"You ready, Ol?"
"To meet one of my idols? Never, but I guess I'm as ready as I'll ever be Charlie."
"Okay, let's go."
Taking my hand in his, Charles stepped forward, leading me down the corridor and into Sam Smith's room.
"Hey, Sam?" Charles said as we stepped into Sam's room.
"Ah, Charles!" Sam said, turning around from the dressing table that they were sitting at and coming over to greet us both. "I was wondering when you would come. Welcome, welcome."
"Sam, this is Olly" Charles introduced him to me. As soon as we'd stepped into the room, nerves had taken over me, and I know that Charles had seen me drawing small circles in the centre of my palm - a method that I use to calm myself down when I'm nervous. "She's a pretty big fan."
"Olly! A pleasure to meet you. Charles had told me a lot about you. All good though, don't worry!"
"Uhm, hi." I said "Sorry, I'm so nervous. I never thought this was ever going to happen."
"Oh please don't be nervous!" Sam said, "Come, sit down, let's talk. I have a few minutes before I need to head backstage."
"So, Olly, tell me about yourself."
"Okay..." I said "I'm Olivia Thomas, Olly for short. And... that's kind of it, I'm not really doing anything with my life at the minute. I dropped out of uni - Charles didn't know until I just said that out loud actually? - and... yeah, I'm going to stop now."
Both Charles and Sam laughed. "Olly, don't worry. I already knew."
"You did? I never told you."
"You didn't need to. You're like an open book to me, Ol." he said, standing up from the sofa we were sat on "I'm gonna go, give you a moment with Sam."
"No, stay." I said, taking his hand in mine "I need you here. I want to tell them about Mia."
"Okay," Charles said, sitting back down
"Okay," I said, taking a deep breath before turning to face Sam again, keeping a tight hold on Charles' hand "Maria Anna Bradley. My Mia. She was my best friend, my sister. I grew up with her, spent my entire life with her, and planned the rest of my time with her in it. She was my rock, my everything. But she passed away in 2017. She loved your music - we loved your music - but we never made it to a concert together. So I'm eternally grateful to Charles for bringing me here today, and for you giving up some of your time to meet me. I'm sitting here for both of us today, because Mia would've loved to have had the opportunity to do this - to meet you. She adored you, and I'm sure you would have adored her too. So thank you, for everything."
"Olly," Sam said, leaning forward and placing their hand on my knee "Thank you for sharing Mia's story. I know that it's not easy to lose a friend, but I'm grateful to have learned about her." Can I just ask you one question?"
"Uh, yeah sure." I said
"You and Mia, what were your favourite songs?" Sam asked
"Of yours? Mia always loved Life Support. She used to say that it made her think of me, and that it was our song. Now, it makes me think of her." I said, "I think that's my favourite song too, Kids Again would have to be a close second though, I really like that one."
"Good choices," Sam said "Thank you, Olly. Again, thank you for sharing Mia's story, but also yours. I'm glad I got to meet you today."
*
Sam's concert was absolutely amazing. Charles had got us tickets right at the front with the most wonderful view of the stage. The setlist had been great too, a perfect blend of both newer and older songs.
"I've got one more song left for tonight," Sam spoke into the microphone as the previous song ended. "And I'd like to dedicate this one to to very special girls. This song is for Mia, I'm told it was always her favourite. And to Olly, for keeping her memory alive and for sharing her story with me. Thank you."
As the first notes of Life Support began to play, a light rain began to fall. It was so beautiful, and I began to cry. Charles, knowing how much this meant to me and to Mia, wrapped his arm around my shoulder.
We stood like that for the whole song, absorbing the music. Remembering this moment forever.
*
"Hey, Olly?"
"Charles?" I said, turning towards him. The concert had finished, and Sam had left the stage, leaving the crowd to slowly disperse. One of Sam's songs - Say It First - played softly around the arena.
"Earlier, you said that Sam was one of your idols. Who are the others?"
"You," I said "You're my idol, Charlie."
"Me? Why... why me?"
"The person that you are, your personality, I find it admirable." I said "You're kind, funny, smart. You care really strongly about people. You're understanding, whatever the situation. You work hard, and you're modest about your achievements. You're honest too, but that's mostly because you're an awful liar. But most importantly, you're loyal, Charlie. You've stuck by me through thick and thin, when most people might not have. That's what makes me adore you."
"Olly... that was the most beautiful thing anybody's ever said to me." Charles stammered, seemingly lost for words
"And I meant every word, Charlie."
Charles didn't reply to me for a moment, instead looking straight into my eyes. Then, "I need to do this Ol, otherwise I'm going to go insane." He said as he leant towards me, his lips interlocking with mine...
A/N: AHHHHHHH!! okay... where do i start?
first, this is the first chapter i've uploaded in *checks calendar* over six weeks, and for that i am incredibly sorry. being at uni meant that i just couldn't find any time to write, and when i could, writer's block hit me. but i think it's gone (for now, at least...) and i'm trying to write as much as possible over winter break so that i can try and upload somewhat regularly. i'm not saying that i'll be going back to my usual upload schedule - i don't know if that will ever happen again to be honest - but i am trying to get chapters written and published as quickly as possible!
moving on... what a chapter! this is one i've been looking foward to writing for such a long time, so i really hope you enjoyed it. i can't believe it's taken me forty seven chapters to get to this point, but i hope ypu've enjoyed the ride :)
finally, this chapter references a few of sam smith's songs. i'd really recommend that you go and listen to them. like olly and mia, sam is one of my favorite artists, and i tried to pick songs of theirs that really fit with the book. below are a few of sam's songs, the first three are referenced in this chapter, and the rest are a few personal favourites. have a listen!
1. Life Support
2. Kids Again
3. Say it First
4. Stay With Me
5. Baby, You Make Me Crazy
6. Scars
wishing all who celebrate a very merry christmas! and keep an eye out for some new chapters of both my books in the new year - i've already got some scheduled!
all my love,
copse x
YOU ARE READING
STAY THE NIGHT || Charles Leclerc
Fanfiction"If the world was ending you'd come over, right? You'd come over and you'd stay the night" - JP Saxe & Julia Michaels After the premature death of her parents, Olivia Thomas reaches out to the person she can trust the most, the brown haired boy from...
