A/N: Thanks misskikikat! Looks like it's just you and me here :) I'm glad you like it so far, here's Chapter 2! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Refer to Chapter 1
Chapter 2: Surprise Guest
Mark stepped out from behind his keyboard and switched places with Sam at the microphone.
"One, two, three, four."
Matt strummed the intro before Mark sang.
My heart skips a beat like never before
My knees get weak when you walk in that door
I keep thinking maybe this time
But I can't sleep and I don't know why
I dream about you night and day
What can make me act this way
Must be love
The way that I feel
Something inside, oh oh
Tells me this is real
Now I know why
It's you I'm thinking of
Now I know it must be love
Got butterflies, my head's in the clouds
Walking on air when I float through the crowd
There's just one thing pulling me through
I've got to get much closer to you
I want to see you night and day
What can make me feel this way
Must be love
The way that I feel
Something inside, oh oh
Tells me this is real
Now I know why
It's you I'm thinking of
Now I know it must be love
Oh oh,
Before another day goes by
Oh oh,
I'll tell you all the reasons why
Again, Matt knocked everyone out with another brilliant solo.
Now I know why
It's you I'm thinking of
Now I know it must be love
The way that I feel
Something inside, oh yeah
Tells me it's for real
Now I know why
It's you I'm thinking of
Now I know it must be love
Must be love, yeah…
"We'll be back in five," Matt announced.
The band set down their instruments and descended from the stage, large grins on each of their faces. Matt high-fived Tony and Mark, while the girls shared a group hug with Sly.
"You guys were awesome," exclaimed Lorena.
"I don't know, felt a little rusty up there," Tony replied.
"You were great, hun," Sam said, giving him a peck on the lips.
"Jeez, you two, get a room. We're not in high school anymore," Sly said, squirming.
Sam slapped him hard on the arm.
"Owww," he whined, rubbing the spot where Sam had just hit him.
"That's what you get for messing with my fiancée," replied Tony.
Tiffani smiled as her friends ganged up on Sly like old times. Her thoughts drifted back to when all they had to worry about was passing their English final, completing a Physics lab on time or practicing for a gig. Frowning, she wished that Jake was here. It just wasn't the same without him. She glanced at the doors, willing him to walk in.
"Oh, Tiffani, stop it," she muttered out loud.
"Stop what?"
"Huh?"
Matt, who had broken away from the rest of the group, was smiling down at her with a knowing look in his eyes.
"Waiting for someone?" he asked.
"No, why would you say that?" replied Tiffani, indignantly.
"Because we've been harassing Sly and you've been staring at that door."
Sighing, she pinched the bridge of her nose.
"I'm not a very good liar am I?"
"No, but that's what makes you a great person, Tiff."
He wrapped his arm around her and gave her an encouraging squeeze.
"How about another song?"
"I want to hear Tiff belt out Let Me Be the One," said Sly with a smirk.
Both Matt and Tiffani simultaneously glared at Sly.
"Okay, okay," he replied, holding his hands up in defense. "It was just a suggestion. Can't you people take a joke?"
"That song was a temporary lapse of judgment on my part," admitted Tiffani.
"Hey," Sly exclaimed. "If I recall correctly, you were all over me."
"Thanks for reminding me, I nearly forgot," she replied, sarcastically.
Restraining herself from strangling Sly, Tiffani turned and faced the rest of the gang. All of them had shocked expressions on their faces.
"You and Sly?" Sam gasped, raising an eyebrow.
Tiffani slouched forward and buried her face in her hands.
"Didn't I tell you this?" Tony asked Sam.
"Oh no, I'm pretty sure I would have remembered you telling me that."
"I'm never going to live this down am I?" Tiffani sighed.
There was a moment of silence before everyone broke out into laughter.
"Whoa, wait a minute. Why are we laughing? I'm quite a catch," Sly suavely said.
At that comment, they all stared at each other before going hysterical.
"Great, everyone has turned on me," muttered Sly.
"I haven't turned on you," Mark assured.
He tried desperately to keep a straight face but failed.
"Betrayed, by my own flesh and blood!"
"As much as I love to sit here and make fun of Sly, let's get back to the task at hand," suggested Matt.
"Thank you, Matt," Sly said, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. "How about a slow, romantic one? What about the one you and Jenny sang together?"
It didn't take Matt long to recall the song.
"If You Only Knew," he said.
"That's the one."
"Sly…" Matt replied, uneasily. "I don't know if it's appropriate…"
"I loved that song, let's do it," said Tiffani.
"But Tiff..."
She put up her hand and stopped him from continuing.
"I can sing Jenny's part, not sure if I can do her any justice," she rambled. "God, I hope I remember the words."
"I still don't think it's such a good…"
Without waiting for Matt to finish his sentence, Tiffani headed back onto the stage. She approached the microphone awkwardly.
"Hi everyone, this next song is, uhm, is…" she hesitated briefly. "This song is a classic Dreams number. So to all you couples out there, enjoy."
Tony took his place behind his drums and exchanged nervous glances with Matt. Turning back to the audience, Matt sat down at the keyboard and slowly counted them off.
