June 14th, 2012

“You know, I don't know why you're bothering moving in here when you're just going to be leaving in a couple days.” My dad said as he put a box down in the living room of my apartment. I laughed and shook my head as I continued putting the TV stand together.

“Because, Cammy needed a roommate so that she could get a place, and I can't live with you and mom forever.” I explained, for probably the thousandth time this week.

“I mean you could, I don't mind, neither does your mother.” He said.

“Oh yes she does.” My mom said as she walked in and put another box down, my dad just rolled his eyes at her.

“Daddy, I'll still gonna come over at least twice a week when I'm not touring. I promise.” I said as I got up and hugged him.

“At least three.” He said sternly. “Any less than three and I’ll be calling you in as a missing person.”

“Don't worry Mr. Merrick, I'll be dragging her over there anyways. Your cooking is way better than mine.” Cammy laughed as she came in the room with the boys, all of them carrying boxes.

“Well I think that's finally the last of everything.” Jaime said as he set the box he was holding down.

“Finally.” I sighed. We'd been moving stuff in while putting furniture together all day and it's was almost ten o'clock at night now.

“Well, I guess we should get heading back now, Grams is probably freaking out by now.” My mom said. My dad frowned but agreed.

“You're coming over for breakfast in the morning, right?” He asked me. “I wanna make sure you have a decent meal before you start eating a bunch of junk and getting so hammered that you're on a pedialyte IV.” I laughed and nodded as I hugged him.

“Only if you're making blueberry waffles.” I said.

“Only the best for my little ray of sunshine.” He said as he kissed the top of my head.

“Alright, then I'll be over at ten.” I told him. “Make sure you take good care of Max too.”

“I will. You're all welcome to join too.” He said to Cammy and the boys as he headed to the door.

He and my mom left and we all went back to trying to unpack and getting the rest of the furniture put together.

“Jace where do you want your camera stuff?” Mike asked. I looked up from the TV stand and sighed as I looked around the living. There was basically no room anywhere.

“Uh, just put it in my room I guess.” I said as I opened the instruction book the the TV stand again. I sighed and tossed it aside. “Remind me again why you insisted on getting stuff that we had to fucking build?”

“I thought it would be fun.” Cammy said as she picked up the booklet. “I think you're missing a piece.” She said.

“No, I'm definitely not, I checked like eight times. But it would help if the pictures were better and the words weren't in fucking Russian or Swedish or some shit.”

“Let me see that.” Tony laughed, taking the book from Cammy. He looked at it for a minute and then sat down with me. “You're not missing a piece, you just got one mixed up.” I sighed and fell back on the ground.

“We are never buying furniture that isn't pre-assembled again. You got that?” I said to Cammy who just laughed and agreed

“Hey I'm gonna run out and grab some food, and stop by your parents house, Kate just texted me and said you dad has something for you, he just forgot to bring it over.” Vic said. I gave him a thumbs up then he left.

“Well since you seem to have the whole building this TV stand from hell thing under control, I'm gonna bring some of these boxes in my room.” I said and got up. “Hime, wanna help me?”

He nodded and we started bringing stuff down the hall to my room. Once we got all of my boxes in my room, we put but my bed frame back together, which thankfully was easier than putting that damn TV stand together. I made my bed and started putting my clothes away when Vic announced that he was back. I went back out to the living room with everyone else.

“Hey, you got that thing done.” I laughed, noticing that the TV stand was put together and the TV and Xbox were hooked up.

“Well it's really not that hard when you actually put things together the right way.” Tony laughed. I flipped him off as I sat down next to him. “So what did my dad have for me?” I asked Vic. He put a paper bag down on the coffee table and took two bottle out of it, grinning as he did so.

“Rum and tequila.” He said. I laughed and grabbed the tequila bottle.

“My dad knows me well.” I said.

“Your dad is the best!” Mike said excitedly. I laughed and nodded.

“I know.” I said smugly. “Perks of being the youngest daughter and not seeing dad for over four years, you get spoiled.”

“Yeah that doesn't happen when you're the middle child.” Cammy said, rolling her eyes.

“Aw it's okay. We won't ignore you.” I said with fake sympathy as I leaned over and hugged her.

“Vic did you pick up some Coke too?” Cammy asked. Vic nodded and put a two liter of coke and some red solo cups on the coffee table too.

“Do you think I come unprepared?” He asked.

