Disenchanted Lullabye

I woke up stiff as a board, as I usually did this whole week of driving. It was mostly a nice drive. Other than some blistering heat and random ten minute downpours, I enjoyed it. It was rounding seven in the morning but to me it was ten. I was still on East Coast time. It was just another thing I would have to get used to.

I stepped out of my car and stretched; cracking my back and fingers in the process. I hopped into the drivers seat and called up my realtor to see if she was in yet so I could get my keys and take a damn shower. I was so glad when she answered and gave me the directions to her building.

San Diego was a pretty place; very chill. It was nothing like Connecticut but I'm just baised.
I had found the small building after asking many people on the street where to go. It was pretty plain but inviting.

I talked to the secretary for a few minutes, she was nice but I really just wanted my keys so I could leave. I was a little cranky, hungry and in need of a shower. She finally gave me the keys to my appartment and welcomed me to the town. I smiled and left.

I was far too happy to be in my own apartment. It was quite, bright and simple. For a studio, it was pretty spacious. A nice kitchenette, couch, coffee table, tiny dining set, I really liked it. I was one person, I never needed much.

I got myself all settled in and after taking a shower, I decided it would be best to find the grocery store along with the other essential places I would be going to regularly.
After a long day of grocery shopping as well as picking up some more stuff to liven up my new place, I couldn't have been more happy to sleep in an actual bed after a weeks worth of sleeping in the backseat of my car.

I settled in for the night and fell asleep quickly.

_

I woke up to my phone ringing and shaking violently next to me. Without looking to see who it was, I answered.

"Hello?" I said as I rubbed the sleep from my eyes.

"Hi, is this Ms. Daniels?" A polite lady said.

"Yes, This is. How can I help you?"

"Well, We have received a letter of recommendation from Jim Koplik. He says you are one of the best photographers he has seen in a long time. We were wondering if you would be able to come in tonight and shoot the concert going on. We will of course pay you and in return, you would allow us to use those photos for promo." She said. It was a lot to take in so early in the morning but I gladly accepted her offer.

"Alright! Please come in at five so we can get your contract signed and give you all of the information you need. We will see you soon, Miranda!" She said happily.

After laying in bed for a few minutes, I decided to get up and get ready. I had only a few hours to mentally prepare myself for whatever I was getting myself into. If Jim gave them my portfolio, it must be a great place. I do hope that whoever I'm shooting tonight is someone I know of and enjoy the music.



I arrived at the large venue that already had a significant line of kids going into the parking lot. I remember my days of just being a fan and waiting in line for hours on end to get in close to the barricade so I could have the chance of even making eye contact with my favorite band member. Even if that wasn't too long ago, I hold those memories very close to my heart.

"I'm here to talk to Karen." I said nervously as I walked into the building after some pushing with security. I help my equipment bag close and tapped my fingers against my hip as an anxious tick. the receptionist smiled and pointed me down a long hallway behind her.

"It's the last door on the left." she said with a smile.

I knocked on the door and a woman yelled for me to come in and when I opened the door I was greeted with an older looking lady along with a slightly older looking man.

"Hello! You must be the infamous Miranda." The older lady who I assumed to be Karen said with a smile.

"That would be me." I said nervously and shook her hand along with the older man's.

"Jim told us quite a bit about you. I'm Andrew." He said with a chuckle.
I sat down and smiled.

"Hopefully all good things." I laughed with them.

"Of course! Although the green room incident was quite a shocking story." Karen said and I blushed. I had walked into the green room that one of the smaller bands was in, not knowing they were even there yet to find a bunch of half naked guys. I felt like such an idiot for not knocking but they all laughed it off.

"Yeah, not my brightest moment but." I said with a shy smile.
We got down to the legal parts and rules and before I knew it, I was signing papers for a two month photo contract.

"Well, now that that is out of the way, why don't you tell us a bit about yourself." Andrew said as he loosened his tie a bit.

"Well, there isn't much to say. I'm just a normal girl who has always enjoyed music and photography and started off shooting for friends bands and knew Jim as a family friend and just worked my way up to where I am today."

They both started laughing.

"No, no. We don't want to hear how you started out. Tell us about you! Like what you like to do besides photography." Karen said with a loving smile.

"Well, I like concerts, singing, tattoos as you can see and that's about it. I'm pretty vanilla." I chuckled.

"Well, Miranda, I think you will fit in well here. Here is your press pass, all access. We would like some backstage shots as well as crowd shots tonight. This is one of the biggest concerts that come round. Enjoy it though." Andrew said with a bright smile.

"So, who am I shooting tonight, If I may ask." I said with a bit of hesitance. Bigger bands always intimidated me to no end.

"A band called Pierce the Veil. They are really cool guys, such goofballs." My jaw dropped a bit and my eyes widened much like an old school cartoon.

"Well, I suppose I should go and get setup, right?" I smiled and started with the anxious ticks again.

"Indeed! Remember, have a good time! This should be fun work." Karen smiled and Andrew nodded in agreement. I shook both their hands before leaving and silently freaking out in both a happy and incredibly scared way.


