"Sing us a song
and we'll sing it back to you.
We could sing our own
but what would it be without you?" -My Heart

----

It took forty two minutes and thirteen seconds for them to show up.

It wasn't like I was counting or anything though. My foot tapped anxiously on the concrete; I sat on the step leading up to Drake's porch, arms crossed against my chest as I waited. I guess some part of me was nervous to see them, and another part was terrified that they wouldn't show up - that this whole thing was some giant revenge and they actually never wanted to see me again.

The sound of gravel crunching a few feet away made me look up, and my foot paused in it's erratic movements. It was a white Honda minivan, pulling up onto the driveway. In the drivers seat was Drake's mother; I recognized their similar features and the exact same grin on her lips. Riding shotgun was her son, who was absentmindedly staring out the window.

When Drake caught sight of me, I saw his face change into a small, hesitant smile and gave a wave. I waved back weakly, trying to get a glimpse into the back seat to find the rest of the members of Chasing Avenues.

The van pulled to a stop, the squeak of the wheels against the pavement music to my ears. Instantly, I got to to my feet, poised on my toes in anticipation.

The doors opened one by one, and soon they began to filter out.

Drake came first, his unruly hair scuffed and sticking out - he never combed it anyway, why start now? Wearing a light blue tank top and dark jeans, he hopped off the vehicle and onto the grass. Zac was the first to appear from the back seat; unlike Drake, his black hair was kept tidy and neat, his bangs covering the sweep of his forehead. Hopping out as soon as the coast was clear was a familiar mop of blonde hair, his grin widening as soon as he caught sight of me. Xander waved rather energetically and I let out a small chuckle.

And then came Gabriel.

He dragged himself out of the vehicle, his movements unnecessarily slow at first but it wasn't until I saw his face that I realized he didn't intend it to be that way. He looked even paler than usual; I was hoping that it was a trick of the light from the stage lights and camera, but he really did look more pallid.

"Hey, Gabriel," I greeted a little hesitantly but the boy just shook his head at me, frowning slightly. A little hurt, I bit my lip and turned back to Drake, who walked past me to unlock the front door of his home.

"God, it feels good to be back," he groaned into the foyer, kicking off his shoes as soon as he passed throught the threshold. "I need my bed. Stat."

"Drake," Zac warned, rolling his eyes. His eyes flickered to me for a split second before returning the guitarist. "I think we have some more important matters than your mattress." That remark had Drake sobering and he instantly grew sober, nodding urgently.

"You all know where to go," he smirked, nodding to the familiar door that held fond memories - either good or bad. "I'll get the lemonade." I blew out a breath, curiosity piquing over their strange behavior, as if they were containing secrets inside and didn't want to explode. Gabriel, especially. Zac opened the door to the basement, gesturing for us to go first. Xander pulled up beside me and swung an arm over my shoulder as we made our way down together.

"What's going on?" I whispered to him discreetly, watching his adam's apple bob as he swallowed.

"You'll find out soon enough," he beat around the bush, removing his arm from my shoulder and opting to run it along his messy hair. I narrowed my eyes in his direction but said nothing, my feet hitting the linoleum carpet at the foot of the staircase. He flicked on the lights, bathing us in a fluorescent golden hue. He left me as I paused in my stride, flopping onto one of the couches and closing his eyes.

Footsteps above indicated the other members of Chasing Avenues approaching; I quickly darted to the side and let them through, grabbing a glass of lemonade from Drake's grasp as he passed. They all took their usual positions on their respective couches, but I frowned and strayed by the wall - oddly, I felt a little awkward, but I didn't know why.

"So," Zac said, breaking the silence that quickly ensued. He twiddled his thumbs, casting me a look.

"So," I replied slowly, not seeing where he was getting at.

"I... don't know." Zac rubbed the back of his head, slouching into the couch. Beside him Xander was chewing nervously on his fingernails, his leg bouncing up and down in frantic movements.

"Alright," I gulped, clapping my hands together. "I'm going to be blunt, but this is really awkward, and I have no idea why."

