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As soon as the song was finished I knew I had to sing it. Emmie had to know what I was feeling and I needed her to know before we started our vacation. I didn’t want to spend the entire summer hiding how much I needed her.

Tonight was our last concert and I was nervous. Not even during our very first concert had I felt so nervous. I went through the song with Drake several times backstage, and he was giving me some pretty evil looks when he realized just what the new song was about. I ignored him.

When we took the stage, I promised the audience a new song later in the night just so I wouldn’t chicken out and not perform it after all. Greedy for new material from us, I knew our fans wouldn’t let me forget.

With the lights flashing and bouncing to the beat of Jesse’s drumming, I was a little blind to what was happening on the sidelines of the stage. I knew Emmie was standing just out of sight and from time to time I would get a glance of her as she paced while she handled business with her phone. The concert was only a few songs from being over, and I was determined that the next song was going to be for Emmie.

Still singing Ashes, I glanced toward where I had last seen her.

I nearly stumbled over the words when I saw her kissing Axton. My heart felt like it was going to explode, my eyes clouded with rage, and it was only because I knew the song so well that I was able to finish the fucking thing. Terrified that I was too late, that Axton was the one she wanted, I rushed to get the next song set up.

Unable to bring myself to look in Emmie and Axton’s direction again. I couldn’t help but wonder what Axton was even doing in Galveston. I knew that he should have been in California with Gabriella Moreitti since they were supposed to be an item now. It pissed me off that he had dropped in right when I was about to make my move.

Drake sat on a stool beside of me with his acoustic guitar and the lights dimmed around us. I took a deep breath, determined that I wasn’t about to let my fucking friend ruin what I hoped to achieve.

You forced my lonely and cold heart to beat

No longer waiting in the shadows resigned to the same defeat.

Now there is an Ember that has sparked a flame,

Bringing me back to life with just a smile.

I was sure that Jesse and Shane were lost, knowing that I wrote only from my soul and life experience. With each line I sang I felt tenser and had to fight with myself not to look toward Emmie. Somehow I got through the song, my chest shaking from how hard my heart was beating.

Finally it was all over. As soon as Drake played the last cord I was off the stool and rushing backstage, ready to face Emmie’s reaction to the song.

She was gone. There was no sign of her or Axton, and my heart dropped to the ground. But as I stood there, glancing around for the girl that I was stupidly in love with, the disappointment turned to anger. I wasn’t sure who I was angrier with. Emmie for not noticing before how much I loved her, or myself for not telling her sooner.

Now she was off with Axton, doing only gods knew what, and I was left feeling empty.

Muttering a curse, I stomped off. I didn’t care where I went, just as long as I got away from everyone. I hated the world, the universe. I thought of hooking up with some random girl, taking her back to the hotel and making sure that Emmie knew that I wasn’t going to keep wasting my time waiting for her to open those beautiful green eyes.

By the time I got to the hotel my phone had started ringing. Seeing it was Axton, I decided to turn it off. I didn’t need him rubbing it in my face that he had gotten what I wanted. That shithead knew exactly how I felt about Emmie and hadn’t thought twice to use it against me.

Like always, there was the usual line of groupies hanging out by the rear of the hotel. They were the hopefuls that hadn’t gotten to see the concert but were still determined to warm one of our beds for the night. The idea to hook up was squashed, however, even as I started to take my pick.

I couldn’t do it. The thought of touching someone that wasn’t Emmie made my stomach cramp and I turned away. Up in my room I ordered a bottle of whiskey and some food. The whiskey kept my attention diverted for a good hour, and I was feeling more than a little mellow when I decided to turn on my phone.

If Emmie was off with Axton having fun then I was going to ruin it. The phone took it’s time rebooting and I was about to bring up Emmie’s name when the amount of missed calls from Axton popped up on the screen. I knew that Axton wouldn’t have been calling that much unless it was seriously important. The guy had better things to do, more stupid ass pranks to play.

My stomach was in knots as I listened to the first message:

“Where the fuck are you? I have Emmie at the emergency room. She’s seriously sick, man. Come here as soon as you get this!”

My feet were moving even as the next message started playing automatically. “What is the matter with you fuckheads? Emmie is sick and you idiots are off getting laid! Some family you are.”

“They won’t tell me what’s wrong because I’m not family. Get here. NOW!” The third message ended and the fourth started. “Alright, Armstrong. I see how it is. You don’t really care at all, huh? All those drunken confessions of loving Em were just bullshit. Well, I’m not so stupid. If you won’t step up and take care of her, I fucking will. She likes me, you know.”

I nearly crushed my phone as I hit the end button, deleting all of the other messages without listening. Instead of letting his words get the better of me, I tried to stay focused. I had to find the guys, get to the hospital, and make sure that Emmie was okay.

By the time I found the others and we got to the hospital, more than two hours had passed since the first phone call. Axton was standing by the entrance, his phone still to his ear as he tried to call Jesse’s number again. The relief that was on his face when we stepped out of the taxi was evident. It only made my fear and anxiety level rise.

“About fucking time, dickwads!” he exploded and punched me in the arm.

“How is she?” Jesse demanded before I could ask.

Axton shook his head. “She was unconscious when we got here, but she’s stable now. They gave her fluids and the doctor was talking to her the last time I peeked in.”

“Thanks for helping her. You can go now,” I told him, not caring that I was acting like a bastard. I should have been shaking my friend’s hand, thanking him on my knees for taking Emmie to the hospital when she had needed help.

“So you can take over? Looks like you haven’t been doing such a good job so far.” The rock god’s eyes darkened, looking almost menacing. “I think I’ll stay. Maybe finish what we started earlier tonight when she let me kiss her.”