With Me Tonight

"Haze-"

"I've got'er, Austin. Go!" Oli stops me from getting Hazel and shoves me to the door with a laugh. I hesitated slightly. "Go kill that stage again and give those fans a heart attack!"

With that, I was no longer hesitant. I was ready to preform.

I threw the door open and pounded down the stairs, jogging to the back door of the building. I grabbed the handle for it and whipped it open before running straight inside, letting it shut loudly behind me. I could hear the loud crash of the drums and strum of the bass and Aaron's voice singing You're Not Alone as soon as I stepped in. It was our second to last song which meant I had to hurry up and get there.

My feet scrambled down the hallway and passed the backstage dressing room. I couldn't see anybody so I assumed they were in there or backstage. I turned the corner and to the right I could see the stage. With a shit eating grin, I took one leap to get up the stairs that went up to side stage, getting the attention of our guitar techs and tour manager.

"Carlile!" They cheered, coming over to pat me on the back and some raising their beers.

"Get me a mic," I say, overly anxious. My ears were adjusting to the loud music and my heart was pounding really hard.

"Way ahead of you," my tour manager says as he hands me one already hooked up. I reach over and give him a quick, happy hug before walking over to the stage.

I watch as Alan catches sight of me and jumps up a little bit, smirking. My grin hasn't left as the rest of the guys notice me. They all signal me over while still playing their instruments.

The crowd hasn't noticed me yet, they were just signing aloud with the song. My heart was racing and I couldnt explain in words how happy I am to be here.

The guys slow down the beat a little bit and Aaron stops singing, confusing the fans with the small guitar solo, but giving me a perfect opening.

I bounce up and down on my toes a few times, getting ready, before breathing out and running out there singing: "You're not alone, you're with me!"

The crowd went wild.


Hazel's pov

I follow slowly behind Oli as he carries our bags inside, my arms wrapped tightly around myself. It's so cold... Freezing. I can feel my bones shake under my skin.

It doesn't take long for us to get inside, Oli holding the door for me while I slowly shuffle in. My steps are small and weak, like all the energy has been completely sucked out of me. I don't even have enough left to form a new thought, it's all just old, bad ones that make me feel even worse.

I just want to go to bed.

Oli leads me to the back dressing room, but with each step, the music gets louder and louder and I start drifting away from him. My ears ring and my head pounds from the sudden intensity of the noise, but I still walk over to the stage.

I can hear Austin's voice, screaming and singing his soul out. He sounds happy... he sounds relieved.

I slowly go up the steps to side stage, my eyes glued to Of Mice and Men running around on the stage. I walk as close as I can without going out there and stop, my arms still wrapped around myself and none of the techs saying a word to me.

I just watch. I see Tino hitting his drums with all his might, I see Aaron strumming and singing, Phil doing his thing on the guitar, Alan smirking and bouncing while he plays his chords, and then there is Austin... He jogs along the stage, pouring his soul into the words he sings. He has a smile on his face and his hand reaches out to the crowd. He's happy to be back, away from everything. This is where he belongs. This is what he loves.

Deep sadness rushes around me and quiets the loudness of the music. My body starts to feel hallow as I stare and watch Austin, so happy... So... okay. I wish I could be that. I wish I could be happy, preforming... I wish I wanted to... I wish wasn't this.

But all I feel is emptiness... sadness... All I can do is stand and feel like nothing.

I watch as the song ends and Austin goes over and hugs Alan and Tino, before starting his speech about the last song. He was so happy, so absorbed in it all. He didn't notice me here. No one did.

It's like it's just my skin standing here... I left my heart and everything about myself back in Washington with my dad.

I don't know if I'll be able to find it again.

Notes

A short chapter to fill the void of me taking forever to update! I'm so sorry, guys! Hopefully you can understand how busy life can get?

But thank you all for the comments and votes, It makes me so happy! At least I'm sorta good at something!!

I'm planning to have a new, bigger chapter up tonight and show you what's going to come next! Warning, I've had a bit of writers block:x

Hang in there with me guys <3