So a warning for all of you that don't read the author notes.
NEXT CHAPTER IS THE LAST CHAPTER!
Staring down at the gossip magazine, Keely shifted in her seat, propping her elbow against the window. Strange how she had managed to avoid true notice through her weeks in Bellingham, but the moment Seth came into town, the place was swarming with paparazzi.
It either showed that he was just that much more well-known than she or people in the town just didn’t care about spreading gossip about her in the same way since she wasn’t exactly a new element there. Either way, she didn’t care. If it meant she could stay out of the pages of magazines longer, she’d quite happily do whatever she needed.
However that didn’t last. Pictures that had been snapped on the street were splayed across the long spread devoted to her and Seth, some from the school and even one of him leaving his motel room while he slipped sunglasses onto his eyes.
Was it sad that it didn’t even surprise her that they stalked him to his motel?
What she thought was worse was the fact she recognized the side of the motel he was staying at, she could even nail down exactly where his room was due to the number on the door.
In all, the entire thing was giving her a headache. Although the dull throbbing in the back of her head might be more due to the fact that as she read through the article, her dad was driving his truck without pause. Months on a bus, not once did she get car sick, no matter what she did. Two hours in her dad’s truck? She was even feeling dizzy.
Groaning, Keely tossed the magazine away from herself, letting it flop in the middle of the bench seat between them.
“Advil?” he questioned.
Rubbing her temples, she nodded slowly, murmuring, “Yeah…”
“It’s in the glove box.”
“What’s wrong?” Joseph asked from the back seat, coming blankly into the conversation as he leaned into the front part of the cab.
Before Keely even had the chance to reply, it was her father who supplied the answer. “She has a headache.”
For a moment she pursed her lips, but then just gave an unconscious shrug of the shoulders as she decided she was perfectly okay with her father answering for her. Instead of speaking, she just dug through the little drawer until she found the much anticipated bottle of pills. Popping the lid off, she quickly downed it with what was left of the lukewarm water sitting in the bottle in the cup holder.
“Are you sure it’s good to do a concert with a headache?” Joe pestered from behind her.
Sighing she shuffled back into her seat, wrapping her arms securely around herself. “I’ve performed with a headache before, Joe; I think I can handle this.”
The cab of the truck fell into silence at her words, causing Keely to stare out the window to see the city moving past them. It couldn’t be much longer to the stadium, and barely longer until her set came up, The Cavern Jets didn’t really get a long time on stage anyways, about twenty minutes.
Her stomach was jittering with nerves. Everything was bearing down upon her with a surprising ferocity that she hadn’t even thought about, for so long she’d been looking forward to this concert. But now that it was time, it seemed like complete suicide.
There was Joseph and she wasn’t sure how he would take to seeing a real concert of hers, the same could be said for her father. There was wondering if Haley would show up, she’d reserved front row tickets and backstage passes for this concert for all her friends months ago. Seeing her back up band for the first time since the fiasco, seeing The Cavern Jets – though more importantly Will, of course Colton and Marco who she missed more than she could explain. Then there was Seth of course, what was she even going to be able to say to him after their last words to one another? Or rather, his last words to her. She hadn’t really said much.
But the main issue that had those birds of prey flapping around in her stomach? Going up on stage again, in front of a real crowd, not just her father, Joe or even a classroom of teenage kids; now that she’d passed those obstacles, they seemed insignificant in comparison to the stadium she was about to play.
The last time she’d done this she’d coughed up blood in front of twenty thousand people, not to mention ran away after.
Well… to be honest, there was a bright side to all of that.
It couldn’t get much worse than that.
When the things that could be worse started popping into her mind, Keely hastily forced her mind away from the subject. Instead she gave a shiver at the surprisingly chill air that the open window was supplying a steady stream of. “I can’t believe its cold,” she muttered, rolling up the window.
Her dad just gave a shrug. “It’s a summer storm coming on; the weather has been so hot lately it was bound to happen.”
“Are you the weather man or something now?” she teased, raising her eyebrows at him.
“Everyone can tell it’s about to rain,” Joe piped up from behind them, leaning his elbows against the seat as he shuffled forward to join the conversation. “You can feel it on the air.”
Giving a short laugh in the back of her throat, Keely let her head fall back against the head rest behind her. “Oh, yeah, I forgot, you two live on farms. You’re the undisputed kings among the weather men, but you get none of the glory.”
In response the two just sent her bland looks.
Burying her head in her hands, Keely groaned, “I can’t believe we’re talking about the weather.”
Before either of the men in the car could make a comment in response to her words, the stadium came into view, her father slowing down to take the turn while the car once again fell into complete silence. Though she felt for each person it was for different reasons, for her it was utter nerves, while she suspected for the boys it might be awe.
It was a fact that people with tickets to the sold out show had already been let in, after all, it was only a half an hour until the show began – she blamed their lateness with her father’s refusal to listen to internet directions and her own procrastination. Yet there were hundreds of people piled around the front door of the stadium, holding signs and reminding her of a completely different concert in what felt like forever ago.