I wandered around the venue and spotted Some of the guys messing around. I figured now would be as good a time as ever to introduce myself.

I took a deep breath before walking up and making sure my press pass was visible.

"Excuse me, guys. Hi, My names Miranda Daniels and I'm gonna be shooting you tonight. I just thought I come and introduce myself since you are very stuck with me." I said jokingly but rambling like a fool. Pierce the Veil was HUGE in the scene and while I had shot them before from afar, doing this was a big deal.

"Oh! Hi Miranda. Nice to meet you! I'm Mike. This is Jaime and Tony and Vic is somewhere around here." he said and they all shook my hand and greeted me. They were friendly but I had heard that from many people before.

"Sorry.. for being a bit awkward. I'm.. just a bit starstruck." I said as my face turn a nice shade of pink.

"Ahh, a fan?" Tony said with a small smile.

"Hell yeah." I chuckled and we started walking towards the stage.

"It's always nice to know our photographer is gonna enjoy our music too." Jaime said before we walked back into their dressing room.

"You'll see me singing along like the rest of them, shit, you might even hear me." I laughed and shook my head. To me, I sounded like another fangirl.

"Vic, this is Miranda, She's our photographer for the night!" Mike said as he sat down. I waved awkwardly "Hi!"

"Nice to meet you" He said with a warming smile. I remember being so obsessed with him and his voice a few years ago. It was mostly the hair though, I had a thing for guys with longer hair.

I snapped a few shots of them just hanging around before relaxing myself.

"So, Where are you from?" Vic asked.

"Connecticut. I just moved here so this is a pretty big thing for me just getting here." I smiled and tapped on my leg to a beat of a song that I couldn't remember the name of.

"You now, You look pretty familiar." Jaime said while squinting his eyes.

"Wait! Did you shoot us at Warped a few years back and at that place in Wallingford? You had red hair back then, right?"

"That would be me! I'm surprised you could remember me."
We talked for a bit longer before I had to go and set myself up. There was about fifteen minutes until the concert began. I planned on taking some pictures of the supports for myself.

I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned to see this girl that was maybe sixteen.

"Are you Miranda?" She asked hesitantly and I nodded slowly, unsure of what to do.

"Can I please get a picture with you? I love your photos!" I chuckled and turned to take a few pictures with her.

"Be sure to tag me in those!" I said with a bright smile. I had only ever been recognized in CT and even then it was weird but meeting someone from all the way across the country was a bit baffling.



I went through the whole show enjoying everything and dodging crowd surfers. I had some really cool shots and when Pierce came on, everything was just ballistic.

By the end of it, I was exhausted. I forgot how much I put into bigger shows. I walked back just before the guys got off stage to take post show pictures and followed them into the dressing room. I listened to them rave about how amazing home shows are and how pumped they were.

"What did you think?" Vic turned to me and I just paused, unsure of what to say.

"It was amazing. You guys always put on amazing shows." I smiled tiredly.

I sat down to rest my jelly legs and was handed a water bottle but offered a post show shot which I took.

"To great home shows and new friends." Mike said and we clinked glasses before downing the whiskey.

I let them clean up but just sat there.

"So, have you gotten to explore yet?" Jaime asked and I shook my head.

"Just the grocery store." I chuckled and they did too.

"Maybe we should show East Coast how it is here then." Mike suggested and they all nodded.

"Oh you don't have to! I'm sure you guys are super busy. And East Coast? Really?" I said bringing out my shyness but sassiness.

"Ahh, this was our last show. You give us your number and we will show you around our hometown." Mike said brushing it off. I gave them my number and they put all of theirs in my own with random emojis next to their names.

"Ok, who put 'Pimp Daddy' as their name" I said trying to contain my laughter. I saw a hand slowly raise. Vic.

"No. Not even no, why?" I said as everyone burst out laughing.

"Because I am PIMP DADDY." He said so confidently that I almost believed him.

"Well, Pimp Daddy, you're name is now Shorty. I am the only pimp daddy in my life." I said while laughing.



After a few hours of just hanging out, we were told it was time to leave.

"Well, thanks for a great night guys! It was super cool meeting you." I said as I grabbed my bag and started for the door.

"Yeah! It was great meeting you too!" Jaime said and then suddenly embraced me in a hug that turned into a group hug somehow.

"Alright, guys. I just met you. You're gonna suffocate me!" I said and they released.

"Well, we will see you soon for that epic tour of San Diego soon!" Mike said and clapped his hands together.

"Alright, have a good night guys!" I said and left.




I got to my car and let my inner fan girl out completely. I couldn't believe that tonight happened. It didn't feel real. It felt like a dream. I drove home and uploaded all of the photos to my hard drive so they could be edited and sent out before I snuggled up in my blankets and fell asleep.

Notes

Sorry for the short wait on this. Warped Tour killed me this year. It was amazing but very very injury filled for me.

I hope you all enjoy this and I will most likely start posting on Fridays/Saturdays from now on just so you know.


hope you are having a great day!
Love you all! <3
~Becca