Hooray! Another chapter! Thanks so much for the reviews! So I know I previously said that Rose was a pop star but I'm actually going to have her be singing Lana Del Ray songs (which are more alternative) because they fit well for her character in this story. Okay, on with the story!
Disclaimer: I don't own VA or "Dark Paradise" by Lana Del Ray
DPOV
I could not help but laugh at the expression on Rose's face when she saw that Adrian had married Sydney. I was shocked as well when they got married. They couldn't stand each other in high school. They were always bickering and fighting. I guess now that I think of it, maybe that was their way of flirting.
"When…how…what? Whoa…" she studdered out.
Adrian laughed. "The great Rose Hathaway is speechless. Never thought I would live to see the day."
"Okay," Rose said recovering, "When did you guys get together and how? You hated each other in high school!"
This time it was Sydney's turn to reply. "About a year after graduation, I ran into Adrian at Lehigh. Apparently, he was in the area and decided to come to the campus for some college parties." She paused to roll her eyes and Adrian smirked. "Anyways, I was there studying history and architecture and we crossed paths while I was on my way back to my dorm from class. Turns out, he slept with my roommate."
Rose didn't seemed surprised by this fact unlike everyone else when they told us this story the first time. "Of course he did."
"Hey!" Adrian exclaimed, "We hadn't started dating yet! You can't hold that against me!"
"Moving on," Sydney continued, "I was about to open my dorm room when he opened the door first to walk out. We of course started bickering but eventually we cooled down and Adrian asked me to show him around campus because he was actually considering going there to study art. We eventually stopped and got coffee and Adrian confessed to having a crush on me in high school." Sydney blushed lightly and looked at Adrian with adoring eyes.
"Turns out, she didn't think I was too bad in high school either," Adrian said smirking and returning the same look of adoration Sydney showed him.
"Wow," Rose said. She stood there for a second processing the information before she enveloped them in a hug. "I'm so happy for you guys," she murmured. I could hear the sadness in her voice for not knowing this sooner or being able to come to the wedding.
We all sat down at a table and talked for another hour or so. I could tell that even though she felt bad for missing the last five years, she was happy to have her friends back and to catch up with them. Suddenly, the DJ stopped the music and started talking into the microphone.
"How's everyone doin' tonight?" He yelled and those who were dancing screamed in joy as a reply while the rest of us just grumbled. "Alright awesome! So I here that there is a very special guest in the audience tonight and I think everyone here would be happy to have her come up here and sing a song for us! What do you guys say?" Oh boy, this can't be good.
RPOV
"So I here that there is a very special guest in the audience tonight and I think everyone here would be happy to have her come up here and sing a song for us! What do you guys say?" the DJ exclaimed into the microphone. My stomach dropped. Shit, I have a feeling he was talking about me. Great. Impromptu concert for a bunch of people I haven't seen in years and can't stand. Just wonderful. "Rose Hathaway, what do you say to singing us one of your songs?" Everyone cheered, including my friends and turned to me expectantly. I looked over to Dimitri who had a look I can't really describe. It almost looked like dread. Why did he look so upset to hear me sing? He used to love to hear me sing. He gave me a small encouraging smile but it didn't reach his eyes.
I decided to just get it over with so I stood up and walked up to the stage. The DJ came to hand me a microphone and a microphone stand. After I thanked him he said, "I only have the instrumental version of Dark Paradise. I hope that's okay." I nodded at him and he went back to is set up. In actuality, it wasn't really okay. I wrote that song when I was really down after my breakup with Dimitri and, though I'm sure he has heard the song before, I have a feeling him hearing it live will make him feel guilty and make me want to cry.
I decided to suck it up and put on a brave face. The music started and I felt my mind go into a peaceful Zen-like state that I can only achieve when I sing. With that, the crowd gathered in front of the small stage with Dimitri, Lissa, and the rest of my friends front and center. Looking into Dimitri's eyes, I started singing the lyrics that came from a place of sadness and darkness after our break up.
All my friends tell me I should move on
I'm lying in the ocean singing your song
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ahhh
That's how you sang it
Loving you forever can't be wrong
Even though you're not here, won't move on
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ahhh
That's how we played it
And there's no remedy for memory your face is
Like a melody, it won't leave my head
Your soul is haunting me and telling me that everything is fine
But I wish I was dead
Every time I close my eyes, it's like a dark paradise
No one compares to you
I'm scared that you won't be waiting on the other side
Every time I close my eyes, it's like a dark paradise
No one compares to you
I'm scared that you won't be waiting on the other side
All my friends ask me why I stay strong
Tell 'em when you find true love, it lives on
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ahhh
That's why I stay here
And there's no remedy for memory, your face is like a melody
It won't leave my head
Your soul is holding me and telling me that everything is fine
But I wish I was dead
Every time I close my eyes, it's like a dark paradise
No one compares to you
I'm scared that you won't be waiting on the other side
Every time I close my eyes, it's like a dark paradise
No one compares to you
But there's no you, except in my dreams tonight
Oh-oh-oh-oh-hah-hah-hah-hah.
I don't want to wake up from this tonight
Oh-oh-oh-oh-hah-hah-hah-hah.
I don't want to wake up from this tonight
There's no relief, I see you in my sleep
And everybody's rushing me, but I can feel you touching me
There's no release, I feel you in my dreams
Telling me I'm fine
Every time I close my eyes, it's like a dark paradise
No one compares to you
I'm scared that you won't be waiting on the other side
Every time I close my eyes, it's like a dark paradise.
No one compares to you
But there's no you, except in my dreams tonight
Oh-oh-oh-oh-hah-hah-hah-hah
I don't want to wake up from this tonight
Oh-oh-oh-oh-hah-hah-hah-hah
I don't want to wake up from this tonight
The whole time I sang, I never took my eyes off of Dimitri. My eyes were stinging with unshed tears at the end but I held them back. I'm always in such a happy trance when I sing, but afterwards, I always feel empty because I remember the lyrics I was singing. This feeling of emptiness was only doubled by having Dimitri actually here and singing it to him.
I could tell that the lyrics saddened him as well, but at the same time, he felt the same way. I then realized why he looked so disheartened when I was asked to sing. I have written many songs and the majority of them are about lost love. They are about him. He knew that and didn't want to face it head on by watching the live show. I understood where he was coming from. I mean, I am the one who wrote the lyrics in the first place.
As everyone clapped and cheered, Dimitri's face stayed serious. Then, he did something that shocked me. He walked onto the stage and pulled me to him, kissing me in front of everyone.
So I am currently working on two other stories. I don't want to post them though until I have a few more chapters done of each and I get further along in this story. Update soon, promise!