Swallowing the ball of nerves that erupted in her throat, Keely announced, “Showing up to my sold out rock concert… in my dad’s beat up old truck. Very cool. Anyways, just pull in behind,” she told him, pointing to the place she’d been given strict orders to go.
He sent her a raised eyebrow look. “Embarrassed to be seen with your dad?”
With a roll of her eyes, she replied, “I’ve been seen with worse people. Ever heard of Rachael Gosling? You never want to. But unless you want a mob denting your beloved old beast, I’d suggest back door parking.”
With the threat of his truck getting dented, her dad was all too willing to pull around back, no argument needed.
“Dad?” she questioned when he’d pulled straight in front of the back doors, a threatening but very familiar security guard on duty in front of them. Keely sent him a quizzical look, not opening the door in her confusion as he continued to let the engine run idly beneath the hood of the truck.
“You two go ahead,” he said with a nod to the doors, “I’ll just park the truck.”
Staring at him incredulously, she blurted, “Just park the truck here.”
Determinedly, her father shook his head. “No way, imagine how much they charge you to park here.”
“Oh my god,” Keely groaned, rubbing her forehead with her hand. “Dad, this isn’t like parking for a football game when I was a kid and having to walk four miles to the stadium so you can get free parking. I’ll pay the freaking charge.”
He sent her an insulted look, answering, “I don’t want you to have to pay for me.”
“Dad,” she told him, still not able to rid herself of that disbelieving expression. “Maureen would cover the cost anyways if I demand it. I really don’t care that much.”
Instead of giving in, he used that stubbornness that she no longer thought she’d inherited in tenfold and forced her and Joseph out of the car. Talk about cheap. It was like squeezing money from a stone.
“Just remember to show them your backstage pass and everything,” she ordered, holding open the door.
Her dad just fixed her with a pointed look, for a second reminding Keely how much she really was like her dad before he spoke. “I’ve got it, Keely, now shut the door.”
Pulling a face at him that only made the man chuckle, she slammed the door shut. With just a wordless glance to Joseph at her side, she stuffed her hands in the pockets of the ripped jeans she was wearing before taking off at a slow gait towards the man standing guard over the back door. At this time in the year – with the heat they’d been having lately – she’d be wearing shorts and a tank, it got bloody hot up the stage. But it was being unseasonably chilly.
She didn’t need to say her name to the security guard; he simply sent them a nod, opening the door. And though it was an odd feeling, she supposed she should have expected it. After all, it was just as much her concert as it was NSR or The Cavern Jets.
Mumbling a thank you to the man with a sincere smile, she slipped into the door, snatching up Joe’s sleeve and pulling him in with her since he seemed like he was pausing. Despite those nerves from standing outside the stadium, the familiar labyrinth of hallways calmed her down, though she’d never been to this part of the stadium before. With all the stadiums she’d preformed in since New York, she was beginning to agree with those musicians who said that everything started to look the same on a stadium tour.
However, at this moment, she truly appreciated the fact that it was familiar. She felt more comfortable there than she ever did at home, getting more relaxed with every step that took them deeper into the stadium. It was understandable, beside the bus; stadiums had been her second home over the tour.
Completely opposed to her, Joe seemed to be getting more uncomfortable the further they got in.
And even though she couldn’t bring herself to reach out and ease his mind, their relationship felt so strange she could barely touch him anymore, she did sympathize with him. It wasn’t where he belonged, and it had been nice for him to come backstage with her for the show, but this was her place. He simply didn’t belong there, and why was it so easy for her to understand that about him, yet it didn’t work the other way around?
Getting closer to the stage, people she recognized started to become common. So far she hadn’t seen anyone from the bands, but every member of the light and stage crew, their tour crew in general, she knew by name and greeted warmly.
All along, Joseph just steadily looked more awkward with each passing moment.
“We’re almost there,” Keely promised, sending him a sidelong glance.
In undertone, he questioned, “How do you know?”
Suppressing her smile, she just gave a shrug. “There are signs,” she answered cryptically, though she didn’t tell him that there were actual signs pointing them to the stage. She supposed he was just being unobservant with the tension that was running through him.
Sending him a smile that was returned by his tentative one, Keely rounded the corner, not keeping her eyes on the road. And, unsurprisingly, slammed straight into another body.
Wasn’t that what teachers in elementary school tell you? When you’re walking in hallways, always look around the corner… or something like that. She couldn’t exactly remember. But it seemed like pretty sound advice, because her chin made a rather crunching contact with a tough chest.
“Ow, shit,” she swore, rubbing her chin before tilting her head upwards.
Gasping, Keely threw her arms up, having to quite literally jump to reach her arms around William’s neck as she dragged him down closer to her level. “I know I said if you ever walked into me again, I’d never talk to you but… not happening,” she told him, her voice muffled against him as she spoke.
“I’m pretty sure you walked into me,” Will accused, but she could feel the rumble of a chuckle moving through him. Giving her a tight squeeze, he pulled away, looking down at her with a concerned expression. “How are you doing?”
