Let Yourself Fall // sequel to My Ethan Karpathy

Chapter 22.

ETHANS POV:

I woke up to the sound of giggles. I sit up slowly and wait for my eyes to adjust to the light. I feel a pair of arms wrap around my neck and a pair of warm lips kiss just under my ear. She knows that's my weak spot. I turn over so I'm face to face with Paisley. We say nothing but stare at each other. The way she blinks is so cute, is that weird? A piece of hair falls down over her face but just as she tries brush it away herself, I brush at it at the same time. Our hands hit together quite hard. Paisley just laughs silently and kisses my nose. She slowly sits up and the blanket falls down to the bottom of her stomach. I notice she's still in her black sports bra and she's looking as hot as usual. I can never stop asking myself this question; how the actual fuck did I end up with a girl like her? I mean, I'm just me.. And she's.. The most perfect girl I've ever met in my life. My phone starts to vibrate from under my pillow so I pick it up and see that it is Sony. I kiss Paisley's forehead and quickly answer it as I walk out the room.

"Hello, Ethan. It's John from Sony. I am just calling you to let you know that your opening performer is in your town and we would like to call you in to meet him. He's really nice and I think you two will get on well. When's a good time?" John asks.

"Um, well, I can get there any time really." I reply.

"Alright, well he's in studio at 2pm this afternoon, so see you then?" John asks.

"Yeah, sure. See you then." I reply and hang up. I walk back into the room where Chris and Paisley are talking. Grace isn't there.

PAISLEYS POV:

Just after Ethan turned to leave, Grace got up to go to the toilet. Chris and I just sort of sit there awkwardly until he says something that shocks me.

"I turned down the contract." he says. I snap my head over to him to see that he is staring at the roof.

"What!? Why!?" I ask.

"Well, to be honest, someone has to stay here around you. Ethan honestly can't live without you. Plus, I can't live without Grace for that long." He shrugs.

"Oh no, no, no." I say quickly.

"What, what, what, what?" Chris mimics.

"I'm holding you back from your dreams too."

"Well.. To be perfectly honest, that isn't my dream. I mean, I love to sing, and I will keep singing, but I don't want to be known as 'Chris Lanzon, the famous singer'. I want to be known as 'Chris Lanzon, the small country boy who likes to sing'. That way I won't be too famous, then there's little hate. I don't take hate well. That's why I try to be so nice to everyone" Chris explains. He even does the little air quotes with his fingers.

"Oh," is all I can say.

"Wait, do you think you're holding Ethan back?" Chris asks.

"Yeah.." I hesitate.

"Well, you have to follow him then. Don't give him any excuses to not do tours or go places. Just go with him if you have to. Follow him wherever he needs to go, it's only for a few years, it's not forever. Then he will follow you for the rest of his life." Chris advises like he is the God of relationships. Well, I guess in a way he is the god of mine and Ethan's. Ethan walks back in the room basically at the same time Grace does. They both come and sit down on the floor.

"I have to go to Sony at two." Ethan mumbles.

"Baby, you realise it's 1?" I tell him.

His eyes go wide with shock and he literally jumps up and bolts to the bathroom. I just play on my phone until Ethan comes back into the room. Chris and Grace decide to leave and do something for the day.

"Why do you have to go in today?" I ask when we're alone.

"I'm meeting my opening artist." Ethan replies bluntly as he fiddles with something in his wardrobe.

"Do you know who it is yet?" I ask.

"Some guy named Braiden or something. I haven't really heard of him before so it should be interesting." Ethan says as he walks back towards me.

"I'm sure it will be fine." I reassure him.

"I know. And I'm sorry I can't bring you like you brought me. They told me to keep my work strictly professional. I hope you understand."

"I understand." I reply.