Paper Moon

Chapter 24

(Edited)
After the soccer game Max insisted on taking the winners to a celebratory lunch before the concert. "How about In and Out? Yes everyone agree? Great" Max didn't give anyone a chance to object.

"What about after?" I asked. "What do you mean?" Chris asked. "Well, if we finish eating in about an hour then we'll have two hours left till your concert and I'm pretty sure you just need one hour to get ready."

Max shrugged, "what do you want to do?" He asked looking back at me. "Umm, can we go get books? I don't have any." They all looked a bit surprised. "What?" "Halo, reading a book? I never would have thought" Josh commented. I smacked his arm, "shut up, I read." He threw his hands up to say he was innocent and I rolled my eyes.
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We got to In and Out and decided to eat there. "Halo are you allergic to anything?" Dan asked as he held the door open for us to walk in. "Thank you, and nope- wait, I'm allergic to people, not all people but most of the general population." He shrugged and said "same."

"Josh can you order for me please?" He raised an eyebrow but nodded. "Sure, what do you want?" I shrugged and looked at the menu. "A burger and fries please, thanks" he nodded and ruffled my hair. "Go find a table" I nodded and looked around. I spotted a table away from people and walked over to it. As you can see I'm an anti- social person.

Speaking of being anti-social and not liking people, here come loud chicks. Great! (Note the sarcasm.) I internally groaned and prayed that they wouldn't sit at the table in front of the one I picked. But of course, the worlds against me. First the soccer ball, now they're sitting there, what next? Are they gonna talk to me?

I tapped my fingers on the table. I'm bored. I held my head up with hand resting my elbow on the table. "Hey" no. I looked up and saw that the chicks had walked over to me. "Yes?" I asked and sat up. "Why are you a loner?" I raised an eyebrow then rolled my eyes.

"I'm not a loner" I simply stated. "Really cause you look like one" "looks can be deceiving." hurry up guys, it doesn't take six hours to order food. "Why do you wear so much black? Did someone die? You should wear more color. Try some pink, you'd look way better, and take out that monstrosity in your lip. You'll thank me later." She pointed at my lip ring and pulled on my shirt. The other chick was on her phone.

"No thanks," I said trying my hardest to be polite. "Whatever, have fun being the weird loser you are" she said then turned and grabbed her friends arm. "Let's go" she pulled the chick behind her before moving tables.

I was playing with my fingers when the guys finally showed up. "Finally" I mumbled. Josh placed my food in front of me and I thanked him. I grabbed a fry and looked at it. I'm not really hungry. I ate it anyway.

I looked around and noticed the chicks laughing on the other side of the restaurant. I quickly looked outside and watched as cars passed by. "I'm not hungry, can I eat later?" Chris nodded. I'm bored. I'm always bored.

Just then I got a text message. 'Halo!!! Call me it's an emergency!!! Life or death situation!!!!!! Adrian' I rolled my eyes. "I gotta make a call, be right back" I stood up and made my way outside. The chicks made a few remarks as I passed by but I did my best to ignore them.

I called Adrian, he answered literally the next second. "Hello?" "Hey Halo," "hey Adrain." I moved my hair from my face, the wind kept blowing it. "You're joking" what? "Arian what are you talking about?" I heard a noise that sounded like a chair scraping. "This isn't funny Halo, stop messing around" there was another voice saying 'is everything alright' in the background. "Um Adrian?" "I'll be right there" the phone call ended and I was left confused. "What the hell was that?" I mumbled to myself as I headed back inside.

I got back to the table where my food was in a to-go box and the guys were laughing. "Who was on the phone?" Max asked causing all the guys to turn their attention to me. "Just a friend, it was a confusing and pointless phone call."

I placed my phone on the table next to me and placed my head in my hands. "Just a friend? Who?" Dan asked trying to get answers. "My friend Adrain, I met him the one day I went to school." My phone started to ring and Josh grabbed my phone before I could.

"This Adrain?" Josh asked holding my phone so I could see. I grabbed for it but couldn't get it. "Hello?" "Hey give it back!!! He owes me an explanation!" Josh leaned back as I continued to reach for it.

"Yeah she's right here, do you need her?" He asked and smirked. "Your just like Brendon! Why arn't you guys helping?" I asked turning to the others. "Cause it's funny" Max answered while laughing with the others. I rolled my eyes.

I slumped in my seat and mumbled a quiet "I hate you guys, My Chem is better" but loud enough for them to hear. "Hey!" Josh said and leaned closer to me, "I was kidding." I quickly grabbed my phone and got out of my seat. "I know so was I. You're not the first person to try and talk to a guy on my phone" I said while Josh sat there with his mouth open. "Close your mouth you'll catch flies."  Josh rolled his eyes. "I'll get you back Halo! Just wait." "Sure sweetie" I said then walked outside to talk on the phone.

"Hey, sorry my uncle tends to take my things, what was earlier about?" Adrian laughed. "It's fine, Um I needed to get away from that chick so I faked an emergency. Thanks for the help." I laughed a bit. "You're such an idiot, and that was bit mean."

"No It was not! She was sooooo boring Halo! She only wanted to talk about shopping and after like every word like she like said like." He said imitated the way she spoke. I laughed at him, "like I said, you're an idiot. I'll talk to you later okay?" I said as I saw the guys walking out. "Okay Halo, thanks again. Bye" "bye."

After that we headed back to the Hotel cause I decided I didn't want to get books anymore, I just wanted to go back to hotel and get ready for the concert.
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At the concert
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"So while I was hanging out with All Time Low the subject of the album Cavalier Youth popped up." The crowd cheered at Josh's words. "Well I recently discovered the fact that my niece, Halo, happens to love a particular song on the album, so here's Be Who You Are." Josh sent me a smirk as the band started to play.  I smiled and he winked.

"I'll stick on my best coast record, sit outside in the sun, pull a chair next to you, say that you are the one," I smiled and listened to Josh's beautiful voice. "Having fun?" Beebo asked as he walked over to me. "Of course! Who wouldn't have fun at a concert?" I said and he smiled down at me.

I looked back at the stage. As the chorus started Josh turned to face me. "You are my little star, I said you are my little star, I said you are my light in the dark, don't change," Josh smiled and slowly walked over to me, "just be who you are." He booped my nose before saying "Halo always be who you are, you're special and don't forget that." The crowd made noises to show they thought what they just saw was adorable.

Josh moved the microphone away from him and whispered "I heard what those chicks told you, don't listen to them. Your amazing no matter what people think of you." I smiled and gave him a hug. "Thanks Josh." He hugged me back and whispered "your welcome" before going back on stage where everyone cheered for him. "Here's underdog."
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"So for this next song I was thinking, 'why not sing it with someone?' That 'someone' is Halo" Josh walked over to me as I backed away. He picked me up and carried me onstage. "This is for earlier" he mumbled to me. I rolled my eyes. "You're evil!" I harshly whispered.

He set me down as the crowd cheered. "The two of us are going to sing Cold Night" a guy came over and handed me a microphone. "Hope you like it."

We sang the song and the crowd seemed to enjoy it. "I'm going back now, see ya" I said and headed backstage. "You did amazing!!" Dad said and gave me a hug. "Thank you!" I hugged back.

"So the little lion can sing" Alan said walking up to us. "I guess" I said still holding onto my dad. "Alex!!! Stop hogging!!" Jack said and pulled Dad from me. I rolled my eyes and went to hug Jack. He kissed my forehead, "you were amazing." I smiled at him "thanks Jacky" he ruffled my hair. "We're next, wish us good luck" Rian walked over to us.

"Good Luck"