Batman [A/I]

20

(3 weeks later)

The lights were brighter this time, as I sat against a white back drop. "This song, I wrote a while ago, but I sing it now with a different story. This is about losing someone you love, whether that be a friend, family member… someone you love, but you're still waiting for them to come back." I looked down at the floor as began to strum my guitar. My throat felt raw, and stung as I sung my loudest. "You don't find what you're looking for, incase you're missing what you had before… Incase you change your mind, I'll be waiting here…Incase you just want to come home." I sung, as tears rolled down my cheeks, my eyes straining the veins in my head. "That was beautiful…And I'm sorry about your loss." Annabelle said, as she held me close as soon as I stepped off the set. I got into my car, and drove to the house I once called home. It was always full of laughter, petty arguments and music, it still was but it just wasn't the same. I knocked on the door, Michael greeting me. He lead me upstairs, and left me with the door closed to. I sighed as I opened my suitcase, and went into the wardrobe taking all of my clothes out and chucking them in. I then removed all of the photos off the wall from the heart shaped collage, and put them in a little bag. I took Ashton's pillow, and squeezed it tight to my chest, inhaling his smell one last time. I went back out to put my stuff in the boot before returning inside to say goodbye to the boys. "I'll miss you, but this isn't goodbye!" Michael said as he held me close, rocking side to side. "Us fighters must stick together!" He said, trying not to break. I smiled, before moving onto Calum. "You made things better ok, never forget that!" I crashed my body into his, he gently stroked my shoulder with his hand. And then I got to Luke. "I'm going to write songs about you two, even if you can't and don't want to, I will. In memory." That's when I broke, Luke holding me in the tightest grip. "Alright guys! It's good to be home!" My arms dropped to my side as I looked over at my shoulder. In the door way, was a young boy with curly hair, a bright smile on his face showing the deepest of dimples on either side. A few scratches and stitches across his face, but he still looked flawless. He took his jacket off and placed it on top of his bag, revealing a batman top underneath. "Oh sorry, I didn't realise we had company! Have we met?" He asked as he wandered over to shake my hand. I glanced back at the boys, who looked at both of us with so much guilt in their eyes. "No, I don't think we have. Imogen!" I said, trying my hardest to put on a fake smile behind the tears. "Is it alright if I call you Immy?" My smile dropped from my face for a few seconds, then re-appeared as I nodded quickly. "I'm Ashton!" He smiled, looking deep into my eyes. "Nice to meet you!" "I think you guys gave me one of your jackets, the nurse said I had a note in the pocket from a girl apparently." He said as he glanced back over at his jacket. "It must be one of you lot, I don't have any girl in my life!" He laughed. He went over to grab the jacket and gave it to Luke, before running upstairs with his bag. I watched him, until he was out of my sight. "Here…" Luke said as he took the note out of the pocket, "This is yours.." I recognised the folded piece of paper with my name on it, and then I remembered putting it in the pocket of Ashton's jacket which he had insisted I wore in the rain. "Thanks…" I muttered. "Bye Immy…" The boys said as I walked to the door. The sound of a door opening and the sound of feet running down the stairs was heard, a sudden burst of hope that Ashton remembered me sparked inside. I turned round to see him on the stairs smiling at me. "I know where I've seen you!" He said. My eyes lit and a smile grew bigger. "You work in a restaurant nearby don't you?" I bit down on my lip as I swallowed hard. I nodded. "Yes I do!" "Well then, see you around maybe!" He smiled before ordering the guys to join him upstairs. The boys waved at me individually before heading upstairs. I closed the door behind me and sat in the front seat of my car. I unfolded the piece of paper and read it out loud. 

'I can't sleep tonight, wide awake and so confused. Everything's in line, but I am bruised. I need to voice to echo, I need a light to take me home. I kinda need a hero… Is it you? I never see the forest for the trees, I could really use your melody. Baby I'm a little blind I think it's time for you to find me. Can you be my nightingale? Sing to me I know you're there. You could be my sanity, bring me peace, sing me to sleep. Say you'll be my nightingale… Say you'll be my wife?

- Sing the song to her at the restaurant, with the guy playing on the piano like arranged. 

- Get on one knee and present her with the ring. 

- If she says no, then slap yourself in the face and walk away. 

- If she says yes, well done mate! You got the girl of your dreams, the one who you always thought was out of your league, and every day couldn't  believe she was yours. Treat her right, treat her like a queen. 

- I love you Imogen… My Immy. '

I put my head against the steering wheel as I cried softly. Ashton was going to propose to me that night, these were his notes for the evening. I lifted my head, and looked out of the front window screen at the top window of the house. It was Ashton's room, and he was at the window, looking out beyond at the row of houses you could always see from his window. "I'll always be your Immy." I said as I looked at him. That night, I wrote. I called it 'Batman', but it wasn't a song. It was a story, and this is the story.