger's smile fell. "Hey, uh, why don't you come back to my bus with me?"

I feel my eyebrows shoot up and I instinctively take a step in front of Lucy. "Your bus?"

The stranger chuckles, "I know it sounds weird, but, I'm the drummer of a band called Greta Van Fleet. We're on tour right now, so we're on a tour bus. Being in there would probably be better than living in a car and the occasional hotel." I'm taken aback, sputtering like Claire had earlier.

"O-oh! That's really sweet, but you don't have to." I wave my free hand while I speak.

"What, don't you wanna live with your fiance?" The stranger winks and laughs. "Seriously, though, it's okay. Come on, I don't want you and this poor kid living in a car."

I ignore Lucy's tug of desperation on my hand and pathetically mumble, "My job.." My starbucks barista job. It's the only thing keeping me and Lucy even remotely afloat.

"You won't need it."

"I don't even know your name. You don't know my name!"

A playful grin tugs at the corner of the stranger's mouth. "Danny, Danny Wagner. And you are?" He sticks his hand out towards me. I stare at it for a moment, then grab it.

"Anette." I shake his hand. "And this is my little sister, Lucy."

"Does that answer all your questions? Will you let me help you now?"

My eyebrows shoot up once more, "Slow down there, no it doesn't."

Danny shrugs and shoves his hands in his jean pockets. "Then shoot."

"First of all, why do you want to help us so badly? Second, what exactly would this entail? If it's going to be even remotely child unfriendly, I'm not interested, thank you."

I hear Lucy groan behind me. She's heard the phrase "beggars can't be choosers" so many times, she's started saying it herself; I wish I knew how to make her understand where I'm coming from. She's only six, I can't let her live around a band that's going to teach her mannerisms inappropriate for her age. I'm a better gaurdian than that, homeless or not.

"The guys can get out of hand at times, but they aren't the type to be inappropriate around a little kid. As for why I want to help you.." Danny shrugs. "You seem like a nice girl, and I wouldn't wish homelessness on my worst enemy."

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. When my eyes open, they immediately turn down to Lucy. My heart, my entire life. She gives me a single nod.

"Alright, I guess we'll take your offer then." I smile sheepishly at Danny. A wide grin breaks across his face.

"That's what I like to hear!"