James POV

I had to get away. My parents had just sprung HUGE news on me, and it felt hard to breath. I needed a walk, get some fresh air, breath, not have to think about what I had just learned. I sling my camera over my shoulder and, completely unintentionally, end up speed walking towards downtown Nashville. I need to get away. Maybe taking some pictures will help me get my mind off of things.

Before I know it I'm standing in front of an old abandoned building. This is what makes a photographer an artist. Taking something the common eye would see as an eye sore compared to the skyline and fancy buildings elsewhere in town. And turning it into something much more. The building just draws me in, and soon I'm lost in taking photographs from different angles.

After I step back I feel more calm and ease. Photography does that for me. My attention is drawn to the front door of the building. My feet carry me to the door and I am thinking I'll just peek inside, get one shot and go. But that's when I hear the music. Someone is playing a guitar. Then a female voice starts to sing.

I know I should be leaving but I can look away. Then as my steps draw me nearer, she is singing and crying softly, her brown hair falling around her face.

Why did you have to go away...
Leave your little girl behind...
You said the world needed you...
But I think I needed you more...
Oh I needed you mo-re...I don't know what came over me, but the words were already out before I could stop them. "That was beautiful."

She whirled around, her blue eyes wide and her mouth open. When her eyes locked on mine, those same eyes narrowed into thin slits. "What are you doing here?"

"You know I could ask you the same question." I say calmly, leaning on a nearby post.

"I live here!" She blurts. Her eyes grow wide again. She almost looks...vulnerable. "Please. You can NOT tell anyone about that. They would send me away."

I've never felt this instant of a connection with anyone. Never felt like I wanted to protect someone so much. "I promise I won't tell. I'm James, by the way." I stick out my hand to shake hers.

She hestiantly at first, reaches out to me. "I'm L.A." I can see a look in her eyes, like she's thinking really deep about something, but she doesn't speak.

"How'd you come to live here all alone?" I ask, I think I forgot what happened to that curious cat everyone always talks about.

She lets out a sigh, studying me for a few minutes before she speaks. "My parents were very patriotic and loved this country. They actually met while they were in the army. Then I came along and they both took a break for a couple years. I traveled with them after that.... until... well one day just before I turned thirteen...." She is gasping for words. "There was an explosion. Neither of my parents made it. It was really bad. They both wanted to be buried in the town where they met. Which just happened to be here in Nashville. I felt so lost without them. So I did what I thought was best. I run, no one... until today... really knew that I was without a family."

L.A.'s POV

I watched for his reaction. I don't know why I am feeling such trust towards this guy, but somehow I just do. I feel like I've just known him forever, I feel comfortable.

"Wow. That makes my problems seem pretty small." James says, looking at his hands.

"Wanna share? I promise I won't tell." I say giving him a weak smile.

He seems reassured. "I'd appreciate that. Well my family just moved here. And today they told me why Nashville meant so much to them. They both grew up here. But well it turns out I'm not there only child. They made mistakes when they were younger and weren't taking anything seriously. Even their first born son, they abandoned him here and they think that maybe he might still be here in Nashville."

"Wow. Sounds like you've had a pretty rough go of it too." I whisper. A few minutes of silence passes.

"Can I borrow that?" He points to my guitar.

"Promise to be careful with it?" I say in a meek voice, it's my only thing I have left from my Mom, the only thing I have of my dad's is his dog tags.

"We are going to have lots of promises between us. Yes, of course I'll be careful with it." James pulls a key ring pick holder out of his pocket, pulling out a pearl white pick. He tests the strings with a few chords and strums. He wears a satisfied smile. "Well. I want to play you a song from my favorite band. It's these four guys that are older than us, but they are really cool guys." He smiles, he has a really nice smile. I can tell he smiles a lot.

He starts to sing, and I sort of get that melty feeling inside, I've heard Khloe talk about before.

I would dive into canyons to save you
and climb up the highest skyscraper as pressure would drop drop drop
If it meant that all your pain would stop
I can see that Octobers been heavy and how much you wish that the floor would be steady below oh oh
I know it hurts more then you show oh oh
But when it feels like nobody cares
And you're drowning nobody's there
And you're grasping at nothing but air
You can just fall into me
I'll be the ground beneath your feet
You got it
You got it
You got what it takes yeah
I'm on it
I'm on it
I won't let you break no
You can just fall into me
Don't be afraid of gravity
You got it
You got it
You got what takes yeah
I'm on it
I'm on it
I won't let you break no
(Just fall) Just fall into me
(Just fall) Just fall into me

It was the song. The Anthem Lights song. I could hardly believe it. The one that touched me. The one with John in it. It was... so odd.

James and I talked for another hour or so, and learned we actually go to the same school. Finally, he said he'd better be going home. I hated to see him leave but I really felt like I'd made a new friend today. A few people knew about my situation know, and I had actually opened up and told them. My heart soared. I felt.... free.