Beautiful Mess

Chapter 13

“I’m calling because I need to find you

“Is anybody there?

“Who can rescue somebody like me?

“Cause I was waiting for somebody like you

“Somebody like you

“Without you I’m a lost boy

“Without you I’m a lost boy

“Come find me I’m a lost boy

“Without you I’m a lost boy”

 “Charleston, sing with me,” Chase yelled into his microphone. Immediately, the crowd belched the song. The stadium erupted into screams as Chase sang the last chorus again. I smiled, listening to the stadium sing his song. I couldn’t help but wonder how it would feel for the crowd to sing my songs. Right now, I was just somebody that was tagging along with the biggest band right now. They knew of me, but not enough for them to sing along like they were tonight.

 As the music died down, the crowd erupted into screams once more. They all chanted the band’s name. Chase glanced backstage at me. He gave me a wink before he turned back to the crowd, which was still screaming for them. Chase pushed his earpiece back into his ear, turning to the band with a slight nod. Adam glanced over at me and smiled. I stood confused.

 “Charleston, I would like to invite someone special on stage. We have asked her to be a part of our band, but we have yet to bring her on stage with us,” Chase said. His voice boomed over the stadium. I looked at him, knowing where this was going. Yes, he said I was a part of the band, but I figured that we would start collaborating after the tour since we hadn’t had time to practice together. Blue Panda didn’t have any duet songs, so bringing me on stage was something completely different. “She doesn’t know it yet, either. This is all a surprise.” The crowd screamed even louder. “Riley, will you join us on stage?”

 I stood frozen for a second. Skylar came up behind me and nudged me to go forward. I gulped, taking a deep breath before going on stage. We hadn’t practiced anything together other than the songs I performed. I didn’t know how this was going to work and messing up in front of the first and biggest crowd I had ever performed for was not how I wanted to spend my first night as a performer. Chase smiled as I walked on stage, the screams deafening. I couldn’t help but smile and wave.

 “Riley, I know this comes a surprise to you. You weren’t expecting this were you?” Chase laughed. Lucas plucked a string on his guitar. I turned to him and he just smiled, giving me a reassuring nod. Brooke came running up on stage with a microphone in her hand. I accepted it as she ran back down the aisle to her booth.

 “No,” I answered into the microphone.

 “Well, the band and I decided that we would like for you to do a duet with us seeing as this is your first ever tour as well as your first ever performance in a crowd such as this,” Chase said. The crowd screamed again.