Disclaimer: You know the drill. I don't own W.I.T.C.H.
Well here's the chapter most of you have been waiting for. While most of this story has been angst ridden there will be some long overdue romance smothered in fluff at the end. I was surprised to find there's not a great deal of pro WillXMatt fics out there. Seems like WillxCaleb is just about everywhere. Not quite sure how that pairing got started, but instead of writing nasty comments on the WxC fics telling the writers to stay in canon, I figures it would be better to write some myself. Not that I have anything against non-cannon pairings but Will and Matt are just perfect for each other. And in the long run, Matt finally found…
The Will to Love
Chapter: 8
True to his word Shagon would barely give me an ounce of control over my own body. He spent most of his time keeping a close watch over Yan Lin, reporting to Nerissa, and creeping the hell out of my friends. While he may have been getting better at pretending to be me his performance was sometimes a little...off. Uh, it's gonna take years to repair the damage he's doing to my social life. Mom's probably going to have me in therapy before I graduate.
Saturday arrived and I was kind of looking forward to see him try to sing "The Demon in Me" Hope he chokes on the mike. Nigel arrived early to help with the set up but I had a feeling he was really there to check up on me. I had been acting weird in school all weak with Shagon keeping me on such a short leash.
"Matt come on, I know something's up. Talk to me bro." Shagon tried his best not to growl.
"Nothing's wrong, I haven't been seeing any questionable people late-"
"That's not what I meant and you know it." he said cutting the demon off. "What's up with you and Will? I thought you guys were joined at the hip, now whenever you see her you start smirking and she looks like she ready to clobber you every time you walk by. Did you two...break up?" Shagon was about to answer when I stopped him.
'I wouldn't do that if I were you, Shaggy.' Inside our head he folded his arms.
"Well I am you and I think it's a great idea."
"Then you're not thinking at all. Matt breaks up with Will, and you loose your best chance to spy on her and the others. Ex-boyfriends and Ex-girlfriends don't normally hang out together." He growled in frustration but I knew I had won this fight.
Back on planet Earth Nigel was still waiting for Matt to answer him. "Did you guys really..."
"No." the demon finally managed to say. "We just had a pretty big argument and she's not willing to admit the truth." He said it with a little more malice then I would have liked and Nigel raised an eyebrow.
"You're starting to creep me out a little dude. I was over at Taranee's house for dinner the other night and when I mentioned your name she stiffened. She also hinted that I should watch me back around you. Did something else happen?"
"Like what?"
"I don't know Matt. You never talk to anyone anymore, you're cutting people off, and..." he paused trying to phrase his next thought correctly. "You've changed man, almost overnight. I know you don't want to talk about it but what really happened to you those six days you went missing?"
"You're right, I don't want to talk about it!" he snapped causing Nigel to take a step back.
"This is exactly what I mean. I'm worried about you man."
"Worried about what?" Came a third voice from the yard. Taranee along with Joel and Pedro had arrived for the rehearsal.
Nigel's face lit up upon seeing his girlfriend. "Taranee I didn't know you were coming, I would have picked you up."
"That's OK. It was a last minute decision and you had already left so I just asked Joel to give us a ride."
Nigel blinked in confusion. "Us?"
"Hi, am I interrupting something?" It was Will. Mentally I cheered while Shagon fumed. This was great, Will would get to hear the song and maybe she would take the hint. It was still a long shot but that's the only kind I had right now. She came up to us and smirked. "I can't wait to here the new song, "MATT."
Shagon somehow restrained himself from attacking her on the spot and answered. "Well, have a seat and enjoy the show, WILL." The hostility in the room was nearly unbearable, you didn't need to be a hate feeding demon to feel the tension in the air. Pedro was the one to try and distract us by starting rehearsal, but I wondered, could Shagon really play?"
