Beth nervously paced backstage of the bar as she waited for her turn to perform. Normally she was all for playing shows. Tonight was as far from a normal as possible. Two days earlier Beth and Daryl broke up. She couldn't remember what exactly was said or why, the incident was a blur. All she knew for sure was that he stormed out of her apartment leaving her standing in the middle of her living room with tears streaming down her face and that they were over. Tonight she didn't expect Daryl at her show, not after the way they had ended things, even if he used to go to every one of them. This performance she was playing a couple of songs she'd never played before.
Her turn came sooner than she was ready for. She walked onto the stage, eyes scanning the crowd for him and guitar in hand. The dim lighting made it harder to see but she didn't spot him there. She took one last look at her set list, five covers from some of her favorite artists.
"Lay down
And come alive in all you've found
All you're meant to be
And for now
We'll wait until the morning light
And close our eyes to see
Just close your eyes to see
A tear must have formed in my eye
When you had your first kiss
But I'm on my way
On my way
So leave a space deep inside for everything I'll miss
Cause I'm on my way
On my way"
Her first song, a Boyce Avenue cover was a hit. The second song , River by Light was an equal hit.
"I want to go where you're going, a follower following
Changing but never changed, claiming but never claimed
Take me river, carry me far
Lead me river, like a mother
Take me over to some other unknown
Put me in the undertow"
After her second cover she set her guitar down, and took a deep breath, voice filled with emotion. "This song was written by someone I look up to a lot and I hope y'all like it." She scanned the crowd once more. This song, this song she was singing for him, about them.
As her voice rang out over the crowd, loud and true, he quietly slipped into the room, hidden by the shadows and leaned against a wall.
"I am giving up one of my dreams today
I found out I can't always get my way
And sometimes a dream isn't worth what you pay
So I'm giving up one of my dreams today
When we are children we look to the sky
We want everything, I'm afraid to ask why
And I saw the sparkling fish in the sea
I dreamed I would find one who'd swim next to me
And this called love and it's worth every reason
Love is the cool and the warmth in each season
But how does one love and what does one do
When the dream that you have doesn't want to pick you
But oh oh don't cry for me
It's just one dream less on my shoulder
And oh oh dad says giving up dreams is just a sign I'm getting older
He was a stoner and I'm like a light
And when he would blaze id sing songs by his side
But my dream takes two strong hearts that will fight
And he doesn't dream, he just sleeps at night
And oh oh don't cry for me
It's just one dream less on my shoulder
And oh oh dad says giving up dreams, is just a sign I'm getting older
Oh they say too much smoking will change your taste
Maybe that's why he's kissing some other girls face
But I never dreamed of second place
So I'd rather just quit than continue to race
And oh oh don't cry for me
It's just one dream less on my shoulder
And oh oh dad says giving up dreams is just a sign I'm getting older
And oh oh oh I am singing on stage
But it doesn't mean I know much better
Oh oh oh oh
Your probably like me
Some days dreaming and some days a quitter
I am giving up one of my dreams today
After I held him and begged him to stay
And after my dream will drown out to a whisper
After I've burnt all the photo booth pictures
And after I erased our names from the sky
Stopped wondering how and asking why
Oh I wish I had words to encourage inspire
But the truth is I'm ripped and I'm sad and I'm tired
I'm a loser in love and an abandoner of dreams
And today I have up the one for him, and me"
He knew it like he knew his own name that she was singing it about him. He stayed hidden in the shadows as she sang two more songs. Lines of each standing out to him, recognizing both of the last two songs she played.
"You're the reason that I feel so strong
The reason that I'm hanging on
You know you gave me all the time
Oh, did I give enough of mine?"
One of which she sang at pretty much every show, but the lines taking new meaning standing there watching from the side lines.
She finished her set list with What About Now, a song she's only sang onstage a few times.
"What about now?
What about today?
What if you're making me all that I was meant to be?
What if our love never went away?
What if it's lost behind words we could never find?
Baby, before it's too late,
Baby, before it's too late,
Baby, before it's too late,
What about now?"
The closing lines played over and over in his head as she thanked the crowed and went backstage. Within a few moments of leaving the stage she came back out and sat down at the bar and ordered a drink. He watched her sitting there, nursing her drink for a while before crossing the room. He tapped her shoulder gently. "I'm not interested," She didn't turn around or look up from her glass as she spoke.
"Are ya sure 'bout that?" He asked and she whirled around to face him, her mouth hanging open with shock.
"What...what're you doin' here?"
"I ain't missed a show of yers yet. Didn't plan on missin' this one cause I was bein' an idiot." His voice came out breathy as he laughed a little at his admission.
He'd barely finished speaking before she was standing and throwing herself into his arms. His arms wrapped around her small frame and they both felt like they could breathe again, being in each other's arms, right where they belong.
A/N: The songs I used/referenced were as follows:
On My Way, Boyce Avenue
River by Light
Dad Says by Emily Kinney
Mess Is Mine by Vance Joy
What About Now by Daughtry
Thank you to Beyondmythought-s for helping me with the set list.
Kevkye, sorry this took so long and I hope this did you justice in what you had in mind for this prompt. I hope like hell you enjoyed it!