With a cheeky grin and a little shrug, she replied, “Good. Better now, though.”
Accepting that answer without question, he pointed out, “You’re late.”
“No I’m not,” Keely retorted stubbornly, “I’ve still got about fifty minutes until my set.”
“You almost missed ours though,” Will responded, sending her his charming boyish grin as he straightened his shirt.
“Good luck and I’ll see you after,” she affirmed, giving him a short hug before he hurried off.
For the first time since before Will had appeared, Keely remembered that Joe was standing right beside her. With a quick glance, she found that he was fixing her with a look that urged her to explain right away.
“He’s the drummer for The Cavern Jets, they’re the opening band,” she told him, following behind William, though at a slower pace. She was under the assumption that he’d be leading them towards the stage if his set really was as soon as he’d said. “He’s incredible, best drummer I’ve ever played with, he even got the John Bonham tattoo to go with me and Seth’s Led Zeppelin ones. The other guy who played with us when Will did, Jake Beck, got the John Paul Jones symbol. It’s awesome.”
His brilliant answer to her monologue was, “Alright.”
Biting back her annoyance, Keely just hurried her step up, feeling excitement instead of nerves at the thought of seeing some of her friends again. Her interaction with Will had been natural enough.
Following Will seemed to have been the right way to go, because she started to hear the crowd, and feel that familiar sensation of the palpable excitement skitter over her skin. It felt like a drug, and she drank it in greedily. Turning around one last corner, she found the entirety of The Cavern Jets standing at the door of the stage, waiting to go on.
Looking at them made her feel almost nostalgic. She could remember the first time she’d even heard them play. Back in New York City when they were just auditioning to be her back up band, with their original lead singer. They’d been so nervous. And now, standing there, they looked almost seasoned. Sure, she could see nervousness in their movements, but she doubted that unless you were Paul McCartney or any member of the Rolling Stones those nerves would ever go away.
Catching Will’s eyes, she gave him a short little salute, but when she caught Aaron’s gaze she sent him a bland stare before turning her look elsewhere.
Listening to the noise when they walked on the stage, she scoured the little crowd of people, sending a smile or a wave at everyone she recognized – which was most of them. But she was looking for a few people in particular. She wanted to see both Colton and Marco, give them tight hugs. She’d missed them so in their absence.
Yet she needed to see Seth. In the short time they’d been apart, he and his words had been almost all she’d thought about. However, she hadn’t let herself truly think about what she should say to him when they met again.
All because she was afraid she’d overthink everything, her words, what he’d say, what their reactions would be, and in the end, she’d wimp out and run away.
In the scouring, she even found Sadie and Tony; although they were too busy staring around in awe to be bothered by her presence.
Having almost given into the fact that she was going to have to ask someone where their change rooms were, she felt a sigh leave her mouth. However it was cut off short when she heard someone shout her name.
Spinning around, she found herself instantly enveloped into a warm pair of arms. After just a second of hesitation, Keely quickly wrapped her arms around the person who could be no one but Marco as he lifted her off her feet in the pressure of the hug, surprising a laugh out of her.
“Colton!” he yelled, though his eyes never her face.
Grinning, she pushed away from him, landing lightly on her feet, asking boldly, “Miss me?”
With a wink and twinkling eyes, Marco replied, “Always.”
“And always the flirt,” she countered, smiling broadly, but she brushed past him quickly, recognizing a mop of curly bronze hair.
Colton pulled her into a hug as well, although it wasn’t as tight as the one from Will or as high as the one from Marco. “Hey Keely,” he greeted simply, but the smile on his face was enough to assure her he’d missed her beyond a shadow of a doubt.
The smile on her face was almost painful because it was so enormous as she pressed a friendly kiss against his cheek. “God,” she muttered, “I missed you guys.”
“And already lifting the ego,” Colton admired, pressing his hand against his heart.
Arching an eyebrow, Keely replied, “And all the sudden I’m nostalgic for when we weren’t together.”
“Okay, ouch,” he said with a mock wince, “Ego going straight back down.”
Filling in the space between them, Keely gave him another hug, this one light as well, and altogether one sided because she pulled back before he could return the pressure. “I did really miss you guys, honestly,” she whispered, for his ears only.
A warm smile was his response as he rocked back onto his heels. “Don’t worry, Keel,” he assured her, “I know you did. We missed you too, and you don’t really understand how much yet.”
“Huh?” she asked, her eyebrows furrowing.
He chuckled, “Don’t worry, once you get back, Marco will bitch and complain enough for you to understand.”
Even though he’d still left her in the dark, she just stared at him, feeling her lip twitch slightly at the thought. “Yay,” Keely said unenthusiastically.
“You should go find your back up band,” Colton pressed, “They’re freaking out about the lack of sound check.”
Rolling her eyes, she grumbled, “It’s always the freaking sound check.”
“They’re in need of you.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” she mumbled. Biting her lip, she quickly searched the room again, though this time just looking for one person in particular. However, she wasn’t as lucky as she had been; there was no trace and no calling of her name. Reluctantly Keely turned back to Colton, barely able to get the words out. “Where’s Seth?”
