"What's your name, kiddo?" Rupert asked as Noah reached the stage.

"N-Noah Stone." He cleared his throat, standing straight.

"Have you ever done stage performance before?" Noah shook his head. "What made you do today?" He glanced at me and replied.

"My friend."

Rupert looked at me and smirked. "Well, then good luck. The stage is all yours, Noah." He smiled, patting his shoulder. "Give a round of an applauds for Noah people!"

Everyone clapped for Noah as he sat down on the stool in the middle of the stage and tuned his guitar.

I crossed my fingers and prayed that everything goes well.

Noah looked up and blew a breath. His eyes wandered around the audience. "T-this is m-my first-time p-playing in front o-of the audience. H-hope you'll like it." He gulped.

You can do it, Noah.

He stared at his guitar, then after a minute he shook his head and was about to get up when I started yelling.

"Noah... Noah... Noah..." He looked at me in confusion as I continued to cheer for him. After a second, everyone else joined with me.

His eyes grew big as he stared at the audience cheering for him, then he glanced at me and I gave him an encouraging smile.

"You can do it, Noah!" I hooted from my place clapping for him.

I'm a cheerleader. It's a habit of mine.

He chuckled then closed his eyes, taking deep breaths then started playing.

"Here's to the ones that we got
Cheers to the wish you were here, but you're not
'Cause the drinks bring back all the memories
Of everything we've been through.
Toast to the ones here today
Toast to the ones that we lost on the way
'Cause the drinks bring back all the memories
And the memories bring back, memories bring back you."

He opened his eyes and his gaze meet mine, smiling. I beamed and thumbs up.

"There's a time that I remember, when I did not know no pain
When I believed in forever, and everything would stay the same.
Now my heart feel like December when somebody say your name
'Cause I can't reach out to call you, but I know I will one day, yeah."

I looked around people; they seem to enjoy it, moving on the melody of his sweet voice.

"Everybody hurts sometimes
Everybody hurts someday, ayy ayy
But everything gon' be alright
Go and raise a glass and say, ayy"

I narrowed my eyes at the group of girls that sat in the corner eye raping my Noah, but I ignored them since I was in a good mood and I couldn't blame them either. I glanced back at Noah, who was engrossed in his music, and watched him as his finger skillfully played with the string of the guitar.

The audience started singing with Noah, and after a while, the entire bar got engaged, including me.

"Doo doo, doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo (ooh, yeah)
Memories bring back, memories bring back you."

Everyone cheered and hooted for Noah. I jumped from my seat furiously clapping and whistling. "THAT WAS AMAZING!"

He laughed at me. Rupert came to the stage looking impressed by Noah.

"I wasn't expecting that." He smiled and looked at the audience. "And that was a really excellent song you choose. I'm sure everyone here must have memories of their loved one." He patted his shoulder. "Your friend," he glanced at me, "must be proud of you."

"Y-yeah." Noah glanced at me.

"Another round of an applaud for our newbie here!" Everyone clapped as Noah came down towards me.

"You. Were. Epic!" I squealed, bouncing in my place.

"I was literally shaking." He said with wide eyes and a huge grin on his face. "But I have experienced nothing like that before."

"Well... Well..." We turned around and saw Elizabeth coming towards us, clapping with a gigantic smile on her face. "Lexi was right. You are good."

"T-thanks." Noah blushed, rubbing the nape of his neck.

"So you taking part in the competition?" She asked. Noah turned his gaze to me.

I put my hands up in surrender. "I will not force you to enter, but I think you should."

"Yeah." Elizabeth agreed. "You might win the grand prize with that voice of yours."

"Grand prize?" I asked her curiously.

"The winner will get one grand." Noah and I looked at her, jaw dropped.

"One grand?" I repeated. "As in one thousand dollars."

"That's about right." She beamed.

"Where do you get that much money for the prize?"

"We have our sponsors." She winked.

"I'll do it." We turned our heads towards Noah, I blinked at him.

"Good. You should submit a song and get yourself registered then." Elizabeth smiled at us. "I'll see you guys around then."

"Are you sure about this?" I asked Noah after Elizabeth left.

"I am." He gave me a smile, which I returned.

* * * * *

"... I wish you guys were there to see him." I finished telling about Noah's performance to his parents.

We came back from the bar and now were sitting in Noah's dining room with his parents, having dinner.

"Noah always used to play in his room, alone." His mother looked at him. "And I never thought you'd perform in front of people."

"It wasn't my plan." Noah side glanced at me. I gave him a toothy grin.

"I'm glad you made him do it." Mr. Stone thanked me.

"It wasn't a biggie." I shrugged. "But we have to prepare him for the competition."

We talked about it and I told them how stubborn Noah was being in the beginning and his mother scolded him for being difficult for me.

I giggled and looked around the table. It's been a while since I had a dinner like this. Dad and I have it together, but with his parents and having fun, I really missed this.

I looked at his parents in front and thought of telling them about my mommy, I couldn't hide it from them forever.

"Mr. and Mrs. Stone, there's something I want to tell you, guy." I gulped. "It's about my mom..." I trailed off.

They glanced at each other, then Mrs. Stone put her hand over mine. "We already know Lexi."

My eyes grew enormous. "You do?"

"Your father told us." I looked at Mr. Stone in confusion and he continued. "He came here a week ago to check up on me. You must have told him about my condition."

I nodded my head, averting my eyes down. I never expected dad to come and see him. I didn't think he had time for it.

"We had a pleasant chat, and he told us about your mother." Mr. Stone finished.

"Oh," I mumbled. "I didn't mean to hide it from you I was-" I stopped when Mrs. Stone tightened her grip on my hand.

"You don't have to say sorry, dear. You already have gone through enough pain." She gave me a sad smile, which I returned. "We are here for you."

Noah was right. I wasn't alone.

After dinner, Noah and I went towards my car. "Are you always going to escort me like this?" I teased him.

"As long as I can." He grinned.

We laughed and stopped in front of my car. "I'll see you tomorrow at my house for practice. Don't miss it." I look at him sternly.

"Sure your majesty." He bowed. I rolled my eyes and was about the open my car but was stopped by Noah calling my name.

"Yea-?" I froze in surprise as he pulled me into a hug. I blinked my eyes, trying to process what was going on.

"Thank you for tonight." He mumbled in the crook of my neck, making me shiver. "It felt so good playing on the stage."

Finally getting my consciousness back, I smiled and hugged him back. "I'm glad you enjoyed it."

"More than enjoyed it." He replied, leaning back a little. "And I'm sorry for-" I placed my finger on his lip, stopping him.

"You have nothing to apologize for." He nodded and let go of me.

I cleared my throat, suddenly feeling cold. "I'll see you tomorrow." He nodded his head.

I invited Noah to my house so we can practice for his song and it will be a splendid chance for him to meet dad.

Now that Noah knew about mom and things between Jax and me were over and Noah will obviously be sober this time, so I had no problem meeting him with my dad again.

* * * * *

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