Broken Strings

Chapter Twelve

"Shut up Lucas." She shoves him away from her. 

"Do you guys like this?" Luke asks the crowd.

I think we could have shattered glass with the screaming we were doing. Luke smiles at turns back to Esther. He wraps an arm around her. God what I wouldn't do to be in her position right now.

"You're just strange." Luke pinches her cheek.

I look at the other boys. Hayden laughs and turns around to Fletcher. Hayden quickly looks away. The rumor on twitter is those two are fighting over Esther. From the way they keep sneaking glances at each other I wouldn't say so. Jayden and Josh have their hands over their mics and are whispering to each other. Jayden nods to something and runs off stage. 

"You're just not my type." Esther shrugs. 

"Oh I know your type Esther." Luke giggles.

Esther quickly grabs his nipple and twists it. Everyone erupts into laughter as Luke jumps away from Esther. Esther smiles evilly at him as Luke narrows his eyes. 

"Sensitive there Lucas? Are you not a real man?" Esther asks. 

Looking over again I see Josh whispering something to Hayden and Fletcher. They both nod and smile. Josh leaves them and slowly makes his way to the two bickering. Fletcher starts talking to Hayden about something. They don't seem to hate each other so much. 

"Am I a real man?" Luke growls at Esther. From the way he looks at her it's almost as if he has forgotten he is on stage. He takes a step forward and the smile on Esther's face has disappeared. "Want me to prove it?" 

Oh my God. My heart just exploded. I can't breathe. How is Esther still standing upright? How has she not jumped that boy standing in front of her? Elise squeezes my hand showing she is thinking the same as I am. 

On one of the big screens the camera has focused in on the two. Luke is grinning mischieviously at the frozen girl. I draw my eyes back to the stage to see that Jayden has returned. This time with a shirt on. But he also has a bucket of water in his hands.

Josh suddenly whips the towel from Luke's waist to reveal him wearing a pair of spider man boxers. Luke turns his back to us and his met by Jayden throwing water at his torso. From the way Luke curses I'm guessing it was cold. Luke runs at Jayden and they both disappear off stage. 

"We came to your rescue." Josh manages to squeeze through his laughter. 

Esther just pulls him into a hug as she continues to laugh. The two of them stay in a hug for a while and then once they have sobered up they turn back to us. Josh still holding Esther close to his side.

'Can the four idiots please put shirts on now?' Hayden types. Boos sound all throughout the room and Hayden rolls his eyes. 

"You not enjoying the view man?" Flethcer asks. Hayden's cheeks burn red. 

"We should actually start the show you know." Esther points out. 

"I thought this was the show." Josh motions to his bare chest. Esther laughs and goes sit on one of the stool that had been set up earlier. 

"You can't beat me in front of a crowd of witnesses." Jayden shouts running back onto stage. He hands Fletcher and Josh a shirt each. 

"We'll just see about that." Luke mumbles pulling a shirt on. He has jeans on. To my dissmay. 

"Do you guys want to hear a song?" Esther asks. 

We cheer as the boys take their seats. Fletcher sits on a cajon on the far left with Jayden sitting beside him. Then Josh, Luke, Esther and Hayden. All The Faults boys pick up instruments except for Luke who I'm guessing will be singing with Esther. 

"Shall we try the new one?" Luke turns to Esther. 

"Wouldn't you guys want to play that by yourself for the first time?" Esther asks. 

"Is it just me or do they keep forgetting we're here whenever they talk to each other?" I turn to Elise. 

"They are so in love." She giggles and we turn back to the stage. 

"We were going to ask you to sing vocals on the song anyway." Luke shrugs. 

'Oh thanks guys.' Hayden types and everyone laughs. 

"Anytime man." Fletcher laughs. 

"So we doing this?" Luke asks Esther. She looks at the rest of The Faults boys. When they all nod she does the same. "Great. This is a new song called Voodoo doll. Wow you guys are just getting all the new stuff aren't you?" Luke laughs actually talking to the crowd. 

Then the guys start up the beat. Luke coughs into the mic and puts on a serious face. He turns to Esther who sticks her tongue out at him. Stragiht away Luke breaks into a smile the serious face gone. He is still smiling at her when he starts singing the first verse. 

I don't even like you,
Why'd you want to go and make me feel this way?
And I don't understand what's happened,
I keep saying things I never say. 

Luke's face goes serious again. Esther is bouncing her head to the music and is smiling at Hayden. She turns back to Luke and he smiles again. 

'Cause I can feel you watching even when you're nowhere to be seen,
And I can feel you touching even when you're far away from me.

Luke winks at Esther and she gags lifting the mic to her lips. 

Tell me where you're hiding your voodoo doll 'cause I can't control myself,
I don't wanna stay, wanna run away but I'm trapped under your spell.
And it hurts in my head and my heart and my chest,
And I'm having trouble catching my breath.

Ooh
Ooh

Won't you please stop loving me to death?

They sing together in perfect harmony. Then is seems to be Esther's turn. 

I don't even see my friends no more
'Cause I keep hanging out with you
I don't know how you kept me up all night
Or how I got this tattoo

I can feel you watching even when you're nowhere to be seen
I can feel you touching even when you're far away from me

Tell me where you're hiding your voodoo doll 'cause I can't control myself,
I don't wanna stay, wanna run away but I'm trapped under your spell.
And it hurts in my head and my heart and my chest,
And I'm having trouble catching my breath

Ooh
Ooh
Won't you please stop loving me to death?

stop loving
me to death?

Esther puts the mic down and looks over at the rest of The Fault boys. They all smile at her. It's like a little family. She looks back to Luke. 

Every time I see you
Suddenly my heart begins to race,
Every time I leave
I don't know why my heart begins to break

Luke sings to her. And from where I'm sitting I can see he means it. Or maybe it's just my ship hormones being activated. 

Tell me where you're hiding your voodoo doll 'cause I can't control myself,
I don't wanna stay, wanna run away but I'm trapped under your spell.
And it hurts in my head and my heart and my chest,
And I'm having trouble catching my breath

Ooh
Ooh

Won't you please stop loving me to death?

When it's over everyone cheers and claps. Esther leans over and high fives Luke. The two start laughing together. 

'Am I the only one sensing sexual tension?' Hayden types.

The crowd start laughing. Luke and Esther turn around to see what Hayden has written when they turn back they have looks of disgust on their faces. 

"No." They both say sternly.

Boy was twitter going to explode tonight.