An expression flickered over his face, something akin to sympathy, at least that’s what she thought it was. But before she could truly analyze it, the look was gone. “I don’t really know, he’s probably hiding somewhere very far away so he can play without any distractions before he goes on.”
Frowning up at him, she rubbed her arm, suddenly not feeling quite so relaxed. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” Colton answered with a smile at her, “Just go find your back up band.”
Not wanting to, but knowing it was like squeezing blood from a stone in order to get information from those boys when they didn’t want to give it, Keely stared at him for a long moment, nodding slowly.
Turning around to Joe, she found him standing there, sending Marco distrustful looks as Marco did the same to him.
“I’ve got to go find my Bitter Rivals,” Keely spoke up, stealing both of the boys’ attention.
However, while Marco instantly understood what she was telling him but Joe stared at her with a confused bridging on incredulous look. “My back up band,” she explained hastily, forcing herself not to respond to the holes that Colton and Marco’s eyes were burning into her with their gazes. “I need to warm up, I’ll see you in a while, okay?”
“Uh, okay,” he agreed, looking around them.
The lost puppy look got to her and she found herself sending both Marco and Colton pleading looks. Marco scowled in response, but Colton hit him in the shoulder, sighing and giving her a nod.
Sending them a thankful smile, Keely once again focused her attention on her friend. “Joe, these are my really good friends Marco and Colton, you can hang out with them until I get back. Marco, Colton this is Joseph, he’s my…” all the sudden she found herself lost for words. She wanted to say her best friend, but was she even sure about that anymore? “… friend,” she decided, “Be nice, alright?”
With those words of wisdom sent to them, she patted Joe on the arm, heading off to find someone who could point her in direction of the Bitter Rivals.
In the end it was a member of the stage crew, who went by the name of Dave, who pointed her in the right direction. Walking in there wasn’t like being greeted by Will, Marco or Colton. It was just an acceptance. They got shocked looks when she walked in, but they didn’t comment, just let her settle in without a word.
Instantly she sat down, and with the help of mostly John – though the others put in some thoughts – she wrote the set list, even if she wished Seth could have been there to put in some thoughts of his own. And though she didn’t miss the concerned side long expressions she was receiving from the entire band – even John – she was thankful that they didn’t ask how she was.
There were honestly few people that could ask that question without her getting annoyed, and William was lucky he was one of those people. Maybe it was just the sincerity she received from him, so many people asked the same question but truly couldn’t care for the answer.
After a vocal warm up as well as instrumental, they were summoned to the stage by a knock on the door and barking orders.
“You good?” asked John, not looking at her as they exited the room last.
Gritting her teeth, half because the question and the other half because those nerves were pushing their way back, Keely nodded. “Yup,” she answered blandly, staring straight ahead of them.
Once they got to the side of the stage, she closed her eyes, rocking back onto her heels then back forward onto the balls of her feet. Deep breath in, deep breath out, then repeat. However, Keely was finding that particular method of calming herself down, completely useless. And imaging the crowd in their underwear didn’t help either, she’d tried that.
“Keely!” called a relieved voice.
Well, at least that was a distraction. “Joe?” she asked, opening her eyes slowly to find her friend standing in front of her.
“Are you going on soon?” Joseph questioned her, looking absolutely thankful that he’d found her. That only made Keely wonder what Marco and Colton had been doing to him in her absence. He started talking again, but she found her attention was stolen by a figure she could see just to the left of him.
Seth was standing there casually, talking to an annoyed looking Colton. His hair was mused as usual, and even though he was slouching back against a wall, he still stood inches taller than his friend. And in nothing more than dark jeans and a tattered looking Foo Fighters long sleeved concert shirt that was shoved up over his nicely formed arms and up to his elbows, he managed to look undeniably sexy and she felt a jolt travel up her stomach.
As if sensing her gaze on him, his golden hazel eyes focused on her. After a moment, the hard look softened and he sent her a smile, the one with the dimple that she was beginning to think was reserved especially for her. It was as if no one else got to see it. And without even a conscious thought, she returned the look, smiling across him with no thoughts towards anyone else in the building, hell, in the city. For all she cared, at that moment, there was no one else but them.
“Keely?” Joe’s voice pestered, breaking her out of the moment, making her blink and turn her gaze towards him.
For a moment she stared at him blankly, Sadie’s words from the day before echoing through her mind. Make a choice? Between Seth and… Joe? A choice. There was no choice, there wasn’t even a competition. She loved her best friend, or who she thought was her best friend, and never wanted to hurt him. But she was sure whatever she did, she’d hurt him in some way and she wasn’t about to sacrifice all her happiness for a fleeting moment of his if it’d end badly all the same. And she had no doubt it would. As selfish as it sounded, she couldn’t do anything different.
With a bewildered expression, he followed where she’d been focused. That confused look slowly melted away, only to be followed up by a tight jaw as he stared back at Seth who suddenly frowning. That blissful moment from before was obviously far away, for everyone.