We spent the rest of the night drinking and finishing unpacking the best we could. The boys ended up staying the night since it was late and they were drunk, and since it would be easier to go to my parents house in the morning if they were already here.

The next morning I woke up a little bit earlier than everyone else so that I could shower and back my bag for the tour since we were leaving right after breakfast. After everyone else showered and got ready we all headed over to my parents house.

When we got to my parents house I went right inside, everyone else following behind me. As soon as I walked in the door I could smell bacon and blueberry waffles.

“Where's the food at Dad?” I asked my dad as I walked into the kitchen. He looked away from the stove and smiled at me.

“Cooking as we speak, you're just in time.” He said.

“What are all of these delinquents doing in my house!” Grams yelled. “This isn't your house, go home.”

“Ow, why are you hitting me? You know me!” Jaime yelled.

“Oh I would remember knowing a hooligan like you, and I don't remember!” She said as she continued hitting him with her cane.

“Ma! Leave the poor boy alone.” My dad said, pointing his spatula at her threateningly.

“Don't let hooligans in my house then.” She said, pointing her cane at him.

“It's my house Ma, not yours.” He laughed.

“The fuck it is.” She mumbled.

“Grams!” I laughed. “You never swear.”

“You heard nothing missy.” She said, now pointing her cane at me. I held my hands up in surrender and she walked away.

“It is too early to be beaten with an old lady's cane.” Jaime said, rubbing his arm as they all took a seat at the table with me.

“I'm just glad it wasn't me this time.” Tony laughed.

“I'm just glad that it's always one of your three that gets hit now.” Vic said. “I'm the model citizen now, I'm safe.”

“Keep talking like that and you won't be, Sonny.” Grams said as she walked back through the kitchen. We just stayed silent until we heard her go upstairs and then we all busted out laughing, including dad.

“Why is there so much yelling and laughing this early in the morning?” My mom asked as she walked in the kitchen, rubbing her eyes. She had clearly just woken up.

“Your mother is abusing our daughter’s friends, as usual. Just drink your coffee and relax hun.” My dad laughed laughed as he handed her a fresh cup of coffee.

“Well now we know where you get your hatred of mornings from.” Jaime said elbowing me lightly. I elbowed him back before I got up and grabbed a mug and poured myself some coffee.

“So, you ready to leave me for two months?” Dad asked. “You kids can grab yourself some coffee too, or juice, or tea. You got free reign on everything now except alcohol. It's too early for alcohol, for you guys at least.”

“It's never too early for alcohol.” I said as I jumped up on the counter.

“Yeah no question about if you're my daughter.” He laughed.

“And it's not two months dad, it's like, a month and a half.”

“It's seven weeks, that's one week short of two months. Therefore you're leaving me for two months.” He said. I laughed and shook my head.

“Whatever.” I said. “But yes, I am ready. I love getting pictures from Warped Tour.”

“You got sunscreen packed?” He asked. I nodded. “Extra hair ties? Pedialyte? Bug spray? Band-aids and bacitracin because you're accident prone?” I laughed and nodded.

“Yes dad, I have everything I need. I know how to pack.” I said.

“I'm just making sure.” He said, holding his hands up defensively. “You boys are gonna take care of my little girl, right?” They all laughed and nodded.

“Don't we always?” Vic asked. My dad nodded as he ate a piece of bacon.

“Good point.” He said. “Food is done by the way. I'm just eating all the bacon before you all devour it one me.”

“It looks like you're the one devouring it.” I said as I grabbed a plate.

We all ate and then I went out back to play with Max for a bit before we left. After that I went back inside and said goodbye to my gram and mom. I looked around for my dad and finally found him out front with Cammy and the guys.

“Before you leave, I have something for you.” He said. I raised an eyebrow at him and watched at he ran inside. A minute later he came back outside, holding a box behind his back.

“Dad, what's that?” I asked. He grinned and handed me the box.

“Just open it.” He said. I opened the box quickly and my jaw dropped.

“Dad, you did not.” I said.

“But I did.” He said, still grinning. I pulled out the box for the camera that was inside. “I hope it's the right one. I know you'd been saving for a new one, you've had the other one for years.” I put the box down and hugged my dad tightly.

“Thank you.” I said.

“No problem kiddo. Now get going and go take some awesome pictures with that thing.”

Notes

Jacie's outfit.

Alright, there's chapter one for you. I'll update again soon, let me know what you guys think in the meantime. :)