Sparks of Destiny

VIII ~ E

Elly

My band practiced a lot. We rented several studios for the instruments. We would perform two songs: two cover songs then the other would be our own composition. The band voted for the song I wrote. I wrote the lyrics and we all had put the notes and chords.

"Break a leg!" Carlos said.

"Oh, god, I still need to walk." Raph joked.

I laughed to ease the nerves.

"Don't worry, we will make it." Lance, our acting leader, assured us with thumbs up.

I sighed. I hoped everything went the way we had planned. I also hoped she would come.  I didn't know what to feel when she was around. I still needed her to be there. I wanted her to see that this was all for her, especially the song I had composed.

I stayed near the entrance. I hadn't seen her. I was worried she wouldn't come. I went to her friends.

"Hey." I said. We weren't close but they seemed fun to be with. "Uhm, have you seen Ashley?"

They looked at each other. "No, why?" Trish said.

I looked away. "Nothing, uhh, well, I saw you and realised you aren't complete." I smiled.

"Ohhhhh. Well I think she will be late, we don't know. She isn't texting back or answering our calls." Rhonna replied. I hid my disappointment.

"I don't think she will be able to come. She returned her ticket to me when I asked her. I was the one collecting the payments." Nie said. She was sitting in the same row as Ashley's friends.

"But I gave her a ticket." I blurted.

They looked at me shocked. I felt my heart beat faster. I didn't tell anyone about my crush, Ashley. Not even my band mates or my best friend.

"What?!" Martha said.

Why would she tell them? Huh. I was just a no one to her and to her friends. They wouldn't care.

The lights turned off, the venue, our school gym, turned dark and the master of the ceremony began to speak. "Good evening, everyone! We are at the annual fund-raising concert..."

"Hope you enjoy the show." I said and left before they talked about what I had said.

First two bands were before us. I went back to the spot near the entrance. Where is she? I wanted to text her. I had her number. I didn't have the guts to. My phone's wallpaper was her picture I got from a website. I always imagined putting our own picture together there, but there was nothing to put.

"El! Aren't you coming with us? Why are you alone here?" Raph asked me. "Waiting for a date?"

"No, simply waiting for something I don't know." It wasn't a lie.

He patted my back. "Yeah, yeah. We will get over this. Just enjoy the concert. Come on, we will perform soon."

He led me to the backstage where the music was so loud.

"There you are!" Lance called, once he saw us. "Chill, one more then we will be out."

I chilled out. At least, I tried to. It went so fast I hardly even noticed. We were on the stage! People were looking at us. I felt butterflies in my stomach. I felt like they would swallow me. Go away, nerves. I don't need you. I need Ashley. It was too late. She wouldn't be able to watch us—watch me.

On the first song, I would be in the e-guitar, and then Lance would be the lead vocalist, Raph on the drums, and Carlos on the keyboard. "Ready?" Raph asked. We all nodded and hit our first song. Then, the second one. I searched for her in the crowd. No luck. She wouldn't be here.

For the third one, I would sing still with the e-guitar and Lance with the acoustic. I said a short introduction and dedication, but not in particular.

"All set?" I asked my band mates, that should have been my song for her but she wouldn't be here to hear it.

"Hit it!" They shouted.

I strummed the first chord. The song went on.

Because it's you

You’re the reason why

You're the reason why...

I closed my eyes before the chorus and took a deep breath. When I opened them, I saw her. She was in front of me! Not literally, but she was there! I could see her. She was in the crowd, but it seemed like we were the only two people in this place. She caught my gaze and smiled. That wide smile that had made me fall for her. I smile back widely because I felt the electric currents in my veins again just as every time I saw her.

Yeah, baby, it's you!

It's you

You who break me

You who complete me

You're the reason

Why my life seems to burst

You're the reason

why my heart is beating

You're the reason

Why my mind goes insane

That smile, those eyes,

That hand, those ears

I feel like falling in love

And you're the reason why.

I was looking at her. When I finished the song, people roared and went crazy

We went backstage then I went down the stage rushing. I might lose her. Some of my schoolmates I recognized and others I didn't were asking for a photo with me. I let them. I simply smiled and walked away. I felt the sweat all over me. When the people following me evaporated because of the new band, I rushed to the place where I saw her from the stage. I felt grateful she was still there.

"I hope you enjoyed it." I said, tried to start a conversation. I tried my best to act like I was casual.

"You did great." She said, still grinning.

I was flattered. "Yeah, thanks to the band."

She laughed lightly. "I am talking about the song itself. They said you wrote it."

"I did. But it was because of them too. I couldn't have done it." I smiled. "And a little inspiration."

 I added.

"You mean your girlfriend?" She asked, teasingly.

I knitted my brows. "I don't have any!"

"Jane?"

"She was my past and how many times do I have to tell everyone she wasn't my girlfriend." I acted a little bit defensive.

"If you say so." She just laughed.

"So... you're late?"

"Yeah, traffic plus I forgot this will be tonight so I had late supper as well." She explained. "Wait, have you seen Martha and my friends from upstage? I was looking for them."

"I saw them earlier, they were around here somewhere."

"Okay, I will just go look for them." She said.

"I can go help you find them." I offered.

"No," She snapped. "I mean... oh there they are!" She pointed at the row near the stage. Reinne rose and looked like he was looking for someone. "I will go to them, bye." She ran towards the seats until her friends saw her coming.

That was another opportunity I missed. Wait, I didn't miss it. She didn't just accept it. Maybe that night wasn't destined for us. I hope it was only the night that wasn't destined. Not ourselves.