"We just don't know how to start." Drake murmured, taking a sip from his glass.

"How about something simple?" I gesticulated with my hands, gesturing to the sky. "What made you guys decide to talk to me again?" The boys immediately fidgeted, and Xander grew pale, muttering out a weak, "Pass?"

"No. No pass." I ground out, suddenly a little irritated by their lack of responses. This situation was too tense - too dense, and it was pressing down on me. "I want to know."

"Lacey-" Zac started.

Drake abruptly stood, interrupting whatever Zac was going to say. "Why didn't you tell us?"

"Tell you guys what?"

"Lacey," his expression grew soft. "You know what we're talking about." I blinked, the only thing coming to my mind was...

Accusingly, I whirled around to scowl at Xander, advancing in his direction and balling a fist. "You told them?"

"Lacey, I-" He didn't get to finish his reply, because I had already aimed my strike and punched his square in the jaw. Pain shot to my knuckles and I hissed out a breath, shaking it furiously. More dumbfounded than hurt, Xander held his jaw and stared at me incredulously, stroking his new bruise.

"You had no right! No fucking right!" I screamed, reaching out to slap him some more. Xander quickly held up his arms to shield his face, as Drake stumbled forward to grab me and pull me back. I thrashed around, feeling betrayed as Xander's face fell.

"Lacey, hear me out, okay?" Xander croaked out, holding up his palms in a way to calm me down. I stopped wriggling long enough for him to decide to continue as he took a deep breath. "They needed to know. I may not have had the right to tell them, but they definitely have the right to know. I couldn't take it, Lacey. I couldn't see them have this permanent image of you being the villain in their minds when in reality, you're the hero."

"Hero?" I scoffed dryly. "Please, you flatter me, Xander."

"I'm serious, Lacey," Xander say, said seriousness dripping from his expression and tone. "Everything had to be set right again."

"Yeah," Drake interjected, releasing his hold on me and spinning around so that I was facing him. "Lace, we almost fooled ourselves into thinking we hated you. You were the victim of this all, not the abuser." I winced. "Sorry, wrong choice of words."

"I just want to know... why didn't you tell us?" Zac mused quietly from his spot on the couch.

"It wasn't something I could just say out loud, you know?" I felt tears prick the back of my eyes, but no tears fell. My voice cracked as I spoke, and I let out a long sigh. "I was selfish back then; I thought I could get away with it all and not be affected. That the walls I built up would never crumble. But they started to fall as soon as we had our first rehearsal. The facade I kept up for so long was deteriorating, and I stopped thinking of you guys as pawns, and instead... family." They all cracked a smile at that, even Gabriel who had managed to blend into his chair quietly, still not speaking up. Drawing a shaky breath, I rubbed my hands down my arms and muttered, "But the real problem was my real family all along."

"How... how long has this been going on?" Drake asked softly.

"Since my mother died," I replied apathetically. "When I was about fourteen."

"You know we need to tell someone," Zac said, rising from his spot. He reminded me of Mike, who had said the same thing just a few hours ago. "The police will listen; he can rot in a jail cell for years."

"Why doesn't anyone understand?" I cried out, exasperated. I felt like constantly repeating myself, but to different people at different times. This was part of the reason why I never bothered to tell anyone in the first place. "He's the closest I've ever gotten to having a father, guys. And even though he - he hurts me, I love him. I hate him, but I love him. I don't want to see him wasting away in a cell; what if he gets better? Marco's all I have left."

"No," Xander said defiantly, placing a hand on my shoulder. "You still have us." I stared at him for a split second before I felt myself wrapping my arms around his waist and pulling him close. When I pulled away, he added, "Lacey, don't you think it's time?"

"I know," I said, my voice sounding hollow and deflated. It was all inevitable; I couldn't hide it forever. The more people knew, the more I realized someone cared, then I knew I was a step closer to having to accept the fate that the only way for things to get better was to move on. I couldn't protect Marco any longer. "I know. Just... not know, please. When I feel the time is right. We can all go to the station together." I turned to the rest of the group, offering a small smile. Drake and Zac smiled back, giving a thumbs up in my direction. They had my back, and I had their support.

