"So, are you gonna tell me why you need a new tie and vest for the band concert?" Richie asked as he followed Chris into JC Penney's.
"Nope," Chris replied with a smirk. "I need it because I'm going to be doing something that's a surprise for everyone at the concert."
"A surprise?" Richie asked, raising his eyebrows. "You know I love surprises, Chris!"
Chris grinned as they reached the suit and ties section for teens and he started browsing for a matching tie and vest.
"I know you do, Rich, which is why I'm definitely not telling you what it is."
"Can I at least have a hint or something?"
"How about this: you can try guessing what the surprise is and I'll tell you how close or far you are from getting it right."
"All right!" Richie exclaimed, looking determined. Chris couldn't help but laugh at his boyfriend's enthusiasm. "Uhhh...you're gonna play a bunch of solos and there's gonna be one in a song that we all like!"
Chris looked impressed.
"Something like that," he replied slyly as he continued to rife through the various ties and vests. "I do have a couple of trumpet solos during the show, but there's also one big solo I have that's something different. It's something I've never done before."
"Oooooh!" Richie said excitedly.
"But, no, I won't tell you anymore. I've already said too much! I mean heck, not even Mom or Dad know what the surprise is, and it's next to impossible to keep a secret from them!"
"Why the big secret?" Richie asked, giving Chris a light punch on the arm.
"I just want it to be a nice surprise for everyone. Normally, I don't invite the entire party to the band concert cause of finals, but I really want everyone there so they can see this surprise. I'm doing it all for you and everyone else."
Richie nodded, but looked like he wanted to keep talking. He didn't press the topic and instead joined Chris in looking for a tie and vest. In just seconds, Richie spotted a forest green set and grabbed it.
"This, this right here would be perfect!" Richie said, handing the tie and vest to Chris, who took it and held it over his chest. "Oh, yeah, babe. You're gonna look totally hot wearing that!"
Chris grinned sheepishly.
"If you say so," he said shyly.
"Hell yes I say so. Seeing you in that would be a wet dream!"
"Beep beep, Richie," Chris said slighlty irritably, though he was smiling.
Richie grinned.
"Oh come on, you know you love me," Richie said.
"Yeah, and I'm an idiot," said Chris as he smiled and leaned in, giving Richie a quick kiss. "I agree; this color will be perfect."
Richie and Will sat together in the middle of the row where the rest of The Party, Chris' parents and Will & El's parents were sitting. The band had just played the second to last song of the evening and the stage was being rearranged for the final song.
"So, what do you think the surprise is, Willy Will?"
Will shrugged.
"No idea, Chris just told me that it would happen during the last song."
"Yeah, he just told me it was going to be something he's never done before. Maybe he's gonna play a song by himself with his trumpet!"
"Hmmm...or maybe he's gonna sing or something," Will said, nodding at the stage, where a lone microphone was standing.
"Chris? Sing? I've never heard him sing."
"Neither have I," said Will absentmindedly as he scanned the rest of the stage. "But I also don't see Chris anywhere on stage. That tie and vest you picked out for him make him stand out."
"Damn right it does! I needed a little eye candy while watching this show."
"Oh shut up!" said Mike irritably from next to Will. "Do you have to be so gross?"
"Just stating the truth, Mike and Ike," Richie said before he frowned. "You know, I think you're right, Willy Will. I don't see any sign of him up there."
"Wonder why," Will said. He turned to lean over and ask the others if they knew anything when the chatter of the audience died down as the band director reappeared on stage.
"All right, everyone, thank you so much for your patience," the band director said. "For the final performance of tonight, we're trying something a little different. We'll be performing a song with one of our band members singing the lyrics."
Richie and Will exchanged a look.
"You've heard him perform a couple of times this evening, but please extend a warm welcome to our singer, Chris Byers!"
The band director gestured to his right, where Chris appeared from backstage, smiling and waving at the audience. Will and Richie looked at each other, confused, but cheered loudly with the rest of the group. Once Chris had taken his place at the microphone, the band director stepped away from it and walked over to the side of the stage where a podium was waiting for him.
"Hi everyone," Chris said nervously in the microphone. The Party cheered loudly for him and Chris beamed.
"God he's a knock out in that tie and vest," Richie muttered. Will punched his arm.
"So, I asked if I could perform this song with the band in this style because I believe it makes the song that much more powerful," Chris explained. "We reworked the song from its original rock incarnation and converted into an orchestra piece, with me singing the lyrics.
