"Okay, Rayna, tonight all 1,800 of these seats will be filled. A lot of people love you." Her manager nudged Rayna with his elbow, and Rayna smiled weakly.

"1,800?" She asked, and her manager nodded enthusiastically.

"Yeah! Are you nervous?"

Rayna shook her head rapidly, but Deacon could tell she didn't believe herself. He came up next to her and slipped his arm around her waist sneakily.

Everyone knew the two of them were a couple, but since many were against it, they kept the PDA to a minimum. Rayna saw her manager glance over at them before he looked away, and Deacon smiled down at the seventeen-year-old.

"You're going to be amazing, Ray. They're gonna love you, I know it." Rayna smiled as Deacon pulled her closer to him.

"Okay, y'all, I think we're good to go until showtime. See y'all tonight." The band and crew parted ways, but Deacon and Rayna stayed back, looking out at the thousands of seats in front of them.

It was silent for a while before Deacon turned to look at her. "Come on."

Rayna looked at him, confused. "What? Where are we going?"

Deacon chuckled and took her hand. "Just come on. Trust me."

They interlocked their fingers before Deacon pulled her off the stage and around the venue.

XXX

"Deacon, why are we up here?" Rayna asked between giggles as Deacon pulled her up to the highest row of seats.

"Just sit down. Sit down and look at the stage." Deacon said, and they sat down side-by-side, looking down at the stage that seemed miles away. "Now when you're on stage tonight in front of almost 2,000 people, think about the people up here who only paid twenty dollars to see Rayna Jaymes.

"Sing to the people on the floor, interact with them, but don't forget the people who aren't as lucky. SIng out, not down." Deacon smiled, and Rayna grabbed his hand. "You got this."

Rayna giggled and gripped Deacon's hang tighter. "You're pretty good at this pep talk thing." She winked, and Deacon shrugged.

"I have my moments." Rayna laughed and Deacon rubbed his thumb along her knuckles. "If you get lost, nervous, or anything, just look over at me and I'll be there to help you through it. Just give me a look and I'm there."

Rayna just smiled and leaned her head on Deacon's shoulder as the two of them sat and stared down at the floor, taking their first headlining tour in.

XXX

The band played the final notes to the opening song before Rayna blew out a final breath and walked up the steps on the side of the stage. When the crowd saw her on stage, they erupted into cheers and Rayna smiled brightly.

"Thank y'all so much, I'm so happy to be here tonight!" She said into the microphone.

When the band played the opened notes to "Me and You", she looked back at Deacon, who looked up from his guitar and smiled reassuringly at her. Her eyes lit up before she sang the opening words to the song, feeling so much more confident knowing Deacon was right behind her, every step of the way.