I couldn't believe that this was finally happening to me. I was in front of a crowd about to sing and show the world what I was made of. If only mother and father could see me now. "Hey, guys! How's it going?" I asked the crowd. Everyone started cheering in response, and I smiled brightly at this. "It's an honor to be here tonight. The past few weeks of knowing Aidan have been the best weeks of my life. And I can't wait to show you all what I have been working on,"

Over the weeks, I had a few written a few songs that talked about freedom and love, and I could tell as I looked into the crowd that Ashley, Alexa, and Isabelle got the messages loud and clear. Vanessa and Ethan were cheering for me as I finished singing one of my songs. "It's hard to do these things alone. Just hold on, we're going home..." I sang quieter as the music got softer until it eventually stopped. The crowd burst with applause, more applause than I expected.

I was stunned by this, and I felt the corner of my eyes fill with tears, but I blinked them away. Every time I sang another song, the applause grew louder, and it stunned me just the same. "We love you, Serena!" I heard Vanessa call out, and I felt my cheeks glow a bright pink under the multicolored lights. "Now, this song I have working on for a week now. This is about a certain someone. I won't say who it is. But I hope you guys like it. It's called Without Him," I smiled.

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Aidan looked a little confused, but he was smiling as well, and I looked at him and smiled for a split second before I started playing. And I couldn't help but dance as I sang.

https://youtu.be/tPKFLNFP_ZA

Right from the start, he lured me in.
Took me the places that I've never been
I think I'm in love
I think I'm in love

He might have bent me but, I didn't break.
He rearranged the map I made
But I think I'm in love.
I think I'm in love

Now am I crazy? Why can no one understand
That I'll never find a better man? (Oh no)
I'm just imagining a life without my baby.
And I know, I know

This life ain't meant to be live without him.

They say this is America,
Free speech, free will
But I don't even care at all.
I can't seem to fight this
Needing him every day and night
Why can't I just try to speak my mind to him?

Tell him all the things that he probably thought was coming.
But didn't want him thinking that
I'm trying to rush him.
Please, dear God, give me the words.
Cause you know my tongue ties
As soon as I see him, blushing

I get my thoughts put it all on a page.
I might get to find a way out of the maze.
That I built for myself
In some kind of haze
And if the right words come to me one by one.

I hope he tells me that he loves me the same.
I hope he don't laugh or worse, walk away.
Cause the honest to God
Truth of the matter is
I just can't live my life without you.
(Without you)

Right from the start, he lured me in.
Took me the places that I've never been
I think I'm in love
I think I'm in love (Oh no, oh no)

He might have bent me, but I didn't break.
He rearranged the map I made
But I think I'm in love.
I think I'm in love (Oh oh no, oh no)

Now am I crazy? Why can no one understand
That I'll never find a better man? (Oh no, oh no)
I'm just imagining a life without my baby.
And I know, I know

This life ain't meant to be live without him.
Without him
This life ain't meant to be live without him.
Without him
Hey

I'm not one to really talk at all.
Speak up only when the time is right
Or when it calls for the big guns.
Problem is where to speak from
I hear it's your heart that does all the talking.

Hurry up you've got no time to waste
Cause this is the man I'm loving for always
And the honest to God
Truth of the matter
I just can't see my life going on without you.

Took me to places I've never been

I think I'm in love. I think I'm in love.

I'm just imagining a life without my baby.

And I know, I know

This life ain't meant to be live.
Without him, without him.
This life ain't meant to be live.
Without him, without him.

The room was silent for a moment, and I started to get a little scared, but as I put the mic back on the stand, the sounds of clapping and cheers filled the room. And people were cheering my name. I looked over at Aidan, and I could see that he was stunned as well. He walked onstage, and he grabbed the mic, and I could see his face had a huge grin. "That's Serena Waterbury, everyone!" A few people gasped as someone pushed them out of their way, and I looked up to see Ashley and her crew were heading our way.

"NO!" She screamed. She tried to go towards the stage, but luckily security intervened before she could do that. "Ashley, what is your problem?" I asked. "The problem is that you're trying to steal my boyfriend from me!" she growled. Everyone started muttering to each other, and Aidan and I looked at each other in disbelief. "Ashley, I don't know a thing about you. So, how could I be your boyfriend?" Aidan sighed. Ashley squirmed in security's grip but was unsuccessful in her attempt to escape.

"Somebody help me!" She screamed to the fans. But, nobody said or did anything, then suddenly the room burst with laughter as she continued to struggle. "DON'T YOU PEOPLE HAVE ANY RESPECT?" she screamed at them as they continued to laugh. "Security, please take her and her friends away," I said. They nodded at me and started to escort the three of them out of the building.

"No! This is harassment! Get off of me! You'll pay for this!" Ashley and the girls continued to scream as they were being led away. Thank God security intervened. Otherwise, I don't know what would have happened. Aidan and I let out breaths of relief as we continued with the show. "Sorry for the interruption, folks! But now, as I was about to say, we have two songs that we're going to sing together. One of them was written by Serena. And we hope you guys like them!" Aidan smiled.

We grabbed our guitars, and we started singing Miss You. It was amazing. Just Aidan and me on stage singing together and having a good time. We kept glancing at each other and blushing as the music continued playing. "Can I still believe that this will work out? Just know that I miss you," We finished together. I walked towards the large black piano and played the starting notes of Why Don't I.

https://youtu.be/cgez4kdpe-8

Serena: I've never been one
To step out of my comfort zone.
Whenever I try
I'm afraid to just let go.

Both: Don't know why I run
Don't know why I hide.
Never let them know
What I feel inside

Serena: Don't know why I'm scared
Just to take a chance.
While I'm just standing here

Both: Like a bird, I'm free to fly
Spread my wings and find my light
Like a bird, I'm up so high.
Out of the cage, it's my time to shine.
Like a bird, I'm free to fly.
So tell me, tell me
Why don't I?

Serena: I've never been one
To break free
Cause I've always cared
What everyone thinks of me

Both: Don't know why I run
Don't know why I hide.
Never let them know what I feel inside.
I don't want to settle, don't want to run.
This is not where I belong.

Like a bird (yeah), I'm free to fly.
Spread my wings and find my light
Like a bird (like a bird), I'm up so high (so high)
Out of the cage, it's my time to shine (it's my time to shine)
Like a bird, I'm free to fly.
So tell me, tell me
Why don't I?

Halfway through the song, I stood up from the piano and walked towards Aidan, and we gently pressed our backs together as we continued to sing. And when he reached the final note. We stared at each other, and I felt him gently take my hand in his after he set his guitar on the stand. The sounds of the crowd were slowly fading away as we continued to stare at each other.

...Then, Aidan's lips were gently pressed against mine.