Blackmailed Into The Band

Carter's Gift

Band meet up @ trap house! Ps: Tell us what you thought of your gift, Alexia. - Aidan.

Orange Pussy! - Carter.

I woke up to the vibration of my phone in my hand, finding the messages comforting and funny. I threw on a Pierce the Veil sweatshirt and some leggings before heading downstairs.

Mom and dad were in the kitchen, eating cereal with their Santa hats on.

" Hey dragon slayer!" My dad said as I grabbed a bowl and joined them. It was our way of greeting each other after a night of talking to Linda.

" You went to bed early last night and missed gift opening time," my mom said before pouring herself a little more cereal.

" I was tired," I yawned.

" It's okay. You were probably tired from recording all afternoon. By the way, your guys dropped off a little something for you," Dad said. " It's in the basement. You should go check it out later."

A microphone?

" ...I'll be the first to apologize for last night," Mom said, pulling me out of my thoughts. " We try to defend you. I hope you know that."

" Yeah," I poured cereal in the bowl and filled it with milk. " You're the best parents in the world," I said, watching them smile.

" You know, it doesn't help that the rest of the family is so negative," Dad said. " They don't understand and never will because their kids are prototypes. You saw your cousins, Allison, Charlotte, and Chloe. Never put their phone down throughout the night. Not even during gift time. They had to get it all on video and post it to that Instagram. You saw your cousin Asher. Such a pig, just like your uncle Carson. I'm sorry the rest of the family doesn't have an awesome kid like you to prove them wrong."

I blushed and started eating my cereal as they talked about leftovers and how much Linda had stuffed into her ugly tote bag.

" By the way!" Mom chirped, turning towards me. " We saved our presents to open with you," She said.

" You guys shouldn't of done that," I said and smiled.

" Too bad," She said.

We ate and I washed the dishes as they walked into the living room.

" It's snowing!" I heard my mom yell. I ran to the window and drew the blinds up. Snow was falling like heavy rain.

" Shoot, I wonder if this cancels band practice," I muttered before going back to the dishes.

After I was done, I joined my parents in the living room and we grabbed our presents from under the Christmas tree. Dad went first. He received a watch from my uncle Carson and a Parenting: The Right Way To Do It book from Linda. I got him a Metallica shirt and a yellow tie while mom got him a cooking apron.

Mom received one of those Naked makeup things from her sister, a unicorn Pillow Pet from me, which made her laugh, and jewelry from dad and a few other relatives. She also received the same parenting book from Linda.

I opened Linda's gift for me which was a thick book titled Things Girls And Younger Women Contribute To Society. As my mom read through it, I opened the gift from my dad, tickets to the next Warped Tour which made me scream. I got Mom's gift next, an assortment of Real Friends, Fall Out Boy, Issues, and Tonight Alive shirts from Hot Topic which once again, made me forget about shitty family problems. I opened the next gift from my cousin Chloe, who was observant enough to get me a bunch of mascara since it's the only kind of makeup I use.

We opened gift cards and other packages before I asked if it was okay to get my gift from the guys. My parents nodded and told me to bring it upstairs.

As soon as I walked into the basement, there was no microphone. Next to my stand, a small, orange kitten slept like... a kitten. I walked towards it as he raised his head and squeaked.

I picked him up and saw that he came with a bunch of toys, food, treats, shampoo and other essentials including a small sweater. I put everything in the bed and held the kitty in my other hand as I walked upstairs.

" Merry Christmas," My mom and dad said as they saw me.

" Are you guys letting me keep it?" I asked, wide-eyed and fascinated with the cat.

" Yeah, one of them gave us a card," Dad said, handing it to me as I sat by the tree and let the kitten take tiny steps around it, pawing at ornaments that hung on lower branches.

Alexia! Thanks for joining the band and completing us. We hope this makes up for your shit Christmas and we hope you happen to be a (non-allergic) cat person. Carter's cat Hayley (Yes, he named her after the lead singer of Paramore) had kittens two months ago and we thought we'd hand one over. He's a ragamuffin so be prepared for his fluffy coat when he grows older. We'll see you soon! - Drea's Last Words

" They're so adorable," I squealed after reading the card again. My mom laughed and raised her brow.

" You know, I'd be willing to make an exception to the no boyfriend rule for one of them," She said.

I gasped. " Mom! No! They're business only," I said, petting the kitten as it walked towards me. He stopped moving and raised his tail.

" What are you gonna name him?" My dad asked.

" Well, the mom is named after Hayley from Paramore. I guess I'll keep the train going and name this guy after a band member."

" Tyler or Josh," Dad said, talking about Twenty One Pilots.

" Hmm... More suggestions," I said.

" Derek?" Mom said. " Vic? Kellin?"

" Kellin would be cute but I don't think it suits this guy," I said, petting him as he meowed.

" He sounds like Kellin," My dad muttered.

" Shut up!" I laughed. " What band member has an orange something?" I asked.

" I don't think anyone has orange hair," My dad said. " But Gerard Way had a reddish-"

" Oh my gosh! Gerard!" I said as the kitten sniffed the carpet and took more steps around the tree.

" Alright, looks like Gerard has joined our family. Go fix his bed in your room or wherever you want him to sleep," Mom said as my dad turned the TV on.

I grabbed his bed and took everything to my room. I heard him squeaking behind me so I picked him up and set him on my bed as I fixed his stuff.

I sent the guys a huge thank you message before laying down with Gerard and watching the snow fall outside.