Disclaimer: I do not own ANYTHING except the plot line.
So I got up to 44 reviews, which is close enough, I guess. Here's chapter 14!
Saturday, June 1st, 2013 – Denver, Colorado – Pepsi Center (1)
Austin's POV
I was backstage, waiting for my cue, when Taylor came up to me.
"Hey, you ready to go on?" she said. I nodded.
"Yeah, this crowd sounds amazing."
"I know, I'm so excited. I have a feeling it's gonna be a memorable show. Are you gonna watch from the crowd tonight?"
"Yeah, I was supposed to Skype Ally tonight, but she had to rain check, her grandma was coming over." Taylor smirked at me, but it was more of a, 'I'm hiding something from you' kinda smirk.
"That's stinks," her voice got really high, but she coughed. "I mean, that's stinks, but you talked to her yesterday? Right?"
"Yeah, we talked on the phone for a few hours. God, I miss her."
"You guys are so cute!" she squealed, but a stage director came and handed me a black headset.
"You're on in two," he said. I nodded and ran to my cue mark.
"You're going to love tonight's show," she shouted at me. I gave her a questioning look, and was about to respond when the DJ shouted.
"YOU GUYS READY FOR AUSTIN MOOOOOOOOON," the crowd screamed in response. Illusion (2) started playing and I was ushered out onto the stage.
"How you guys doing tonight!?"
They all screamed, and I got chorus' of…
"AUSTIN I LOVE YOU!"
"AUSTIN YOU'RE SO HOT"
"MARRY ME!"
I laughed at them, and began to sing, "I'll be your entertainer, I'm putting on a show…"
Before I knew it, the song was over, and I began to talk to the crowd, like I normally do. An introduction if you will. "Denver, Colorado!" Everyone screamed. "I'm Austin Moon." More screaming. I took off my headset, and was handed a regular microphone.
"My job is- basically I'm a warm-up act. By the end of tonight, hopefully, everybody will have lost their voice." I laughed at this, but continued. "Now, I met Taylor at my good friend Kira Starr's birthday party, and I am so honored, that she asked me to join her on tour. It's a dream come true." Everybody screamed again. What do you expect? It is a concert. "Let me give you even more background information, for those of you who don't quite know me. I'm from Miami, where I record music that my partner and girlfriend, Ally Dawson writes for me. Yeah, sorry ladies, I'm taken."
More screams ignite, while I just shrug, with a smirk on my face. I reached down to touch some girl's hands in the pit, their screams joined the rest of the crowd "You know, you guys are really loud?" A deafening scream pierces through the arena. I laugh. "Man, Taylor's going to love you. Anyway, I love listening to the radio." The music for Heard it on the radio (3)began, while I continued talking, the tempo picked up.
"In fact," I said, as a stage crew member hands me an electric guitar and sets a microphone stand in front of me, and I put the guitar strap over my shoulder and set the microphone on the stand, "my first radio single, was called Heard it on the radio." The crowd screams again and I begin to strum the guitar.
"It's about summer, and having fun. And since I love summer, and it's just around the corner…" I paused and possibly the loudest scream of the night happened.
"Oh, What up? Summer in the sand…" the crowd sang along.
When I got to the rap part of the song, I took off my guitar and handed in off my dancer, who brought it offstage. Grabbing the mic off the stand, I walk to the front of the stage and sit on the edge. I swung my legs off the side of the stage, since there was short fence in front of the fans - it was like, 2 feet tall- and a space between the stage and the fans, I could sit down there without having to worry about being dragged in the crowd.
"Listen to the story, 'bout the party, 'bout the glory, 'bout the summer that would raise the bar." I stood up and walked to stage left, "Anyone would tell ya, it was chill, it was stellar, the best time we had so far. Everyone together, always going never better, and the good times go on, and on, and on."I walked back to the center, and pointed up to the balcony, "Never will forget it, doesn't matter where we headed, I'll remember when I heard our song. WHAT? Sing it for me, Denver!" I shouted to the crowd. I heard a chorus of people singing the words back to me. This is what it feels like, I thought to myself, to have a crowd of thousands singing back to me. Once they finished, I launched into a repeat of the chorus.
