September, Nine Years & Six Months Since the Release of Antler Queen
A bar.
Not just any bar, the bar where she was first looked at, first noticed by the cleverness of Charlotte Matthews. Last time she performed with Blood Hive.
You'd think that after all these years that Natalie would rather be caught dead than be seen in this bar, but something in her recently really wanted to perform there, to perform where it all started.
Something was missing though, and it was Lottie being in the audience. Or even next to her on stage.
Natalie had always loved performing. Not just for herself but for the audience. The adrenaline kick she gets from the crowd's cheers every time she would do a good job made her filled with joy and energy.
What would always make it just a bit better was having her partner on stage.
But that was forever ago. Natalie should get over it by now.
As she steps up on the small yet familiar stage, in the back she realised someone. Not just someone, but some people.
There was no way that this was merely a coincidence.
Why the fuck was Lottie Matthews here, and not just her but Laura Lee and two other artists she knows of— Jackie and Shauna.
Is this some sick game that Lottie's playing or what? How could this be sheer chance?
What luck she has.
Natalie was normally not very nervous to go on stage. She always loved being on it ever since a little girl. But at that time, more than ever she was scared.
She was seeing Lottie in front of her. Laughing and enjoying her time. As if she didn't even realise this is the bar where it all started. As if she didn't realise that Nat is literally on the stage, frozen for a second while she stared at the scene in front of her.
She was just filled with so much anger and sadness all at once. Her heart felt like it was hammered with a nail, at the same time jumping all around her chest because of the anxiety eating her alive.
But she is not about to make a fool out of herself. Never, not in front of Lottie at least.
She grabbed the microphone and tapped it, grabbed the attention of the people in the bar. They were already attentive due to the fact Natalie was well known as an artist and was now performing in front of such a tiny crowd compared to what she normally did.
Right now however the crowd didn't matter to Nat, but Lottie's attention mattered the most.
"Hello my name is Natalie Scatorccio. I'll be singing a song I'm sure you all know and love. Antler Queen! Hope you enjoy."
Once upon a time
The wilderness haunts
It stays a part of you
A part you don't want
Antler Queen is sort of a slower song with elements of rock in it. So Natalie sang in her usual soft yet hoarse singing voice. It combines subtlety, fragility, and a hint of roughness, creating a captivating and evocative musical experience, showing true emotions within the singing lyrics.
Lottie was stunned in her seat, her eyes would not leave Natalie on stage.
They noticed some things about each other. Although brief, they realized how much each have grown since they were last teenagers.
When Charlotte first saw Natalie her hair was freshly dyed blonde, short and kind of wavy but didn't reach her shoulders just yet. Now her hair is definitely outgrown, it's obvious she hasn't dyed her roots in a while but she was definitely going to get to it. Her cheekbones were also slightly more clear than when they were teenagers. She looked like herself just a tad different. Some people would say that she hadn't changed at all through the years but Charlotte noticed. Of course she did. Practically living together and staring at her had it's perks.
