The Mighty Storm (Raura Revised)

Chapter 66

Chapter 66

I hear movement behind me. Turning, I see a roadie carrying a huge keyboard fixed to a stand, looking impatient for me to move. I nudge Stuart and Simone, and we all back out of his way, letting him pass by.

Denny and Smith come bounding off stage and over to us. They are pumped up, and covered in sweat.

I'm guessing Ross went off stage with Tom to the right wing.

I see Simone beaming at Denny as he talks to her. I wish I was with Ross right now.

No I don't.

The crowd's cheering and the guy's enthusiasm is infectious, as I listen to their quick talk, but my heart is dying a slow death in my chest, because even though I said to Stuart I would stay and talk to Ross, I know I can't.

If I do, he'll just talk me round, and I know I'm not cut out for all of this.

The encore is readying to start, and the chants are growing louder and louder. The place is practically vibrating under my feet as the fans demand TMS back onto stage.

The place is insane, electric.

You can literally feel the energy from the crowd, it's like a physical presence touching my skin.

Denny and Smith are called for and they disappear back on stage to take their places.

Then the spotlight hits illuminating Ross.

He's sitting on a stool, at the keyboard the roadie just carried on, facing left stage, straight in my direction.

The crowd go insane, clapping and cheering.

Ross never plays the keyboard on stage. He knows how to play, but he's more of a guitar man. I was always the piano player out of the two of us.

A sudden nervous energy sweeps over me, spreading from my head down to my toes.

Speaking into the mic, Ross addresses the fans. "This tour has been amazing for us in so many ways. It was always going to be a hard one for us, but you guys – our fans, have helped us make it a real tribute for Jonny. So we thank you for that."

The crowd picks up with cheers again.

"Another amazing thing about this tour," Ross says over the cheers, "was that it brought someone back to me who I made the mistake of once letting go many years ago – someone important."

He looks straight at me in the muted darkness. My whole body trembles under the weight of his stare

His eyes drift down from mine, as he starts speaking again. "She once asked me, if I had to pick one song out of every song ever written to best describe me, which would it be. I said the song I'm about to sing."

My skin starts to prickle as I remember our conversation that night in bed...

"If you, Ross Lynch, had to pick one song as your title song to describe yourself, what would it be?"

"Hurt."

"Why?"

"Some people said Reznor was writing a lyrical suicide note, others said he was writing about finding a reason to live. But I think it's both ... it just depends on which side you're looking at it from."

"And which side are you looking at it from?"

"Now ... a reason to live."

"Reznor's version or Johnny Cash's?"

"Johnny Cash ... I have a few things in common with him."

"Like?"

"The drugs ... the women ... hanging out for the girl of my dreams ... you're my June, Laur."