"…play it back, play it back, one time yeah," nodding my head to a group of girls, who all shrieked, "I heard it on the radio," holding the 'o' sound, "Yeah." The music stopped, but started up again, with a new beat. I danced with my dancers to the familiar beat.
"I can get your heartbeat, beat, beat, beat, beatin', like, I can get your heart beat, beatin, like that…"
I finished off Heartbeat (4)and I went backstage to grab an acoustic guitar, walking back out I went go sit down on a chair that had 'magically' appeared.
"You guys like my guitar?" I gestured to my tiger striped guitar (5), and the crowd screamed. "Do you guys," I rephrased the question I was going to ask, "Has anybody ever gotten into a misunderstanding with someone?" Everyone screamed, I laughed.
"This next song- it happened because of a misunderstanding I got in with my girlfriend, who at the time was only my best friend." I paused to listen to the deafening sound of the crowd again, man I love that sound, and began to pluck the strings. "You see, she has this book, and nobody, I mean nobody is allowed to read it. Not even me. It's cute though, how she tries to threaten you when you do touch her book." I smiled as I thought of Ally, and laughed as I thought of her 'Don't touch my book' threats.
"OH GOD, GET MARRIED ALREADY!" I heard a girl in the crowd scream, I almost ignored it, but I smiled and started to laugh, as did the crowd.
"Anyway," I said, "I made the mistake of reading her book, without her permission, and long story short- I ended up orange and sweaty." The crowd laughed, "Anyway, this song is about how a guy and a girl can be just friends, even though I got the girl in the end." They all screamed as I began the song.
"I love the things you do, it's how you do the things you love, but it's not a love song. Not a love song, I love the way you get me but correct me if I'm wrong, this is not a love song, not a love song(5)." I finished that off, and then I sang No ordinary Day(6). Before I knew it, my set was over and I was saying goodbye to the crowd.
"Thanks so much for having me! Ed Shear is up next, and then the beautiful Taylor Smith!" I ran offstage and handed my mic off to the crew.
While I was being escorted to my dressing room, I got choruses of 'Great job!' When I got to my dressing room, I took a quick shower and got dressed in some different clothes. I blow-dried my hair, since I was going to be in public. I don't need to have wet hair. I sent a quick text to Ally, letting her know that my performance was over.
After a few minutes of texting her, I heard a knock on my door, I got up and there was a security guard, who was standing with Taylor's mom and dad, who came out to see her tonight.
"You ready to go?" I nodded and followed them out. We went to get Ed, who had just finished his set. While being escorted to the sound booth, we were mobbed by girls on the floor who wanted a picture with Taylor's parents, Ed, and I.
Before I knew it Taylor's entrance song had started. Her show was great as usual, she went to her b-stage and sang a few songs, including her duet with Ed, and went back to the main stage. Except, instead of going into I Knew You Were Trouble (7), the lights came back on and she was standing on the staircase. Still in the striped shirt and red shorts. I was confused; she didn't mention she was having a guest tonight.
"Denver," she began, "you guys have been so amazing to me, every time I come here. You guys sing loud, you jump up and down, and you go all out, even for my opening acts. I have my incredible British friend, Ed Shear!" The crowd scream, "And the amazing, Casey Michaels, who had his first show on the Red tour tonight!" Even louder screams. Taylor began to descend the stairs. "Who could forget, my amazing internet star Austin Moon!" I felt a nudge on my shoulder, and saw Ed smirking at me, I just gave him a confused look, he gestured back to the stage, where my attention turned.
"So, do you know what I love doing for incredible people? I love rewarding them." The loudest scream came. By now she was standing center stage, "So what if I told you, that I had a close friend of mine here to sing for you guys? Not only a close friend of mine, but also a close friend of one of my opening acts." I looked over at Ed, who shook his head. I tilted my head to the side as I watched Taylor, my curiosity growing. "What if, Denver, what if I told you," she pulled the mic away, "What if I told you…Austin, could you come up here for a second?"
A guard came up to me, I followed him towards the stage, grabbing hands of girls who were screaming, and smiling while saying to them…"I have no idea what's going on." I reached the stage and got on it, while giving Taylor a hug I whispered in her ear, "What is going on?" she laughed.
