I Won't Give Up On You! (Short Fanfic)

Chapter Eight

Oli, who has his hand draped securely around Lacey's waist, guides her along the Red Carpet of the 'Alternative Press Music Awards' posing for photographs and talking to TV presenters. Oli is at the 'APMA's' on behalf of BMTH, and Lacey is his plus one.

Oli is dressed in a red and black, plaid, button up shirt that is untucked and hanging loosely. Over his shirt he is wearing a black suit jacket and on the bottom he is dressed in black suit pants with dark combat shoes. Accessorising him stunningly, Lacey is dressed in a strapless, navy blue, chiffon dress that is short in the front and long at the back. Around her waist is a beige chiffon belt, tied in a bow on the side, and matches her beige ribbon heels. Her hair is pulled into a loose, curly up do, her make-up is done simple and clean, and around her neck lays I busy, pearl beaded necklace.

After smiling, posing and even a few kisses for the photographers, Oli leads Lacey into the venue and they order a pre-event drink. A guy in headphones approaches them soon after to inform them the awards are about to begin and escorts them to where they need to be.

Looking around, Oli notices fans of the musicians nominated tonight surround the performance stage. He hears them buzzing with excitement, cheering, and every now and then a squeal from a fan in enjoyment. The excitement of the fans touches Oli's soul and ignites an overwhelming feeling in him.

It's like a bolt of electric energy is running through every vein, artery and capillary in his body. Oli realises that he is having...... you could say...... an epiphany, of how much an impact talented, but ordinary people can have on the pleasure and spiritualty of the masses. Music has a power to release endorphins and serotonin which can/does affect people physically, thus can create an addiction.

Oli's thoughts go deeper, making him realise that music is like a drug, and it can numb the pain and create happiness. All this time he thought that dangerous substances like Ketamine and Ecstasy is what he needed to supress his clinical and physical illness of depression, but all along he had something to absorb his prone-ness to addiction that numbs the pain, the sadness, the anxiety and creates the happiness he needs . He has always had it, in music and voicing his opinion and shouting it to the skies, not giving a shit if people like it or not.

Oli looks to Lacey and he falls deeper into his state of enlightenment. The love he gives, receives and has with Lacey, also releases serotonin, much like the love he has with his friends and family. It's also an addiction.

Addiction should not only be used to describe something that can be ingested, inhaled or injected. We are addicted to the feeling it gives us. Addiction doesn't have to mean harmful, as long as you don't over depend on it.

Oli thinks back to Lacey, who also suffers from depression, but seems to manage it much better then him. He realise that endorphins and serotonin are created when Lacey is drawing, painting, tattooing or anything artistic for that matter. That's how she keeps her head above her depression, along with the anti-depressants they both take just to stabilise the 'defect' their brains have.

Oli's lips spread into a smile watching Lacey enjoying everything going on around her, but still oblivious to the revelation he has just had. He realises that in the time he has known her, she is always there in his life's greatest moments, often being the reason for them herself. In that moment Oli makes a confident decision that will change their lives forever.

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The evening continues and Oli and Lacey, along with the rest of the audience, laugh at jokes being told, clapping for winners and applaud the performances. Then 'Peirce The Veil' ascends the stage to announce the winner for 'Best International Band' and BMTH is nominated for this. Oli and Lacey watch the nominees play on the big screen and their excitement level spikes when the see Bring Me The Horizon appear on the screen. In one swift moment the 'Peirce The Veil' members announce that BMTH has won the award and Oli is casually making his way over to the podium to accept the award.

Once he reaches them he gives each 'PTV' member and enthusiastic bro hug. Lacey smiles at the scene. She has met the 'PTV' boys a couple of times with Oli. She know what good friends the two bands are, and 'PTV' would want BMTH to win over everyone else, and that is why they are so excited handing over the award to Oli.

Oli steps up to the podium with the award in his hand. He makes a quip about not knowing what to say, but how he knows he will get his ass kicked if he takes too long. He then proceeds to thank the award show, management, the recording label and the rest of BMTH who he wishes could be here with him, but he mostly thanks the fans.

As he walks back to Lacey he thrusts his hands in the air (one has the award in it) and silently pretends to cheer, with Lacey mimicking him. When he reaches her, he crouches down to wrap his arms around her waist, lifting her up and spinning her around, making her chuckle. 'PTV' appears next to them and laughs at Oli's behaviour. He places her down on the ground and still crouched down, he kisses Lacey all over her face.

"Woah! Calm down you two." Vic Fuentes laughs.

"Jealous?" Oli smirks and Vic rolls his eyes.

"Yeah Oli, obviously! We will catch you guys later though?" Vic asks rhetorically and smacks Lacey's bum as he makes his way past her, followed by the rest of the band that successfully also take a turn smacking it.

Oli places his arms around her and rests his hands on her bum. Over her shoulder he cheekily pouts and says 'MINE!' causing all of them to burst out laughing.

As the awards continue, Oli starts getting nervous for the award he REALLY wants BMTH to win, "Album Of The Year." So when 'We Came As Romans' ascend the stage to announce the award, Oli's grip on Lacey tightens. They watch the nominees on the big screen and laugh at 'WCAR's' lame drum roll. They open the envelope and before they announce the winner, the band members nod their heads in agreement and fail to hide their true excitement when they announce 'Sempiternal- BMTH.' Oli release the huge breath of air he was holding and grabs Lacey's hand, making her walk to the steps of the stage with him.

Oli leaves Lacey at the bottom of the steps with the security standing there, as he goes up to accept the award. He tucks his hands in his pockets and strolls to the podium trying to seem cool and relaxed, but the smile on his face gives away his enthusiasm. 'WCAS' hug him and pat his back, congratulating him as they hand him the award. They can't hide their satisfaction, and even once Oli has stepped up to the mike, 'WCAR' members continue to pat his back.

"I wanna say something that I never thought I'd actually talk about," Oli begins his speech. "Before we wrote Sempiternal, I was a fucking drug addict. I was addicted to a drug called ketamine. I was on it for years, and I was fucked off my head. My band wanted to kill me. My parents wanted to kill me. My fucking brother wanted to kill me. Everyone wanted to kill me. I almost broke my girlfriend's heart, I could have lost her and I fucking love her. So it kills me to know that. But they didn't and I didn't lose Lace, they stood by me. They supported me through all that shit, and we wrote Sempiternal because of it." Lacey smiles at how noticeably nervous he is to speak of this sensitive subject.

"No one fucking knows this, but I went to rehab for a month and through that time, you guys had no fucking idea that I was in rehab. But Lacey showed me that you were sending me letters. You were sending me text messages. You were sending me fucking emails. When I got out of that rehab, I didn't wanna fucking scream anymore; I wanted to sing it through the rooftops, and it's all thanks to you. So thank you very much." The crowed screams and cheers for Oli. He is about to leave the mike, but then changes his mind.

"Oh and I just want to say thank you to my beautiful Lacey. Without you baby, I'd still be fucked as hell. You open my eyes every day and I love you more than words can give justice to." Oli quickly moves to the stairs of the stage and starts to descend them. Once he is half way down he stretches his hand out for Lacey to take, and hesitantly she does. Oli swiftly pulls her up onto the stage at edge of the steps, wraps an arm around her waist pulling her to his chest. His other hand goes up to cup her face, with his thumb on her check and the rest of his fingers in her hair. He kisses her long and lovingly. Being so cliché, which he though could never be possible coming from him, but the fans seem to love it as the scream the loudest they have all night.