Perfectly Wrong

6. One For the Road

Camila looks at the stage as her hand is locked with Shawn’s and they watch a girl who looks around twenty-five being called on stage. She steps into the stage with an acoustic guitar and announces she’s performing a song she wrote called ‘More’. The lights are lowered as a spotlight is positioned on her and suddenly the whole room is quiet and the only sound in the entire place is the girl’s breath in the microphone in front of her. The girl positions her fingers in the guitar, staring down at the floor as she starts playing and when she starts singing, Camila is mesmerized by her voice.

“They told me once, nothing grows
When a house ain't a home
Is it true, honestly
When it's all a part of me?
A couple years of waiting rooms
Finding God, and losing too
Wanna scream, but what's the use?”

“Lyin' awake, and I stare at the door
I just can't take it no more
They told me it's useless, there's no hope in store
But somehow I just want you more”

“I want you more
Somehow, I just want you more
I want you more
Somehow, I just want you more”

“Wooden floors and little feet
A flower bud in concrete
Feelin' so incomplete
Wonder will we ever meet?
And would you know it right away
How hard I try to see your face?
A little screen, a photograph, mine to take”

“I sit and I stare at your clothes in the drawer
I cry and my knuckles get sore
'Cause I still believe it won't be like before
And now somehow I just want you more”

“I want you more
Somehow, I just want you more
I want you more
Somehow, I just want you more”

“And when you decide it's your time to arrive
I've loved you for all of my life
And nothing could stop me from giving a try
I've loved you for all of my life”

“Loved you more
Somehow, I still love you more
Love you more
Somehow, I still love you more”

 The lights come back up and the audience roars as Camila takes a deep breath and wipes the tears from her eyes. She’s mesmerized by this girl’s ability to hypnotize the crowd with her words and her music, wondering if she’ll ever be able to do the same. She feels as Shawn puts his arm around her shoulders, bringing her back to reality.

 “ Well?” He asks as she rests her head against his shoulder and they look at the stage.

 “ That was unbelievable.” She whispers, feeling his hand touch the side of her head as he leans in and places a kiss on her forehead.

 Camila closes her eyes and feels like all of her emotions are out in the open for him to see, like she’s the one pouring her heart out in that stage. Three days ago she felt devastated, bitter and hopeless and now she feels vulnerable and happy for the first time in months.

 They sit there in the same position as more people perform their songs and she finds each one more electrifying than the other. Those people are able to pull the whole crowd into their personal world through their emotional and sometimes even funny lyrics, making her feel like she just experienced all of those things they’re singing about. She feels connected to those people, but she feels even more connected to Shawn. She can’t believe he’s brave enough to bare his soul up on that stage like these people are doing, she has to see him do it.

 “ Shawn, you can’t bring me here and not perform.” She says, looking up at him. “ Please, do one? Please, please, please?”

 “ You’re killing me, Camila.” He laughs. “ Like I said, I don't have anything new.”