I peeked out from behind the large wall that kept the crowd of thousands of people waiting to hear some music. They were hyper, excited, and just bringing electricity to Madison Square Garden. It sent chills down my spine to think about how they were going to listen to us and decide our destiny.
This was our time. Ablaze had one chance tonight to prove ourselves to Drew that we were worthy of a record deal that would make us famous worldwide. It blew my mind.
"Asher, man!" I heard a familiar voice call out. I turned around and my eyes widened at the sight of Alex Gaskarth, the lead singer for the band All Time Low. My adrenaline began to rush through my veins when he got to me and I shook his hand proudly.
Did I mention we were opening up for them? Yes, a small town band from the middle of no-name Pennsylvania was opening up for the huge platinum band All Time Low. And I was just getting to meet them the day of.
"Alex?" I asked in shock although it clearly was him. He only smiled and laughed.
"Yeah," he smiled. "I've heard so much about you guys. I'm really happy Drew decided to get you guys up here. Our manager was more than happy to make this happy as were we."
I could say anything, just let my mouth open and close like the idiot I was.
"Thanks," I finally was able to say. "It means a lot that we could do this. I don't even have the words..." I trailed off. Alex clamped a hand on my shoulders and pointed at me with a small smile.
"Don't sweat it. You don't need the words because the are already in your head and ready to be turned into lyrics." He clapped his hands together and began to back away at the sound of his name being called to the dressing room. "You'll all do great, don't worry. I have faith in you!"
I felt the smallest amount of pressure being added to my shoulders. I wasn't sure how much I could take. There were too many people to disappoint; Drew, my bandmates, Bea, and now Alex freaking Gaskarth. How could I handle it all?
Another hand was slapped in my shoulder within a matter of seconds after Alex disappeared behind another wall.
Brody gave me a shaky smile and I knew right then that he was possibly just as nervous as I was. He was the one sitting behind a bunch of drums while I had to sing and make sure not only my guitar playing was on point but also my voice. It was the second main part along with the music.
"Nervous?" He asked as he took a seat on an amp nearby. I crossed my arms over my chest and took a deep breath.
"A little more than usual," I admitted to him.
"Well, this is a little more of a crowd than back home. We have to give this our all," he reasoned and explained. I could feel the sweat beading up on my forehead just listening to the crowd.
"Brody?" I asked innocently. He looked at me with curious eyes, ready to answer me as he nodded his head toward me.
It reminded me of when I was younger and Brody and I would be sitting around the house doing pointless things when I'd ask him questions. They were questions about life, who's, what's and how's mostly. But he always had an answer for me. Even when I'd ask what was wrong with our mom, he'd tell me she was sick and that we needed to take care of her.
I had asked him that a week before she was admitted to the hospital and Brody and I were sent to "stay a little while" with our aunt and uncle, as my dad put it.
"What if this isn't right for me? This while performing thing? The celebrity thing?" I turned to him and I had a feeling that I never looked like I did very often. Scared, is what I mean. I didn't get scared easily. I was scared the day my mom had a complete breakdown right in front of me and I was scared when Bea almost slipped through my fingertips. I never wanted to admit it, but I hated being scared and feeling it. I hated feeling vulnerable.
"Asher, remember what it felt like the first time we played or a crowd?" Brody asked.
Yeah, I was scared out of my mind but I sucked it up and did it. For the guys.
"Yeah, I guess," I said instead. Brody stood up and squeezed my shoulders.
"That's what it'll feel like. Feeling the energy surge through you, feeling the music flow. It makes you feel like you're on top of the world, doesn't it?" Brody sounded so proud of what he and the band did.
No, I thought, I don't always feel like that.
"Little brother," Brody beamed his smile at me. "We are about to become somebody. Don't you want that?"
This was the first time in my life that I thought even a little bit about regretting Ablaze. It made me mad, almost. I'd wanted a band and to become famous for most of my life. Why was is that I felt that way now?
"Yeah," was all I said to answer his question. The doubt filled my stomach and I couldn't get it out, I could only ignore it and pretend it wasn't there.
Because if I didn't want this, what would happen to my brothers?
"Alright, boys!" A stage manager yelled for us with a big happy grin on his scruffy face. "Let's get this show on the road! Good luck!" The nice man patted us each on the back as we left, entering the stage.