“Ah, I have to go on stage soon,” she muttered, pointing back at the hidden doorway to where the crowded stadium awaited.
But when Joe’s gaze swerved around to her, Keely found herself frozen on the spot by the accusation that was written plainly in his usually carefree blue eyes. “Keely,” he asked in an oddly calm voice, “I need to ask you a question.”
Feeling like a trapped animal, she glanced around herself, trying to find anything to save her. What she found made her stomach drop dangerously, Haley with her blonde hair in perfect swirls standing awkwardly at the corner of the room with her father planted firmly beside her, looking just as uncomfortable.
However, she wasn’t given time to react to that before Joe’s words were causing everything in her to quake. “Do you–”
Squeezing her eyes shut, Keely said adamantly, “Don’t ask that.”
“Keely,” he repeated her name forcefully, making her open her eyes. “I want to know.”
The tears pricked her eyes, but she didn’t dare blink as she stared back at him, her knees felt like they might give out at any moment. “Don’t,” she pleaded, taking a step back.
Gripping her wrist, he successfully stopped her from moving away and though it didn’t hurt her whatsoever, it did reinforce the point of the questions he was asking. “Do you love him?” he asked, his eyes searching her face.
Biting her lip, she stared back at him, not knowing how to answer.
“You’re going to want to let go of her,” said Seth’s cold voice, suddenly very close.
Yet for once, Keely didn’t find herself looking to Seth, she found herself locked in that gaze with Joe unable to break it.
Ignoring Seth completely, Joe didn’t so much as blink, but repeated in a low voice, “Keely.”
Pulling in a shaky breath, she nodded, managing a broken, “Yes.”
Instantly he dropped her arm, as if he’d been burnt and Keely let out a shattered sound from the back of her throat. “Joseph,” she said tearfully, but she was at a loss of words after that and couldn’t think of anything else to say.
It was so final. He knew now, but she hadn’t wanted to do it that way, though she didn’t think any way of telling him would have been a good way. No one took well to being told that not only you didn’t love them, but you loved someone, especially someone else who was standing right beside him.
“Keely Staub,” the familiar voice called out, “You’re on.”
Swallowing the lump in her throat, Keely rubbed her hands over her eyes, blinking back the tears that had so wanted to fall.
Steeling everything inside her, she took one last breath, looking around at her. Joe had a shell shocked expression, Seth was looking between she and Joe bewildered, Colton and Marco were looking on sympathetically, her dad was walking towards them with a determined face, Haley was running a hand through her hair with a distressed look, Will was standing looking torn in the middle of the room and finally Sadie and Tony were staring at the scene with gaping mouths.
Not waiting to make interactions with anyone, Keely turned on her heel and walked onto the stage, the blaring lights making her blink but she kept her walk steady straight to the point of the stage.
Refusing to look back in case she broke down, she pulled up to a halt and picked up her worn Strat that the stage crew had placed there. Feeling calmer that she had her guitar in her hand, Keely let her hands glide over it knowingly, allowing it to bring her some peace of mind from everything going on. Slowly, she slipped the guitar strap over her shoulder and turned to face the crowd.
With everything that had happened, the nerves she’d been so worried about had fallen away, but her stomach jolted as she stared out at the sold out stadium. But she pushed what had happened to the back of her mind as she looked out at the fans, while they she would give them her emotions; she didn’t want to ruin the show with the drama that had been circling her.
“Hey,” she said simply into the microphone, “I’m Keely Staub.”
The cheering that arouse like a wall of sound blasted away any nerves that had been crowding her mind.
And with a relieved breath, she turned back around to her band, counting them off until none other than Yesterday’s Gone. She wasn’t going to shy away from the song just because of the last time she performed it. No running, right? If she was going to do this, she’d do it right. And that meant she was diving in head first.
And it was a success. Her voice didn’t crack, it stood up against the strain easily, and she found herself slipping into her persona again. It was wonderful; she was able to keep the perfect balance of dry wittiness opposed to serious sincerity as the show went through. Balancing softs acoustic ballads opposed to loud rock songs.
When the time had dwindled down to the last song, Keely took the time for a pause, her band waiting patiently behind her.
“So you might know,” she began, fixing her guitar strap over her shoulder during the break. “I’m a Washington native myself –” instantly the cheers filled the stadium “– and I might not be from Seattle, but I’m close enough to here to consider this a part of home. I saw my first real concert in this stadium right here. It was the White Stripes, and I was way up there,” she told the crowd, pointing to the nosebleed section.
Continuing on, she placed her hands on the guitar, readying herself to share something with them that she hadn’t really talked about to anyone. “And you might also know that not long ago, I had this little issue. I lost my voice, I thoroughly fucked up. But I’m happy my first true show after all of that is here, in this place, with this history. And the last concert I saw here? My best friend dragged me to. It happened to be Marissa James and NSR; we’ve come full circle in a way. I bet I was standing with a few of you, not too long ago.
