Point Of View 2 [*Do not read until you've read the same chapter of ATW]

Chapter 185 Heavy Hearts

*Trisha*

"Look how good he looks up there!" I clap my hands and cheer backstage as Nate and the band bow one last time together.

"You're right. This is what it's about for him, isn't it? Not the promos or any of the other stuff. Just Nate up on that stage singing to his fans." Leslie smiles. She gets it. She finally sees what I see. "You did the right thing, Trish."

Wow. Leslie never says that. My smile widens with a sense of pride as Nate walks off the stage. He's a sweaty, sexy mess, but I throw my arms around him anyway.

"That was amazing!" I beam, pecking his lips, listening to the crowd go wild. The applause is thunderous, surging like a wave crashing through the arena, the crowd still riding the high from Nate's performance.

But Nate doesn't move. He doesn't hug me back. His arms hang heavy at his sides, his shoulders sag as if the weight of what just happened is only now catching up to him. I take a step back, eyes searching his face.

Then he doubles over, hands braced on his knees.

"Just need a minute," he mutters, each word scraped thin by breathlessness.

I lean in, brushing my lips near his ear so only he can hear. "You good, Nate?"

But I know he's not.

His skin is pale beneath the sweat, his jaw twitching like he's still fighting something no one else can see. I watch his shoulders hitch with each shallow breath. At first, I dismiss it, chalk it up to adrenaline or exhaustion, but my gut knows better. My own lungs tighten as if trying to take the strain off his.

 My hand hovers in midair, unsure whether to touch his back or call for help. I know Nate hates to look weak, especially here, now, in front of everyone. But this isn't about pride. It's about the tremble in his knees. The way his eyes aren't quite focusing.

Jonah moves fast, crossing the room before I even realize what's happening. "Something's wrong," he says, voice sharp as he turns toward Evan. "We need help."

I step closer, voice low and steady even as my heart pounds. "Hey, I'm right here. Just breathe with me, okay?"

Inside, I'm anything but steady. But I try to hold it together so Nate doesn't freak out. But he's gasping for air now and panic is already setting in.

Evan doesn't hesitate. He's already beside us, steadying Nate with one hand, holding his earpiece in his ear with the other as he barks out orders.

"Jone- I... I can't catch my breath."  Nate drops down on one knee, grasping at his chest.

"Oh my God! Nate." I lose it, dropping down right next to him. Everyone begins crowding the area making this much worse.

"Everyone take a step back." Evan's voice is so demanding that I actually didn't recognize it. Everyone takes his words seriously and all but me and Jonah back away to give us space. Jonah is giving Casey some kind of subliminal message with the way he is looking at her.

"Now Casey." He demands in a stern tone, and she nods, pulling out her phone. She's calling 911. It's the right thing to do. Nate can't fight us on it this time.

"I really can't breathe," Nate looks at me with a panic-stricken face. I start crying, unable to hold it in any longer now.

"Nate, we're gonna get you to a hospital, ok? Get you checked out and see what's going on." Jonah's voice is calm, but the second he says the words, Evan goes to work.

"On it, boss." Evan gets up and talks into his earpiece to gather all security here at the venue. 

"There are 30,000 people still in this building! How the hell are we gonna-" I begin to spiral.