The lights were so bright and blinding that I wasn't able to see half the audience in front of me. The ones closest to the stage were more visible but only because of their multi-colored glow sticks. I could see them bouncing around and laughing, looking the happiest they ever had.
And that's when a smile broke out on my face.
As I took center stage, catching the eyes of all the girls and guys out there with smiles on their faces, I knew my exact reason for doing what I loved.
"Hey guys," I said as I looked left and right at Ben and Grayson with their guitars and smiling faces. Then back at Quentin standing behind his keyboard. I didn't even have to look at Brody to see his smile.
"We're Ablaze, and I hope you enjoy the show, because I know we will." With that, I began the strumming my guitar to start off our song. The music didn't spread through me like Brody had said, but the smiling faces as we played did.
Our song carried on and even with the ear-pieces in my ears I could hear the voices of the crowd singing along. We were playing a cover of a song called Move Along by The All-American Rejects. Drew thought starting off with a cover and then one of our own songs would have been best. It would get the crowd started, hyped up for what was to come.
It was different from what was usually done, and I liked it.
"And even when your hope is gone, move along, move along just to make it through," I sang with all my heart, wanting to hear their voices even more, louder and louder, stronger and stronger.
I pulled the microphone away from my mouth and pointed it towards the crowd and listened to them sing a few lyrics with my band.
It was amazing. They were amazing.
Several songs later, all our own, we were exiting the stage and getting high fives from all the crew members. I jerked my head side to side so my shaggy hair would shake all the swear out of it.
We weren't able to talk to Alex or any of the other guys before they went on stage. The crowd roared even louder than before and I felt my adrenaline pump through my veins.
It was like a dream, except it was real.
"You were so amazing out there," an all-too familiar voice spoke from behind me. A smile so big spread across my face before I could even turn around. She walked slowly toward me, I could hear her footsteps stop right behind me. She wrapped her arms around my back and rested her head against my back.
"Ew, you're sweaty," she giggled, but didn't let go of me. I twisted around in her arms and hugged so tight I thought she would squeal, but she didn't; even if I was sweaty.
"I missed you and I love you," I whispers so no one else was a part of our moment. "But why are you here?"
Bea chuckled and leaned up to kiss me on the lips. It had been a week since I'd seen her. We called and video chatted everyday, but it didn't compete with real life.
"I missed you so much." Her voice was muffled due to it being stuck in my chest.
"Seriously, Bea. You didn't have to come here just to see me," I told her, taking her hand and leading her out the backstage door and onto a small platform that connected to a set of stairs to a parking lot.
"It's kind of a long story..." she trailed off. Bea wrapped her arms around my bicep and leaned her head against my shoulder. I kissed the top of her head softly.
"I have plenty of time," I told her, anxious to hear why she was all the way in New York instead of back home with her dad in Pennsylvania. Had she finally escaped? Was she getting the future she wanted? To be an artist and to be free from all her burdens like she should be?
She was a free spirit and she needed the space to act like one.
"Actually, my mom's here. She wants to have dinner with us. If you go - if you can - I'll explain everything after dinner. I promise." The tone of her voice confused me. It was a mix of worry and happiness. It was anxious like she was itching to tell me.
"Okay, yeah, I can go. What time and where? I can meet you guys there," I said, hopeful that she had good news.
"How does seven sound? The restaurant is a nice Chinese place in the middle of town. I don't remember the name, but do you know what I'm talking about?" Her eyes were hopeful as she searched mine. I smirked.
"I've been here for about a week..." I laughed. "And surprisingly, I do know where it's at. Peking?" I rested my hands on her hips and pulled her against me.
"Yes! That's the name of it!" She said excitedly.
"So I should dress nice?" I asked to make sure. Bea nodded her head and smiled at me, grinning from ear to ear. I leaned down and kissed her again, holding her cheek in my hand to hold her still. She was glowing with excitement and her body was bouncing from it, making me laugh while kissing her.
"I really want hear this news." Our lips were inches apart.
"You will, I promise." She snuck one more kiss onto my lips before opening the door to go back into the arena.
I smirked at her, reaching over her head to hold the door back for her as I leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Ladies first." She laughed and walked inside, running to hug Ben who had called her name excitedly.
