Chasing Your Dreams

Stage Fright

Miranda's pov

We go outside and my trio of youngsters runs over to me. "Hey kids!" I gasp shocked. I hug them tight. "I missed you guys." "Wow, your dress is so pretty." Emma says. I twirl for them. "What are you all doing here?" "Seeing you perform." Sean says ruffling my hair. I swat his hand away. "I still have to deal with the press." I gasp, fixing my hair. "Come on dear, I'll help you." Mom (Britt) says. "Thanks mom." I say hugging her.

Sean's pov

Emma tries to go with them but I hold her back. Jason and mom are talking. I don't want to eavesdrop but... "Did I hear her call her mom?" "Yes." "Why the hell-" "You signed over your rights when you said we could adopt her so don't start yellin'at me!" Uh oh. They start really fighting. I take the kids to the car.

Miranda's pov

We go back out and my mom and Jason are glaring angrily at each other. "What's going on?" I ask. They both look over caught off guard. "Um... Nothin'. We gotta go though. We're running late for the afterparty." "Oh ok. Bye mom." I say, waving. She stares after me jaw dropped. I'm so confused. We head to the afterparty and Sean shoots me a text.

S: mom and Jason got into it.

M: about what?

S: cause you called Brittany mom.

My eyes go wide. It's become second nature! Oh man! They fought because of me! I feel tears well up in my eyes and my phone slips from my hand.

Jason's pov

Britt nudges my arm. "What?" She points in the backseat. I hear Miranda crying. "What happened while we were gone?" Brittany asks in a whisper. I sigh. "Sweetheart, why are you cryin'?" I ask instead of answering. "N-Nothin'. I'm fine.... Just a little overwhelmed." We park in front of the place where the party is. "You alright?" I ask turning around. Her mascara was running. "I just.... You and mom were fighting because of me." What the? I glance at Brittany confused. "We didn't fight." "No not Brittany. My real mom. Sean texted me about it." "Oh that." Darn it. "We're fine though."

Miranda's pov

Man my make up is running. Me and Brittany go to the bathroom to freshen up. "He's just very protective of his kids." She says. I smile. "I'm glad he considers me one of his kids." She smiles and hugs me. "Well you are." I love being a part of this family. We go back out where the party is and everyone cheers. Huh? They're all looking at me. Dad holds a hand out to me. "What's going on?" "They want ya to sing." He says, smiling. Wow! I smile excited and he pulls me onto the stage. He hands me the guitar. Hm. What do I sing? "Quarter in a payphone, dryin' laundry on a line. Watchin' Sun Tea in the window, pocket watch tellin' time. Seems like only yesterday I'd get a blank cassette, record the country countdown cause I couldn't buy it yet. If we drove all the way to Dallas just to buy an easter dress, we'd take along a Rand McNally, stand in line to pay for gas. God knows that shiftin' gears ain't what it used to be. I learned to drive that 55 just like a queen three on a tree." I glance at dad who's smiling with mom beside him. "Hey whatever happened to... Waitin' your turn, doin' it all by hand, cause when everythin' is handed to you, it's only worth as much as the time put in. It all just seems so good the way we had it, back before everything became..... Automatic." The crowd are in stunned silence. "Um... Uh...." I stumble, seeing everyone staring at me quiet. "I-If you.... H-Had s-somethin' to say..... You'd write it on a p-piece of paper then you'd p-put a s-stamp on it and get it three days later." Everyone is still quiet and it's freaking me out. I shakily back up. "I-I... What's..." I run out the door, my hands shaking. I sit down, crying softly. I hear footsteps. "What happened back there?" Dad sits beside me. He hands me a Budweiser. I force a smile and wipe my eyes. "Thanks." "Why'd you run off?" "Th-They w-were j-just staring at m-me. It freaked me out." I take a swallow of the beer. "Believe it or not, I have intense stage fright. I've been doing good at not showing it but it came out tonight with everyone just staring when usually they're cheering." "They were stunned by your talent. Just like me and Mike was the first day I met you." I look up at him, wiping the black stains off my cheeks. "Really?" He smiles and nods. "You're a remarkable little girl." He hugs me. "And I'm honored to teach you the ways of the world now." "You're the best dad I ever had." I whisper. "Ya wanna call it a night?" He asks, standing back up, a Coors light in his hand. "Lightweight." I joke, pointing. He laughs. "Whatever. You're not even old enough to drink." "Hey I'm 20. That's old enough in the south!" "Not according to the law." I smirk and take a large gulp just to mess with him. He ruffles my hair. "Come on knucklehead, let's go get Brittany." I smile and walk with him back inside.