"And a one, two.." He scratched his guitar with a painful wail and sung like he was being strangled under water. "I wanted to sour but something...ah" he was even forgetting the lyrics. Should have spent more time rehearsing then Yan Lin watching. My poor guitar. Finally Nigel stopped him.
"Matt! Man what's the deal. You're totally not yourself?"
"Maybe it's the song!" he growled but Nigel just raised an eye brow.
"The song is sweet, YOU wrote the song Man!"
"Try another, " taunted Will. "Try, 'The Will to Love' or don't you feel that one anymore MATT."
OK that was it, there was no way he was going to pull this off without me. "Dude you are so embarrassing me!"
Like a two-year-old he folded his arm and pouted. "It's pointless."
"It's not pointless if you blow your cover Shagoth. Nerissa wouldn't like that now would she? Nigel's already suspicious. Give me a little more control over our brain and body and I'll get you through-AH!" He blasted me more out of frustration than anger but I stood my ground. Will Had to hear this song. "You know I'm right." I summoned a copy of my guitar like I did with the knife and stared the demon down. This wasn't just a song, this was a battle. One I was going to win.
Seeing Will and me in a staring contest Nigel decided my painful singing was the better choice of the two. "Come on, forget "Will to Love" let's just nail "The Demon in Me" From the top. One, two..."
It may have been a while since I held a real guitar in my hands but I was going to nail this one. I had to fight to get enough control to get the music out right but I was doing it.
"Didn't know why I couldn't fly, didn't want to be stuck on the ground. I wanted to soar across the sky but something was holding me down."
"Better," Nigel commented as my skill level rose with my control level. "Not great, but less painful." And with everything I had I sang out to the world, to Will, about my pain.
"What had me cower in fear? What was it I couldn't see? The answer near, but so unclear I was fighting the demon in me.
"The demon in me! The demon in me! The battle weird, over all that I feared I was fighting the demon in me.
"He fell on me when I was weak, made me feel so lazy and dumb. He talked to me deep in my sleep, my mind and my soul overcome.
"I started to just let him win I decided to just let it be. It was up to me not to give in, I was trapped by the demon in me. "
"The demon in me! The demon in me! My head in a spin, my strength wearing thin, I was trapped by the demon in me.
"Asked myself, what did I want? Kick back or just go for broke? My dreams continued to haunt I'd get close – then the demon said choke. Somehow you gotta step up. Stop buying excuses for free. So I went face-to-face, laid claim to my space
And rocked the demon…
"The demon in me! The demon in me! I recovered my spark, got free of the dark and I rocked the demon in me. The demon in me. I rocked the demon in me…"
By the end of the song I was back in top form. I glanced at Will. She looked confused over my sudden improvement. She was looking thoughtfully at me and for a second that look of hatred melted away. Maybe, just maybe she saw me, Matt the real me. We went over the song a few more times before we called it a day. Nigel was confident we were going to win the "Battle of the Bands" and I was getting more confident I would win the Battle of my soul.
Will was the last to leave. With no witness around I tried calling out to her but Shagon took back full control before I could get the words out. SO CLOSE!
"Interesting song choice MATT." Damn it! Looks like she was listening to the lyrics. If I could have held control for just a few more moment I might have been able to convince her. But that bastard crushed my hopes once again.
"I thought you might like it, my pet." He said with a smirk letting his eyed glow green slightly. "You'd like to think your precious little boy toy is right in front of you. Oh, how I love crushing your hopes." Whatever hope she had that we were in fact the same person vanished with another burst of hate. She looked like she was ready to attack but thought better of it remembering we were in public. In a huff she stormed off but before she was out of sight she turned around.
"I'll find him, no matter what it takes. I'll bring him home!" and then she ran off. She didn't hear me when I said, "I believe you."
8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
The Battle of the Bands was on Friday but until then Shagon stubbornly stuck to his duties and kept a sharp eye on Yan Lin serving lunch. He even went up for seconds a few times even though he just threw away his first course. We had gone to practice a few more times that week but it was obvious he'd rather be anywhere else. It was after a morning practice when we ran into Will in the hallway. We both knew she had been there keeping an eye on Shagon. Even she had to admit we sounded pretty good.
