chapter thirteen:: beside you
MY feet ran faster than my mind as I went down the streets of Hollywood. I first stopped at the Hollywood Club, though Caleb told all of his guards to not to let me in no matter what, so my second choice was the Orpheum. The least I can do is warn Julie.
Though, that didn't help as there were guards there too. I huffed, trying to look over their shoulders, "Please, I have to speak to Julie. It's an emergency."
"Tickets are sold out, alright?" One of them told me, "No ticket, no entry."
"Please, this a life or death situation right now," I grunted, trying to push past security, but they didn't even budge, "Please, let me just-"
"Ma'am, I'm sorry, we can't-"
"Dawn," I looked to my left to see Hayes approaching me with furrowed brows, "What are you doing here?"
"I'm trying to get through, but they won't let me in," I breathed out before he nodded and went up to the guy and held out a ticket before whispering to them.
The security silently nodded and Hayes glanced back, meeting my confused look, "Come on."
I hesitantly followed him as he walked past the guards, but once we got inside I grabbed his sleeve so he'd look at me, "What are you doing?"
"What are you talking about?"
"You know what I'm talking about," I narrowed my eyes, "Why are you here and why are you helping me?"
"Because these guys seem like they mean a lot to you," He told me, "And even though I've warned you of the risks, I know you're still going to do what you think is right because you always do." I let him go as he went on, "But there are still going to be consequences, Dawn. Either you or them is going to get hurt in this process."
I lowered my head briefly before sighing, "I have to go." He nodded and I brushed past him to go through the crowd of people, but I noticed Julie was already up on stage playing her piano. I subtly try to catch her attention, but by the time I did, Alex suddenly appeared on stage playing drums. My body filled with relief just by the sight of him, but I grinned when I saw Reggie then appear playing bass. They're okay, I thought, especially when I saw Luke now trying to appear on stage. When he did, I instantly met his eyes and he smiled at me.
My eyes involuntarily stayed locked on his up until they finished their song and I made me way to the front of the crowd. I then looked at the guys, noticing them all smiling at me before they took a bow with Julie and disappeared off of the stage, leaving Julie by herself. They're gone, I then thought, my smile slowing disappearing from my face, they're gone too.
( THE NEXT DAY )
"Dawn," My mother called me and I looked away from myself in the mirror to see her with a wide grin on her face, "Are you nervous?"
"I would be lying if I said I wasn't," I laughed shortly, but looked at myself again, fixing out my black dress, "I feel like I'm going to a funeral."
"You look amazing, sweetie," She then came up behind me and helped fix my hair, "What's with your frown?"
I look at my reflection, noticing I did have a frown, "It's nothing, I just.." I paused and lowered my head, "It's nothing, let's go."
"Okay, did you contact your father?" She asked and I nodded.
"Yeah, he said for me to knock their socks off," I forced a smile, but I suddenly put my hand to my mouth when she walked away, a burning feeling making it's up way my throat. I rushed into my bathroom and to my toilet, spitting out whatever was forcing it's way up. I breathed out heavily when I looked in the toilet and saw nothing but red in my toilet bowl.
"Dawn, you okay?" I heard my mom asked, so I quickly got up and flushed my toilet, "We don't want to be late."
"I'm coming!" I assured her, but then looked at myself in the mirror, a light stain of my blood on my lips. I tried to contact the guys early this morning before my dad, but I couldn't reach them. I kept trying until I ended up passing out on my bed, not even being able to call my dad before my mom knocked on my door for me to get up.
I wiped at my lip and left my bathroom before going downstairs and outside to see my mom already getting in the car. She helped me put my cello in the car before I got dressed because she could sense I didn't feel well, yet I told her it was nothing. I got in the car too before she drove off towards my school, but kept glancing over at me with a smile, "New York will be good for you."
"For us," I nudged her, "But I might not even get in."
"Don't be crazy, Dawn. You're too talented for them not to take you," She assured me, before extending out her arm to push my hair behind my ear, "Your father and I believe in you."