"You'll see," she said, before turning back to the crowd. "Denver," she looked at me, "Austin," back to the crowd. "What if I told you," she walked away from the front, down the aisle, back to the set of stairs, I followed her. She leaned against the railing, pausing for a dramatic effect, "…that Ally Dawson is here to sing for you tonight!" the crowd screamed and I gave her a look that said, 'Are you serious?' She just gestured to the top of the stairs, where no one other than my beautiful girlfriend stood, in a red varsity jacket with an A on it. She was wearing a gold tank top and a pair of shorts, along with a pair of red Keds (8). She began to walk down, while the singing a song that sounded quite familiar.
"Every day, day, day, I fall for you a little more-o-ore, and every night, night, night, I dream of you so beautiful-ul-ul-ul."
My grin grew as wide as is could possibly be, Ally was on stage, when did she get over her stage fright?! When she reached the bottom of the stairs, she was actually closer to my height. We stood staring at each other, I totally forgot about the crowd. I grabbed her, spinning her around bridal style. I set her down, and grabbed her waist while she was singing.
Taylor and Ally, while more like Taylor and Ally with me glued to her side, moved to the front of the stage while singing together.
"Our love will always feel this way," Ally and I looked at each other, "We are timeless,(9)" The song finished.
Not even caring about the crowd, I leaned in and gave Ally a kiss that held almost 2 months of passion in. I could hear the crowd screaming, but all I cared about was Ally's arms around my neck and her soft lips kissing me back. When we pulled away, the lights went dim and we ran backstage. Ally handed her mic off, and I immediately picked her up in a hug.
"What are you doing here?" I asked. "Wait, scratch that question, all that matters is you're here. I can't believe you just conquered your stage fright." She laughed as I pulled her back into my chest, and we embraced for a while, by a while I mean like 15 minutes, no joke. We were in a secluded part backstage, only time people were there was when Taylor was doing her costume changes, which just so happened to be while we were hugging.
Taylor walked by in her dress for Love Story (10), which was like 2 songs after Ally's performance. "You guys are so cute!" she said as she passed us. The crew escorting her laughed, and so did we.
Ally pulled back from the hug, "I missed you." I said, leaning down to give her a kiss.
"I missed you, too."
"How did you get here?" I asked. She bit her lip.
"Remember that envelope Taylor asked you to give me?" I nodded.
"While inside it, was a plane ticket. Apparently Taylor talked to my dad a while ago, and worked out a compromise with him." I smiled, "In the letter, she asked me if I was willing to be a special guest, and surprise you."
"So, you're over your stage fright?" I asked. She nodded.
"While after that experience I think I am," I smiled at her even wider, "and I get to stay on tour with you until school starts again," I picked her back up again. She wrapped her legs around my waist as I spun us around multiple times. Taylor walked by again, going to change again.
"Did she tell you the news?" she asked.
"Yeah!" I shouted, but I wasn't sure if she heard me, because she was already long gone for her next costume change. I turned my attention back to Ally.
"I have to bunk with Taylor, and I'm only here until school starts again." I nodded.
"Hey, that's three months together," I said, "Better than 4 months apart" I said, since after she left I would still have about a month left of tour. I leaned in to kiss her, but of course Taylor had to walk by, again, only this time, she was in her finale costume.
"Better get ready for Club Red!" she shouted as she walked passed again. Ally looked confused.
"Club Red is this thing Taylor has after her shows, it's like a meet and greet for her crazy fans. Random people from anywhere in the crowd get invited after the show to meet her and stuff (11)." When Ally went to the Miami show, we didn't go to Club Red, we just went back to my bus to spend some time together.
I grabbed her hand and led her into my dressing room. We stayed there for a while, cuddling on the small chair I had, talking about nonsense that happened in Miami while I was gone, when Taylor walked in.
"Awwwww!" she said, she was wearing a baby blue dress and her hair was down and straight. "I just came to see if you guys were ready to go meet the fans. It's cool if you guys wanted to wait a little longer." I nuzzled my head into Ally's neck.
