Steal the Show •On Hold•

Chapter Eighteen

Wally changed into a yellow hoodie and a pair of jeans. It had been two weeks since the Athens fiasco. Artemis and Paula were doing great- except for the fact that Lawrence and Cameron had managed to get away, disappearing without a trace. They were obviously worried about that, but the two hadn't tried anything, so they decided not to linger on it.

Wally and Artemis weren't dating yet- Artemis said that she needed a break. Wally understood, and didn't push her. The fans knew Artemis and Cam broke up- it was huge news, and was in newspapers and magazines around the world- but no one knew exactly why, except for the band and the people with them and the officers who handed the case, and they had been sworn to secrecy.

Now they were in Stockholm, preparing for a concert. Wally knew Artemis was still shaken up, but she wasn't going to let their fans down by postponing or canceling the show. He walked to her dressing room to check on her. He knocked on the door. "Hey, Arty, can I come in?"

"Yeah."

Wally walked in. Artemis was in a yellow dress, and brown sandals. Paula was braiding her teenage daughter's hair. Wally watched transfixed as the blonde hair slid between the older woman's brown fingers, twisting into a plait. A hair band wrapped around the bottom of the braid, securing it into place. Paula picked up a brown elastic headband, sliding it onto Artemis, slipping the braid over the bottom of it.

"You ready, Artemis?" Wally asked.

"Almost. Need some makeup, then I should be done. Should take no more than five minutes."

Sure enough, Five minutes later, Wally was escorting her onstage. Artemis had another new song, and Wally couldn't wait to hear her sing it onstage.

Song: Fight Song by Rachel Platton

"Like a small boat on the ocean. Sending big waves into motion. Like how a single word can make a heart open. I might only have one match, but I can make an explosion.

And all those things I didn't say. Wrecking balls inside my brain. I will scream them loud tonight. Can you hear my voice this time?

This is my fight song. Take back my life song. Prove I'm alright song.

My power's turned on. Starting right now, I'll be strong. I'll play my fight song. And I don't really care if nobody else believes. Cuz I've still got a lotta fire left in me.

Losing friends and I'm chasing sleep. Everybody's worried 'bout me. In too deep. Say I'm in too deep.

It's been two years, I miss my home. I still believe. There's a fire burning in my bones. I still believe. Yeah, I still believe.

And all those things I didn't say. Wrecking balls inside my brain. I will scream them loud tonight. Can you hear my voice this time?

This is my fight song. Take back my life song. Prove I'm alright song.

My power's turned on. Starting right now, I'll be strong. I'll play my fight song. And I don't really care if nobody else believes. Cuz I've still got a lotta fire left in me.

A lotta fire left in me.

Like a small boat on the ocean. Sending big waves into motion. Like how a single word can make a heart open. I might only have one match, but I can make an explosion.

This is my fight song. Take back my life song. Prove I'm alright song.

My power's turned on. Starting right now, I'll be strong. I'll play my fight song. And I don't really care if nobody else believes. Cuz I've still got a lotta fire left in me.

Oh, I've still got a lotta fire left in me."

There were cheers and whistles. You know, just the usual.

"So you guys liked that song?" Artemis called.

"Yeah!"

"Yes!"

"YAAAASSSS!!!"

"Like it? I LOVE it!"

"That was awesome!"

"Oh, thanks guys," Artemis said with a smile. "Now let's get on with the show!"

Afterwards, Wally escorted Artemis backstage, where her mother was waiting for her with Dinah and Ollie Queen. Roy and Will's adoptive parents had more than happily agreed to keep an eye on the Crock women, Jade included. They knew that if Crusher and Cam came back, they might make a move on Jade, too.

So, now Artemis and her mom were sharing a suite with the Queens. Artemis genuinely didn't mind. She felt safer. Will and Jade were in the same room as Artemis and Paula. You would think that he would mind having to share a room with so many women, but he didn't, not really. He knew that it was safer for his girlfriend and their unborn daughter, so he was ok with it.

Wally didn't know how he didn't get driven crazy.

In the last couple of months, Wally had gotten to know Jade Nguyen. She was just as stubborn and sassy as her younger sister, but she wasn't as spitfire-y. She was chill with anything and everything. Nothing really seemed to faze her, and she was even tempered, very much the opposite of her sister. Wally had never met anyone with as quick a temper as Artemis. Not even Conner. Wally was certain that Jade would make an excellent mother, despite the young woman's concerns.

Wally dropped Artemis off with her family. "Have fun, Art."

"Will try."

The two exchanged smiles and Wally walked away to join his family for dinner.