"Guys, I just want to say that I'm really sorry," I added, shuffling my feet. My drumsticks rattled in my combat boots, another reminder of Blake and another reminder of all the mistakes I had made. "For everything."

"We're sorry too. We were too quick to judge, and we should have listened to your side of the story first. You know we're there for you, Lacey." Drake grinned, ruffling my hair into an unruly mess. I ducked to avoid his hand but smiled all the same at the gesture. Zac nodded, pulling me into a quick hug. I patted him on the back, my smile widening.

The only person left was Gabriel.

"Gabriel?" I asked meekly, turning to his direction. He met my gaze impassively, and no emotion shown on his face. That is, until a small smile created a dimple in his left cheek, and though he shook his head, he gave me a thumbs up. And then I knew everything was going to be okay.

"But I do have one question," I started, frowning.

"Shoot." Drake grinned.

"What was this problem you were all babbling about?" Their expressions turned sheepish, and Drake drew in a slight intake of breath.

"Well, Gabriel-" Xander rubbed his head.

"He kind of-" Zac tried to say.

"Gabe's got-" Drake interjected.

Gabriel stood, swatting Drake in the head before turning to me. With a sullen expression, he opened his mouth to speak. Yet, when he spoke I heard nothing. The word came out raspy and unintelligible; I couldn't hear his voice as it was just barely above a whisper.

"What?" I asked.

"Laryngitis." Zac finished, grimacing. I widened my eyes, finally understanding the situation clearly.

"But... the competition." I frowned.

"Exactly." Drake nodded, plopping back onto the couch. "We're pretty much screwed if we can't perform tomorrow night. So, we're thinking that if worse comes to worse, we have to forfeit."

"No!" I cried out, waving my hands in front of his face. "After everything, you're just going to quit?"

"There's nothing else we can do," Zac sighed sullenly, grabbing his glass and taking a sip of his lemonade, "Out of the three of us, we can't sing. There's no way we can perform."

"Wait," I stopped him, grabbing his glass and setting it back on the table. "Zac, this is the finale."

"Right?"

"This is the round where there are absolutely no rules, right?"

"...Right?"

"I have an idea," I bit my lip, taking a step forward and placing a hand on Gabriel's shoulder with a small smile. "But you'll have to trust me."

----

It was packed. And by packed, I meant packed.

The finals were a big deal; we currently were int he largest stadium Seattle had to offer, able to fit in a football crowd, and nearly all the seats were filled. And with all those people, the buzzing sound that the crowd was making was making the arena shake and vibrate. All of the noice made my head feel like it would burst, yet I didn't know if it was them or the excitement. The band and I were hidden behind the curtains in the wings, and on the opposite side of the stage were our opponents.

Surrounding the stage were multiple cameras, to give viewers at the home the different angles in which to view the final round. They still made me nervous, but at this point I was too strung up to worry about whether or not I would mess up or not.

This was my final chance to redeem myself, and I was going to take it.

The sound of feedback erupting silence the majority of the crowd, and Todd took this as his chance to enter the stage. A cameraman below held up his fingers, counting down to one, and soon we were on air.

"Hello, hello!" exclaimed Todd cheerfully, a wide beam on his face. A signel spotlight shone from above, showering him in light as the rest of the lights in the arena dimmed to a faded black. He let the crowd soak in the moment before letting out a sigh, "It's been a considerable amount of time - nearly five months in total, since we began our journey. And now we are at the closing point in our journey, folks. Can you believe it?" The crowd roared, the sound making the floor vibrate beneath me. "I can't either, trust me. Now, we are here in Seattle today, the hometown of our two finalists: Within These Cages and Chasing Avenues!"

There was more cheering, and I grinned slightly at the excitement leaking off the audience and into myself. Todd laughed, silencing them and continuing, "In this round anything goes; the winning band will walk away with a million dollars and the chance to record in London, England! The losers will get free t-shirts," The crowd laughed and Todd winked at the camera. "Let's welcome our three judges again, shall we?"

