The Pop-Up Shop

Chapter Sixteen

APRIL'S POV

I stood behind Joel next to Nate as Ruel started to talk to the camera in the venue. 'We're in Portaland and um...Portoolooland, Portland, Portland! And we're in this very cool venue right now. There's no bathroom in the green room so I'm gonna have to do a poo around, like, 6:45...Andy, can you put poo in master tour at 6:45'

'6:45?' Andy asked and the camera panned back to Ruel

'Yeah'

'Yep'

'Thank you. Um...and yeah. That's about it' I roll my eyes at him as he walks past Joel and wraps me in a hug. 'Wanna come soundcheck with me before meet and greet?'

I nod as he holds my hand and walked down to the stage with a couple of his band members following both of us. He grabs the mic and checks with some people about the microphone as I sit on the floor before he starts to sing a new mashup of Younger. 

I clapped along and laughed as he changes the lyrics and adds a weird accent before I stand up when he finished, 'That was absolutely beautiful' I complimented

He jumps off stage and starts to walk towards me with a smirk on his face, 'Like you'

'You're gross' I cringe at the joke before he connects our lips together and he is called to the meet and greet area.

RUEL'S POV

Everything that I had ever shared with April was leading up to tonight. 

I pulled her up onto the empty stage after the show and we both sat on the edge with our legs hanging off the edge. 'What time is it?' she asked 

'I don't know. 1am or something' I mumble as she shuffles closer to me.

'I'm tired bro' she rests her head on my shoulder and I smile at the feeling.

'I just wanna talk to you'

I take her hand as she smiles and my hands were already sweaty. 

Shit. I forgot everything I was gonna say. 

I had been planning this for so long, how did I forget it? 

I look into her eyes, her god damn eyes. My heart melted at the sight of her and I just started talking. Fuck whatever I had planned

'You know how you never expect things to go as far as they would in life? You just assume that something terrible would happen and the dream would just come crashing down?' she nods and I swallow hard, 'That was my feeling when I asked you to come to my Sydney show. I thought that you would say no, or you would have a boyfriend or...I don't know. I didn't think this would last but it has and everyone can see how happy I've been since you've been around'

She blushes and smiles as I take another deep breath. My heart was absolutely racing, 'You're the best thing that's happened to me this year April. Not the EP coming out. Not going on 2 tours. You. I've been wanting to ask you this for a while but I was waiting for the perfect moment. I knew I wanted to ask you ever since I started and ended a show and the thought of you hadn't left my mind at all...April Belle Miller...

'I'm not marrying you Ruel' she cuts me off with a smile, lifting her head off my shoulder.

'Damn. You shut me down real quick. One more question though' she smiles and nods. 

I could tell she knew what was coming

'Will you be my girlfriend?'

'I don't know...I might have to think about it for a while and talk to Luna and-' I push her off the stage as she laughs and jump down next to her as I wrap her in a hug, 'but I guess so'

I connect our lips together as I lift her up and she holds on tight to me.

After a small moment we both go outside, all the fans were now gone so we could peacefully go onto the bus without anyone spotting us. 'She said yes!' I annoucen to the team as they were waiting for the result. 

Everyone smiles and claps as they seemed super happy that she was apart of our little family now.  

And I was over the moon.