Taking Chances
FIN
Alex POV
Standing in the crowd and watching Nelly’s perform made me realize that she wasn’t as relaxed today as she made out to be. Starting with her stage performance to their last song, it’s like today literally drains the Nelly out of her, but she wasn’t acting like this yesterday.
Before she could get off stage I had to get to main stage so that we could perform, being the last to get there, I barged in on the last of their conversation. Making them shut up instantly and made me suspicious as to what they were talking about that they didn’t want me to know about. Before I could ask Matt came to stand beside us.
“You guys decide yet?” Matt asked and I narrowed my eyes. Decide what?
“Nope, we didn’t run it past Alex, so he has no choice.” Jack said laughing and Rian let out a chuckle too.
“Have no choice in what?” I asked them.
“Dude, you haven’t heard yet?” Rian asked me and I looked at him curious. Heard what?
“Heard what?” I asked them and they shared a look before looking at me again, “Just tell me already!” I half shouted to them.
“Fine. Since MToP was first to go on and they did a tribute to all those who’s missing someone who’s dead. This started something questionable, whether the rest of the bands would be up to do this and they’re taking note of who will and won’t and putting it onto the blow up schedule. They asked us and we asked for ten minutes, and that ten is up now. So what’s it going to be man?” Zack asked me and I thought for a minute, I wanted to do it but then again I didn’t.
“I’m up for it.” I tell them and pick up my guitar tuning it. “Lullabies, right?” I asked and started practicing the cords before they even answered me. Five minutes later and it was time for us to go onstage.
“Hey people! You guys look awesome out there. So I’m sorry to say that Nelly won’t be coming here, but we’re doing the tribute for you guys. This song goes out to anybody who’s family, or friends died! I want to hear every single fucking one of you singing along!” I shout to them and start the song, seeing everyone sing along. Even Rian, Jack and Matt, who were standing side stage, were singing along and I noticed Nelly at that moment.
After our set was finished I walked around for a while before deciding to go and find Nelly, since she ran off and I haven’t seen her since. Searching everywhere I didn’t see her and I was panicking and on the verge of a anxiety attack. “Come on, calm down Alex.” I whispered to myself before Jack, Rian, and Zack were all standing in front of me, shoulder to shoulder. “What’s up guys?”
“So we have a present for you and we hope you like it-” Jack stopped and Rian picked up where he left off.
“ ‘Cause really you can’t return it.” And they moved apart to show Nelly standing behind them, smiling up at me. I looked at them before looking at Nelly, and looking at them again.
“Hey Alex,” Nelly said to me, her voice low and breaking a little. It was hardly noticeable but I noticed everything about her, whether she wants me to or not.
“Hey Nells, come on. We got to get ready to go back home.” I said, tacking on the last part when she looked at me confused. She had this look on her face like she expected me to bombard her with questions of where she been and why she started the tribute, like everyone else surely did. I didn’t though; I left it alone and walked her back to her bus in the comfortable silence surrounding us. I knew something was off about Nelly, but I hoped some time to herself to think would bring my Nelly back, the funny, loveable, sarcastically cute Nelly. The one who hangs out with Jason all the time and sings with raw emotion, like she did this morning.
She was my Nelly, the one who knew just what to say and how to say it. I loved her inside and out and I imagine (and hoped) that she loved me like that too. I knew I could make her smile and laugh and I knew I made her happy when she’s down and I knew she could do the same to me.
I love her. No words could describe how much I love Nelly I just hoped she loved me.
“Alex, hold on,” I stopped walking and turned to face her. “I want to say thank you.”
“For what?”
“For always being there, for giving me a chance, for helping me? Take your pick,” Nelly told me and I sighed before rolling my eyes.
“Nells, you don’t have to thank me for anything. It’s my job to love you, and that’s all I’m doing. You need a shoulder to cry on? I’m there. Need someone to listen to your rants? I’m there. Need someone to run new lyrics by and the band isn’t there? I’m there. I’m always going to be there Nelly, no matter what. So there is absolutely no reason for you to thank me, I should be thanking you for giving me the chance to love you so much,” I told her and I smiled when I saw her eyes flooding with tears, she wouldn’t let them fall just yet that though, I knew that.
“I love you too Alex. How could I not, especially when you take care of me? I love you so much, I love that I can get you out of your bad moods. I love that you’ll let me hold you until you feel better. I love that you run your song lyrics by me and ask for my opinion even though I think they’re perfect as always. Love everything about you Alex, and nothing is going to change that,” Nelly told me.
I pulled her close and pressed my lips against hers. After a moment I pulled away and leant my forehead on hers, taking deep breathes. I smiled and she returned the motion, God I love her.
Standing in the crowd and watching Nelly’s perform made me realize that she wasn’t as relaxed today as she made out to be. Starting with her stage performance to their last song, it’s like today literally drains the Nelly out of her, but she wasn’t acting like this yesterday.