“But, anyways, I have just one last song to share with you all. It’s called Don’t Stop.”
True to her word, John started them off into the Fleetwood Mac song.
For the first time, she dared to look to the doorway to backstage. And to her surprise, she found not only Seth standing there, but all her friends packed into the section, probably brought forward by her little speech.
“If you wake up and don’t want to smile, If it takes just a little while. Open your eyes and look at the day, You’ll see things in a different way.” She sang the first verse of the song; her eyes focused on her friends and family, but tore her gaze away to the crowd, letting the emotion come into the music.
Keely let herself sink into the song, playing the guitar flawlessly as she tapped her foot along to the song to keep time.
However, further into the song, she found herself looking back as well, her hands completely dropping away from the guitar in order to grip the microphone stand. “All I want is to see you smile, If it takes just a little while,” she sang out, her eyes focused closely on them as the tears pricked her eyes. She just wished that they could hear the sincerity in her voice, the tears clogging her voice slightly but not chocking it. “I know you don’t believe that it’s true, I never meant any harm to you.”
After finishing the song, she and her back up band exited the stage to the tremendous roar for an encore. However they couldn’t give it as the stage crew rushed out there, switching it around for the NSR set.
The moment she got off stage, a water bottle was pressed into her hands along with a towel.
Gratefully she took them, drying off her head with the towel while she chugged down the water, remembering her doctor’s words about her voice. She had to take care of it more than she ever thought, meaning there would be lozenges and a lot of tea with honey very soon in her future. But for now, just water.
“You were wonderful,” came her father’s gruff voice as he enveloped her in a tight hug.
Knowing him well enough to know he wasn’t good with words, she just hugged him tightly, breathing in the scent of her childhood. “Thanks dad,” she mumbled
When he let go of her, she peeked about him. Hurriedly she found Joe, but when their eyes met, her quickly looked away, turning from her and making her heart give a painful pang. There was no point in talking to him now; she’d only make it worse. Trying to ignore the guilt that was building in her stomach, she turned the other direction, finding a completely different person that she was in desperate need to talk to.
“I’ll be right back,” she promised her father, pressing the towel in his hands, which he took – though with a great look of disgust.
Strolling around him and across the room, she mumbled thanks to the people that called out good job and sending them half-hearted smiles as she continued to guzzle down the water. That pride had disappeared the moment she’d had even that short moment of interaction with Joseph.
“Hi,” she greeted the pretty blonde as she came to a halt, “No Taylor, I guess?”
Haley forced a smile, but it barely touched her cheeks let alone her big doe eyes. “I think you scared her.”
With a shrug, Keely brushed her hair away from her face. “Might be a good thing.”
“Maybe,” answered the girl with a reluctant tone. “Keely,” she started.
“No,” she interrupted, holding out her hand. “I need to say this; at least it all goes to hell. I never did mean to hurt you, I never knew and I hate what he did and I hope you realize nothing ever happened. Ever. No matter what anyone might tell you. I always just thought he was my best friend.”
Letting out a big breath, Haley looked over her shoulder, nodding slowly. “I know. I know you’d never do that, I know you well enough. But it was easier to hate you, or at least be mad at you, if I could convince myself you did.”
Although it cut at her stomach, Keely composed herself with a nod. “Understandable,” she chocked out.
However Haley just shook her head vehemently, finally turning her head so their eyes met, the pain behind it making Keely’s guilt worsen in her stomach. “No it wasn’t. I hate you and him, but I love both of you. I think I hate him more, because he did this to us. Knowing everything. And I hate myself, because it’s my fault as much as it was his, I mean, I knew how he felt about you the second go around. But you’re just so freaking oblivious to everything, you pretty much have no fault in all of it.”
“I should have known,” she mumbled, her eyes going downcast.
“But I just don’t think I can be friends with you,” said Haley, making Keely’s eyes snap up once again.
After everything she’d said, that caught Keely off guard, she’d thought this would be their make up scene. Some majorly needed bonding was supposed to happen. “What?” she asked bewildered.
A tortured yet apologetic look graced Haley delicate features, as she pressed her lips together, her eyes filling with moisture slightly. “After everything, I just can’t. And even if it hadn’t happened, I don’t think it would happen. I’m so jealous of you, can’t you see that? You’ve got Joe even though you don’t want him, and you have all this incredible talent. It just leaks out of you. And I can’t hate you because you’re not obnoxious about it or self-important, you’re just the same girl I’ve always known.
“But you have this life, and there’s no spot for me. Maybe one day, but really not now.”
Hauling in a breath that felt like it wheezed down her throat, Keely nodded. “Okay. Okay,” she repeated, that time with more conviction. “Are you going to stick around for the rest of the show?”
“Ah, I don’t think so,” Haley replied, looking around. “I liked NSR’s old music better anyways.”
That, at least, got a laugh come out of her, although it was teary. “I’ll see you around,” she said, but it came out as more question.
“Yeah, maybe,” Haley replied in a farewell.
Not wanting to drag it out, Keely turned around, moving towards the stage to where NSR was just getting on stage.
