❛ SUPERMARKET FLOWERS ♪ ❜ - z. herron

six: in too deep.

(reminder - (*) is a timeskip from here on out, enjoy the chapter)

As the cheers die down from friends, the band walks off stage. Slowly a murmur begins as the crowd slowly anticipates the next song. I look over at Laila, who's been having the time of her life. 

I swear I've never heard this girl scream like this until now; it makes me laugh to see her happy.

"C'mon" she says, pulling me towards the stage.

"You've been doing this an awful lot," I laugh. She pushes us into a group of girls, causing them to disperse so we can get closer. She's kept progressively pushing us up but the closer we get the dirtier the looks are. We get a few more dirty looks, to which I reply with apologetic eyes. 

We are so close to the stage, I could lick it.

As the boys walk back onto the stage, they all step up to solo mics in the darkest. The beginning of a familiar song plays, but I can't place it. Laila nudged me and whispered, "This is my favorite song." not daring to take her eyes off the stage. 

The boys' mic stands light up and shows them in all-white outfits. As they sing, I look around the entire arena to see it absolutely filled with bright dots and rumbling voices. It seems like a million fireflies illuminating this very stadium. I look back at the stage to refocus on the concert.

"I heard your siren's call. It was beautiful

I am drowning, God, please don't save me.

I'm in too deep,

Can't touch the bottom with my feet,

Don't know what you did to me. I can't breathe, but I'm living"

It's Em's song. It's the song we listened to 3 different times so Emerson could cry harder each time. I completely understand why now. You can see the raw love between him and his craft; by the way, he holds his mic and just sings. Wow.

When you hear the lyrics live, in the purest of forms, it's breathtaking. This band cannot only capture every single girl's heart in this very building but has a fantastic stage presence while doing it. I feel my eyes glued onto all of them, seeing them sing their hearts out. I look one by one to see the boys singing until they land right onto Zach. His eyes are closed, and you can tell the song is taking full control of him. He's fully immersing himself in the music, and it's incredible to see. 

I find myself singing along. I wish I knew how, but I'm singing the lyrics correctly as though they are etched in my brain. These lyrics hold so much emotion of something I've never felt that they almost feel wrong coming out of my mouth. But at this point, it's like word vomit, and I continue to sing the song. I almost want the music to take me the way it takes Zach, where I'm entirely enthralled, but I plant my feet firmly.

I am not a boyband girl. 

I am here for Laila, and that is it. But, I still remain and close my eyes. I sway to the ending of the song, holding both my hands to my chest. I came to this concert for a good time, so I'll make the best out of it.

"Ah ooh-ah-ooh-ooh

Ah ooh-ah-ooh-ooh

I'm in too deep"

As the song finishes, I realize, maybe, I do have a new favorite song. 

Don't get me wrong, invitation EP is still top tier. But something about this song is different, you know? It could just be the performance live, but it hit in a way I've never felt. I slowly start to open my eyes and look up at the stage.

 I see Zach looking straight at me, both an expression of content and confused. How does he even find me in a group this big? There're at least 300 people in pit alone, but his eyes are stuck on me. I can do nothing but stare back. He shakes his head laughing, just like he did when he saw me outside the tour bus, and winks at me. I gave him a small smile. I promised a good time, not a long one. Plus, he'll forget all about me once he leaves, so I might as well make the most of a hot boy.

*

"That was perfect, absolute perfection. I literally love that band, might as well be angels. 8 letters has always been a chef's kisses." Laila says as she stops raving to stare right at me. Her voice is super raspy from just singing at the top of her lungs. "WAIT, is my mascara ruined?", small smudges lay underneath her eyes, causing her red eyes from crying to be even more prominent.

"A little, one second" I reach into my backpack to grab makeup wipes and new mascara with a mirror. I bump into someone trying to do so."Oh my god I'm so sorry" I apologize.

"No, you're totally fine. I bumped into you" the girl I bumped into exclaims. I try to make out her face in the darkness.

"Isabella?"

"Kira?"

"Oh my god, hi. I told you I might see you here." I say with a smile.

"I'm sorry that I ran into you by literally running into you" She apologizes with a laugh.

"Don't stress at all, it was nice seeing you!"

"Did you like the concert?" She asks.

"They have amazing stage presences, it's hard not to." I say, my hand still down my backpack, rummaging around. 

"I fully agree. I do have to go, but, hopefully I see you around town. Feel free to come into the shop whenever you see me working."

"I'll take you up on that, bye!" I say, waving as she walks away from us.

"Who's that?" Laila says, looking up at me.

"That is a girl I met shopping, hella pretty right?" I say, handing her the items from my bag "Here you go."

"Thank god for your mom backpack," She said while making prayer hands toward the sky, "OH MY GOD KIRA YOU DIDN'T TELL ME IT WAS THIS BAD!" she screams, looking into the mirror.

"Oh you're so overdramatic," I say, rolling my eyes.

"Whatever," she states, turning the opposite corner going towards the train station while reapplying the mascara.

"Laila, where the actual fuck are you going?" I say, following her.

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word count: 1044

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much love, 

~ nish