"Thanks, mama," I take her hand and kissed the back of it before we drove the rest of the way in silence. I can do this, I said to myself, it's only a two minute audition. When we got to the school, though, I froze in my seat, "I can do this... right?"
"Of course you can," She tells me, "Just pretend that you're in your room, playing by yourself. You'll do just fine." I hesitantly nodded at her words before we both got out the car so she could help me carry my case. We walked silently to my auditorium, but I felt myself shaking before I even got there and when we did, I felt like I was going to pass out again.
"Dawn Nguyen," I heard my name once I got there and I snapped my head over at my mom.
She handed me my case and put her hands on my shoulders, "I'll be waiting in the car, okay? You got this."
Slowly I nodded before turning on my heels to go towards my guidance counselor who smiled at me widely, "You came just in time, they're ready for you."
I give a weary smile before walking up onto the stage, my grip tight on my case handle. Silently, I sit in a chair they had set in the middle of the stage before I pull out my cello and put on the endpin. I then placed the neck on my shoulder before pulling out my bow. I looked out into the audience, seeing the administrators from Juilliard, waiting patiently for me to begin, so I closed my eyes and lowered my head. My grip on my bow loosened before I clenched my hand around it before freeing it slightly.
I placed my other hand on the strings before I slowly played. Once I began, my mind shot to Luke. It was like I was in my bedroom with him sitting a few feet from me, listening to me as I played. I could feel him so focused on me, watching every chord I played even as I picked up my pace. I played like it was just him and me in the auditorium and no one else, which surprisingly comforted me.
I performed my song full out, and when I finished, my hands felt numb. I kept my eyes closed, hearing no sound from the administrators as a response, though after a moment, I heard a loud clap that echoed through the auditorium. I quickly lift my head and opened my eyes to see Luke at the bottom of the stage, continuing to clap as I stared at him in shock.
"Thank you, Ms.Nguyen," I heard, making me briefly look away from Luke and at them. Hurriedly, I hummed and put my cello back in the case before standing up and nodding at them.
I walked off the stage and out of the auditorium, but once I do, I'm greeted by Luke, "You continue to amaze me, Dawn."
"What- How.." I stammered, placing down my case, "How is this possible? I- I thought-"
"It seems it didn't go quite like we had hoped," He sighed when I furrowed my brows, "It's a long story, but all that matters is that I'm here- we're all still here. Why, missed me?"
Without another word, I pulled him into a hug, having him wrap his arms around me once I did. I couldn't help but smile, "I'm glad you're okay. All of you."
"Why wouldn't we be?"
I then pulled away, "I tried to contact you guys this morning, but when I couldn't-" I paused, having him furrow his brows when I touched my nose and looked down at my fingers, to see blood dripping down.
"Dawn," He called me but I wiped my nose.
"I'm okay now, it just... it just took a large toll on me," I assured him, "I thought you guys were owned by Caleb when I could not reach you. That's what happens to all the spirits that are completely under his control."
I listened as Luke hummed silently, but eyed me with worry, "So the part about you dying is true, huh?"
I shrugged, "Not sure, but I'm not willing to find out either." I then reached down to grab my cello, but Luke stopped to put my head in his hands.
I stared up at him as he met my eyes, "We're going to figure it out, okay? We're all in this together."
"What is this? High School Musical?" I let out a light chuckle, though he couldn't help but look at me confused, which caused my laugh to die down and just smile, "It's, uh- nevermind, come on."
He nodded before hesitantly letting me go, so I could continue to grab my cello, "You know you're going to have to teach me one day."
I laughed again, "Wow, that would be the news of the century; 'Rock Boy Plays Cello'."
He rolled his eyes, but I looked down as his hold my cello with me, causing our hands to touch. We meet each other's eyes, but he looks away and smiles, "The title could use some work."
I then playfully rolled my eyes as well as we walked out of the school, "Haha, yeah whatever."
( END OF PART ONE )
(a/n:: when I say this was
fun to write, I literally mean
it. This was so much fun
and I can't wait for season two
because this book is not over!
I'm only going to make it completed
until season 2, so please stay tuned!
Thank you guys for reading and loving
it just like I did❤️