Before she could get off stage I had to get to main stage so that we could perform, being the last to get there, I barged in on the last of their conversation. Making them shut up instantly and made me suspicious as to what they were talking about that they didn’t want me to know about. Before I could ask Matt came to stand beside us.
“You guys decide yet?” Matt asked and I narrowed my eyes. Decide what?
“Nope, we didn’t run it past Alex, so he has no choice.” Jack said laughing and Rian let out a chuckle too.
“Have no choice in what?” I asked them.
“Dude, you haven’t heard yet?” Rian asked me and I looked at him curious. Heard what?
“Heard what?” I asked them and they shared a look before looking at me again, “Just tell me already!” I half shouted to them.
“Fine. Since MToP was first to go on and they did a tribute to all those who’s missing someone who’s dead. This started something questionable, whether the rest of the bands would be up to do this and they’re taking note of who will and won’t and putting it onto the blow up schedule. They asked us and we asked for ten minutes, and that ten is up now. So what’s it going to be man?” Zack asked me and I thought for a minute, I wanted to do it but then again I didn’t.
“I’m up for it.” I tell them and pick up my guitar tuning it. “Lullabies, right?” I asked and started practicing the cords before they even answered me. Five minutes later and it was time for us to go onstage.
“Hey people! You guys look awesome out there. So I’m sorry to say that Nelly won’t be coming here, but we’re doing the tribute for you guys. This song goes out to anybody who’s family, or friends died! I want to hear every single fucking one of you singing along!” I shout to them and start the song, seeing everyone sing along. Even Rian, Jack and Matt, who were standing side stage, were singing along and I noticed Nelly at that moment.
After our set was finished I walked around for a while before deciding to go and find Nelly, since she ran off and I haven’t seen her since. Searching everywhere I didn’t see her and I was panicking and on the verge of a anxiety attack. “Come on, calm down Alex.” I whispered to myself before Jack, Rian, and Zack were all standing in front of me, shoulder to shoulder. “What’s up guys?”
“So we have a present for you and we hope you like it-” Jack stopped and Rian picked up where he left off.
“ ‘Cause really you can’t return it.” And they moved apart to show Nelly standing behind them, smiling up at me. I looked at them before looking at Nelly, and looking at them again.
“Hey Alex,” Nelly said to me, her voice low and breaking a little. It was hardly noticeable but I noticed everything about her, whether she wants me to or not.
“Hey Nells, come on. We got to get ready to go back home.” I said, tacking on the last part when she looked at me confused. She had this look on her face like she expected me to bombard her with questions of where she been and why she started the tribute, like everyone else surely did. I didn’t though; I left it alone and walked her back to her bus in the comfortable silence surrounding us. I knew something was off about Nelly, but I hoped some time to herself to think would bring my Nelly back, the funny, loveable, sarcastically cute Nelly. The one who hangs out with Jason all the time and sings with raw emotion, like she did this morning.
She was my Nelly, the one who knew just what to say and how to say it. I loved her inside and out and I imagine (and hoped) that she loved me like that too. I knew I could make her smile and laugh and I knew I made her happy when she’s down and I knew she could do the same to me.
I love her. No words could describe how much I love Nelly I just hoped she loved me.
“Alex, hold on,” I stopped walking and turned to face her. “I want to say thank you.”
“For what?”
“For always being there, for giving me a chance, for helping me? Take your pick,” Nelly told me and I sighed before rolling my eyes.
“Nells, you don’t have to thank me for anything. It’s my job to love you, and that’s all I’m doing. You need a shoulder to cry on? I’m there. Need someone to listen to your rants? I’m there. Need someone to run new lyrics by and the band isn’t there? I’m there. I’m always going to be there Nelly, no matter what. So there is absolutely no reason for you to thank me, I should be thanking you for giving me the chance to love you so much,” I told her and I smiled when I saw her eyes flooding with tears, she wouldn’t let them fall just yet that though, I knew that.
“I love you too Alex. How could I not, especially when you take care of me? I love you so much, I love that I can get you out of your bad moods. I love that you’ll let me hold you until you feel better. I love that you run your song lyrics by me and ask for my opinion even though I think they’re perfect as always. Love everything about you Alex, and nothing is going to change that,” Nelly told me.
I pulled her close and pressed my lips against hers. After a moment I pulled away and leant my forehead on hers, taking deep breathes. I smiled and she returned the motion, God I love her.
Notes
FINI decided I was going to change the ending - almost a whole damn year plus later - because I didn't like the way the sequel was going so forgive me. Besides I think you'll find this ending better than the last one which was hell and torture for me to write. I just think it's time I let go of Alex and Nelly and focus on one of the other stories I'm currently in the mist of writing and/or editing.
So with that being said the would be sequel is deleted and I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH! No one has ever shown my work a supreme amount of love you guys have and I appreciate it so much.
P.S. I would love it if someone made a trailer for this story or maybe even a new cover (because I've just recently started but I love seeing fan-art), or you can comment on how you like the new ending. Either way I'll still love you. <3
Yep, I will.
8/13/13