"So, I guess you found your voice just in time for the battle tomorrow." Again Shagon wasn't letting me through and met her jab for jab.
"Found my voice! Find your boyfriend?"
"I will find Matt." she said in retaliation. "And somehow I know you're going to help me."
And for one brief shinning moment I got through. "Count on it." She looked confused like she did at the first rehearsal. Shagon quickly took control back. "Ah, count on it never happening!" And hurried off before she could ask any more questions.
It was a small victory but one that been long coming. "Cool! I got through, that was ME!" Shagon wasn't so happy.
"Don't press your luck parasite." he said in a low threatening tone as he cut me off totally. "Will threatens my hold on this body. She must be destroyed."
No! "I won't let you! You CAN'T!" I tried to rush him hopping to take him down long enough to warn Will. He just laughed as he blasted me effortlessly across the endless void of our mind.
"I can. I am the demon in you." was the last thing I heard before I blacked out.
8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
The day of the Battle Shagon's mind was on anything but Rock and Roll. He skipped the last practice without even a call to Nigel. Instead he got in touch with the other knights and laid out his new plan. He'd lure Will out alone to the roof and then all four of them would attack and destroy her. It was sickening to see how much he was enjoying planning the hunt. There was no way I could let this happen. I got through once I could do it again.
He waited for her after last period while most of the other students were going to the concert. She came down the stairs as usual and it didn't take her long to spot us.
"Don't you have eardrums to shatter?" No retorts this time. This time, it was all business.
"No, I'm done."
"Oh, don't tell me, stage fright?"
Shagon didn't take the bait, he didn't have to. He had a clever plan, one that played off of Will hopes and love for me. "No, I'm done slaving for Nerissa, but she isn't done with me. Will, I need your protection. If I bring you to the real Matt will you help?" There was hope in her eye. She really wanted to believe that Shagon had switched side and was willing to free me, but Shagon was not someone that could be trusted so easily.
"That's a big if." He had her right where he wanted her. He was pretending to try and gain her trust by giving her what she wanted most in the world first.
"I've stashed he somewhere safe but the other knights are searching." A reluctant Will agreed.
"I'll...Unite the Guardians." Shagon couldn't allow that, he needed her alone.
"And while you do the Knights will hunt Matt down! You want him back, or not?" Normally Will would have been more suspicious or at least more weary. But the thought of loosing me for good forced her hand. While Shagon was leading her to the roof I was trying desperately to warn her. Shagon was holding on with a vice-like grip but at least I was able to halt our body.
"Will you have to hear me, PLEASE. It's a trick, a TRAP!" but the demon was blocking me from getting through. I tried to fight him off but he blasted my guitar into splinters. The one thing that helped me connect to the real world. I barley saw him coming before he grabbed me and tossed me aside like a rag doll.
When they reached the roof the trap was sprung. Shagon dropped the glamour and immediately began the attack. Will took a good hit before she had a chance to recover from the initial shock of being tricked. Thankfully Taranee and Cornelia arrived and jumped into the fray. They held off the other knights but Will's focus was totally on Shagon. Her hatred towed the demon had never been this high since she first learned I was gone.
"By the time I'm through with you, you'll BEG to bring Matt back to me!" She screamed as she hit Shagon with a large lighting bolt and prepared to hit him again. This was only making Shagon stronger and the haze from all of the excess hate was making it hard to fight back. Shagon was winning. He laughed at Will's attacks and taunted me.
"By the time I'm through with her, there won't be any 'Matt' to bring back." If I didn't do something soon I would loose for good and be banished to furthest regents of my mine never to return. Back and forth the fight between Will and Shagon raged. After being thrown around for the third time today, I knew I had to think of something different and fast. "If she can't stop me, do you really think your fist can?" He thought he had me beat but my hand landed on a piece of my broken guitar. If I made it once I can remake it. I couldn't fight hate with hate but maybe I could fight him with love.
