"I'm sorry Mai. If only I did something back then..." I murmured, brushing her hair away from her face. "Just don't leave me."
Mai's POV-
I blinked slightly and rubbed my eyes with an arm, trying to erase the blurriness. When my vision cleared, I noticed my surroundings and deduced that I was in a hospital room. I tried to lift my arm, which was ensconced in a bandages, when I noticed a pale hand clutching my hand. I looked up to the owner of the hand and blushed furiously. Naru was sleeping, his head laid on the side of my bed, breathing softly. I smiled and gently touched his raven locks. They were just as soft as I had imagined.
I smoothed them back and stared at him with affection. He was so peaceful when he was sleeping. Naru stirred and I snatched my hand back, imagining what he would say if he had noticed what I was doing. He sat up and stretched slightly before noticing I was awake and staring a him with a slight look of amusement on my face.
"Mai! Are you alright?" Naru's eyes searched my face for any signs of pain or distress. I smiled softly.
"Yes, just a small cut, don't worry." At this, he glared at me.
"Mai, you had a deep cut in your arm from that ghost and stab marks from a knife in your stomach!" I flinched at his raised tone. "Would you care to explain?" I sighed and played with my fingers in my lap.
"Remember how I told you as well as experiencing an event, I also feel the same emotions and receive the same wounds as the person I see the scene as?" Naru's eyes widened as he understood what I was trying to say. In his hurry to speak, he accidentally switched to English.
"Why didn't you tell me you had a dream? It could have improved the progress of the case so far! You're supposed to tell me all these things! Something could have been done earlier!" I stared at him, shocked. Did he just ask me why I didn't tell explain a dream to him, while I was lying in a hospital bed?
"Well I'm sorry, Oliver!" I snapped. "I'm sorry, I didn't tell you that a teenage girl was stabbed to death because I passed out from the lack of blood! I'm sorry I was trying to figure something out that could be helpful for the case instead of telling you every single detail that pops up in my life! I'm sorry I'm just a stupid ex-assistant! I'm sorry that I was no help! I'm sorry that I love you, Oliver Davis!" I screamed, letting everything out. My breathing was ragged from all the yelling I just did. Naru was frozen in place, his eyes a bottomless pit of conflicting emotions. I stared at him, my face void of any emotion except despair.
"I'm done here." I muttered quietly and slipped out of the bed, leaving the hospital after changing into some other clothes in the bathroom stationed next to my room. I exited the hospital, ignoring the protests from the nurses. Hailing a taxi, I gave it directions back to the Davis' house. I didn't think I was going to be accepted back into SPR any time soon and I had to prepare for my concert the day-after-tomorrow.
Walking up to my room, I packed my bags and gathered all my work, slipping it into a black folder, similar to Naru's. I grabbed my duffel bag and stormed downstairs, leaving a short note for Luella and Martin before heading out the front door. A cab pulled up in front of me and I got in, giving him the directions of the Grosvenor Hotel. I had decided to stay there under the pretense of Taylor Veran. I paid the driver and slipped out of the cab, glancing around for passerby's before slipping on my usual mask.
After doing so, I grabbed all my stuff and walked into the lobby, earning gasps and squeals from many of the people surrounding me. My shows in Japan had been aired all over the world, so it was no surprise that these people recognized me. Ignoring the chaos around me, I checked in and flashed a smile to the flustered bellman, who managed a weak smile back. Not until I was in my suite, door locked, did I remove my mask.
I decided before anything, I would take a bath to calm myself down. Stripping my clothes and taking care not to stretch any of my wounds too much, I slipped into the now full bathtub, releasing a long sigh of contentment. I replayed the conversation that took place not thirty minutes ago, and put my head in my hands, staying motionless for a few moments.
"I'm sorry that I love you, Oliver Davis!" I groaned at my stupidity and dunked my head underwater, trying to rid him from my thoughts.
(Time Skip) Day of the Concert...
