V & V - Rageous Rageon Rise

Thank You, Velvet

Midori POV:

I watch Dom come close enough to his backup dancer to kiss her. I look at Carlos, seeing the worried look on his face as he meets my eyes. I look at Mateo, seeing his sparkly eyes wide as he takes in the scene before him.

Shit...

Maybe this is what Dom meant by not wanting Mateo to see the show! I want to ask Mateo if he's okay, but the show advances to the next song. Mateo is silent for the first half of the concert.

Once the break of the show occurs, I take the time to ask if he's alright.

Midori: "Mateo."

He looks at me, and I can't discern the look on his face.

Mateo: "Yes?"

Midori: "Are you alright?"

Mateo: "...yes. It is his job, yes? He has to do... that."

Mateo looks back to the floor as I meet Carlos's eyes. Carlos gives me a sad look yet doesn't say anything. I hold my tongue and try to enjoy the concert's second half. I must say, even though it's hard to see Dom be so close with his backup dancers in front of Mateo, Dom and his brothers do put on an incredible show. 

I had no idea they were this good at what they do, but it makes sense that they're able to be on Rollie, Velvet, and Veneer's level. My ears ring as Rageons around us clap excitedly. Brandon taps his mic as he walks to the front of the stage while Dom and Johnny get water.

Brandon: "Hey, everyone! How's it going!"

The audience claps and cheers, then quiets so Brandon can talk.

Brandon: "So, we have one last song left for you all! I'm so happy you made the trip over here..."

I tune him out as I look out to the whipped cherry lake. I see Alcapizazz in the distance. Memories of Carlos and me swimming here flood my mind. I continue looking as the sun sets, then at Carlos.

I see him looking where I was; then his eyes meet mine. I know we need to be here for Mateo, it's just at the same time... hard on us after memories of what we went through are brought back to us. Oh well. I don't need to dwell on it, especially since we're safe here and not at risk of returning.

Still... it's nice to see the sun set on a place I know Carlos and I will never be subjected to return to again. It's like closure, the sun setting. Yeah, I'll think of it that way.

I look to the front as piano music starts to play and see Dom approaches the front of the stage.

Dom: "I am so thankful you all made it out to see us tonight. As Brandon said, we have our last song for you tonight. It's an unreleased song we've been sitting on for a while. We wrote it for special Rageons in our lives. It's called "I Drive Myself Crazy. "We hope you enjoy it."

The boys get into a triangle formation and start singing a song with a completely different feel than what they've been performing all night. As they sing, I see Mateo's face has relaxed. He seems to enjoy this more than what he's heard so far.

I have to agree and say that although this song is slow, it feels more meaningful. It feels natural, the authenticity laced through the boy'z voices. Johnny takes the lead, yet Dom and Brandon get their moments.

At the end, Dom finishes the song, his eyes glowing as the piano finishes. The audience claps and cheers, the frenzy resuming as the boyz walk off stage while praising the audience. I feel a bit choked up as I look at Carlos.