best years ✰ l.p.

Chapter 28- Stand Tall- 2

After I changed and did my hair, I sat and waited nervously. The boys still hadn't shown up and I was starting to get worried.

No, I told myself. They promised they would never bail on me again.

Suddenly, there was a knock on my door. "Hey Dahlia, I've got your roadie."

"Come in."

Flynn walked in with Rob, a member of the stage crew behind her. "Holograms are all good to go, boss."

I looked over at Rob. "Best roadie ever"

"I'll be back in a few minutes to walk you to the stage.", he said.

"Thanks."

After he left, Flynn turned to me. "You see this backstage pass? I had sushi with Brenden Urie!"

I sighed. "Good for you. I threw up on the way over here."

"And you still look amazing"

I laughed. "I made friends with the tech crew. You're going to love what we have planned." She paused. "The guys are here right?"

"I haven't seen them."

"Wait, you don't think they changed their mind and took Caleb's offer do you?"

"No, no. That's the last thing that they wanted."

Flynn sighed. "You're gonna kill it", she said, us both looking in the mirror. "We should get some snacks."

We went over and sat down on the couch. Flynn grabbed the pretzels.

I took a water off the table. "Damn, even the water here is fancy", I said, examining the bottle.

She laughed. "So, what are you guys gonna play tonight?"

"Stand Tall. It was the first song Luke and I wrote together, so I feel like it should be the last one we perform. I'm just a little nervous it's not good enough."

Flynn laughed. "You could play the duck song and you'd still be incredible."

"Hey, Flynn?"

"Yeah...?"

"Do you think I'm doing the right thing? Do you think I just should've told them to join Caleb's club? Then they would still be able to play for people. This is going to be their last performance and I feel like I'm taking their music away from them."

"It's like you said, joining his band is the last thing they want. And if they did want to, they would've said something."

I sighed. "I guess you're right."

I looked at my phone. It was 8:57. I was going on soon and I still hadn't seen the boys.

There was a knock on the door. "Hey Dahlia, it's time."

"Just a second", I replied. "Something's wrong. The boys were getting those jolts pretty bad as I was leaving. And they wouldn't stand me up again."

I turned to Flynn. "They must've run out of time."

"I'm so sorry Lia..."

I felt the tears welling up in my eyes. "They didn't cross over. They're gone. And I didn't even get to say goodbye."

"Hey, Dahlia, you're on."

I got up and rushed out of the door. I ran up the stairs. Flynn called after me, but I didn't turn around. I pushed open the door at the top of the stairs and went outside.

I couldn't believe it. I didn't want to believe it. They were gone.

"I don't know if you can hear me mom, but...I can't handle it. Flynn says you're supposed to be behind everything, but I don't know. If I was supposed to help the guys, I didn't. They're gone. And I'm so sorry. They were my friends. My band. My family.", I said, the tears streaming down my face.