More Than Friends | A Sequel to Just Friends | Joe Jonas Fanfiction

Chapter 38

- 3 years later -

„Do you need anything else?" Matt smiled as he joined Ann on stage.

„It's all great. Thank you so much." She chuckled.

„All right. Break a leg."

„As always." She smiled.

For about a year now Ann started to get back into music and performing. She reached out to Mark, the owner of the bar where she used to sing, before the whole journey with the Jo Bros, and he was more than happy to welcome her back. Since then, she was having a gig every Friday and Saturday.

She was very happy and satisfied, her audience now definitely bigger than when she sang there those years ago. She forgot how much comfort singing brought her and especially singing the lead and not background.

She gestured to her guitarist, signaling that she was ready and he began to lightly strum his instrument.

„Good evening, everyone." She said to the microphone with a smile, earning a few cheers. „My name is Ann Jonas. I'm so happy that you decided to spend today's evening with me. We're going to play a couple covers for you, so feel free to sing along if you know them. This one is called ‚Better in Time' by Leona Lewis."

The crowd cheered, obviously knowing the song as Ann closed her eyes and waited for her cue to sing.

„It's been the longest winter without you
I didn't know where to turn to
See, somehow I can't forget you
After all that we've been through

Going, coming, thought I heard a knock
‚Who's there?' No one
Thinking that I deserve it
Now I realize that I didn't really know
If you didn't notice, you mean everything
Quickly, I'm learning to love again
All I know is I'm gon' be okay...
Come on you know it!"

She encouraged, making the crowd sing along even louder.

„Thought I couldn't live without you
It's gonna hurt when it heals too, oh yeah
It'll all get better in time
And even though I really love you
I'm gonna smile 'cause I deserve to
It'll all get better in time."

She smiled as she sang, eyeing the crowd, trying to make eye contact with every person there. It was obviously impossible, but she always wanted to make sure to acknowledge each and every one of them. Because she knew each of them had a different story to tell, but they were all there in the room, deciding to spend the evening listening to her sing.

As she sang the other verse, she squinted her eyes as a silhouette of a man appeared in the back. The lights were dimmed and it was hard to see, but she noticed he had a black denim jacket, a baseball cap and... sunglasses. That definitely caught her attention, because even though it was summer, it was pitch black outside. And especially there in that room, with the lights turned down, there was no reason for him to wear them.

„I couldn't turn on the TV
Without something there to remind me
Was it all that easy
To just put aside your feelings?

If I'm dreaming, don't wanna laugh
Hurt my feelings, but that's the path
I believe in
And I know that time will heal it
If you didn't notice
Boy, you mean everything
Quickly, I'm learning to love again
All I know is I'm gon' be okay."

She kept singing, but her eyes were plastered on the man in the back, as she tried to put together his face, everytime at least a bit of light shone his way. He did remind her of...