The Broken Rhythm
Chapter 19
Rhythm’s POV
It’s my choice to pick between fathers. Alex has always been there for me even though we just met not even a month ago, but my real dad...he was never there and I’m just all too scared for everything. So I don’t pick, I don’t say a single word or move. I am that broken rhythm and I just don’t have a place in this world. This is all so much, a trust of love. My words speak out my mouth ever so silently, scaring them all.
“Alex.” I say.
“Yes?” Alex asks.
“I pick you.”
“Are you serious? You’ll be back with me in no time Rhythm!” The beast yells.
“I am serious. I need to take a stand for once and just because I’m a girl doesn’t mean I’m weak. You always judged me on that. I’m not your object. I’m not your toy. I am not something you can forget, this will not fade away like a photograph and it will burn through you. Plus I thought you were in jail? Did your buddies break you out again? I should have known, it hasn’t even been five years yet so of course you’ve broken out. Screw you and all your stupid friends, I’m living with who I feel safe with, my dad Alex.” I say with confidence and run to Alex and give him a huge hug.
“I was scared you wouldn’t pick me. I didn’t want you going back to hell, you are an angel with me.” He says into my hair.
“Angle?”
“This doesn’t make sense.” Alex says, making an acute angle with his hands. “But this does.” Making a right angle with his hands. “And you just make perfect sense with me.”
“I love you.” I say.
“I love you too.” Alex whispers quietly.
“Okay enough sap, I need food!” Jack yells.
“I don’t like you anymore.” Alex says.
“Who’s ready to go to jail?” A strange voice says, all of us turning to the cop standing before us.
“Officer what seems to be the issue?” Alex asks.
“I got a call from someone about their daughter being stolen, from a Mr. Raves” He says, making my heart pound.
“He’s lying.” I say a bit too quickly.
“And you are?”
“I’m technically Brock’s daughter but he was in jail for abuse.” I say, showing him my unhealed bruises. “I was sent to an orphanage where I was adopted by Alex. Please don’t take him away!” I cry, tears in my eyes and hugging Alex and Jack tightly as if they would go away if I let go.
“I’ll need to take all of you into questioning.” The policeman says.
“Can’t this day get any worse? First tour is over, then I see Brock, I get physically abused by him once again, relive a memory I didn’t want to go back to, choose over Alex or Brock and now I’m getting into questioning! He freaking broke out of jail for petes sake!” I scream.
“You cops have too much power as it is! Believe the kid, if the bruises don’t say much then you are oblivious.” Zack says.
“These people don’t know what they’re talking about officer, they stole my daughter away from me. She’s been missing for months!” Brock says, me refusing to call my real dad anything else other than beast or monster.
“Yes because Alex, Jack, Zack and Rian would lie! Oh wait they wouldn’t!” I scream
“Officer I have the adoption papers if you would like to see them.” Alex says.
“Yes, okay.”
Alex pulls the papers out and then the cop tells us that everything is in check and that Brock will be arrested.
“I’m free.” I say, for once feeling happy and safe.
Everyone starts laughing after I say that.
“What’s so funny?” I ask.
“That cop is Zack’s dad, he works for the CIA. We knew Brock broke out of jail but we didn’t tell you. We were waiting for him to come and take him away. It was part of a plan.” Rian says.
“So he is really going to be locked up?” I question.
“Oh yeah, see we know people, and we protect the people we love.” Jack says, hugging me.
“And you love me and I love you. So does that mean I need to protect you?”
“Nah, you’re a kid. Live a little and we’ll keep you safe.” Alex says, joining in the hug.
This moment can’t get anymore perfect I think to myself. I have a fantabulous life with the best dad in the world, he has the perfect boyfriend who is awesome, they have the best friends ever, and we all go on tour together and I even get to join on stage sometimes. Maybe I’m not a broken rhythm, just a bit bent but I’m fixed and put back together and I owe it all to Alex.
*Three weeks later*
“Dad I’m sure I want to do this. I need to and I want you to meet her.” I say, placing on a black and red dress.