"One, two, three, four."
Playing the opening notes, Matt leaned into the microphone he shared with Tiffani and began to sing.
The moment we said goodbye
I felt something in me die
But a man can't break down and cry
And say please don't go
While strumming her bass, Tiffani closed her eyes and sang.
The moment I walked away
I knew I'd regret that day
But I was too proud to say
I still need you so
If you only knew
What was in my heart
Wouldn't spend a single minute far apart
If you only knew
What was in my soul
You would know that I need you to make me whole
And I'd be back with you
Be back with you
If you only knew
I thought I was being strong
But I see now that I was wrong
Now I know that you still belong
Right here by my side
In dreams I still see your face
You're a memory time won't erase
You're a love that I can't replace
I wish I never tried
"This is too difficult to watch," Lorena whispered into Sam's ear.
"I know."
"What is she trying to prove? It's so obvious that she's still not over Jake."
"Do you know if he's coming tonight?"
Lorena shook her head in response.
"I'm not even sure if it would be such a good idea if he does show up."
If you only knew
What was in my heart
Wouldn't spend a single minute far apart
If you only knew
What was in my soul
You would know that I need you to make me whole
And I'd be back with you
Be back with you
If you only knew
Lorena sighed and took a glimpse of the entrance when the door swung open. Before she could let out a gasp, she slapped a hand over her mouth and nudged Sam. Sam looked to where Lorena was silently pointing. Only Sam couldn't keep the words from tumbling from her mouth.
"Holy crap."
Her comment got both Mark's and Sly's attention.
"Holy crap," the cousins echoed.
If you could only see me on my knees at night
Praying that I'll find a way to make it right
To see that now I know, that I was crazy then
And I'd give my life to have you back again
On stage, Tiffani was oblivious to the intruder's presence. When she finally opened her eyes, Tiffani kept her attention on Matt as their voices melded together.
If you only knew
What was in my heart
Wouldn't spend a single minute far apart
If you only knew
What was in my soul
You would know that I need you to make me whole
Scrambling out of her seat, Lorena made a bee-line for the door.
"Loren…"
She took a hold of both his arms and swung him around before he could finish speaking. Only, she was too late, his eyes were already locked with Tiffani's.
If you only knew
What was in my heart
Wouldn't spend a single minute
Single minute far apart
I'd be back now with you
Matt continued to play even though Tiffani stopped singing halfway through, carrying the melody of the last notes.
If you only, knew…
A stunned Tiffani handed her bass to Matt, without saying a word, before fleeing off the stage.
Lorena had dragged him by the elbow out into the parking lot and shut the door behind her. When she let him go, he readjusted his leather jacket while she folded her arms across her chest.
"You know, you have the worst timing of anyone I've ever met."
"It's nice to see you too, Lorena."
Throwing her hands in the air, Lorena started on a Spanish tirade.
"Okay, I'm sorry," he apologized. "I'm sorry if my timing sucks. But if you're going to yell at me, at least do it in a language I understand."
She shut her mouth for a second and stopped her mad pacing.
"Fine, what are you doing here?" she demanded.
"What do you mean, what am I doing here? You invited me."
"The other half of an invitation is a response. You think surprising all of us, especially Tiffani, was a good idea?"
"So I didn't think this through. But I wasn't going to give up the chance to see her again."
"Jake, she still loves you," she said exasperatedly.
He looked surprised as he leaned over the wooden railing overlooking the beach on the right. Doing a quick double-handed tuck of her hair behind her ears, Lorena silently stood next to him.
"After my second album bombed, I flew to Fiji."
Staring blankly ahead, he paused a moment.
"You were looking for Tiffani," Lorena concluded out loud.
"It took me a week to find her," he continued with a laugh. "You'd think if you're on a small island like that it would be easy to find a blonde surfer. I, uh, I found her, but I don't think she saw me."
"Why didn't you say something to her?"
"She was with someone," he said frankly.
"Tiffani never mentioned she had a boyfriend."
Jake shrugged his shoulders.
"What about you? You and Winkle…"
"We were over a long time ago," she filled in.
"I'm sorry."
"I'm not. We had our moment. It just wasn't meant to be."
"I know what you mean."
"Jake, you can't compare my relationship with what you shared with Tiffani. You both still love each other."
"I wasn't talking about Tiffani. Besides, you don't think Sly still loves you? I caught him watching you when Matt and Tiff were singing."
"We're over. He knows that."
"I don't think he does."
Shaking her head, Lorena slid her eyes closed.
"It doesn't matter. This is about you, not me."
"Hypocrite."
"Fine, you caught me! I'll admit it. There will always be part of that loves Sly and I will always have a special place in my heart for Sly, just like I do for you," she stopped ranting and lowered her voice. "I'm sorry."
He sighed deeply.
"You have nothing to be sorry for, Lorena. Maybe I should go."
"Jake, don't, you're right. You need to talk to Tiffani."
"She doesn't want to see me, let alone talk. Besides, she deserves to be happy."
Reaching over, Lorena gently placed a hand on his arm and gave him a warm smile.
"You deserve to be happy too."
TBC