It was our first show on tour and my heart was racing as I saw the guys get on stage and pick up their instruments. The crowd was going wild and the line for our merchandise was crazy long. I greeted everyone and even took pictures with some. There were so many sweet kids telling me stories about how the band had helped them, and some even said they looked up to me and Justin’s relationship.

“Stay! For tonight! If you want to! I can show you! What my dreams are made of!!” I heard Kellin’s voice. They looked so happy and energetic. “That’ll be twenty dollars,” I said as I was handed a shirt. When I looked up I saw Martin Broda in front of me. He was the guy who had called Oliver to come on tour. I smiled and exchanged him the shirt for the money. “I didn’t know you were a fan.”

“It’s growing on me,” he smiled, I giggled. “If I can get someone to cover for you for just a minute, could I have a word with you? I don’t have much time left because we’re up after the,” he nodded at the guys.

“I-uh, sure,” I answered him skeptically. Within five minutes one of his merchandise guys was at my post taking care of all of our orders. I followed Martin to a quieter place, but kept looking back at my table, feeling uneasy about leaving it unattended, well, not entirely unattended… It was just odd not being the one to hand out or things.

“Basically, we’ve ran into a small problem,” he turned to look at me.

“What’s the problem?”

“Our setlist includes a song where a female takes a part, and said female is at home coughing her lungs out because she has the flu and since you’re the only other girl on tour, we were wondering if you could do just one song with us?”

“What? I-uh, what? I mean, I don’t even know your songs… And I don’t sing,” I answered frantically.

“Please? It’s just a couple of lines, and it’s not hard at all. You’ll have about 30 minutes because it’s our 4 song and your band dudes still have two more, so actually, you’re have about 40 minutes. You could listen to it on repeat and then try?? Please? We have nowhere else to turn.”

“What about your fans? I’m sure every girl out there knows it.”

“We considered that, but the guy who owns the venue doesn’t want any fans on stage.”

“Fuck,” was all I could say, “Alright, give me the song. I’ll give it a shot, but if I chicken out last minute, you are on your own.”

He handed me a sheet with the verse I had to sing and then his phone and some headphones. “The song is already pulled up, all you have to do is press play and keep scrolling it to just that section. Maybe give the song a listen a few times so you know when it’ll be your turn. Thank you, thank you, thank you so much.”

“You’re welcome.” I put the headphones in and walked off to the girls’ rest room back stage to get some privacy and practice. I was thankful I was the only girl because it meant I never had to wait for showers or share my privacy place. The song was really good and not hard to learn at all, within ten minutes I already had my verse down. My only problem was remembering when it was that I had to open my mouth. I saw down and just continued to sing it until it was a few minutes before the song.

I rushed out of the bathroom and headed towards the stage, bumping into a worried looking Justin.

“Fee, where have you been? I’ve been looking for you everywhere?!” he exclaimed as he pulled me into a hug.

“I was in the girls bathroom singing in privacy. Martin wants me t go on stage in,” I looked at the phone’s clock,” a minute! I gotta go!” I shouted and jogged past him. I made it to the side of the stage, with Justin trailing a bit behind me with everyone else looking confused.

“Alright guys, this next we’re gonna play, we’re gonna need to hear all of your voices!” he shouted into the microphone. “We have a special girl out here tonight that’s agreed to help us out, and we need to show her our support and how much our fans appreciate her help tonight!!” They all cheered and my heart began to race faster. “Everyone please welcome Fiona!” he shouted and I took a step on stage as everyone began to scream and cheer. I smiled and waved at them, then took my position in front of the microphone stand.
I felt like I was going to pass out until the song began; slowly and lightly.

“I’ll be there watching from way up high.
The shadow you can’t see when the sun’s in the sky.
Wondering eyes have no disguise…
It’s obvious that this love never dies.
Never dies….

“Our love never dies” I whispered lightly, “Th-th-th-th-th-this love never dies,” I sang,
Diessss, this love never dies, this love never, this love never di—uh-uh-ies.”

“I’ll be your guardian angel,
Your sweet company.
No matter where I go,
I’ll make sure you’re all I see.
I’ll be your guardian angel,
Your sweet company.
No matter where I go,
I’ll make sure you’re all I see.
I’ll be your guardian angel.” “GUARDIAN ANGEL,” Angelo joined, shouting his part, along with the fans.
“Guardian angel.” “GUARDIAN ANGEL!”
“Guardian angel.” “GUARDIAN ANGEL!”
“Watching over you,” (“Over you!“) “Watching over you.”

“When you thought that you were alone,
You turned your back on me.
It’s cause you think you sit high on a throne,
I’ll always have you on your knees.”
“I'll be your guardian angel,” “Guardian angel!” “Your sweet company.” “Your sweet company!”
“No matter where I go,” “No matter where I go!”
“I'll make sure you're all I see” “I'll make sure you're all I see”

“I’ll be your guardian angel,” “My eyes are glued, I don't mean to intrude!”
Your sweet company.” “I can't get them off, get them off you!”
No matter where I go,” “My eyes are glued, I don't mean to intrude!”
I’ll make sure you’re all I see.” “I can't get them get off of you!”

I sighed before bring the microphone to my lips and closing my eyes, smiling.
“I pray you'll be watching from way up high… The shadow I can’t see when the sun’s in the sky.”
I opened my eyes and everyone was smiling, cheering, and looking at me intently.

“Watching over you,” Martin sang lightly and our eyes connected. He was smiling at me, as I was towards him. I looked back at the crowd and smiled, then turned my direction at Justin, Oli, and the guys on side stage. They all had huge grins on their faces and looked so astounded and proud.

“She felt a sense of fear! As I came near!
And on my face! I drew a tear!
She felt a sense of fear! A sense of fear!
A sense of fear!”

“I'll be your guardian angel,”“Your sweet company.” “Your sweet company!”
“No matter where I go,” “No matter where I go!”
“I'll make sure you're all I see” “I'll make sure you're all I see!”

“I’ll be your guardian angel,” “My eyes are glued, I don't mean to intrude!”
Your sweet company.” “I can't get them off, get them off you!”
No matter where I go,” “My eyes are glued, I don't mean to intrude!”
I’ll make sure you’re all I see.” “I can't get them get off of you!”

“I'll be there watching from way up high…
The shadow you can't see when the sun's in the sky.”

The song ended and everyone shouted, screamed and jumped around. “That was spectacular!” Martin shouted into the microphone. “Thank you all for helping us out with the song! Everyone give it up for Fiona one more time!” Everyone shouted ever louder. I began to fill overwhelmed.

“Thank you!!” I shouted into my microphone, “It was an honor and a great pleasure helping out!” I smiled and waved at them as I walked off the stage. I felt exhilarated.

When I made it to side stage everyone was congratulating me and giving me hugs. I felt so stupid and awkward that I excused myself to my merchandise table and took over again. I thanked the merchandise guy for Abandon All Ships and he walked off to his own table. A crowd began to form an even bigger line at my table and I couldn’t believe it. Everyone was telling me that I did great on that song and all I could do was smile at them, thank them, and give them their things. By the time my line was short enough, Oliver and his band where already on stage, and Justin, Jack, Jesse, Kellin, and Gabe where by my side taking pictures and helping me hand out our merchandise.

Notes