“If you want to do this I won’t stop you.” My dad says, fixing up his tuxedo.
“Will Jack come too?” I ask.
“Yeah, he should be here any minute.” He says as the bell rings. “And he’s here.”
We walk down the long stairway to meet Jack in the living room wearing a white tuxedo, Alex gave him a key but he still rings the doorbell just to let us know he’s here. It’s cute.
“You two ready?” Jack asks us.
“Yeah.” I say, breathlessly with roses in my hand.
We walk to the car and we take a long drive down to the bad part of town to meet someone I haven’t seen in a while, a long while.
It’s about an hour drive but we all stay silent, not wanting to say anything at all.
Eventually we reach our destination and park along side of the road. I walk out holding the red roses in both hands in front of me, Jack and my dad hand in hand as we walk down the grey cobblestone path to the gravestone to meet a familiar face. We find the gravestone and I stand in between Jack and Alex when I say my words.
“Hi mom, I bet you’re looking down on me wherever you are. Are you happy I got out of dad’s hands? I hope you are. He hurt you and me, but I got out of it. I have two amazing people in my life who saved me. Their names are Alex Gaskarth and Jack Barakat. They have a famous band called All Time Low and they tour a lot, and they even let me come with! It’s amazing, they make me feel safe and loved. I brought you some red and pink roses. I know you like them. I love you mom, and I miss you very much. I hope you’re safe too wherever you are. Love you.” I say, bending down to the grave to place the roses as a tear falls.
“Hey, hey it’s okay.” Alex says, bending down to get to my level.
“It hurts, she’s been gone for ten years.”
“Don’t cry, just remember that you have us and even though she isn’t physically here she will always be in your heart.” Jack says just as my dad starts to say something.
“Mrs. Raves, you don’t know me but I’m your daughter’s new father, Alex Gaskarth. I promise to never hurt her, only punished when needed but I would never hurt her. I will love her forever and as much as my heart can. Jack and I will love her just as much as you did, maybe even more. I will treat her like the age she is and give her pride and respect. She is after all my pride and joy. I love her very much and I hope you allow me to do as such. Rest in peace.Summer has come and passed. The innocent can never last, wake her up when September ends,like her mother’s come to pass, ten years has gone so fast.Wake her up when August ends” Alex says, singing Wake me up when September Ends but changing the lyrics to fit the moment.
I don’t realize I’m crying until Jack wipes my tears away with a tissue.
“Dad...that was beautiful.”
“Thanks. Now come on, who wants ice cream for her birthday?” Alex says.
“Me!” Jack and I yell jumping up and down and we all walk to the car together, laughing and giggling for the past, the present and future.
“I want gummy worms on my ice cream!” I yell.
“You got it!” Jack yells.
We make our way to the ice cream parlor and order our ice creams, a hot fudge sundae for Jalex to share and a rainbow sorbet for me.
I end up getting lost in a daze just thinking how we’ve got this far, I was being abused at home by Brock and then I end up getting adopted by a famous rockstar and his boyfriend who loves me so much and would do anything for me. Nothing could be sweeter, life I was a broken rhythm but I don’t even think I’m bent anymore. I’m straight, perfect and amazing for everyone to hear. Maybe one day I’ll adopt some kids of my own, with my perfect wife, but I’ll wait for that. I got all the time in the world.
“Rhythm, your ice cream is melting, don’t make me eat it.” Alex..correction my dad says.
“No it’s mine! Roar!” I say, giggling and guarding my ice cream.
They both giggle and we continue to eat our sweet treats, enjoying an amazing moment.
It’s my choice to pick between fathers. Alex has always been there for me even though we just met not even a month ago, but my real dad...he was never there and I’m just all too scared for everything. So I don’t pick, I don’t say a single word or move. I am that broken rhythm and I just don’t have a place in this world. This is all so much, a trust of love. My words speak out my mouth ever so silently, scaring them all.
“Alex.” I say.
“Yes?” Alex asks.
“I pick you.”