I adjusted my shirt collar one more time before walking out of my hotel room and down the elevator, not worrying about anything in the world except what was about to happen. It felt like I was having dinner with Bea's mother for the first time all over again.
Except this time, it was the real her. The one that apologized to me at graduation and the one who seemed to have more of a heart. That woman was inside herself all the time and never made an appearance - even for her own daughter.
I walked through the crowds of New York City from my hotel to the restaurant. It wasn't a far walk, but the traffic of people made it a little more lengthy. I had a feeling my aftershave was going to wear off eventually in the crowds.
Well, at least someone would smell nice.
I finally saw Peking not too far away in the crowd. I was close enough to see a beautiful girl, standing in front of the large glass windows of the restaurant. her dark hair cascaded down her back and shoulders, curled perfectly. The dress she wore was white on the bottom half with little designs I didn't pay too much attention to and the too was black. She had a thin cover-up thing on that seemed as long as her dress. She looked absolutely stunning.
I neared her, smiling as I stuffed my hands into the pockets of my pants. She held her hands together and stared at me, smiling as well as she looked me up and down.
"You look awful handsome, stranger," she called across the distance between us, which wasn't that much. No one walking around us cared enough to look and that was fine.
"You look even more beautiful," I replied, slowly walking towards her. I reached her and I pulled her into a kiss.
"I never thought I'd kiss a stranger in the streets of New York," she joked. I chuckled.
"Ever? You look like the kind of girl that would be kissed all the time." I kissed her once more on the forehead.
"You don't me, sir," she smiled sweetly. "I only have eyes for one guy, and he's standing right in front of me."
I laughed and lifted her up in a hug. "I'm so lucky to love you, Beatrice Juniper."
She jokingly groaned at the sound of her middle name before wrapping her arms around my neck. "Come on," she tugged on my hand. "My moms waiting inside."
We passed through the glass doors and were directed to our seat where Mrs. Montgomery sat, straight up and sipping her wine.
She smiled and stood up with open arms. Bea didn't run into her mothers arms, but she did hug her. She even hugged me and I wasn't totally scared to death.
Bea and I took our seats beside each other and across from her mother at the tablecloth-covered table. We quickly ordered our food and before I knew it, the night was flying by.
"So, I have some news," Mrs. Montgomery said. I thought for a moment about the divorce between her and her husband and how I still called her Mrs. Montgomery. Bea never said anything and I was sure she would.
"What's the news, mom?" Bea asked as she took a sip of her water. I watched her smile tightly at her and lean back in her seat.
"I got a job - here in New York!" She exclaimed. I peeked over at Bea to see her smile falter slightly but only enough for me to notice. She smiled again, bigger this time.
"That's great Mom," she said. "As a lawyer?"
"Yes, of course," she gushed. "I'm so happy to be getting out of Pennsylvania. You know, they pay a lot more up here." Turns out her mother wasn't really as great as I thought she was.
"That's, um, really cool, Mom." Bea pursed her lips and tapped her fingers on the table impatiently.
"That's really great," I added.
Mrs. Montgomery went on about her job and how much she'd like it. She never considered Bea, who was still going to be in Pennsylvania with her father. She told me her parents wanted her to be a lawyer and a few weeks before we graduated she told me she was accepted into Harvard. But, to my surprise, she denied the acceptance. She said she didn't want to. And as far as I knew, she hasn't done anything else for college. I had just assumed she would become an artist. She could do it - I know she could.
Like I said, she was a free spirit that needed her space.
________________
The song is Stay Together for the Kids by Blink-182. I thought of Bea and her parent's relationship when I heard this song. Listen to it! Blink-182 is pretty awesome!
I was tempted to put Move Along as the song but decided I needed a song that supported the rest of the story. Check out Move Along by The All-American Rejects! My other favorite by them is Dirty Little Secret.
The picture is from tumblr that I found - it's what Bea was wearing for the date with her mother and Asher!
What were your thoughts on the little date? And Bea's mom's news? How do you think she'll handle it and what do you think her news is for Asher?! Exciting!!
Sorry to say that the end is coming soon. I loved writing this story. It was so great to put my thoughts into words. I really hoped you liked it, so show me! Vote and Comment!
Thank you so much for reading!