At that point, she didn’t know where to go, so she walked towards where the music was playing. Had she been allowed, she would have gone on and played a song, it would be the best kind of therapy from just ending a childhood friendship for good. But it was good enough to stand beside the stage mesmerized by Seth.
And by the end of the show, he’d managed to put a smile on her face without even realizing it as she watched them play Led Zeppelin’s Ramble On for their encore.
It left her waiting for him by the edge of the stage.
She’d thought with everything that had just happened with Joe, she might make up with Haley and have her to get through what was going on with her. But that obviously didn’t happen. But the only person who could truly get her through all of this would be him, no one else could even compare.
Whisking the sweat off his face with a towel, Seth started off, but she quickly touched his arm, causing him to come to a halt.
“We’re going out for dinner,” she blurted, staring up at him.
Confused his brow furrowed and he answered with, “Huh?”
“Well, my dad, Joe, Sadie, Tony and I were supposed to go out for dinner. Do you want to go?” she asked him, searching his face for an answer.
“Actually, I can’t rebel,” he told her, his dark golden eyes pained as he stared down at her. “I’ve got to go to my motel room. I’ve got a plane ticket that leaves out of here tomorrow morning to go to Crossroads. I’ve got to go pack.”
She gulped deeply, questioning him instantly. “But that doesn’t start for like two weeks.”
Seth gave a shrug. “I’m done waiting around, rebel,” he answered her in a soft voice.
“Then why did you even come here?” she asked, her voice cracking.
His jaw tensed, but he pulled his gaze away from her, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand. “Some kind of closure, it’s not exactly easy when it’s you. It’s just time to ramble on, I guess.”
And he just stepped around her, using the towel to dry of his hair as he headed towards his change room.
As it turned out, they didn’t go out for dinner.
Sadie headed home with Tony is his car, while she, her dad and Joe were stuffed into the truck once again.
This time she took the back seat, staring blankly to where the sudden rain pounded down on the window. It turned out they’d been right about the summer storm, it was truly coming down like it never did even in the fall. The rain making such an impact, it was a miracle that it didn’t break the glass, let alone allow her dad to see through the windshield.
She didn’t know how to react to this.
She just felt hollow.
There was no talking in the car, at least by her. She didn’t say a word, just thought about everything. I just don’t think I can be friends with you. Do you love him? I’m done waiting around. Yes. It’s just time to ramble on, I guess.
Her dad tried to bring her into a conversation, but she simply ignored him. And when he attempted to speak to Joe, the boy only spoke in one word answer. So they all lapsed into silence, her father not even turning on the radio, the only sound was the rain that was a steady pounding down on the truck.
They dropped Joe off at his house where he left without even looking at her, and Keely wordlessly climbed into the front seat before her dad took them home.
But when her dad parked the truck in front of the darkened house, neither of them made a move to get out of the car, her dad pulling the keys out of the ignition. Keely just continued to stare through the windshield into nothing back darkness, the only thing she could see the rain shedding from the glass.
“If you love something, you don’t have to let it go,” her dad announced.
Sighing Keely rubbed her temples, sparing a glance at him to where he’d turned in his seat towards her. “What are you talking about, father?”
“That saying; its bullshit.”
“Don’t swear,” she chastised.
He arched an eyebrow at her, saying, “I heard you say much worse on stage tonight.”
“That’s different,” she protested half-heartedly, “You’re my dad. You’re not supposed to know swear words.”
This time the look he sent her was incredulous. “Where did you think you learnt those words?”
“It’s weird, alright?”
He rolled his eyes at her as a roll of thunder grumbled over them, shaking the truck ever so slightly, though that might have just been her overactive imagination. “Anyways, that saying, if you love something, let it go? Its complete bullshit, if you love something, you hold onto it with all you have.”
Understanding what he was getting to, Keely closed her eyes against fresh tears. “I’m scared,” she admitted in a tiny voice. “What if it’s not enough?”
“Do you love him?” her dad asked bluntly.
“Yes,” Keely murmured. It was getting easier each time.
He nodded as if that answered everything. “Then it’s enough.”
“But what if it’s not?” she asked him, the desperation leaking into her voice as she opened her eyes. One tear fell, tracing her cheekbone.
“Then you don’t love him.”
Pressing her lips together, Keely nodded, turning her eyes back to the windshield. “I’ll be back later, okay?” she promised, grabbing her bag quickly.
“I’ll be waiting,” he warned.
Just sending him an absent nod, she shot out of the truck, stumbling as she hit the ground and water already splashed up against the impact. She could barely see in the darkness, but she managed to get her car keys out of the bottom of her bag before she got to her car, diving inside the dry sanctuary.
Hastily firing up the ignition, she pulled out of the driveway. Giving a hysterical giggle as she sped down the road, she could only think that she was driving the way that Seth drove. Very out of character for her, but so was this.
She said no running, right?
Well, that was a lie.
She was running to be sure.
