the Dark Side

Grand finale

The clock strikes 8.30 p.m.
in 30 minutes the grand finale of the Eurovision Song Contest will take place.
The both bands are in the lounge fixing the last preparations for the big performances.
Everything has to be perfect.
Neither Blind Channel nor y/n and Elin has ever played in front of a crowd THIS big.

Neither Elin or y/n has suffered from stage fright before, but now the anxiety is starting to kick in for Elin.
Everyone is dealing with theirs as she quietly leaves the room to get some alone time in one of the bedrooms to calm herself down. The feeling of the soft bed as she sits down helps a bit.
She puts her elbows on her knees and palms to her forehead to focus and land in the present.
*five things I can hear, five things I can hear* she tells herself as she starts to listen after sounds just as her psychiatrist has recommended her to do once she feels her conscious mind leaving for the anxiety.
She can hear how Joel is humming. One.
How Niko is laughing. Two
The AC in the roof. Three
Joonas strumming his guitar. Four
Footsteps outside. Five
Just as the footsteps stops, it knocks on the bedroom door.
"Are you in there Elin? You okay?" A worried, familiar voice says. It's Aleksi.
Elin breathes in to try and cover the fact that she has cried. If she would speak right now, her voice would break and he would understand that she has cried.
Inhale
Exhale
The door opens before she can finish and Aleksi slowly walks in.
"Hey dear, are you okay?" he says and looks at Elin with worried eyes. He notices the stains of running eyeliner and understands. He continues to enter the room and quickly sits down next to Elin to comfort her.
He embraces her in a big hug, one hand on the back of her head. Her head leaning against his chest. It was such a comfort. Anxiety can be such a bitch. It can make you feel like you're in the middle of a crowd yet so alone. But just resting her head on his chest, a few strands of his beautiful hair touching her forehead as he leans his head against hers, the way his hand gently holds her head - nothing could be more perfect. If this moment could just last forever.
"Was it anxiety attack?" He asks as he strokes her back gently, back and forth.
Elin nods her head.
"It's okay darling. It's okay. You know; I have also suffered from these stuff. I can still do to this day. Anxiety is really a dick. Everything can be so perfect, so exciting; and Poof there comes mother anxiety just tearing down every wall that's surrounding ya. It can be scary af. I know, trust me Elin, I know." he says as he tightens his hug around her to show her that he is there.
"Mhm. Anxiety sucks ass" Elin utters under her tears and laughs for a bit. She looks up upon Aleksi who is looking over her as she's resting in his comforting grip. He smiles. He smiles the smile that only Aleksi can.
"I agree" he says and giggles for a bit.
"Just know that I'm always here. You're never alone. Even though miss anxiety tells you you are, I promise you're never alone." his words hits the exact right point in Elin which awakes the butterflies in her stomach. This man. He is so perfect. So pure. So... he is just perfect.
"Thank you" she says and hugs him.
*aleksi looks at the clock. 8.45. 15 minutes to go.*
"Are you ready to go out now and kick some ass, and the anxieties ass?" He says and looks her straight in the eyes and smiles.
"YES" Elin answers excitedly and smiles back.
"Good girl" Aleksi answers as he arises from the bed, opens the bedroom door again and awaits Elin.
He knew exactly what he was doing as he said that.
"Madam" he says as he bows when she enters the door. That little cute gesture- why is he just so perfect.
*No one has ever made me feel this way* Elin thinks as she passes him with a smile.

~ the both bands makes their way to the green room area where they're waiting for their turn to perform their songs.
First up, Blind Channel~

"Song number 16, Dark side by Blind Channel, Finland!" the screeching speaker utters as it's their turn.

The band arises from their seats.
The whole crowd is cheering.
Y/n watches as Joel takes one more sip of his beer and then spins around. Showtime.
He smiles their way as he makes his way up on stage.

Aleksi takes place behind his instrumental board. He checks his in-ears, spins his drumstick in his hand to warm up. He gazes upon the big arena. Elin noticed that he is also nervous. But he probably also remembers the moment they had just before. When he reassured her that it's okay. She looks his way, gets eye contact and throws a kiss towards him.
His eyes enlightens of excitement and Elin notices how he immediately gets relieved as if stones had been lifted off his shoulders.

Y/n and Elin looks at each other in excitement. It's time.
"Give it up for FINLAAAAND" the speakers yell out again and they both arises and cheers at the top of their lungs. "HOO HOO HOO."

~ Joel's POV ~
It's chaotic once you enter the stage.
So many sounds.
So much to take in.
As the speakers yell out Finland, it all goes silent. Except; somewhere under the sound of silence he hears what sounds like the exact same "HOO" as they do in their song.
He immediately understands where and whomst it is.
He looks back at the band. They all seem to have noticed the vague yet powerful cheering of Elin and Y/n.
They al smile at each other as a signal: "let's go boys"
~ the intro starts ~
The crowd goes wild as Blind Channel sings their song.
Niko slays his rap part.
Joel owns the stage.
Aleksi is embodying the music.
Joonas and Olli swings around their guitar and base like real rockstars.
And Tommi is totally smashing his drum.
"Empire of the freaks all drinks on meeeeee" Niko growls out. The stage goes all dark.
It's over.
They did it.

"OMG ELIN DID YOU SEE WHAT I JUST SAW?!" Y/n screams out.
"YES THEY TOTALLY SMASHED IT!!!!" Elin answers and jumps up and down out of excitement.
The band leaves the stage and slowly makes their way back to the green room.
As they walk towards the couch the sound of their loud and excited voices gets louder and louder the nearer they get. You can tell they're high on adrenaline.
"WHAT THE FUCK GUYS THAT WAS FUCKING AMAZING!!" y/n screams as they all gather into a huge group hug.
Even tho they are two different competitors. Even though they are opponents: they're together.

"And noooow, song number 17" the speakers announces.
It's Elin and y/n's turn now.
How are they gonna be able to slay the stage now that the stage has already been totally SLAYED by the boys?
The whole band hypes them up as Elin and Y/n makes their way towards the stage.
Everything is in its order.
Elin's pink guitar is steady and ready.
Y/n's keyboard is set.
It's showtime.
Under the sound of the cheering crowd, the sound of their own thoughts are echoing.
*what if I play wrong*, Elin starts to get worried again.
But just as the thoughts starts to run, she returns to the moment when Aleksi held her earlier.
~ "Just know that I'm always here. You're never alone. Even though miss anxiety tells you you are, I promise you're never alone."
His words echos through her head and she grows her confidence back again.
No matter what happens, he is there. He is here.
He is here.

~ the intro starts and Y/n and Elin plays their song.
Once in a while they get eye contact and they both smile at each other. They understand that: they're ACTUALLY playing LIVE in the mother-F:ing ESC!
The crowd cheers, and it's all just completely perfect.
Throughout the whole song, Aleksi's words echoes in Elin's head as a mantra that keeps her anxiety away.
As long as he is there, no one can hurt her.

Y/n looks over the crowd and sees Joel.
His eyes are shining brighter than the lamps of the phones of the crowd. You can sense a smile underneath his concentrated face. He is really listening and taking in every single lyric.

~ outro plays and the stage turns dark.

It's a surreal feeling.
They have just completed the biggest performance ever!
Y/n hugs Elin as they both come down back to earth from their adrenaline rush.
They made it.
We made it!

The boys are cheering again.

It all goes in slow motion as the Two of them make their way towards green room again. Euphoria can make time go 10x slower.

We made it!