Answer Me

Chapter 16

Months passed since I started writing. I was 20 chapters deep and I couldn't wait to find an agent and then, a publisher once it was finished. The boys pulled out a surprise to all of the fans and the first announcement was the record deal. I was so happy like a proud mother of them. As soon as they tweeted the announcement, I immediately called Riley and told him to put the phone on speaker so I could congratulate all of them.

It was the second day of the surprise. I waited for my notification to chime patiently, informing me of their tweets. The tri-tone echoed beside my ear as I lay beside my phone on my bed.

New single. YAY!

A song called Model. The title reminded me of the time when Riley came into my room and told me that he saw a model in the mirror. Since Riley contributed a lot in the lyrics, I could tell that it might be based on his experience with me.

I was about to browse the song in the iTunes store when a phone call came in. I didn't have the time to say hello when suddenly Riley said my name in a euphoric tone.

"Erin! Don't buy Model yet."

"Why? As a fan, I think I should buy it since I'm obsessing over that band and the band members keep tweeting #BuyModelOniTunes."

Beep. Riley was just slowing me down from buying Model. I really wanted to listen to it that time and I hated waiting.

Not long after that, my notification chimed. Oh, he gifted Model to me. I called him back.

"Thanks for saving my $0.99." I thanked him sarcastically.

"You're most welcome, beautiful. Well, I dedicate that song for you though. For you to see yourself as a beautiful human kind, inside and outside."

The song was so touching to me. The lyrics did remind me of my memories with Riley. I literally cried listening to the song. The tune was addictive, indeed. I played it on repeat. I didn't want to tell Riley what I felt about the song. He knew it already.

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The boys were on tour again with The Vamps. I told Riley that my book was heading to its ending and I might send it to any agencies while they were on tour. He was a little bit upset when he couldn't be with me when the manuscript was done. I went to their first show of the tour at the House of Blues and I would go back home the next day for summer break. Before You Exit as usual killed the show. I loved watching these brothers on stage, especially Connor. He was so talented and so into music. Okay, Riley and Toby too.

I sang along to the songs, enjoying the moment of being in the place where I half-belonged which was being among the Exiters. Exiters might have been facing dramas a lot but, they were my family. We supported each other alongside the band. We lifted each other up, not wanting to see any of us feeling low because that was what Before You Exit did and taught us. They were the best fandom I could ever imagine to be in.

I didn't bring any banners so, I might just sink and be invisible in the middle of the floor filled with crowd. Riley was singing Model passionately on the stage.

And as he sang the line "Baby, even when you wake up, laying with no make-up, you're beautiful, beautiful" his eyes landed on me and he smiled at me. Just like telepathy, I could tell that he was reminiscing the moments when we were lying at his backyard, watching the sky. I smiled back at him with blush on my cheeks that he couldn't see under the colorful lights.

That was the boy I loved. The one who had unleashed me inside and outside.