“Are you serious? You’ll be back with me in no time Rhythm!” The beast yells.
“I am serious. I need to take a stand for once and just because I’m a girl doesn’t mean I’m weak. You always judged me on that. I’m not your object. I’m not your toy. I am not something you can forget, this will not fade away like a photograph and it will burn through you. Plus I thought you were in jail? Did your buddies break you out again? I should have known, it hasn’t even been five years yet so of course you’ve broken out. Screw you and all your stupid friends, I’m living with who I feel safe with, my dad Alex.” I say with confidence and run to Alex and give him a huge hug.
“I was scared you wouldn’t pick me. I didn’t want you going back to hell, you are an angel with me.” He says into my hair.
“Angle?”
“This doesn’t make sense.” Alex says, making an acute angle with his hands. “But this does.” Making a right angle with his hands. “And you just make perfect sense with me.”
“I love you.” I say.
“I love you too.” Alex whispers quietly.
“Okay enough sap, I need food!” Jack yells.
“I don’t like you anymore.” Alex says.
“Who’s ready to go to jail?” A strange voice says, all of us turning to the cop standing before us.
“Officer what seems to be the issue?” Alex asks.
“I got a call from someone about their daughter being stolen, from a Mr. Raves” He says, making my heart pound.
“He’s lying.” I say a bit too quickly.
“And you are?”
“I’m technically Brock’s daughter but he was in jail for abuse.” I say, showing him my unhealed bruises. “I was sent to an orphanage where I was adopted by Alex. Please don’t take him away!” I cry, tears in my eyes and hugging Alex and Jack tightly as if they would go away if I let go.
“I’ll need to take all of you into questioning.” The policeman says.
“Can’t this day get any worse? First tour is over, then I see Brock, I get physically abused by him once again, relive a memory I didn’t want to go back to, choose over Alex or Brock and now I’m getting into questioning! He freaking broke out of jail for petes sake!” I scream.
“You cops have too much power as it is! Believe the kid, if the bruises don’t say much then you are oblivious.” Zack says.
“These people don’t know what they’re talking about officer, they stole my daughter away from me. She’s been missing for months!” Brock says, me refusing to call my real dad anything else other than beast or monster.
“Yes because Alex, Jack, Zack and Rian would lie! Oh wait they wouldn’t!” I scream
“Officer I have the adoption papers if you would like to see them.” Alex says.
“Yes, okay.”
Alex pulls the papers out and then the cop tells us that everything is in check and that Brock will be arrested.
“I’m free.” I say, for once feeling happy and safe.
Everyone starts laughing after I say that.
“What’s so funny?” I ask.
“That cop is Zack’s dad, he works for the CIA. We knew Brock broke out of jail but we didn’t tell you. We were waiting for him to come and take him away. It was part of a plan.” Rian says.
“So he is really going to be locked up?” I question.
“Oh yeah, see we know people, and we protect the people we love.” Jack says, hugging me.
“And you love me and I love you. So does that mean I need to protect you?”
“Nah, you’re a kid. Live a little and we’ll keep you safe.” Alex says, joining in the hug.
This moment can’t get anymore perfect I think to myself. I have a fantabulous life with the best dad in the world, he has the perfect boyfriend who is awesome, they have the best friends ever, and we all go on tour together and I even get to join on stage sometimes. Maybe I’m not a broken rhythm, just a bit bent but I’m fixed and put back together and I owe it all to Alex.
*Three weeks later*
“Dad I’m sure I want to do this. I need to and I want you to meet her.” I say, placing on a black and red dress.
“If you want to do this I won’t stop you.” My dad says, fixing up his tuxedo.
“Will Jack come too?” I ask.
“Yeah, he should be here any minute.” He says as the bell rings. “And he’s here.”
We walk down the long stairway to meet Jack in the living room wearing a white tuxedo, Alex gave him a key but he still rings the doorbell just to let us know he’s here. It’s cute.
“You two ready?” Jack asks us.
“Yeah.” I say, breathlessly with roses in my hand.
