Free: A Jc Caylen Sequel

Chapter Twenty Seven

Jc's POV

The show was over, though the whole man getting arrested and girl falling through the stage sort of put a damper on things, the crowd was still amazing. It was the end of the tour and the end of an era. I sat on the edge of the stage staring out at the empty room that was packed full only minutes ago. I could still hear the screams if I closed my eyes, my ears had a slight ringing. Everything had felt so surreal, like a dream. I looked over at Connor on the other end of the stage, he sat swinging his legs as he took photos with his arm stretched out. He paused for a moment running his hands through his hair, I wondered if he was starting to regret his decision yet. Things would never been the same after tonight, though no one said anything we all knew. Without Connor, O2L would never be the same, something would always be missing. He was making a decision for himself and of course we all supported him but we couldn't help but feel like a broken family. We were brothers but it felt as if one of our brothers was about to fall off the face of the Earth with slight chance of returning.

I laid back the stage felt cold on my exposed skin. Of all the places to see Skylar why here, why now. I thought of Lia, wondering if she was upset about the situation, she had ventured off but I hadn't had the energy to follow. My brain was buzzing with possibilities of what to do. On one hand I had the girl of my dreams, the one I always saw myself being with and on the other I had the girl who made me smile when I felt like my life was over. Skylar or Lia, I thought. I suppose every guy has some weird fantasy about two girls falling for him, both wanting him. But this was no fantasy. I had never been faced with such a difficult decision before.

"Hey," Sam said plopping down beside me. "Crazy isn't it?"

"What the end of the tour?" I said sitting up looking again at the empty room.

"Nah," he laughed.

"That Connor really is done?" I said glancing over to see if he was still sat on the opposite end of the stage, he wasn't.

"Well we all knew that was coming, crazy. But not what I'm talking about," he said throwing his arm around my shoulder. "I'm talking about your girl coming back!"

"Lia has always been here."

"You know I'm not talking about Lia, look dude Lia is great and all but you've said it yourself she's no Skylar." he scooted away from me in shock.

"I honestly never thought she would come back. What am I supposed to do? She must be heartbroken knowing about Lia now. Lia must be heartbroken seeing her show up here, in my hoodie of all things." I sat trying to contain both my stress, anger, and excitement.

"Remember what you told me Jc, it's always been Skylar. I think even Lia would understand that." Sam said turning around at the sound of footsteps.

"Ummm Sam is it ok if I talk to Jc for a minute alone?" my heart sank with the sound of Lia's voice, the sadness oozed out of her words.

"Yeah, no probs." Sam said standing as Lia took his seat next to me.

"Hi," she said looking down.

"Hi," I repeated avoiding looking at her.

"Jc, I love you with every bone in my body. I want to be with you." She paused swallowing hard, "But I realize that she needs you and you need her. I may love you with everything in me but she loves you more. She has been through so much, so many things that should make her afraid to get close to someone yet she opened herself up to you. Your happiness is my happiness Jc. I'm young and still have a lot to learn about life and love. But I know that you and her have something more beautiful than a thousand sunsets. She's the girl for you, I was just keeping her seat warm while she took care of business. I'll be ok, knowing that you guys who are so perfectly imperfect for each other are together will give me hope for finding someone who I am meant to be with."

"Lia," I paused unsure what to say.

"You don't have to say anything. I'm gonna catch a flight back to San Diego tonight. You don't have to say anything to me, you need to go in there and say a million words to her. You need to let her explain why she left in the first place. And most importantly you need to let her know that you are willing to be her happiness, and that she doesn't have to search the world for it." Lia stood up without another word and walked away backpack on and dufflebag in hand. She was gone.

I felt tears stream done my face, I felt as if I was hurting the ones I cared most about. I watched her walk away until I couldn't see her anymore, I didn't chase after her, I didn't yell her name. I watched her go. Because her and I both knew she wasn't meant to walk the rest of my path with me, she was only a curve in the road. I stood, hands shaking as I opened the door to the green room queitly. I could hear Kian's voice loudly, I paused in the doorway just long enough to see Skylar run out the door. But for a moment as our eyes met I swear time froze. But then time had to catch up so it moved extra fast, Skylar ran out the door. I didn't chase after her, I didn't yell her name, I watched her go. Because I knew if she is meant to walk the rest of my path with me than her and I will cross paths again. Sooner rather than later I hoped.