I sat in a rehearsal room down in the music department.
I set the camcorder up on self, eyelevel to me and picked up the acoustic guitar, scrolled down my iPod until I found the perfect song.

“Hi, everyone at York University, I’m Amelia Haner and I’m auditioning the freshman scholarship of music at your university, I will be singing the song, It’s Been Awhile by Staind.” I took a deep breath, and began,
“It's been a while
Since I could...
Hold my head up high
It's been a while
Since I first saw you
It's been a while
Since I could stand
On my own two feet again
And it's been a while
Since I could call you

And everything I can remember
As fucked up as it all may seem
Consequences that I've rendered
Have stretched myself beyond my means

It's been a while
Since I could say
That I wasn't addicted
It's been a while
Since I could say
I loved myself as well and...
It's been a while
Since I've gone and fucked things up
Just like I always do
It's been a while
But all that shit seems to disappear when I'm with you

And everything I can remember
As fucked up as it all may seem
Consequences that I've rendered
Gone and fucked things up again... again

Why must I feel this way?
Just make this go away
Just one more peaceful day
But then I go an fuck things up again

It's been a while
Since I could...
Look at myself straight
It's been a while
Since I said I'm sorry
It's been a while
Since I've seen the way
The candles light your face
It's been a while
But I can still
Remember just the way you taste

Everything I can remember
As fucked up as it all may seem
To me... I know this pain
Can I blame this on my father?
He did the best he could for me

It's been a while
Since I could...
Hold my head up high
It's been a while
Since I said I'm sorry.” When I finished I looked up with a smile and waved,

“I hope you consider me!” I turned off the camera and pulled out the tape.

“You finished it all in one take?” Mr. Stump asked amazed, I nodded slowly.

“I have to get home, thank you so much Mr. Stump.” I said shaking the man’s hand.

I quickly left and began strolling around California, I walked passed a tattoo shop, I stopped and turned to the window,

“Hey there...” I said slowly.

“Hey little one. What can I do for you?” A big muscled man behind a counter said, I gripped my bag lightly,

“I would like a tattoo... obviously.” I said with a smile. The man’s eyes narrowed at me,

“How old are you sweetie?” He asked stepping out from behind the counter.

“Seventeen, my birthday’s in a month.” I lied, grabbing my wallet.

“Why not wait?” He asked with a smirk,

“Every heard of a teenage rebel who could pay in full today?” I asked waving cash, the man smiled more and led me to a book of tattoos.

“Actually I want a dragon down the left side of my back.” I said excited.

“Down the whole left side?” He asked a little shocked.
I nodded and pulled out a sketch from my song book.
“Dragon’s were my Dad’s thing. Symbol that kind of thing. I want to have David Lawrence, May 3, 1967 written below the dragon.” I instructed.

“You’re a brave kid. I’ll give you that.” The man said leading me behind the curtain and threw me a zip up sweater as he introduced me to Amy, my tattoo artist.

“The tattoo is beautiful... it’ll take about four to five hours to do.”

“I’ve got all the time in the world.” I replied behind the curtain and stuffing my shirt and bra into my bag and pulling on the sweater backwards.

“This is will look so wicked.” Amy said before sterilizing my back.