"Um, yes, that's fine." I muttered, waving my hand around. The employee in front of me shuffled nervously but nodded and set the mike in the center of the stage. Today was the day. I took in a deep breath and stood up, walking around to make sure everything was in place. Once that was done, I clapped my hands and dismissed everyone, claiming the work to be done.
I flew up the stairs and ran into my room, excited despite the fact that the entire SPR crew including Naru, would be watching my performance. This was my first concert out of Japan and I wasn't going to mess it up. Quickly splashing some water on my face, I dressed in my outfit which consisted out a black halter top, dark blue skinny jeans, and my trusty boots. I pulled my hair up into a high ponytail, swiping on some makeup before grabbing my mask and list of songs.
In less than an hour, almost the entire auditorium was filled with people chattering excitedly about the upcoming performances. I took in a deep breath and glanced in the mirror just incase I had to do any last minute touch-ups. I heard Brittany whisper that I was up. This was it, I was on.
The lights were off but I easily and soundlessly moved onto stage. Surprising, huh? Clumsy Mai can move in the dark without tripping? But I had a lot of practice with previous concerts, so it wasn't too hard as long as I knew where everything was. I adjusted my mike-band and gave a thumbs up to the lights people. The music started and I started swaying with the beat and humming as my fans cheered loudly.
That's What You Get- Paramore
No sir, well I don't wanna be the blame, not anymore.
It's your turn, so take a seat we're settling the final score.
And why do we like to hurt, so much?
I can't decide
You have made it harder just to go on
And why, all the possibilities
Well I was wrong
That's what you get when you let your heart win, whoa.
That's what you get when you let your heart win, whoa.
I drowned out all my sense with the sound of its beating.
And that's what you get when you let your heart win, whoa.
I started dancing, following the routine I had practiced and encouraged people to sing along. The audience happily complied.
I wonder, how am I supposed to feel when you're not here.
Cause I burned every bridge I ever built when you were here.
I still try holding on to silly things, I never learn
Oh why, all the possibilities I'm sure you've heard.
That's what you get when you let your heart win, whoa.
That's what you get when you let your heart win, whoa.
I drowned out all my sense with the sound of its beating (beating)
And that's what you get when you let your heart win, whoa.
Pain make your way to me, to me.
And I'll always be just so (so) inviting.
If I ever start to think straight,
This heart will start a riot in me,
Let's start, start, hey!
Why do we like to hurt so much?
Oh why do we like to hurt so much?
That's what you get when you let your heart win!
Whoa.
That's what you get when you let your heart win, whoa.
That's what you get when you let your heart win, whoa.
Now I can't trust myself with anything but this,
And that's what you get when you let your heart win, whoa.
I grinned and waved at the audience who quieted down, but started screaming again when the next song started.
Born For This- Paramore
Oh no I just keep on falling
(Back to the same old…)
And where's hope when misery comes crawling?
(Oh my way, Ay…)
With your faith you'll trigger a landslide
(victory)
To kill off this common sense of mind
I stood in the middle of the stage, singing to my heart's content, only partially aware of the people in front of me. I felt as if I was born for this.
It takes acquired minds to taste, to taste, to taste this wine
You can't down it with your eyes
So we don't need the headlines
We don't need the headlines
We just want…
(We want the airwaves back, we want the airwaves back)
Everybody sing like it's the last song you will ever sing
Tell me, tell me, do you feel the pressure now?
Everybody live like it's the last day you will ever see
Tell me, tell me, do you feel the pressure now?
Right now you're the only reason
(I'm not letting go, oh…)
And time out if everyone's worth pleasing
(Well ha-ha!)
You'll trigger a landslide
(Victory)
to kill off their finite state of mind
It takes acquired minds to taste, to taste, to taste this wine
You can't down it with your eyes
So we don't need the headlines
No, we don't want your headlines
We just want…
(We want the airwaves back, we want the airwaves back)
Everybody sing like it's the last song you will ever sing
Tell me, tell me, do you feel the pressure now?
Everybody live like it's the last day you will ever see
Tell me, tell me, do you feel the pressure now?