Getting to her destination, Keely slammed onto the break, pushing the gear into park before she got out of the car. Staring at the darkened windows, she walked towards the correct one, her hair already plastered unbecomingly to her head and her clothes soaked through with just the moments spent in the rain before she got under the overhang.
Not caring much for decency, she found the correct door and knocked violently on it, disregarding that she might be waking every single person up.
Keely didn’t stop pounding her fist on the door until the lights inside the motel room turned on, disregarding the fact that her hand was starting to ache from the motion against the hard door. Pulling in a deep breath, she let her hand drop to her side, barely hearing the sounds of movement over the rain. All the sudden that adrenaline that had pushed her to get there so fast drained away, leaving her a mess of nerves and insecurities as she stood in front of the door stupidly.
What if he’d packed his things and was staying in Seattle that night? That would make sense. So he wouldn’t have to drive all that way. What if he was here but she just got the wrong room? What if it was him in there but he was so fed up of her pushing him away that he sent her away?
However he thoughts were cut off abruptly when the door swung open.
Well, it was definitely Seth. He only had a pair of dark sweat pants pulled on, hanging becomingly off his hipbones as he ran a hand over his face tiredly.
“Keely?” he asked incredulously, blinking as if she might disappear with the action. But she was firmly standing there. The surprise of hearing him say her actual name had a shiver running up her spine. “What are you doing here? Fuck, are you stupid? You’re going to get sick.”
“It doesn’t matter,” she told him, her teeth chattering.
Oh, she could bet she was a great sight standing on his doorstep still in the clothes from the show and looking like a drowned rat.
“Of course it does,” he told her with a scowl. “You just got your voice back, do you really want to lose it again. Come inside before you do get sick.”
Although it was very tempting to walk inside, she could feel the heat radiating out of the room, maybe Seth as well, but she stood still. “I love you,” she blurted out.
He went stock still.
“There!” she shouted, flinging her hands out to her sides. “I love you. I love you. I fucking love you, Seth. And you don’t get to just ramble on, because that’s not fair. Not when I’m so in love with you I can’t think about anything else.”
Seth barely even looked like he was breathing; his eyes were wide as he stared at her. For a moment, she almost felt smug, it wasn’t often she got to think about anything else. “Rebel,” he said cautioning.
“I finally said it,” she told him, “No romance, no good timing. I’m standing here and I’m a train wreck. But, I love you,” her voice softened at the end.
“I don’t want you to leave, you can’t leave me. Not after everything. I don’t want anyone else; I could never be with anyone else. I want to make music with you and I want to just be able to be with you. And I know it’s late and you’re –”
Successfully cutting off her ramble, Seth pulled her into the doorway.
She gasped as she hit his chest, but she was too busy to say anything else when his lips met hers again, his head dipping.
It was just like she remembered, she didn’t know if they were fireworks or bells or anything else, but they were ringing in her head like nothing else. Making a soft moaning sound in the back of her throat, Keely brought her hands up to his shoulders, dragging herself as close to him as she could possibly get, marvelling in the heat and solidness of his chest against her and the sensation of his mouth moving perfectly with hers in the kiss.
Breaking the kiss to give them both time to catch their breath, Seth leaned his forehead against hers, staring down at her.
Breathlessly she was caught in the look, a smile working its way on to her mouth. “Hi.”
“Hey,” he replied simply.
Deciding that she was allowed to do this now that everything was out in the open, Keely straightened, planting a light kiss on his mouth.
Groaning in the back of his throat, Seth moved his hands from her waist, tracing them up her sides and gaining goosebumps from her until he reached her neck. “You just want to meet Eric Clapton, don’t you?” he joked, his guitar callouses brushing against her sensitive skin as he pushed away her soaping hair.
“Exactly,” she returned, but she quickly filled in the space, kissing him lightly again.
However this time he held her in spot before she could move away, and while the kiss started out sweet, it quickly turned.
Wrapping one of her arms around his neck, she let her hand delve into his soft dark hair while she lightly bit his bottom lip, making a hoarse moan come from the back of his throat. Deepening the kiss, Seth tipped up her chin up while the other hand slid back down to her waist, pulling her as close as they could manage, apparently her soaking clothes not making a difference.
This time when they pulled away for a breath, Seth just kissed the side of her mouth, trailing his lips along until he got her neck and Keely dug her fingers into his shoulder as she tipped her head back.
Forgetting about everything else, he peeled away her leather jacket, letting it fall on the ground carelessly as they backed into the room in mutual agreement, Seth kicking the door shut behind them.
- Alright. There we go. Next chapter is the. Last. Chapter. Wow. So long in the making. Final-fucking-ly. But yeah, hope you enjoyed. They're finally together. Holy crap. I'm giddy.
Awesome cover by jjackieeex! Thank you so much!
So if you've made me a cover or messaged me, I swear I've read them all and I love hearing from you! I just haven't had ANY time to respond, I'm sorry. But just know I'm not ignoring you. I read them on my phone when I'm out or in the barn or at work. And I might have lost a lot of the banners made so if you want to resend them to me, that would be absolutely amazing.