All My Heart: A Very Warped Summer Sequel (Austin Carlile x OC)

My Understandings

My Understandings – Of Mice & Men

“I don't mind it, I don't mind if you're overrated or if you're staring at the edge of the world. Keep in mind that I'm a sore eye with blurry vision but I can see it has to be you, love, that I've been dreaming of. And if we climb this high, I swear we'll never die...”

Danielle ran on stage, looking happier than ever. She smiled at the crowd, looking down at Ellie to give her the cue to start recording. Eddie ran out then with a stool and an acoustic guitar. She cleared her throat, adjusting the mic stand and hair and sitting in the stool with the acoustic guitar propped in its stand beside her.

“This is weird, right? Kind of a surprise set. I feel a bit under pressure because I haven't really talked on stage in days—actually, I haven't talked in days in general. I haven't put much effort into my sets and I know there's no use keeping it a secret. Everyone knows it's because of Austin.” She took in a deep breath, feeling anxious at the crowd's unresponsiveness. “We cut out a few songs from the set today so I could talk and I know that's not what you guys paid for but I'm sure you'll be understanding. And I know you'll love the acoustic song I picked out.”

She laughed nervously and looked at the camera, swallowing hard. “This isn't an easy thing to talk about. It's all true, I had a miscarriage with Austin a few months ago. I got really emotionally overwhelmed afterward because it was the second miscarriage of my life. It happens. It's scary to be pregnant and it's scary to lose it unintentionally. I wasn't emotional the first time, but this time I was, because this time it was with someone who meant the world to me and we broke up after that. So yes, it was emotionally devastating.

“Austin and I were only together for a month before I moved in with him. Of course things aren't going to be totally amazing but we worked through it because despite our constant bickering, we still wanted to be with each other.” She blinked quickly, still not feeling any tears. “And we still do. Even though Michael Bohn is covering him for the rest of tour. Even though he's probably sitting in his empty house, going about his daily routine like I never existed. We still love each other after everything. There is obviously more to the story as to why he left, but we're not going to get into that.”

Dani smiled and closed her eyes, thinking of all the good times she had with Austin. From Skype calls, to Twitter conversations, to hugging him for the first time in years at Warped, to kissing him for the first time, to playing video games with him and the rest of Of Mice & Men all of Warped, to diner hangs with him and the rest of their friends, and everything else. “I have never loved someone so much as much as I love him. I've said it over and over, but I'll say it again: I fucked up. And I'm sorry.”

“You know, when I was nineteen, I always said Austin was the man of my dreams and that one day I was going to marry him.” People in the crowd actually laughed with her now. “Here I am with this huge diamond on my finger and he's not even with me anymore. But he is the man of my dreams and there is truly, honestly, no one I'd ever want to be with. I learned the hard way, yeah, but now I do know. We came so far. If you guys knew the shit I went through before we dated, it'd break your heart.”

She looked into the camera. “Austin, if you ever watch this, I want you to know I'm still fighting for you. You didn't want the mistake of having me walk out and now I'm doing the same. I don't want to have a stupid long distance relationship when my heart and home is in California. Most importantly, it's out in California with you probably lying in your bed watching Orange Is The New Black and Dexter until the sun rise.” She let out a giggle and several others laughed with her.

“I love you. If I didn't love you, I wouldn't have stuck by you for so long. I wouldn't have come back to you that one night on this past tour.” Danielle smirked and blushed, and the crowd whooped. “I don't care about the crazy fangirls that love you and despise me. I've been your pretty little lady since the moment you met me, and I'll never forget how crazily happy I was when I first met you and you called me that. I'll never forget the first day of Warped Tour when you came to my bus and picked me up and swung me around.” She smiled, finally feeling tears. But they weren't sad tears. They were happy tears and she hadn't felt those in a long time. “I'll never forget the day I fell in love with you. Really fell in love with you. The day you first kicked Trace's psychotic ass in the bus parking lot.” Everyone else cheered and Dani smiled sheepishly. “At the time, I thought what he was about to do was going to be the worst thing to happen to me but you didn't care. You made sure my image was safe. Now look at me.” She rolled her eyes and let out a small laugh. “Basically, Austin, you are my light. You helped me get here. You may not know this but the night you sang to me over Skype was one of my first biggest fights with Trace and without even knowing it, you helped me out. It's true that without you, I wouldn't be here. And I don't want to continue this journey without you. You're my best friend.” She took a long pause. “So...Please come back. I miss you.”

The audience was silent. She picked up the guitar, slinging the strap over her head. “This is an Of Mice & Men song. It's one of my favorites and I feel is very fitting for us.” She cleared her throat, beginning to strum the guitar. Erick began softly humming in his own microphone and Dani smiled, the sound of his voice sending chills down her spine. Dani turned to the crowd, the bright lights blinding her, preventing her from seeing most of their faces.

“I don't mind it, I don't mind if you're overrated – or if you're staring at the edge of the world – keep in mind that I'm a sore eye with blurry vision – but I can see it has to be you, love, that I've been dreaming of – and if we climb this high...”

Dani stopped. She took the acoustic guitar off from around her neck and crew members came out to quickly take the stool, the guitar, and the guitar stand away. She tore the mic from the stand in front of her, knocking it over, and stood at the edge of the stage on her toes as the lights went up.

“I swear we'll never die!”

Her band joined in with her and the crowd started singing along with her. And this was the moment she waited for. This was the moment she wanted to feel alive in. The music sent goosebumps along her skin as her hand reached for the sky. And at the end when the lights went down and everyone screamed, she smiled wider than she had in months.

“You're all alive for a reason.” She said in the dark. “Remember that.” People screamed while her band started into the next song on their list and the lights went up again. “That's not good enough! Come on!” She smiled when they screamed louder and she pushed her hair back, so happy to be alive at this moment. “That's better.”

.&.

After her sweaty set, she ran down the steps, a huge grin on her face. Everyone that passed her told her what a great set it was and how her words really tugged on their heartstrings. After Ryan from FIR told her any guy would be lucky to have her for the amount of love she gives to Austin, she laughed and turned to head into her dressing room but almost crashed headfirst into Vic.

“Vic,” she gasped and put her hand to her chest. “Christ, don't scare me like that.”

“Great job, Dani, really.” He said, a small smile on his face. “You really put your all into this one.”

Dani shrugged, blushing. “I just feel a lot better getting that out there. And y'know, hopefully, he'll see it and who knows?”

“You're a sure fire fighter.” He laughed, playfully hitting her shoulder before walking past her.

She bit her lip nervously. She was starting to feel bad about the things she said to Vic. After everything he ever did for her, was she really going to just let him slip through her fingers? Was she really willing to go through her life without him?

She turned back around, chasing after Vic and turning him around. She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him close. After being puzzled for a few hesitant seconds, he awkwardly put his arms around her waist.

“I'm so sorry,” she said into his ear. “I'm sorry for being such a bitch. I love you, I'm not letting you out of my life that easily, you asshole.”

And with that, Vic's stance was less stiff. His arms wrapped around her tighter and he buried his head between her neck and shoulder. “Thank you, Dani.”

A/N: I like this chapter but don't at the same time. Idk. Comment your thoughts ! <3

PS WATCH THE VIDEO FOR THIS CHAPTER BECAUSE I LOVE LAUREN'S VOICE AND IT'S EXACTLY HOW I IMAGINE DANI'S TO BE.