"Hi." Darren greeted them with a grin as we reached them.

"Hi." I smiled, but it quickly faded away when Emily narrowed her eyes at us.

"You are late."

"It was him."

"It was her."

Kevin and I said simultaneously, pointing at each other. Emily rolled her eyes and chuckled. "Sat down, Noah turn is after few performances."

I sat next to Emily and Kevin beside me. "Did you guy meet him?"

"Yes... and he was seriously anxious." I bit my lip, sinking in my seat.

"I wish I was there for him." I groaned, rubbing my hands on my face.

"He was looking for you," Emily said, making me halt. I glanced at her serious face.

"He was?"

She nodded her head, adjusting her glasses. "He thought you weren't coming because he changed the song and he kept going on and on... but we assured him you will."

"I wanted to meet him before the performance so bad, but..." I sighed as the band finished their performance and Rupert came.

I bit my lip as I watched him introduced some girl for performance. My eyes wandered around the audience and stopped at Noah's parents sitting few tables away from us. My lips curled into a smile as I watched them talking among themselves and looking happy.

The girl on the stage continued to sing in her sweet voice, and she was fantastic. I anxiously shifted in my seat as another guy came and performed. They all were good, I wondered how Noah must be feeling.

Finally, after a few amazing performances, Noah's turn came. I watched as he stepped on the stage and looked around the audience. He sat on the chair in the middle and tuned his guitar. I glanced around, waiting for Elizabeth, but she was nowhere to be found.

My gaze snapped back to Noah, who sat there taking deep breaths. I watched his Adam's apple bobbed as he looked back up.

"Go, Noah!" Darren cheered, making him looked towards us. He smiled at him, then his eyes shifted towards me.

I gave him an encouraging smile and showed him my thumbs up. His smile turned into a grin and he closed his eyes and played his guitar.

My brows furrowed in confusion at the music. It was not the one he sang with Elizabeth. My eyes grew enormous when he opened his mouth and sang the song we practiced together.

"I fell by the wayside, like everyone else
I hate you, I hate you, I hate you
But I was just kidding myself
Our every moment, I start to replace
'Cause now that they're gone
All I hear are the words that I needed to say..."

My entire body lit up as I listened to him. I couldn't believe my ears for a second.

He is singing our song!

"When you hurt under the surface
Like troubled water running cold
Well, time can heal but this won't..."

I honestly was disappointed when he said he was performing another song with Elizabeth but after hearing him singing our song... I was overwhelmed.

"Was never the right time, whenever you called
Went little, by little, by little until there was nothing at all
Our every moment, I start to replay
But all I can think about is seeing that look on your face..."

His eyes met mine, my body shivered at his intense gaze making my inside flipped. He continued to look at me as he sang. I smiled, which he returned looking relax. The entire time I felt giddy, like a fangirl watching her idol perform.

"So, before you go
Was there something I could've said
To make your heart beat better?
If only I'd have known you had a storm to weather
So, before you go
Was there something I could've said
To make it all stop hurting?
It kills me how your mind can make you feel so worthless
So, before you go..."

After he finished the song, I bounced in my seat and furiously clapped for him. Kevin let out a wolf whistle, making Noah laugh. The crowd cheered as he got off the stage, not before casting me a glance.

I jolted up from my seat. "Where are you going?" Emily asked.

"I'm going to meet him," I answered and rushed towards backstage.

I pushed past the staff on my way and jumped in my steps, looking over their heads to see Noah, when I saw Rupert talking to someone.

"Hi, Rupert!" He turned his head. "Have you seen Noah?"

"He's in the back." He answered, pointing at the door.

"Thanks!" I replied and went towards it. Behind the door, I saw all the participators waiting for their turns anxiously. My eyes wandered around to look for Noah when I caught him standing a little further. With a huge grin on my face, I ran towards him but slowed my steps when I saw him with Elizabeth, hugging each other in excitement.

