Somewhere, Australia //A.I

Chapter 20: Wait here

I think I'm going to start putting some type of picture or video in each chapter, comment if you think it's a good idea! ENJOY LOVELIES!
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ASHTON'S POV

"There is no way in hell that I'm singing right now." She insists.

"I didn't wanna have I do this but..." I fake sigh, and do something I'm pretty sure I'm not supposed to do.

I spring up from my sitting position and place a foot up on my Cajon. I propel myself up and fully stand on it, terrified that this situation is gong to end one of two ways. Either I get broken somewhere or my drum does.

"Ashton get down from there!" Sydney calls, tugging at my shirt.

Too late, I think to myself. "Ladies and Gentlemen. Musicians of all ages." I shout, cupping my hands around my mouth for volume. People stop playing and singing and just stare at me, some glaring. "Sorry to interrupt everyone." A few grunts sound. "My good friend Sydney is afraid. It's her first time here and she's worried she's not good enough." This earns some laughs and hardened faces soften. "But I'm asking for your help. I need you to help me show her she's perfect just the way she is." Sydney is practically dying of embarrassment, I can tell.

I wobble a little and decide to hop off the box entirely. Jumping down I continue my speech. "I want her to sing a song for all of you, any song of her choosing. I'm hoping you would all be so kind as to help Sydney out and listen. But if not I can appreciate that. This isn't usually how things run around here. But what'd ya say? Are you all willing to help us out?" Dead silence hangs for a second, then cheering breaks out. I squeeze her shoulders as they continue hollering, although she still looks at me like I'm crazy.

SYDNEY'S POV

Everyone is starring at my cherry red face. It's really past the point of saying no, but I really want to. Then I figure, why the fuck not?

The audience is done cheering and is now gauging my reaction to all of this. A sudden smile breaks out on my face.

"I'll do it!" I yell.

Ashton has a very pleased look plastered in his face. "What are you gonna sing?"

Oh right, a song. Of course my mind blanks of any songs I know. So I stand there, scratching the base of my neck with a crowd of people staring at me.

Now my concentration is shifting to the amount of people looking at me. Sudden terror and self-dread rise up like bile in my throat. I try to swallow my feelings down but it's proving difficult. Picturing all the horrible thoughts these people must be thinking doesn't help. Because in my mind, whenever anyone's eyes even brush on me they see all the bad stuff.

"Hey, chin up sweetie." Ashton says, coming over and lifting my chin with his fingers. "What's wrong?" He asks, concern strewn across his facial features.

"There's so many people." I complain, looking at the ground. "I'm scared..." My self-esteem, or lack thereof has finally caught up with me tonight. And now it's ruining something great.

"Don't you dare be afraid." He runs a hand through his hair. "Wait here." He turns and runs. "Really don't move!" He calls after he's taken a few steps.

Returning with a heafty smile and two complete strangers is Ashton. The bigger of the two men holds a guitar. Ashton may be tall, but this man towers over all of us, so much that I have to look slightly up to see his face. Although he's not intimidating by any stretch of the word, with round childish cheeks and plum lips curled into a smile.

Polar opposite is the other man, standing around five feet even. Every patch of visible skin on his neck and arms is covered with tattoos, all blending into a colorful masterpiece. Skillfully held in one of his hands is a violin. Not exactly the type you'd picture to play that instrument. Yet, I see it, his arm pinching just the right spot of the neck, and his bow sliding smoothly across the strings to create the perfect sound.

"I've picked the perfect song!" Ashton excitedly chirps. "And these two fine gentleman are going to help us." I smile at his use of pronoun. Us.

"Well what song is it?!" I ask, after formally introducing myself to the men.

The taller one I now know to be Rafi laughs, a noise that I believe fills the square. The shorter of the two named Quinn says, "Now what's the fun in telling ya? No, we're gonna play it for ya."

All three men give a count off and without hesitation I know the song. A consistent strumming from Rafi and Ashton's intense keep of tempo lead me into the first verse. I inhale deeply before letting my cares melt away and let my lips form the first words.

There's a fire starting in my heart

Reaching a fever pitch, and it's bringing me out the dark

Finally I can see you crystal clear

Go 'head and sell me out and I'll lay your shit bare

I allow the profanity to fall from my lips as I turn towards the sea of other musicians.

See how I leave with every piece of you

Don't underestimate the things that I will do

There's a fire starting in my heart

Reaching a fever pitch and it's bringing me out the dark

Out of the corner of my eye I see Ashton's energy build as it gets closer to the chorus. His whole body is into every beat he plays, pulsing to put all his soul into the rhythmic taps.

In the seconds before my next lyrics begin, the fluent stroke of a violin joins me.

The scars of your love remind me of us

They keep me thinking that we almost had it all

The scars of your love they leave me breathless

I can't help feeling

And the music bursts. Into a chorus of violin intricacies and rhythmic pulses of percussion. Into the mad strumming of guitar. Into a singing voice not afraid of cracking, throwing her head back as a brazen note fills the air.

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Aw. What I wouldn't give to have a performance like that, completely open and in front of perfect, musical, strangers. So I wrote about it! Close enough. BBYYEE!