Everybody sing like it's the last song you will ever sing
Tell me, tell me, do you feel the pressure?
Alright, so you think you're ready?
Ok, then you say this with me
Go!
We were born for this
We were born for this
Alright, so you think you're ready?
OK, then you say this with me
Go!
We were born for this
We were born for this
We were born for this
We were born for this
We were born for
We were born for
Everybody sing like it's the last song you will ever sing
Tell me, tell me, can you feel the pressure?
Everybody live like it's the last day you will ever see
Tell me, tell me, can you feel the pressure now?
Everybody sing like it's the last song you will ever sing
Tell me, tell me, can you feel the pressure?
Tell me, tell me, can you feel the pressure?
We were born for this
We were born for this
We were born for this
As the song finished up, I waved my hands in the air to get the audience's attention.
"This next song is dedicated to a certain someone in my life!" Some of the guys in the audience were practically bawling when they finally figured out what song it was when the music started up again. I smirked in their direction and I think some of them passed out.
Emergency- Paramore
I think we have an emergency
I think we have an emergency
If you thought I'd leave, then you were wrong
Cause I won't stop holding on
So are you listening?
So are you watching me?
I gazed intently in Naru's direction as I sang those two lines, finally spotting him in the audience. I quickly glanced away before he or any other SPR members noticed.
If you thought I'd leave, then you were wrong
Cause I won't stop holding on.
This is an emergency
So are you listening?
And I can't pretend that I don't see this
it's really not your fault
When no one cares to talk about it
[To talk about it]
Cause I've seen love die
Way too many times
When it deserved to be alive (deserved to be alive)
I've seen you cry
Way too many times
When you deserved to be alive (alive)
So you give up every chance you get
just to feel new again
I think we have an emergency
I think we have an emergency
And you do your best to show me love,
but you don't know what love is.
So are you listening?
So are you watching me?
Well I can't pretend that I don't see this
But it's really not your fault
When no one cares to talk about it
[to talk about it?]
Cause I've seen love die
Way too many times
When it deserved to be alive (deserved to be alive)
I've seen you cry
Way too many times
When you deserved to be alive (alive)
Scars, they will not fade away.
No one cares to talk about it, can we talk about it?
Cause I've seen love die
Way too many times
When it deserved to be alive (deserved to be alive)
I've seen you cry
Way too many times
When you deserved to be alive (alive)
"I'm going to slow things down a bit if you all don't mind!" I yelled out. The audience roared in response. "Everyone grab a partner! I want to see everyone out of their seats!" I said this just to have a little bit of fun, and especially to see what Naru and Lin would do. I was positive Ayako and Bou-san would pair up. So would John and Masako. Everyone stood and started looking for a partner as the music started and the lights dimmed.
The Only Exception- Paramore
When I was younger I saw my daddy cry
and curse at the wind.
He broke his own heart and I watched
as he tried to reassemble it.
And my momma swore
that she would never let herself forget.
And that was the day that I promised
I'd never sing of love if it does not exist.
But darling,
You are the only exception.
You are the only exception.
You are the only exception.
You are the only exception.
People swayed in their spots with their partners. I saw a girl cling to Naru and almost laughed out loud at the look of horror on his face. Lin and Madoka were slowly dancing. I smiled wistfully at the love on their faces.
Maybe I know somewhere
deep in my soul
that love never lasts.
And we've got to find other ways
to make it alone.
Or keep a straight face.
And I've always lived like this
keeping a comfortable distance.
And up until now I've sworn to myself
that I'm content with loneliness.
Because none of it was ever worth the risk.
Well you are the only exception.
You are the only exception.
You are the only exception.
You are the only exception.
You are the only exception.
I've got a tight grip on reality,
but I can't let go of what's in front of me here.
I know you're leaving in the morning
when you wake up.
Leave me with some kind of proof it's not a dream.
You are the only exception. [x4]
You are the only exception. [x4]
And I'm on my way to believing.
Oh, and I'm on my way to believing.
The rest of the concert will be continued in the next chapter! Happy New Years everybody! Please R&R!