I curiously walked as they let go and stopped dead in my tracks when Elizabeth grabbed Noah's face. My eyes bugged out as she kissed him.

WTF!

I heard my heart shattering into pieces at the sight. I quickly whirled on my heels and walked out of the room without looking back and hoped that they won't see me.

I absentmindedly walked back and someone shook my shoulder. Glancing up, I saw confused Emily.

"What happened, Lexi?" Her eyes darted over my face.

"I..." I gulped, blinking my eyes.

"Did you find Noah?" Darren asked from behind.

I shook my head. "I- I didn't find him."

"Are you okay?" Emily asked, putting her hand on my cheek. "You look so pale."

"I suddenly feel nauseous and I..." I licked my dry lips. "My head is aching."

"Why?"

"I-I don't know." I closed my mouth to keep my voice from cracking, then glanced at Kevin. "I need to go home."

His forehead creased in confusion as he gazed at me. I gave him a pleading look and without asking he nodded. "Let's go." He grabbed my hand.

"What about Noah?" Emily asked.

"Tell him he was superb and... and I hope he wins." I tried to smile at her but failed.

Quietly following Kevin, we walked out and went straight to his car. We drove in silence for a minute, then he asked.

"Are you going to tell me what happened?" I glanced at him. "Is it Noah-?"

His name was enough for me to burst into crying. I heard Kevin cursed, but I couldn't control myself and buried my face in my palms, crying my heart out.

* * * * *

After done crying, I put my hands down and sniffed. "Here." I glanced at the tissue back Kevin extended towards me. "Clean your face you look like a mess."

I took the box and cleaned my face with the tissue. I blew my nose on it, making Kevin gag.

I side glanced at him and threw my tissue. "Ew! F**k! That's disgusting, Lexi!" He screamed like a girl.

"Whatever." I rolled my eyes and looked outside the window and saw Kevin's house. "Why are we here?"

"You thought I would take you to your house looking like that." Kevin scoffed, getting out of his car. "I don't have a death wish."

I got out, following him inside. I was happy that he didn't get me home or else dad would have been furious seeing me like that. Taking my phone out, I texted him I'll be staying at Kevin's for the night.

"Your parents' home?" I asked, plopping onto the couch in the living room.

"No!" He yelled from the kitchen and a few minutes later he emerged with beer cans. "They are on a trip." He shrugged and extended one can in front of me.

I eyed it, then glanced at him. "I don't drink, Kevin," I said deadpan.

"But you need one." He said plopping beside me.

He's right.

I took the can from him and gulped it down. I coughed as the strong taste went down my throat, but continued until I emptied it.

"That was fast." Kevin gave me an amused look.

"Give me another." I took the one he was drinking and swallow it. I sighed and cleaned my mouth with the back of my hand and leaned my head on the couch.

"Talk." I angled my head towards Kevin as he gave me a stern look. "It's time you tell me what's going on."

"Nothing," I muttered, closing my eyes.

"Nothing?" He said, getting annoyed. "You don't cry like that for nothing, Lexi."

"Kevin seriously, you don't have to worry about-"

He let out a dry laugh, cutting me off. "Yeah, I don't have to worry but it's hard not to worry about you Lexi so either you tell me what's going on or..." I opened my eyes, peeking at him. "Or we are done." He sternly said.

I sighed and pondered on it. I had been keeping too many secrets from him, and I don't think I could do it anymore.

"I saw Noah and Elizabeth..." I bit my lip to stop it from quivering. "... Kissing."

"So..." He urged me to continue.

"I... like him, Kevin." Finally uttering the words that I had been keeping to myself. "I...love him."

* * * * *

A/N
Poor Lexi *Sigh*

I feel like I'm Cinderella's stepmother 😬

And for the song as I said I couldn't come up with lyrics but I really like this song...👀 And the singer is totally Noah's voice... I mean his voice suits Noah...am I the only one who thinks that? 🤔