I smirked and stared him down. "No, wrong weapon." This fight wasn't over yet. I used my guitar to channel my feelings of love for Will and for once he was the one blown away. "Right weapon." This was my chance. I had to get a message through to Will. She was still feeding Shagon with her hate and if I was going to win this fight once and for all I needed to take away that advantage. But what could I say? Shagon had already tricked her once, she wasn't going to believe me if I just told her the truth. Suddenly it hit me, the song I wrote for her. Wasting no more time I took enough control to sing out to her.
"Winged Angel from above, help me find the Will, the Will to Love." Realization hit her like a sack of bricks.
"That's Matt's voice..." Almost instantly her hatred tapered off. "That's Matt's song, the one he wrote for me." Suddenly everything clicked. "It's you, Matt, you're inside Shagon, and I hear YOU!" I could feel her hatred replaced with pure love as she called to me. This seemed to weaken Shagon more than the guitar.
"Looks like love does conquer all, well, you at least." He might have been the stronger presence for most of the time he had been here but I proved my love was stronger than my hate. "Game set match Shagon, so SHAGOFF!" With one final strum of my guitar I poured all of my love for Will, my family and friends all at once. Even with the mask on Shagon was clearly shocked as he realized he had just lost.
With one final cry, "NOOOOoooo!" his image shattered sending what was left of the demon away.
"I did it..." It almost seemed like a cure dream, but it wasn't. I had fought a battle for my very soul and won. Shagon, the demon, my dark side has been banished to the furthest regions of my mind. Where all my temptations, and long forgotten memories lie. But I will never forget, I will never forget what I became and what I did. But I will remember that my Love was stronger than my hatred. Always...
"..att, Matt please! Come back to me." My angel is calling me. And return to her I shall.
888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
I awoke back in the body that was rightfully mine. While I still looked liked the demon I was the one in control. Will was looking at me anxiously not sure if it was really me or if Shagon was just playing another cruel game. She looked hopeful but suspicious at the same time. This wasn't something I could tell her in words I needed to show her who I really was. And I knew exactly how. I blasted Ember stopping her from draining Taranee's body heat. She was already starting to break free when Will slowly came up to me.
"Matt?" I smiled beneath my mask. How do thank an angel for pulling you back from the gates of hell?
"You brought me back Will, saved me from myself." But somehow I would, but right now we had a fight to finish with my former comrades. The first one was going to be easy. "Let her go Huggles." I said in an even calm voice. It really didn't surprise me when he released Cornelia without question. He always did seemed to listen to me more than anyone else no matter what form I was in. I guess Nerissa couldn't totally control his spirit either. Will's mouth drop open. She did a double take and pointed at the Beast of Anger.
"That's, Huggles?"
"Yep," Ember may have taken a hit but Tridart still had a hold of Taranee. "Sickem' boy!" Huggles didn't need any other instructions, he just tackled the ice-man like a football player. "Good boy."
"The battle is NOT over!" I barely dodged a fireball from a very angry Ember. She placed herself between me and Tridart. Maybe there was something between the two of them after all. "Shagon, what the hell's wrong with you?" Taranee used the distraction to totally break free, and Cornelia just looked confused. Can't say I blame her.
"I've finally come to my senses. Nerissa's been controlling us by addicting us to negative emotions. She's just using us, she's been using us all along." Tridart was getting to his feet and from the look on his face he wasn't buying it either.
"You mean you and your little pet rat have betrayed us and our Mistress!" The two of them were starting to regroup while Will was trying to explain the situation to Taranee and a disbelieving Cornelia. But before the fight could even begin a rift appeared behind Ember and began to drain her life force.
"My flame!"
"Ember!" Tridart cried out as he realized what was happening to the fire lady.
