Bullseye

Chapter 8

The lights dimmed in the stadium, you could hear the high pitch squeals growing even more intense. This is the moment I have been waiting for my entire life.

I may not be who they came for, but I still get to perform and I get to have my name out there; I finally get to be the artist I want to be.

I have worked so hard in the last week to get here. I haven't had a moment to myself, I barely even sleep anymore between rehearsals and all the interviews and photo shoots and all that other crap. I have never worked so hard nor have I ever been this physically exhausted, but, believe it or not, I have never been happier. This is what I was born to do. This is what I will forever be known for doing. This is who I am.

"Hellooo San Francisco!" I yelled into the microphone as I jogged onto the stage earning a roar of cheers. "How are you doing tonight?" I yelled earning an even louder response.

"Are you ready for Arrow Head?" to that I earned an ear-bleeding volume response, which probably caused a minor earthquake, and that's when I chuckled into the microphone and said, "Well too bad, you have to suffer through me first." causing the entire stadium to laugh.

Yup, this is definitely what I was born to do. All that fatigue vanished, the energy from the audience instantly refueled me and kept me bubbling over with energy. I cannot believe this is my first actual concert. All that pressure I thought I would have to do well and all the thoughts of "what if they won't like me" vanished the second I felt that microphone in my hands.

I closed my eyes and began to strum the first chord, the stadium fell silent. As I began to belt out the first line, the stadium actually began to sing along. I couldn't help but open my eyes and look around. They actually know who I am, they know my music, they actually like me. I began radiating the biggest smile I could manage, the audience happily singing along and soon, as I reached the chorus, the entire stadium was booming with my voice and my song. This is the moment I have been waiting for my entire life. Never did I think it would feel this good. I can't believe I'm here.

I finally did it. I finally made it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Hey, how's it feel to be all big and famous?" I heard the familiar voice of Miles say after the show.

"I cannot believe this is all happening. I'm so happy and so full of energy I don't even know what to do with myself right now. And your audience was surprisingly positively responsive to me!" I cheered.

"I told you they would love you!"

"Yes, yes you did. Thank you so much Miles, I can't believe I'm actually here right now!"

"Well believe it sister because the dream just continues." he said with a smile.

"Great job kiddo." Asher said while giving me a hug.

"Yeah you were surprisingly flipping amazing!" Nate said joining in on the hug.

Shane awkwardly stood off to the side, good call.

"Thanks guys." I laughed into the hug.

"Alright we should probably get going..." Miles said, leading us out of the venue.

As we stepped outside, it was as if I was stepping into the middle of a lightning storm. Between the flashing cameras and the fans shoving papers in my face, I was utterly blind. WTF how do the boys deal with this?! I felt someone grab my hand and was so thankful, I didn't even care who it was, they are much more experienced than I am at this, I have no idea where people versus paper are, I wouldn't even know where to step. but thanks to whoever my guide is, I was able to safely make it through the crowd.

"Wow my first paparazzi encounter, how exciting." I gushed.

Then my vision finally cleared and was no longer just dots and I could see who my rescuer was. Much to my surprise, it was Shane.

"Oh uhm you're not who I expected." Whoops that came out wrong, "I mean, thanks you kinda saved my life back there..." I jokingly exaggerated.

"Yeah sure thing." He mumbled.

Well this is awkward.

"Hey, how about we forget what happened, call it a truce, and start over."

"Uh yeah that actually sounds really good."

"Ok nice to meet you, I still hate your music, but I'm willing to try to move past my hatred for you personally." I said with a chuckle.

He responded with a laugh, "Ok nice to meet you, I still hate my music too, but I'm glad you are willing to not hate me personally."

"Hey, are you two coming or what?" Asher yelled from the bus.

"Well there's our oh so polite queue to leave." I chuckled.

"After you milady."

"Yeah polite doesn't work for you either." I scoffed.

"Hey now." He mockingly hit my arm in protest.

"Race ya to the bus." I yelled while taking off before he could process what was happening.

"Ha! I win!" I stuck my tongue out at him.

"No, you cheated." He said pouting.

"All is fair in love and war. And this is war." I said making my voice deep and menacing.

"Yeah ok whatever you say girly." He sang before stepping onto the bus. Then he turned around and said, "By the way, I just beat you, I got onto the bus first."

"Hey, if you're going to race you have to at least announce it first."

"I just did." He said with a smirk before maniacally laughing.

"Uh you suck!" I yelled back.

"All is fair in love and war." he said mocking me.

Oh if that's the way he wants to play, that's the way it'll be done.

They don't call me the master prankster for nothing.

Ok, no one calls me that, but that's only because no one has felt the wrath of my pranks before.