A New Hope

Chapter 15: Nicotine

"I still can't get enough of that picture," Brendon said.

I glared at him. We were in the dressing room of the venue in Las Vegas, and Brendon was staring at the picture of me from earlier when I was on the zipline. "It's not that funny. It was really scary for me. I was on the verge of passing out," I said with a frown.

"Hey, at least you got twenty bucks out of it," Kenny said.

"Hey guys, Chloe and Josh got engaged!" Brendon announced. (A/N If you don't already know, all of my Quartet Chronicles books are connected and I'll point out each connection. This is a hint to my Twenty Øne Piløts fanfic Twenty Øne Møments with Yøu. If you haven't read it, you should. Anyway, back to the story.)

"Who?" I asked, confused.

"Oh, Josh Dun, the drummer from Twenty Øne Piløts, just proposed to his girlfriend Chloe," he explained.

"Oh, that's cool. Am I gonna get to meet them at some point?" I said.

"Yeah, I told Josh we would stop by his house when we got to Columbus," Brendon said.

"Cool," I said with a smile. Twenty Øne Piløts was one of my favorite bands.

"Hey, guys, did you all have fun today?" Dallon asked.

"Yeah, I had a lot of fun," I said, with Brendon and Kenny nodding in agreement.

"Today was really fun, huh?" Brendon said, "I'm glad we all got to spend some time together."

"Yeah, me too. Hey Chloe, thanks for everything," Dallon said, "It was really special for you to share everything."

"It was really no big deal. I've told a lot of counselors, it's kinda routine now."

"Yeah, I know, but I'm not a counselor, I'm your friend, so thank you."

"Seriously, it's no big deal. Let's just drop this."

"Ok, whatever, you weirdo. Anyway, how're things back home?"

"Yeah, how are Alex and Baylee?" Brendon asked.

"Good. They miss me, but other than that there's really nothing new. Oh, but I guess, like, everyone in school was trying to get my number," I said.

"Look who's Little Miss Popular," Kenny said.

"Ugh, it's honestly much more work than I thought it would be, and it sucks. I mean, I've been invisible so long, people actually talking to me is really new," I said with a frown.

"You'll get used to it. In time," Kenny said.

"I know, it's just new," I said.

"I get it, trust me. I went from singing for tips in a smoothie place to widely known in no time, and it was a big adjustment," Brendon said.

"Anyway, the point is, Alex and Baylee are doing fine, thanks for asking," I said.

"Always. So, you ready for tonight?" Dallon asked.

"Uh, yeah. Cover songs round two," I said.

"You don't sound too confident, young lady," Kenny said.

"Young lady? What are you, my dad?" I asked sarcastically.

"No, that would be Brendon. But seriously, you sounded more confident last time, and that was your first time," he said.

"I'm not nervous or anything. I just... I just wish Alex and Baylee were here, that's all," I said truthfully.

"I'm sorry. There's really nothing I can do about that at this moment. You know Alex's mom won't let him come, and it's kinda too late to get Baylee here right now," Brendon said.

"Yeah, even with me here you know she's not gonna go for him missing school in November," Kenny said.

"I know, I just miss them, that's all," I said with a frown.

"I know. I'm sorry sweetie, but it's kinda too late to drive Baylee all the way out here to Vegas," Brendon said, also frowning.

"I know, I know. Anyway, let's just drop this convo. How much longer until the show starts?" I asked.

"Uh, about half an hour," Dallon said.

"Ok, I'm gonna call Baylee real quick," I said.

"Go right on ahead," Brendon said.

"I will," I said as I dialed the number.

"Hey, what's up girl?!" Baylee said as she picked up.

"Not much. Baylee, where are you, it's really noisy."

"Uh, at home. My uncle has the TV turned up really loud."

"Baylee, don't lie to me. Are you at a party?"

"Oh, hell no!"

"Well, you're not at home with your uncle since I know your mom works late and your uncle never comes around. Baylee, seriously, where are you? Are you at some kind of concert?"

"No! Look, I'm watching an old Fall Out Boy concert and I have it up really loud."

"Then pause it."

"Uh, no thanks. Look, I'll talk to you soon, ok? Shouldn't you be getting ready to go on stage?"

"Like I'm opening. Come on Baylee."

"I'm just saying, you should probably go. Peace out!"

Before I could say bye, she hung up. "She hung up on me. She fucking hung up on me. Shit, that bitch."

"Wow, language," Kenny said.

"Fuck off," I said, annoyed.

"Hey, calm down, Baylee hung up on you, big fucking deal," Brendon said.

"Ok, fine. But she was lying to me," I said.

"Hey, remember, lying is the most fun a girl can have without taking her clothes off," Brendon said.

I glared at him. "Not... helping. At all."

"I'm just trying to help, fuck. Why don't you calm the hell down and come watch us until it's your time to perform. You go on after Vegas Lights."

I nodded. "See ya out there. Break a leg guys."

"Yeah, you too. Ok, peace," Dallon said, following Kenny and Brendon onstage.

I waved. I couldn't wait to perform again.

~Time Skip~

"The Vegas lights, where villains spend the weekend, the deep end, we're swimming with the sharks until we drown," I sang along to Vegas Lights as they handed me an earpiece and wireless mic.

Brendon finished the song. "Ok, well, Vegas, I have a surprise for you guys!"

Everyone cheered while Kenny played a real quick chord on his guitar. I took a deep breath as Brendon continued. "Ok, I'm gonna have my guest come out. Please welcome, my special guest, my daughter Chloe!"

I walked out on stage, smiling. "Hey everyone! What's up Vegas?!" Everyone cheered. "Ok, well, I'm now gonna cover my second favorite Panic! song, after Girls/Girls/Boys. Here's Nicotine."

I sang the song, and everyone cheered when I was done. That's when I noticed her. My best friend Baylee was standing in the front row, smiling at me. I smiled back and hopped off the stage. "Ok, guys, I did not plan this, but here's my BFF Baylee, and I'm just gonna pull her onstage real quick before we skeedadle backstage.

So, I had security let her through and brought her onstage, letting her wave to the audience before leading her backstage to ask her what the hell she was doing here.