As Todd continued on his spheal, I turned away from the curtains to face my band, the grin never leaving my lips. Drake bounced on the balls of his feet, hyping himself up for the show. Zac stood beside the guitarist, tuning his bass to near perfection. Xander and Gabriel were going over the game plan - mostly Xander doing all the talking. Each dressed in the same attire: a casual white dress shirt, and black slacks. I was pampered and tortured, er stylized by Drake's mother, and cast into a little black dress that clung to my body too nicely. Still, at least she let me keep my combat boots.

"And now, our first contestants: Within These Cages!" Todd announced; the lights overhead flashed as he exited, turning hues of purple and gold as WTC entered the stage. They all grinned, waving to the crowd and soaking in the large amount of cheering. Going to their positions, Carter took her spot at the microphone, flipping her guitar to her back and greeting the crowd, "God, it's great to be home!" she yelled, making the crowd scream.

I glared and shook my head, turning away. I didn't want to pay any attention to her today. It wasn't worth it.

"Are you guys ready?" Drake yelled over the noise, though we all heard him perfectly. We gave our nods, though mine seemed hesitant. He noticed this, giving me a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Lacey, you'll do great. Alright," With a determined expression, Drake moved his hand out into the center of our huddle. "Chasing Avenues on three?" Drake grinned,and I was hit with a wave of deja vu. Back then, I would have been hesitant, reluctant even, but now I knew I wouldn't have it any other way.

"What are you waiting for, Lacey?" Xander teased, breaking me out of my reverie and jerking his chin towards the pile of extremities. I rolled my eyes and placed my hand on top of the hands.

"Chasing Avenues!" We all whisper-shouted, just as Within These Cages struck the last chord of their song.

"Thank you, thank you! You were fantastic, you guys." Todd congratulated Carter and her band, and they discussed a few more moments before they headed off stage once again. A bundle of butterflies erupted in my chest; if I wasn't nervous before, I was nervous as hell now.

"And now, our final contestant: Chasing Avenues!" Taking a deep breath, I reached into my combat boot and pulled out my drumsticks before turning to Gabriel, "Be careful with them. Please." He gave me a nod, before abruptly pulling me into a hug. Surprised, I didn't return it quickly but soon melted into it none the same.

Good luck, he mouthed with a small smile and I returned, feeling a lot more confident than before. He went first, striding across the stage, past the microphone, until he was settling himself into the seat behind the drum set. Murmurs immediately shot through the audience and I knew they were utterly confused. I closed my eyes and took deep breaths before following the rest of the band on stage.

And then, very slowly I made my way to the center of the stage, situated right behind the microphone.

The murmurs grew into a chaotic amount of sound as confused people argued and speculated about whatever the hell it was we were planning. It brought a small smirk to my lips.

"Well, it looks like Lacey Carson is back," said Todd, as he commented from the side of the stage. "And not only is she back, but she's taking the reigns on this final round: but then again, there are no rules. Let's see what Chasing Avenues has in store for us, folks."

The lights dimmed again, and I winced at the bright lights pointed on us. Shielding my eyes, I scanned the crowd for a certain someone, not wanting to start unless I did. As the crowd continued murmuring, I felt my heart drop when I couldn't stop him at first - but soon I strayed across a familiar mess of brown hair, and staggered back when I realized his green orbs were already locked on mine. Alongside Blake were the rest of Tilted Reality, a few rows behind the front row, watching with excited expressions. Except for Blake himself whose stoic gaze wouldn't leave mine.

I felt my heart climb into my throat and I knew it was now or never.

"This one's called My Heart," I said into the mike, a little shakily. Coughing, I added, "I hope you guys enjoy."

And with that, Gabriel tapped on his sticks and our band came to life. Xander and Drake's guitars created a harmonic melody, on different intervals creating an energetic opening riff. They bobbed their heads to the beat, slow and steady, like the beating of a heart. Zac kept up the timing, providing backbone for the two until the guitars faded out and signalled my entrance.

