A/N: just a heads up this is a very long chapter compared to the others
"so are we all set?" aiden tapped his foot anxiously
the four were huddled up backstage, the party had begun an hour ago and people were still arriving.
"yes, aiden" rue put her hand on the man's knee in an attempt to calm him down
"i think it's time we get on the stage" flynn picked up his bass, the rest agreed letting aiden take charge and walked onto the stage
"how are we feeling tonight?" his whole demeanor changed once he spoke into the mic. the crowd erupt in cheers "not many people knew about us and i see many new faces" he narrowed his eyes to the crowd
meanwhile flynn plugged his bass in, quinn sat on the drums and rue plugged into the amplifier. followed by the three plugging their earplugs in. she looked around for someone, disappointment washed over her. it's not like she was expecting leighton, but maybe she was.
"so, this is our first song and it's called 'why'd you only call me when you're high' let's go" aiden looked at rue to begin and she did followed by flynn and quinn.
"so" aiden began a couple songs later "as many of you might still now know, this place is called 'the extacy' and we don't have an exact timeline on when it started because of how notorously private it has been all along" he took the mic off the stand and put his other hand over the stand, as he always does
"do you think she's gonna show?" flynn whispered to rue about leighton
"i don't know and i don't really care" she scoffed quietly
"yeah, flynn" quinn agreed "it's not like she made a song for her and wanted her to hear it fir the first time here" she said making rue glare at her.
the songs continued and it only made rue lose more and more hope of leighton showing up. it was nearing the end of their set and close to the song that she was gonna sing, 'hated to admit but', for leighton.
she was so focused on getting the perfect riff that she missed flynn trying to say something with his eyes.
when she finally looked up though, she saw the blonde in the crowd. their eyes met for just a moment but it was enough for rue to mess up her part. she tried backtracking and looked back. leighton was with, tatum, of fuckin course she thought to herself
aiden suddenly turned around
"rue, you gotta sing the next one, it's 'snap out of it' i'll take your guitar" he told her and she was surprised but did not thing twice before holding the mic and giving aiden the guitar
"so" she looked around "things switched up a bit, huh?" she panicked and spoke in a british accent.
leighton who was listening intently laughed a bit at that. she knew rue's habit and it reminded her of some good times when rue used her accent.
"this next one's called uh" her heart skipped a beat when leighton laughed "snap out of it" she did snap out of it
quinn started the drums and rue tapped her leg to the beat before getting close to the mic and singing
What's been happenin' in your world?
What have you been up to?
I heard that you fell in love or near enough
I gotta tell you the truth, yeah
she looked at leighton, clearly communicating what she means. even when leighton was in a conversation with tatum, the latter clearly distressed about something but leighton seemed like she couldn't care less about anything else other than the singer on stage
rue had this newfound confidence when everyone started vibing to her words and the spotlight that once blinded her seemed not such a bother after all. watching this, leighton realised she still wanted rue, no matter how much she tried to deny it she wanted to be with rue and it was clear to everyone but her.
I wanna grab both your shoulders and shake, baby
Snap out of it (snap out of it)
I get the feelin' I left it too late, but baby
Snap out of it (snap out of it)
If that watch don't continue to swing
Or the fat lady fancies havin' a sing
I'll be here waitin' ever so patiently
For you to snap out of it
she ran her hands through her hair as she swayed her body to the music, just enjoying herself, for the next one she looked straight at leighton not breaking eye contact for the whole thing
Forever isn't for everyone
Is forever for you?
It sounds like settlin' down or givin' up
But it don't sound much like you, girl
leighton challengingly stared at rue for the whole thing too. before tatum walked out which made leighton follow behind and rue furrowed her eyebrows for a moment before concentrating on the task at hand
I wanna grab both your shoulders and shake, baby
Snap out of it (snap out of it)
I get the feelin' I left it too late, but baby
Snap out of it (snap out of it)
If that watch don't continue to swing
Or the fat lady fancies havin' a sing
I'll be here waitin' ever so patiently
For you to snap out of it
she looked around and saw leighton walk back in, alone. she smirked to herself. maybe everyone, it means that even tatum knew who leighton actually wanted
Under a spell you're hypnotized (ooh)
Darlin', how could you be so blind?