"Matt what's going on?" Cornelia did a double take at Will words.
"Wait that really is Matt?"
I gulped as the realization hit me. "It's Nerissa. She draining their life-force!" Ember was gone and now Tridart's icy power was being ebbed away.
"Mistress...Pleaseeee" In less than a minute Nerissa took out two of her own warriors. It didn't take a genius to figure out who was next.
"MATT!" I heard Will cry out as Huggles and I were surrounded by a strange white light. It felt just like when I was forcibly turned into Shagon. I couldn't help but cry out as I felt the excess energy being ripped from my body. For a moment I was afraid she wasn't going to stop. For a moment I truly feared for my life. And then it was over. I collapsed to the ground weakened but still conscious and back in my old body. All of the power was gone, but it was such a relief. The addicting need for hate was finally gone. But now what? With the battle over would Will still want me around after all I've done? Would she still-
My thoughts were abruptly cut off as my Angel embraced me and welcomed me home with a loving kiss. I looked deep into her eyes, lost for words. My fears unfounded. I tried to tell her that I loved her and to beg for her forgiveness but all that came out was...
"Will I...I'm sorry I missed your birthday." She let out something that sounded like a cross between a laugh and a sob. Gently she stroked my hair.
"Don't worry about it." A small sob escaped. "I got what I really wanted." I finally found my voice.
"Will I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for everything." Darn it, now I was starting to tear up. I didn't want to be weak in front of her but she took no mind.
"It's alright. I can forgive you...now that your home." My mind was reeling. How could she just forgive me like nothing happened. But then again, that's one of the many things I loved about her. She moved closer as if to kiss me again. I was leaning up to meet her when suddenly we heard a cough and remembered that we weren't alone.
"Uh while I'd love to here the full story," Taranee said. "Wreck 55 is about to go on stage without their lead singer, and guitarist."
Cornelia was eyeing Huggles wearily. "Yeah and while I enjoy a good romance scene as much as the next girl, even from up here Nigel looks like he's ready to hit you over the head with his base." Sure enough Wreck was getting set up with Nigel looking around frantically. Will helped me to my feet. I was tempted to say screw them, I've finally found my way back after weeks lost within myself but I knew I've caused my family and friends enough worry.
"Will I'm sorry I have to go on." She looked about as frustrated as I felt but she knew what we had to do.
"Later OK? After the show we're going to have a lot to talk about." I smiled back at her.
"Count on it." Huggles, deciding he was being left out, ran up to me and took his normal place on my shoulder. "Thanks for staying with me buddy, but right now why don't you stay with Will while I go on stage." Will accepted the little dormouse, my first gift to her, onto her own shoulder. It was quite a touching scene even if Cornelia was trying stay as far away from Huggles as possible. As I made my way to the stage I was struck with inspiration. Nigel and the others were probably going to kill me for this but my heart just wasn't into Demons at the moment.
"Hey Dude, we up next?" I came upon a very relieved, at least for the moment, Nigel.
"Matt! Sweet, where've you been man?" Joel and Pedro seemed happy to see me to. It was good seeing the boys again and not having to worry about them being threatened.
"Finding my will to rock. Speaking of which, we're doing "The Will to Love'." As quickly as they saw relief, they went right back to panicked. Maybe Nigel really was going to smack me with his base.
"B-But we haven't rehearsed it!" It was true, while we knew how to play the tune we'd never tried it with the lyrics. But we could do it, I knew from within my soul that we could pull this off.
"Trust me, we'll nail it." They must have seen something in my eyes because as strange as I have been acting lately, and how crazy I seemed now. No one objected.
"Let's hear it for Wreck 55!" As Irma formally announced us we were on. The music and the rhythm seemed to flow from my fingers to my guitar. Despite not having played the song in so long, there wasn't a single mistake. I spotted Will in the crowd and I couldn't help but remember the first time I asked her out. She was in the crowd then too, before I pulled up on stage with me where we danced together under the colorful stage lights. Tonight though, she was my Angel to be serenaded. And with my entire heart I sang out to her.