Closing my eyes, I sang, "I am finding out that maybe I was wrong," My voice dripped with emotions - all the emotions I've contained and the emotions I wanted to release. In my voice was desperation but also pleading as I sang to a particular person instead. "That I've fallen down and I can't do this alone. Stay with me, this is what I need, please?" My voice cracked on the the word please. Opening my eyes, I focused them on Blake. The rest of the band came in with a flurry of sound, and I sang more powerfully to heard over the intrumental. "Sing us a song and we'll sing it back to you. We could sing our own but what would it be without you?"

I pulled the microphone off its stand, walking to the edge of the stage and swaying to the time of the song, "I am nothing now and it's been so long since I've heard the sound, the sound of my only hope." I held out my hand, extending it towards the audience, extending it to Blake. "This time I will be listening." I promised. "Sing us a song and we'll sing it back to you. We could sing our own but what would it be without you?"

As the song quieted down even further, I closed my eyes once more, falling back and bobbing my head softly, "This heart, it beats, beats for only you. This heart, it beats, beats for only you. This heart, it beats, beats for only you," I opened them and held my head to the sky, tilting it back so that I saw the lights in the ceiling resembling the stars in the sky. "My heart is yours.

This heart, it beats, beats for only you. My heart is yours. This heart, it beats, beats for only you. My heart is yours," I sang, the lyrics becoming a chant as I kept my eyes on Blake, willing him to understand, pleading for him to forgive - wanting to tell him how I truly felt about him. "This heart, it beats, beats for only you. My heart, my heart is yours. My heart is yours, my heart is yours."

Tilting my head back towards the sky, I dropped to my new and belted out the last line of the song with raw emotion, everything swirling inside of my. The band played its final chord, the sounds reverberating into the arena. "My heart is..."

For a split second - I couldn't tell if it was my imagination or not - but the crowd was silent. And then all of a sudden, they exploded into noise. The cheers were almost deafening and I half-smiled, as my bandmates tackled me with hugs on either side. Xander and Drake were grinning like fools, waving to the audience members. Gabriel joined us in the back, holding up my drumsticks triumphantly into the air. I laughed a little maniacally, soaking the moment in. Sweat covered my brow, and the microphone was still in my hand.

"Chasing Avenues, everybody!" Todd yelled, joining us onstage. More cheers ensued, but I found myself look back at Blake. His gaze had never left me, yet now his eyes held emotion, but an emotion I couldn't pinpoint. When he noticed me looking back at him, he finally tore his gaze away. I saw him prepare to stand up, his hands pressing against the armchairs on either side of him. My eyes widened; and before I knew it, I was pushing past Chasing Avenues, past Todd, and into the open area of the stage. The mike flew to my lips and I shouted, "Stop!"

It wasn't just Blake who stopped in his stride, but the crowd grew silent, watching my every move. Back then, the old Lacey Carson would have shrunk back, would have hid from the world and all the horrors that came with it. But that Lacey was gone. Now, I'm just me.

There was no turning back now.

"Stop, please." I pleaded, my voice hoarse. "I want to say I'm sorry. To my band," I gestured to Chasing Avenues who were gawking beside me in confusion. This wasn't part of the plan, but I couldn't stop. "I'm sorry to Carter, for whatever I did wrong. I'm sorry," In the wings, I saw her widen her eyes, and for once I noticed the usual glint of hate had disappeared, replaced by guilt. "And most of all, I'm sorry to Blake. Yes, you all heard me right. Blake Mercer. I'm talking to you." The crowd grew unbearably silent, and Blake kept his eyes on me, his expression never changing. "This has just been a... a journey, to be honest. It was like a rollercoaster, with its ups and its downs. But I just wanted you all to know, that I am not who I was when I first started out this competition. I've changed, and I'm certain it's for the better." I paused. "You know I had a motto growing up when I was little: it will all be worth it in the end. And I just want to say that this was all worth it," I smiled at Blake. "You were worth it."