she sang but it felt more like a direct question to leighton when their eyes met. rue closed her eyes for the last bit
I wanna grab both your shoulders and shake, baby
Snap out of it (snap out of it)
I get the feelin' I left it too late, but baby
Snap out of it (snap out of it)
If that watch don't continue to swing
Or the fat lady fancies havin' a sing
I'll be here waitin' ever so patiently
For you to snap out of it
the music eventually died down and rue opened her eyes. looking around
"thank you" she laughed grabbing a bottle of water "we'll meet again, in about 5 minutes for one slow song" she dispered the crowd walking away. the four met at the backstage "i'll be right back you guys" she told the others before walking out
she searched the place with a beer in hand until she found leighton, sitting alone at the bar. she approached the girl
"sitting alone at a party?" she sat down beside the blonde "doesn't seem like you murray" she sipped the beer
"yeah well" leighton looked at rue, a playful look in her eyes "singing? doesn't seem like you, crawford" it made rue chuckle
the two could beat around the bush as much as they wish, everyone knew they wanted each other and that everyone now included them too.
"where's your girl?" rue asked
"we broke up before i walked in again" leighton looked at rue "i know you were looking for me the whole time" leighton's eyes flickered down to rue's lips then back at her eyes
"yeah well, i wasn't sure you were gonn show" she rest her elbow on the table supporting her face with her palm as she looked at leighton beside her
"i just decided to stop by" leighton spoke in a low voice as she leaned in making sure rue heard her "i am gonna leave now, i think"
rue gulped at their closeness. she took a shallow breath as she leaned in her eyes flickered close, leighton followed suite. their lips were an inch away, rue could feel leighton's hot breath on her skin
"rue, we're ready" flynn shouted from behind
rue ducked her head down as she chuckled
"cockblocker" she mumbled under her breath, leighton chuckled
she looked up and leighton grabbed her collar with one hadn to pull her in adn she connected their lips in a hurry. rue kissed her back, the feeling of being complete came back to her and they eventually pulled away, smiling
"i was gonna say" she tried to speak but her mind was a blur after their kiss "you should stay for this one" leighton nodded as rue hurried away.
the four got back up on the stage making the crowd clap for them. rue took the mic as aiden took her guitar sitting crosslegged at the chair. she looked back at him and he nodded at her giving a smile.
"we're gonna disturb you for the last time" she joked and signalled flynn and quinn to start
rue tapped her foot and bopped her head to the beat. she looked at leighton, giving her a small smile which the blonde returned.
And Danny ran into some complications
He falls asleep during conversations
He's gotta search the street when he's on vacation
The worst thing is that I'm in the same situation
leighton's eyebrows furrowed for a moment before she realised this isn't an already existing song
And all I do is sit and think about you
If I knew what you'd do
Collapse my veins, wearing beautiful shoes
It's not living, if it's not with you
she subtly pointed at leighton to let her know this song is about her
And Danny says we're living in a simulation
But he works in a petrol station (selling petrol)
He says it all began with his operation
And I know you think you're sly, but you need some imagination
rue closed her eyes, just feeling the song which made leighton do the same
And all I do is sit and think about you
If I knew what you'd do
Collapse my veins, wearing beautiful shoes
It's not living, if it's not with you
All I do is sit and drink without you
If I choose, then I'll lose
Distract my brain from the terrible news
It's not living, if it's not with you
she opened her eyes to see leighton whose eyes were closed, she took a second to really just burn that image in. her eyes closed, body swaying and that small smile that refused to leave her lips
All I do is sit and drink without you
If I choose, then I'll lose
Distract my brain from the terrible news
It's not living, if it's not with you
leighton opened her eyes to see rue already staring at her, which made her hide her face in embarrasment. rue chuckled into the mic which made leighton smile even more widely
All I do is sit and think about you
If I knew what you'd do
Collapse my veins, wearing beautiful shoes
It's not living, if it's not with you
All I do is sit and drink without you
If I choose, then I'll lose
Distract my brain from the terrible news
It's not living, if it's not with you
"sing it" she spoke into the mic before the last part began, everybody joined in, softly singing.
It's not living, if it's not with you (It's not, it's not)
(It's not, it's not)
It's not living, if it's not with you (It's not, it's not)
(It's not living, if it's not with you)
It's not living, if it's not with you (It's not, it's not)
(It's not, it's not)
It's not living, if it's not with you (It's not, it's not)
(It's not living, if it's not with you)
she sighed giving leighton one last smile before she got off the stage.