"This song has always been special to me, but even more so in the last several months. As many of you know, I had a bout with thyroid cancer earlier this semester." At this, a few audience members groaned in sympathy. "But I am happy to say that I am cancer free thanks to the efforts of the medical team at St. Jude's hospital."
Chris paused as the audience cheered loudly for several seconds.
"This song is about open-mindedness, and waking up to all of the things you've missed in life," Chris continued. "Ever since my diagnosis, I haven't simply been going through the motions in life as I had been. I live for each day, and I remember that life is priceless and to always make each day count.
"Now with all of that, I'd like to dedicate this song to my family and to The Party, as we call ourselves. You all have been so wondeful this past few months that I couldn't do this without you. And my heartfelt thanks to Mr. Linville for letting me perform this song. Here goes nothing."
With that, Chris nodded at the band director, who motioned for the song to begin. A programmer in the back of the room started to play the song. It started slow and quietly and gradually built in volume for several seconds before Chris broke in with lyrics.
How can you see into my eyes, like open doors?
Leading you down into my core, where I've become so numb
Without a soul
My spirit's sleeping somewhere cold
Until you find it there and lead it back home
Wake me up inside
Wake me up inside
Call my name and save me from the dark
Bid my blood to run
Before I come undone
Save me from the nothing I've become
Now that I know what I'm without
You can't just leave
Breathe into me and make me real
Bring me to life
Wake me up inside
Wake me up inside
Call my name and save me from the dark
Bid my blood to run
Before I come undone
Save me from the nothing I've become
Bring me to life
Bring me to life
Frozen inside without your touch, without your love darling
Only you are the life among the dead
As Chris' vocals carried for several seconds, the audience started to cheer loudly, but none where as loud as The Party, with Richie and Will dominating the cheering.
I've been sleeping a thousand years, it seems
Got to open my eyes to everything
Don't let me die here
Bring me to life
Wake me up inside
Wake me up inside
Call my name and save me from the dark
Bid my blood to run
Before I come undone
Save me from the nothing I've become
Bring me to life
Chris took a deep breath.
Bring. Me. To. Liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiife!
Chris' vocals carried for nearly ten seconds before he quieted and the music played for a few seconds before it was done. When all was silent, there was a brief pause before the audience erupted in cheers again. Chris beamed at the audience as he took a bow and waved, tears streaming down his face.
"Goodnight, everyone!" Chris yelled into the mic before he took another bow and walked off stage.
"Holy shit, I didn't know he could sing!" Richie yelled as the cheering continued as Chris disappeared from view.
"Me neither!" Will shouted back. "That was amazing!"
Within moments, the applause died down and everyone in the audience started to stand up and gather their belongings before leaving the auditorium. The Party stood up quickly and followed the adults out of the auditorium and into the hallway, where they stood waiting for Chris. In just moments, he appeared, beaming at everyone.
The adults all smothered Chris in hugs and congratulating him on his performances. When they were done, Chris went up to each party member individually and hugged them.
"Chris that was amazing!" Max exclaimed.
"Man, how did you learn to sing like that?" asked Lucas.
"Remember when I blew off all of our studying sessions, saying I had private lessons?" Chris asked.
"Dude, no shit, you were taking singing lessons?" Dustin exclaimed.
Chris grinned.
"That really was incredible, Chris," El said with a smile as she hugged him.
"Seriously, though, how did you manage to learn that so quickly?" asked Mike.
"I guess I just got lucky," Chris said with a shrug.
Chris turned to Will and pulled him into a tight hug.
"That was incredible!" Will said. "I can't believe you did all that and dedicated it to us!"
"I had to," Chris said with a smile. "You guys have done so much for me, it was the least I could do."
"Yeah, but I'm the one who picked out that smokin' hot tie and vest!" Richie said, grinning at Chris, who pulled him into a hug.
"And I'm totally grateful for that. And for everything else you've done for me. I love you," he added in a whisper just for Richie to hear.
"I love you too," Richie whispered back before they broke apart their hug and grabbed hands.
"Thanks again for coming tonight, everyone," Chris said to everyone. "I just wanted to show my appreciation for all of you and I figured what better way to express myself than through music? And you guys did save me and woke me up to everything I might have missed in life, so that's why I chose that song."
Everyone beamed at him and shouted various words of encouragement and love.
"I love you all so much! Shall we?"
Will walked up to Chris and grabbed his free hand, while Mike grabbed Will's other hand. In just seconds, the rest of The Party had grabbed hands. They walked out of the school hand-in-hand, with Chris and Richie in the middle of the group and the adults following them. They stepped out into the warm spring evening, a sense of calm and filling their souls. For the first time in a long time, Chris felt at peace with everything in his life.