The crowd let out a series of 'awws' making me blush and scowl. It didn't even occur to me that I had just publicly announced my wrongdoings and feelings for Blake on live national television. Yet, when the thought finally did occur, I widened my eyes and dropped the microphone, instantly scampering back into the depths of the band huddle. Todd gave me a smile and patted me on the shoulder before turning to the crowd.

"Alright, folks. Let's bring back Within These Cages onto the stage." Carter and her band made their way onto the stage, filing in beside Chasing Avenues. Carter looked a little panicked, and she quickly hid behind her bandmates so that she was beside me.

"Lacey," she whispered. I glanced at her, stifling a sigh.

"What?"

"Did you really mean that?"

"My apology? Of course."

"But even after everything I've done to you." Carter blinked, her face falling. She was confused, her fiery hair falling into her face. She brushed it behind her ear, shaking her head at me. "Why?"

"Carter, I'll be honest. At first, I deserved the treatment. You were hurt, and I understand that now. And you've been treating me really shitty, but I think I finally understand why. You cared for me, even through all those years when I was a selfish bitch. You just didn't want to see me destroy myself, and I get that now. Though you did it in the shittiest ways possible, you were just trying to teach me a lesson. I think it's time we forget about this stupid war between us and just started over, okay?"

"Lacey..." she murmured.

"I think that maybe we have a shot st being real friend after this damn contest is over."

Carter smiled, a light blush on her cheeks. "I think I'd like that."

"And may the best band win." I smirked.

"You're on," she laughed, a little tinkle of relief.

"Carter?"

"Yeah?"

"That thing that I've been hiding from you all those years..."

"Mmhmm."

"It was my step-father."

"What about him?"

"He was why I was the way I was before. I've been abused since I was fourteen. I just had all these walls, you know? and when you tried to tear them down I was so afraid that one day you would and-"

"Holy shit."

"Yeah, I know it's a lot to take in and bows not really the time to-"

"No, Lacey, you don't understand, I-"

"And now," Todd interrupted whatever Carter was going to say, as he was handed a pristine white envelope with the final winner. He held it up so that the audience and cameras could see before ripping a tear in it and pulling out a card. He paused for dramatic effect and grinned.

My heart leapt to my throat and the butterflies had returned, making me grab Xander's hand for support. He squeezed it back gently, offering a reassuring smile.

"And the winner of Infinite Records' Battle of the Bands is... Chasing Aven-"

Before he could finish saying our band's name, a tech worker darted across the stage, an urgent look in his eyes. He whispered something furiously in Todd's ear, and the latter looked dismayed, upset even.

"Ah, it seems we have some complications," Todd swallowed and turned to my band, a solemn look in his eyes. "I'm sorry, but Chasing Avenues has been eliminated from the competition. Because they are unable to receive the grand prize, our winners are Within These Cages."

What?

"What?" I gasped out, eyes wide.

The crowd burst into cheers for WTC and everyone in Carter's band looked ecstatic. Except for Carter.

"Lacey, I'm so sorry. I'm so, so, sorry- I didn't know about your dad. I didn't think he would-" she exclaimed, but Todd had dragged her away to claim their winnings at the front of the stage.

We were ushered off the stage and I to the wings, thought I went along with it as if I were in a daze. We were eliminated? Why? Why?

The rest of my band seemed to be in similar states; unable to say anything, we just stared at each other in shock, unable to process what had happened. As soon as we were in the safety of the curtains, I saw him. and my blood ran cold.

I stopped dead in my tracks, making Drake collide into me.

"Lacey-"

"Are you Miss Lacey Carson?" a voice asked me to my right, tearing my attention away from Marco, who had a smug smirk on his face.

"I - yeah?" I stammered, turning to see who had spoken to me. I was met with a rather round man, with a scruffy moustache. He was dressed in a police uniform, the blue poignant against the dark backdrop of the curtain. My eyes widened even further.

"I'm afraid we'll have to take you downtown. You're under arrest for fraud. You have the right to remain silent." the officer replied crudely, slapping handcuffs onto my wrists. I tried to pull free but the officer held me close, pulling me along.