We walk to the car and we take a long drive down to the bad part of town to meet someone I haven’t seen in a while, a long while.
It’s about an hour drive but we all stay silent, not wanting to say anything at all.
Eventually we reach our destination and park along side of the road. I walk out holding the red roses in both hands in front of me, Jack and my dad hand in hand as we walk down the grey cobblestone path to the gravestone to meet a familiar face. We find the gravestone and I stand in between Jack and Alex when I say my words.
“Hi mom, I bet you’re looking down on me wherever you are. Are you happy I got out of dad’s hands? I hope you are. He hurt you and me, but I got out of it. I have two amazing people in my life who saved me. Their names are Alex Gaskarth and Jack Barakat. They have a famous band called All Time Low and they tour a lot, and they even let me come with! It’s amazing, they make me feel safe and loved. I brought you some red and pink roses. I know you like them. I love you mom, and I miss you very much. I hope you’re safe too wherever you are. Love you.” I say, bending down to the grave to place the roses as a tear falls.
“Hey, hey it’s okay.” Alex says, bending down to get to my level.
“It hurts, she’s been gone for ten years.”
“Don’t cry, just remember that you have us and even though she isn’t physically here she will always be in your heart.” Jack says just as my dad starts to say something.
“Mrs. Raves, you don’t know me but I’m your daughter’s new father, Alex Gaskarth. I promise to never hurt her, only punished when needed but I would never hurt her. I will love her forever and as much as my heart can. Jack and I will love her just as much as you did, maybe even more. I will treat her like the age she is and give her pride and respect. She is after all my pride and joy. I love her very much and I hope you allow me to do as such. Rest in peace.Summer has come and passed. The innocent can never last, wake her up when September ends,like her mother’s come to pass, ten years has gone so fast.Wake her up when August ends” Alex says, singing Wake me up when September Ends but changing the lyrics to fit the moment.
I don’t realize I’m crying until Jack wipes my tears away with a tissue.
“Dad...that was beautiful.”
“Thanks. Now come on, who wants ice cream for her birthday?” Alex says.
“Me!” Jack and I yell jumping up and down and we all walk to the car together, laughing and giggling for the past, the present and future.
“I want gummy worms on my ice cream!” I yell.
“You got it!” Jack yells.
We make our way to the ice cream parlor and order our ice creams, a hot fudge sundae for Jalex to share and a rainbow sorbet for me.
I end up getting lost in a daze just thinking how we’ve got this far, I was being abused at home by Brock and then I end up getting adopted by a famous rockstar and his boyfriend who loves me so much and would do anything for me. Nothing could be sweeter, life I was a broken rhythm but I don’t even think I’m bent anymore. I’m straight, perfect and amazing for everyone to hear. Maybe one day I’ll adopt some kids of my own, with my perfect wife, but I’ll wait for that. I got all the time in the world.
“Rhythm, your ice cream is melting, don’t make me eat it.” Alex..correction my dad says.
“No it’s mine! Roar!” I say, giggling and guarding my ice cream.
They both giggle and we continue to eat our sweet treats, enjoying an amazing moment.
Notes
Woah, I can't believe this is finally the end of this story. When I came up with the plot I never knew what I'd do with it but when JalexUnicorn was opening up a co-write I was like "FUCK YES" and then she helped make this little dream come true! Thanks so much Jenna, I really couldn't have done this with out you. We both helped each other through the struggles and tough parts of writing and you guys helped too! I even made a really nice friend out of this who I know we will be friends for a long time.Now for the sequel we have three name choices so which ever gets the most votes will be the title.
You have:
Hurricane
Falling Fate Whiplash or
Fear of Falling Apart
But we need to know before Wednesday so we can post Friday.
Also the dress Rhythm was wearing looks like this:http://www.amazon.com/Strapless-Printed-Ruffles-Evening-HE09727RD12/dp/B009S3G18A/?tag=polyvore006-20
We hoped you enjoyed and we thank you for everything.
Till darkness completes us,
Sarah's Butterflies
thank you :)
9/4/13