"So many strangers on the street. Yeah, nearly everyone you meet. Can't relate, can't translate, can't create a connection. No. Easier to keep your distance. Tread the path of least resistance. Don't engage, keep to your cage, stay offstage for protection.
"Then everything changes. She's there. Life rearranges. Winged angel from above… Helped me find the Will… the Will to love…The Will to love… The Will to love….
"I figured I'd stay on the shelf. Truth be told, didn't trust myself: Always fade, don't make the grade, too afraid Of rejection. Oh…
"I didn't think I had the strength to find a girl on my wavelength. Just a runt, always punt. No will to hunt for perfection. Then everything changes. She's there. Life rearranges. Winged angel from above…Helped me find the Will… the Will to love…
The Will to love… The Will to love…
"Game's full of surprises. Live our share of compromises. Still when push comes to shove…
She's just the Will to love. She's just the Will to love. I found the Will to love.
"And everything changes. She's here. Life rearranges. Winged angel from above… She is just the Will… the Will to love. The Will to love… The Will to love… Oh…The Will to love…"
She was crying tears of joy by the end. The crowd cheered as we took our final bow. I couldn't leave fast enough though, I needed to see my Angel.
"Matt, Dude!" Nigel cried out frustrated. "Now where's he going?" Taranee came up to him and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Let him go, they just need some time alone."
"Seriously what the hell is going on with that guy. It's like he-"
"I'll explain later. Right now you've got an award to accept."
888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
Will and I slipped away from the crowd and found a little quiet spot under the bleachers. For a few moments we said nothing just enjoyed each other's company. We held each other close almost afraid to let go. Finally Will looked up at me tears shining in her eyes. "Is it really you? Or am I going to wake up again and find out this was all just another dream." I gently touched her face and looked into her eyes.
"I'm no dream. The demons' gone Will, and it was because of your love that we were able to defeat him together." I wiped away a stray tear from her cheek and she did the same for me.
"How did this happen? How could that...monster and you be the same person? What did she do to you?" I averted my eyes ashamed, thinking back to what I had done. But Will needed to know.
"The night I went missing, she grabbed me right out of my own back yard before I could even call out for help. She took me back to Mt. Thanos and first tried to get me to serve her willingly. I refused of course, then she tried...other methods." It was getting harder and harder to speak but Will laid a hand gently over mine. I took a deep breath, I beat a demonic version of myself, the hard part was suppose to be over.
"Nerissa's been using a powerful but terrible spell on the ex-guardians. She takes a weakness and uses it to force her will on the ones she's casting it on. She had even used Huggles' anger to turn him into Kor but when he wouldn't obey her she started hurting him. She tricked me into giving her what she needed. I was so enraged so furious at her I started to hate her and all of the hell she was putting us through and that was all that she needed. She...basically twisted my hatred for her and it became Shagon. He took full control while I was shoved back within my own mind.
"But I never gave up and when I finally got through your love helped me banish him once and for all." I hugged her tightly not wanting to ever let her go again. "Thank you Will, because of you I'm free again. I'm home." She held on to me equally as tight. Our lonely souls reconnecting after so much time apart. Yes, I was truly home. Time had no meaning but like it or not the real world was calling.
"Will, Matt? You guys-oh!" Said a surprised Taranee peeking in our little hiding space. "Ah, I know you guys are a little busy but I don't know how much longer I can keep Nigel from hunting you down Matt." I raised an eyebrow.
"What's he so upset for, we won didn't we?" She chucked.
"Oh you guys won alright no contest. But you kind of left your boys on the spot when they were talking to that talent agent."
"What's he say?"
"Something about sounding really good in a few years."
"Ouch."
"Yeah well, anyway don't get too reacquainted Will or your Mom might be hunting down your boyfriend as well."