"Xander!" I cried out, glancing behind me to see my band looking even more lost. Their expressions shifted quickly to anger, as they caught up to us and demanded answers.

"Lacey here, committed fraud by entering this contest. She signed the papers under the name of someone not her legal guardian and went through the competition under a fake identity. We have evidence from her father-"

"Step-father," I corrected bitterly, biting hard on my lips.

"-and therefore she cannot recieve the prize or win this competition."

Marco sauntered over, smelling like old fish and a bottle of vodka. He wrapped an arm around my shoukder and I winced, visibly shaking when I realized he was right beside me.

Carter.

Carter was the only one who overhead me and Mike. She must have told Marco.

"I have one more trick up my sleeve."

I wasn't even mad anymore; I was dejected. Did I really think everything was going to be fine? Was I so naive that I hoped for a happy ending and actually thought I was going to get one? What was wrong with me?

"Stop!" Xander yelled, pointing angrily to Marco. "If anyone should be arrested, it's this fucktard right here!"

"Oh, shut your hole, kid." Marco slurred, and Xander bared his teeth. It all happened so fast; Xander had balled his hands into a fist and then all of sudden, he was swinging his fist into Marco's nose. I heard the crunch of bone, and blood poured from his nose.

"Back-up needed," The officer said into his walkie-talkie, and soon I saw reinforcements slapping a pair of cuffs onto Xander's wrists too.

"Xander-" I muttered weakly.

"Officer, this is one huge mistake; you have to listen-" Zac tried to explain but the officer merely cut him off, dragging me outside.

"I'm sorry kid, but there's nothing you can do unless you provide an explanation and bail out your friend here." He opened the door and ducked my head underneath, pushing me into the car. I obeyed reluctantly, still in a state of shock to great for me to argue.

"Lacey, we'll meet you at the station, okay? We'll get you out of this!" Drake promised, just as the door slammed shut in my face.

The door opposite me opened and Xander was pushed in. He fell against my leg, grunting as the door slammed shut. With one look at me, he watched as I slowly began to break.

"Thanks for punching my step-father," I laughed bitterly. And then I lay my head on his shoulder and wept.

----
 
The holding cell was unsurprisingly uncomfortable.

I sat on the metal seat in the back corner, my face in my hands as I mulled everything over. Everything was wrong; it wasn't me that was supposed to be in jail, it should be the other way around. It should have been Marco.

Just earlier, Carter had come running in apologizing profusely and saying things about how she was going to take everything back. It was a kind gesture but it was too late. The guys in Chasing Avenues had been hanging around, though I didn't know what they were up to at all.

My life was a mess.

I was in jail while my abusive step-father ran free, Chasing Avenues lost the competition because of me, and Blake still hated me. If that wasn't a mess, what counted as one.

There was a creak and I glanced up, seeing the officer from before holding up a set of metallic keys. He nodded at me before waddling over and unlocking the door to my cell.

"What's going on?" I asked in surprise, rising swiftly and crossing through the door once it was opened.

"Someone bailed you out," he smiled, tipping his hat in my direction. "And your friends told us everything we needed to know."

I blinked as he turned to leave, but when I attempted to follow, he stopped me. "Someone wants to come and meet you," he explained. "So wait in here for a few minutes."

And then I was alone again.

A million questions were swarming in my mind. Who bailed me out? Why? Did the guys tell the police about Marco? About me?

There was a knock on the door.

When I glanced up, I saw a familiar figure leaning against the doorframe with his knuckle rapped against the wall, a small half-smile on his lips. His brown hair was unkempt and swept to the side from the wind, and his green eyes held a depth I didn't understand.

"Hey," he greeted.

"Hi," I replied just as robotically. When he said nothing, I asked, "Was it you? You were the one who bailed me out?"

"It was a good thing Tom didn't run off with the money in our accounts, otherwise I would have never been able to do this." Blake cracked a small smirk.

"Thanks, I guess." I murmured awkwardly.

He blew out a sigh and ran a hand through his hair, "Listen, Lacey, things have been pretty shitty-"

"Understatement of the century."

"Yeah. And I... Xander told me to tell you not to kill him."

