The Trip [12]

Chapter twelve…

Ben led us down a hallway to some sort of lounge and told us to wait there because when the band finished getting dressed, they would be in this room preparing. I sat down on a velvet-y green couch and waited for the band. Reid sat down next to me.

“Reid, can I talk to you?” I asked.

“Sure.” he replied.

“I’ve been think about, maybe, not going to--” He interrupted me before I could finish the sentence.

“The band’s here.” He said. I stood up and Ben introduced us to Gerard, Mikey, Bob, and Ray.

“Um, where’s Frank?” Ashlyn asked.

“What? Are we not man enough for you?” Ray asked her in return, eyeing her like a piece of meat.

“I have to use the restroom.” I said. Ben pointed to a door down the hall and I was on my way. I opened the door and it didn’t look like anyone was in there so I went into a stall and unknowingly started singing a song that has been in my head all day: Pressure by Paramore.

I came out of the stall, still singing, and washed my hands. I was going to leave but I heard someone start applauding. I turned around and it was him, in the flesh. Frank Iero and he was applauding me.

“That was amazing. Have you ever thought of singing professionally?” He asked. “Because I know some labels that would love to have you, especially with that voice.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me. I cant sing, I get nervous being in front of people I haven’t known since kindergarten.” I explained.

“Well, you can sing. Everyone gets nervous, I mean, we’re playing this sold out stadium tonight and I just had to clean puke off of my face, not that you needed to know that, but oh well. Once you have that crowd going, there is no better feeling in the world.”

“I’m sorry but I cant, I just cant.” I said and opened the bathroom door and stalked back to the lounge, with Frank Iero following me. I glided in and over to Reid who was sitting and conversing to Gerard. I sat down next to him.

“Hey, P.” He greeted and went back to speak to his new best friend. Frank walked over towards us so I buried my face in Reid’s shoulder because I knew he was going to say something about me.

“Hey I’m frank.” He said and held out his hand for Reid to shake. “This your girlfriend?” He asked about me. Reid nodded. “She has one hell of a voice. I was in the bathroom and I heard her singing. It was amazing.” He praised.

“I didn’t know you could sing.” He questioned me.

“I cant.” I mumbled a little.

“Yeah you can. Remember all of those lyrics you used to write.” Carter stepped in.

“They’re poems, not lyrics.” I defended.

“Lyrics are poems. It’s the same thing.” Gerard butted in.

“Remember, you used to put them to music on your guitar. Remember, after my dad died you would play them for me. You were only nine at the time but it was still amazing. Remember?” Carter said. I did remember doing all of that. I stopped playing and singing after my brother died.

“I just cant okay?” I said with tears threatening to fall from my eyes. Reid saw this and grabbed my hand and took me into the hallway.

“Why cant you? If you are good enough for a total rockstar to love you then I think you can do it.” He said.

“I cant do it because it was my brothers dream to be a rockstar. He died and if I did this it would feel like I am trying to replace him and his dreams.” I said with tears actually falling now.

“I don’t think he’d want you to be unhappy either. If you love singing and playing and it makes you happy, do it. He wouldn’t want you to live a life that your mother picked out. A brother only wants what’s best for his sister, believe me, I punched one of my best friends for my sister.” He said. I looked at him and the sincerity in his eyes.

“But they were his dreams.” I shouted.

“Let him live through you and your music.”

“Okay. I’ll do it.”

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Tomorrow is the last one! Then my story "It's different now" will go up!