"Mom's HERE!" She said in a panic and jumped away me.
"Don't panic she called me when you wouldn't answer your cell." Will looked sheepishly at me when saw her voice mail had several unanswered call. "I told her your battery went dead and you were here safe and sound. Well, safe anyway. She'll be here to pick you up in about a half hour." She groaned at the thought of having to leave so soon.
"You know you might want to formally introduce Matt to your Mom soon or she'll think you're hiding something."
"Are you kidding she'll never let me see him again!"
"Please, if Nigel can survive an evening with my Mom then yours will be a breeze."
"Don't count on it."
"Hey I thought the battle was over why do I still hear music?" I said trying to break up the tension.
"The break down crew can't be here for a while so Irma decided to have a improvised Karaoke after party."
Will smiled. "I guess we were a little busy to hear it."
"Lucky you, Martin was singing a love ballet earlier. Good Lord I've never hear worst singing. Even Shagon was better then him, no offence Matt."
"Non taken."
"I gotta get back and Matt please have a good cover story for Nigel that boy is about ready to burst."
"Sure thing." And once again we were alone. It wasn't going to last very long but we were going to try. We shared a sweet kiss that ended much too soon. Will look up at me and stood up. "I guess we should get back to the real world." Just then Irma popped her head in. Guess our privet moment was over.
"Hey guys, almost everyone's had a turn at Karaoke and I just wanted to know if you two wanted a turn."
Will hesitated. "I don't think so I get a little nervous on stage."
"Well Matt could at least go on. Since he's already been exorcize-I mean sang today." Pretending I didn't hear Irma's little slip of the tong I turned to Will.
"Not when your with me your not." she blush but smiled.
"Oh isn't that cute but let me rephrase that. PLEASE take a turn! I stalled Martin by saying everyone needed to have at least one chance before he could go on again. He agree it was only fair but now I'm running out of vic-I mean performers. I even let Mr. Huggles hop around to the Hamster Dance." Hearing that we both busted out laughing.
"Ok Ok." I said after catching my breath. "Let go face the music Will."
"Oh God bless you and all your future children." Irma blurted out and ran off before we could react. Now we were both blushing as Will said,
"It must be the stress that's getting to her."
"Yeah, well let's go face the music and gag Martin." I said as she took my hand as we walked out. Alchemy was singing a very nice rendition of "Girlfriend" when we walked out but we didn't get far before Nigel stopped me dead in my tracks.
"OK bro, no more excuses, cryptic answers or running off. What in Blue Blazes is going on with you?!" He almost shouted but now that I didn't have to worry about Shagon taking his head off I felt he deserved the truth. Or at least a more convincing lie.
"Alright I tell you everything."
"Oh don't give me that, you're gonna-wait, you will?" Will gave me a questing look but I gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.
"I did something really stupid a few weeks ago. I helped out a guy I didn't know even though I had a bad feeling about him. Turns out he was wanted by the police and he said if I didn't help him out again he'd get me arrested in his place. That's where I really was those six days I was missing. While I'd rather not talk about what happened, I will say I regret ever getting involved with him. I thought he'd let me go after that but he told me he'd kill my family and my friends if I said anything to anyone." Nigel was silent as he listened intently to my fake story. "I even saw him watching me now and again. Remember that day I had detention? I caught him spying on me and tried to get him to leave but he just got me in trouble. I think he was to enjoying taunting me and threatening everyone around me. Sorry I've been so nasty lately, the stress was just really getting to me. I think a part of me was trying to drive people away so they wouldn't get hurt because of me."
Nigel put a hand on my shoulder. I didn't feel too bad about lying this time because there was a lot of truth woven into that lie. "Oh man Matt. I had no idea you were dealing with something this heavy. But why tell me now?"
