Rock-And-Roll Eyes

Chapter Fourteen

A good thing doesn't come without problems, problems, problems! There seemed to be more problems than solutions, and every solution came with three more problems. First, it was legally signing the contract, then it was gathering the money for airfare, and now, it was confronting the parents.

Benedict, Vincent, and I were the only ones who really needed to confront our parents. Oscar and Clyde were both adults, they could do what they wanted. Vincent was nearly there, he would turn eighteen in a few months. As for me and Benedict, we had a long way to go. We were just on the edge of seventeen, Benedict had only just barely turned seventeen while I was just a few weeks away. We were still kids no matter how much we denied it, and that was a roadblock bigger than any other we faced.

I knew Grandda's answer before we even asked. Vincent did too, but we knew we had no choice. There was no way either of us would be willing to leave the house for several months without telling him a proper goodbye. We may have an odd relationship, but we still loved each other. It would break my heart to leave on bad terms with Grandda.

That's why the two of us stood on the stairs, our shoulders pressed together as we tried to find the courage to move forward. Simon had gone to bed, Vincent made sure of it. The very first thing he said was that he didn't want Simon to witness the argument bound to come.

Grandda sat in his favorite armchair, a cup of whiskey in hand. He hadn't had many, which was good, considering what we were about to tell him. His nose was buried in a newspaper.

Vincent took a deep breath and surged forward. I followed him, my arms protectively wrapped around my middle. I felt like shrinking into myself, folding my body like origami until I was completely gone. Anything was better than facing the situation at hand.

"Grandda," Vincent called his attention, "We have something to tell you."

Vincent stopped at the foot of Grandda's armchair. I stood just behind him, acting as a supporting force as well as backup. Vincent seemed confident, but I could sense his anxiety. Of the two of us, he was the most equipped to face Grandda seeing as how he was the oldest and closest to adulthood. He stood tall while I shrunk behind him.

"What's wrong?" Grandda asked, folding his newspaper.

Vincent placed his hands on his hips, "The band has signed a contract to play at a club in Dublin for four months."

"Dublin?" Grandda asked, "Dublin, Ireland?"

Vincent nodded. Grandda was silent for a moment. He seemed to be soaking the news in. He glanced between Vincent and me before tightening his grip around the newspaper, "You can't honestly expect me to let you go."

"Grandda, it's a big step in our career," Vincent began, "It's the band's only chance."

Grandda rocketed up, "Vincent, you're seventeen! Amelia is sixteen! You can't just go to Germany by yourselves!"

"I'll be eighteen in three months! We're not alone, Oscar, Clyde, and Benedict are all going," Vincent argued.

"Regardless, it's dangerous," Grandda argued, "Besides, the two of you are still in school."

I shook my head, "We graduate in a month. We'll be out of high school before it's time to go."

His gaze turned to me. His eyes were steely, but, deep inside, there was something else. He seemed to gaze into my very soul. To this day, I still don't know what he was thinking, it's one of the greatest mysteries of my lifetime.

"Amelia, you're a child," Grandda told me, "You can't go to Ireland! You need an education, a job, a life!"

"This is my life! The music, it's what I want-it's all both of us want," I told him.