timeless | sequel | d.w

11

   Never had I heard a crowd scream so loudly as when Jimmy announced that Panic! at The Disco was up next.

Of course I had heard the crowd scream that night when I passed out, but back then it had only disturbed me. Now, standing backstage and watching as my two old friends stepped on the stage I appreciated the screams and whistles in a completely different way.

They had come so far. They had changed, and still I could see the young boys somewhere inside of them. They were still the same, somehow.

The band played around five songs together, all that I enjoyed. I had never listened to the songs before, but I loved them, and even downloaded a few of them to my phone. As the show came to an end, me and Erin had headed back to the lounge. She had told me how she had seen me and Dallon after I'd styled him, and how happy he looked. She couldn't say much more before the band walked in.

"Hey!" Brendon said and smiled widely at us, wiping some sweat from his forehead. "I didn't expect you to still be here."

"Surprise," Erin said in a flirtatious tone as she played with her hair. I grinned, but covered it up with my hand and just shook my head a little.

Dallon suddenly stepped into the room, and it was like time stopped for a few seconds. It was the way every artist and songwriter describe it in the songs. When someone just walks in and lights up the room, without having to do or say anything. Only by existing.

I could feel a smile form on my lips as I stared at him, and I didn't care to hide it. He walked over to me and I quickly stood, not wanting to waste anymore time. I just wanted to talk to him, hear how his day had been. Anything.

"Hello," he said and smiled. "Do you want to get out of here?" He asked quietly with a chuckle.

I nodded, "That would be lovely, yes." I giggled. My hands twitched as I tried to reach out and touch him, but reminded myself that I had to take things slow. Touching without any proper reason was perhaps a too big step, for the both of us.

And I had a boyfriend. Right.

We said our goodbyes to the rest of the group before we left the building by sneaking out the back. A few fans were waiting outside and Dallon asked if it was okay if he took a few pictures with them. Of course I said yes. I couldn't deny him that. I couldn't deny him anything.

I watched him as he spoke to them, being his true genuine self, being the man that I'd always known. I couldn't believe how I could be so lucky and get him back into my life again.

I was pulled out of my thoughts when a young girl, perhaps fourteen years old, called on me. I looked up, and she waved me over. "Come take a picture with us!" She said.

A surprised expression covered my face, but Dallon gestured for me to come over as well, so I did. I stood next to Dallon, and could suddenly feel his warm hand rest between my shoulder blades. I smiled a little, as the girl who called me over took a few pictures, before thanking Dallon and saying goodbye.

After parting ways with the fans, me and Dallon headed down the street, away from the crowds of people and traffic. It was quiet, not many cars around and not many people passing by either. We walked without saying anything for a while, but we had never needed to speak. Just being in each other's presence was enough.

Dallon cleared his throat, "So." He began, eyes focusing on the pavement as he walked. "You're a stylist?"

I chuckled at that. "Yes." I replied casually. "And I heard a rumor that you're in a band." I said, almost teasingly, which brought out a laugh from Dallon.

"Not just a rumor." He said with the same teasing tone as I had used, and I looked up to see him glance down at me.

We stayed quiet for another minute with only our eyes gazing at each other. I knew these jokes we told wouldn't last for long, and that they were only said as a way to lighten the mood. The things we both wanted and needed to talk about was pretty tough for the both of us. I decided to break the ice.

"I've missed you, Dallon." I said in a soft tone and stopped walking. "I know that it's not maybe my thing to say since I'm the one who left you, but..." I trailed off and looked away, feeling embarrassed.

I had always blamed myself for that, even if it had been something that I couldn't control. It was my parents decision and I had been mad at them at first for separating me from Dallon, but I had always blamed myself for it.

He let out a sigh as he stopped as well, and turned his body towards mine. "I've missed you too." He said and lowered his head a little. "I don't understand why you say that, though. It wasn't your fault.."

I sighed, and crossed my arms over my chest. "I know. But I felt a responsibility for you. I'd promised to take care of you and be there for you. Then I just vanished."

Dallon stayed quiet for a while, probably because he was thinking. He looked up a little, but focused on our surroundings rather than me. "You've been blaming yourself all of these years... How... No. Gabrielle, you need to stop doing that." He said, almost in a desperate tone.

"I'm sorry, Dallon." I mumbled and closed my eyes as I could feel tears threatening to escape otherwise.

In a way it was a relief to finally say it, to know that he knew that I was truly sorry for everything that had happened. But it was also hard to admit it out loud, that I was the villain. I'd only ever done that once before, and the pain I had felt the day I had left Dallon always repeated itself.

I suddenly felt myself getting pulled in for a hug, and my head was now resting against Dallon's chest. That was enough for me to lose it and start to cry, and I buried my head into his chest as I sobbed. He didn't say anything, he simply just held me through it all, and that was what I needed.

"Are you mad at me?" I whispered once I had begun to calm down again, and I could feel Dallon tighten his grip around my shoulders.

"Absolutely not." He replied softly and I snaked my arms around his waist.

I didn't realize it in that exact moment, but those two words had made everything seem okay again. My anxiety had been washed away and the rock I'd been carrying on my back for a decade had suddenly been removed; I could breathe again.

I released a long, heavy breath, keeping my eyes closed. "Do you want me back in your life?" I asked.

"More than anything." Dallon told me, and that made me smile a little.

"Good. Because I won't be able to stay out of it now."