I smiled again mixing truth with lies. "Because I just found out before the show that he was arrested on a more serious charge and is going away for life! And since I don't need to testify or even give a statement he has no reason to threaten me again. He's got bigger problems believe me. So before you ask no I'm not going to the police or giving his name, I'm not tempting fate again. I already made a big enough mess as it is. " Will squeezed my hand this time as she covered for me.
"Yeah he wouldn't tell me either. I knew he was hiding something so I thought he might have been cheating on me." I cringed at the thought but let he go on. "He was avoiding me but keeping an eye on me. I know now he was making sure I was alright but at the time I didn't know what to think. When I did ask what was wrong I couldn't get a straight answer so I jumped to the wrong conclusion. He was trying to tell me the truth all day today. So that's the reason he almost didn't make it to the concert. Sorry about that but I'm glad he didn't give up."
'Well stated Will.' We're getting better at covering for each other it seems. Nigel looked thoughtfully at us but smiled reassuringly. "You'll at least tell your mom though? I can't keep saying I don't know forever."
"Ah, not looking forward to that conversation but yeah as soon as I get home." At least that was the full truth. This was going to be a longer night still.
"Cool, hang out until I leave and I'll give you a lift."
"Sounds good." Just then Irma tapped me on the shoulder.
"OK bad boy, you're up."
Nigel smirked. "Doubt you could top that last performance of yours. You go from almost forgetting how to play to the best performance of your life."
"Well let's just say inspiration goes along way." Will kissed me in response.
"Now that, was the perfect thing to say."
"Come on Matt, you don't want to loose your slot now do ya." Irma said getting impatient.
"I kind of took a page out of your book." Nigel said starting to blush looking towards Taranee. She saw him looking and smiled back.
"Ah, what'd ya sing to her."
"Well I'm not the best singer that's your department, but I did an OK version of 'Hanging by a Moment' by Life House."
"Good choice bro, personal, it defiantly fits the two of you."
"Thanks I-" But a very panicky Irma stopped him short and grabbed a hold of my hand.
"HURRY! I heard Martin saying something about Brittany Spears and I don't he means to shave his head!" As she was pushing me towed the stage Nigel just laughed.
"Go on. Let's end this night with a bang instead of a whimper." As I got on stage I was struck by an idea. I put in my song choice and pulled Will on stage with me.
"Matt what are you doing?" I placed the extra mike in her hand.
"This one's a duet." She looked a little unsure but I've heard her sing before. I wasn't kidding when I said she was an angel.
"I don't know about this, what if I mess up the words or don't know the song." I pointed to the lyric screen as the song title popped up on the screen.
She gasped for moment, "You remembered..." I remembered alright. This was the song playing in the background at her 13th birthday party, the day we first met. Her eyes were getting a little teary but then again so were mine.
"Get ready your part's up first." Never taking her eyes off of me she took a deep breath and began to sing with the music.
"We were strangers, starting out on a journey. Never dreaming what we'd have to go through. Now here we are, and I'm suddenly standing, at the beginning with you." Beautiful, that was the only word to describe it. I just hope I could make my part sound half as good.
"No one told me I was going to find you, unexpected what you did to my heart. When I lost hope, you were there to remind me, this is the start." And we sang the next part together in perfect harmony.
"And life is a road and I wanna keep going. Love is a river I wanna keep flowing. Life is road, now and forever wonderful journey." And by the end the whole crowd was cheering and in tears at the same time but I barely saw any of it. I was just enjoying my welcome home.
"I'll be there when the would stops turning, I'll be there when the storm is through. In the end I wanna be standing at the beginning...with you."
To be continued...
What's this? A happy ending but it's not over? Oh no, because Trauma is just around the corner for the W.I.T.C.H. crew and Matt. Can Matt handle the guilt when he learns he was freed but Yan Lin is now enthralled like he was? And can he be of any use now that he is powerless once again? All this and more in "A Traumatic Turn of Events."
P.S. Like W.I.T.C.H. amvs? Look me up on YouTube under the name ShagonsHeart to see my fanvideos