Forever

EPILOGUE

Day of the competition

"This song we're going to perform is an unexpected collaboration of two people who were under a certain circumstance," he talked to the crowd, slowly finding his tract on his comfort zone. "There had been several struggles before coming up with this song, but now, here it is," he said, turning his head to look at his band mates. They nod reassuringly at him, gesturing him to continue. "This song is called Forever."

Upon cue, he started strumming his guitar, James joining him with his bass. Austin brought his lips close to the mic and started singing.

Take these roses off of me

Let me live, let me be

For a little while.

Let my eyes, see everything

And nothing in their time

I do not mind.

He was finally letting loose, being the same old Austin who owns the stage very well. Marcus and Martin then accompanied the song with their instruments, making it livelier.

Who would've guessed I'll ever learn

To let the walls around me burn

Light up the hillside

My words, I ate them for so long

And nothing's changed

It was just the same.

On the other side, Olivia was searching for an empty seat in the crowded place, trying make her way through the mob of people watching the show. She just came, and she cursed under her breath when she realized that the show was starting. She looked to the stage just to find Austin and his band already performing. Feeling hopeless of finding an empty seat, she went to the side and just tried to look for a somehow vacant space where she can stand and watch peacefully, just in time Austin sang once again.

I don't know if you see me here

But I can tell you your face is clear

I will see you

Forever

I will see you

All of Austin's thinking was emptied as he effortlessly belted out the chorus of the song, even making the crowd join him in singing because of the catchy tune and lyrics of their song. Austin was then again talking to the people through lyrics, leaving everyone captivated on him and on the song. He meant every word of what he was singing, although in his perception he thought that she was not present there. He was wrong.

Marcus did a solo on his guitar before Austin started singing the next part.

Call me close once again

Call me teacher, call me friend

Just like the first time

Call my name

It echoes in the walls around this room

It's all you.

I don't know if you hear me there

But when it's darkest and no one cares

I will hear you

Olivia smiled with the lyrics, fully aware of the message it means. The whole song for Olivia is like a narration of what they've been through, and at the moment she's very happy that he came up with something like this that tells their story.