"We'll be there in 10," I said. Ally had a different idea though, she shrugged her shoulder and gave me a pointed glare. "Were ready now," I smiled at Taylor, who just laughed.
We got up and followed her until we came to a giant arch that said Club Red on the top, right, and left side of it. "You guys can go in. I'll be there in a sec," she said. Ally and I walked in, and were immediately greeted by a group of, about 6, girls that were decked out in red; they were each holding a sign that spelled out Taylor. We talked to them for about 5 minutes; Ally and I signed some stuff for them, and got a picture with them. This happened with about 20 other people that had gotten picked. Eventually Ally and I made our way to the corner, Ally sat down in one of the bar chairs, I stood next to her.
When Taylor came in, everybody began screaming. She smiled, when she saw Ally and I in the corner, my arm around her shoulder, one of her arms around my waist, and another holding a glass of water.
"Taylor is such an incredible person," I said to Ally. "She doesn't deserve getting heartbroken over and over again." She nodded.
"I know what you mean. She also doesn't deserve the negative attention she gets about her love life."
"I know, she hasn't even dated that many people, I mean, an average amount for a 23 year old. I've dated like, 4 girls, and I'm 17." Ally raised her eyebrows, I kissed her cheek and she smiled, while rolling her eyes. "She's dated, what, 6 guys?"
"I know, it's stupid, people shouldn't be so interested in other people's lives. A relationship is meant for 2 people, not 2 billion."
"I guess we have the benefit of 93% of our fans wanting us to date." I told her.
"True."
The rest of the night flew by, and before I knew it, I was standing in front of Taylor's, or I guess Taylor and Ally's tour bus, kissing Ally goodnight.
"So, our next show isn't until the 14th, in Canada. So we're going to LA for a week, because the Billboard Music Awards are coming up, and we're all going. I get to present Top R&B album (12)," I said, while fist bumping the air. (I know that the BBMA are in May, but for the sake of the story, they're going to be June 7th)
"WHAT?" Ally shrieked. "The Billboard awards!?" I nodded.
"Yup, and you're my date," I said, leaning in and giving her a peck.
"B-But, I don't have a dress, shoes, jew-" she was cut off by Taylor sticking her head out the door.
"You can come shopping with Selena and me on Monday."
"Really?"
"Yeah, sure! We'd love to have you!"
"Okay, sounds great!"
"Oh," Taylor said, "and we need to get going, so you best be getting in here. Night Austin!"
"Night, Taylor!" She disappeared inside the bus, and I turned to Ally.
"Goodnight Ally," I said.
"Night," she leaned up and gave me a kiss goodnight, when I pulled away. I pulled her in for a hug. I mumbled inaudibly into her neck, because I wasn't quite sure how she would react, or how I felt saying it out loud. "Hmm?" she asked.
"I love you," I told her, a little louder. She quickly pulled her head off my chest, and I looked in her eyes. She smiled and I relaxed because that's a good sign. We had never 'formally' said it, even though in Timeless (12), the lyrics read 'this love'.
"I love you, too Austin."
When I got back on the bus that I shared with Ed, I practically floated into my bunk. I was on cloud nine. This was definitely my favorite show of the tour.
So now you know what was in the envelope!:) YAY! It takes on average about 3 hours for me to write a chapter, counting proof reading it like 3 times, and deleting and rewriting stuff, but this one took WAAAYYY longer because I was trying to be detailed. I'm SUPER proud of this one. And I hope you like it enough to review!:)
(1) I don't own the Pepsi Center!
(2) I don't own Illusion!
(3) I don't own Heard it on the radio!
(4) I don't own Heartbeat!
(5) The tiger striped acoustic guitar Austin's playing in the acoustic version of Not a Love Song, both are not mine!
(6) Don't own No Ordinary Day!
(7) I don't own I Knew You Were Trouble!
(8) I don't own Keds! Ally's Outfit Link -
performance/set?id=94646153
(9) I don't own Timeless!
(10) I don't own Love Story!
(11) Club Red is a real thing, and the way I described it is pretty much how it works. I've never gotten in:( but I want to SOOO bad! I didn't make it up, it's not mine
(12) I know that the BBMA are in May, but for the sake of the story, they're going to be June 7th