That could only mean one thing. "He told you, didn't he? About Marco?" Blake nodded in reply, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I could understand why you wanted to hide it," he said seriously. "It was like how I felt with Tom."

I nodded, "So you can also understand why I made the deal with Mike in the first place?"

"I can. I just want to know," Blake said, switching his gaze to the wall. "Was any of it real? About us?"

I took a brave step forward and placed a hand on his cheek. "I knew it was going to be real as soon as I first saw you perform at the park."

He held my hand in his, pressed against him cheek. "You said that you wanted out with the deal, but you still wanted to help."

"I did it for you and for Tilted. If I couldn't get my freedom, you guys should."

"But you still got the ticket anyway."

I smirked halfheartedly, "I ripped it up."

"The guys in your band and I, we talked to the cops. I know that it was wrong to do it without you, but we told them about Marco and what he was doing to you. He's safely behind bars now, waiting for a trial. But I don't he's going to get off with a warning."

"It was time anyway," I murmured, but a part of me felt a little upset but it was quickly drowned out by the inexplicable happiness I felt.

I was free.

I was finally free.

He was silent for a moment before he pulled my hand away from his cheek and drew me closer to him. "You know, I'm sorry too."

"You have nothing to be sorry about."

"Yeah, I do. I was a dick. I didn't listen to you and I should have. It was just hard to have the girl you love tell you she was just using you all along."

"Girl you love?" I questioned, standing on my toes. He blushed a crimson red, smiling.

"I love you, Sturm." he breathed.

"I love you too, Harnage," I grinned back and then I was kissing him, our two bodies molding into one as he wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me flush against his body. I tilted my beck, deepening the kiss as I let out a little moan. He smirked against my cheek, sliding his mouth down to my neck and leaving a trail of kisses down to my collarbone.

I found my hands making their way from around his neck to his hair, messying it up more and getting caught in the tangles I had created. His lips found mine again - warm and sweet, and just Blake. He groaned as I bit him softly on the lower lip, and he slanted his lips against mine.

It was bliss. And I knew that I loved Blake. I really did.

A cough in the doorway made us spring apart instantly, and I quickly coughed, my hair making a curtain between us. both of our faces were a bright red, looking embarrassed. But when I glanced at Blake out of the corner of my eye, he gave me his signature crooked grin.

"Am I interrupting something?" asked Xander, who raised an eyebrow in our direction. For once, he didn't look at Blake with an expression of jealousy or contempt. Instead, he looked kind of proud of us.

"No, not at all." I coughed.

"Good because we need to talk to you, Lacey. Someone's here to talk to the band."

I glanced at Blake and he nodded, gesturing for me to go.

"Meet me at the Bench after?" I asked, intertwining my hands with his.

Blake grinned and replied back in a tone filled with so much emotion it made my heart stutter, "Always."

And with that I followed Xander out of the room.

In the hallways, I spotted Zac, Drake, and Gabriel huddled together by a man who looked vaguely familiar.

"Lacey!" Drake yelled as soon as he saw me, tackling me with a hug. I grinned and bugged him back, before hugging Zac and Gabriel next.

Turning to the man, I realized quickly who he was and I blinked: the CEO of Infinite Records. He nodded to me and smiled politely, "Fancy meeting you again, eh?"

I laughed, "Right."

"What was it you wanted to talk to us abkut, sir?"

"Something important," the man replied, grinning. He clasped his hands together and spoke confidently, "You all know that you were the original winners of the contest, yes?"We all nodded. "After much contemplation, the board has decided that you still are the true champions, and we would like to reward you with a trip to England to record your debut album signed under Infinite Records."

"Are you serious?" Gabriel croaked out hoarsely.

"A hundred percent." He reached into his pockets and took out four identical tickets, fanning then out so we could see. Zac looked like he was on the verge of fainting.

"Are you sure about this?" Drake asked skeptically, taking one of the tickets to examine.

"You all are an amazing group of talented kids with bright futures ahead of them. You deserved this, and you've defo iteky proven yourselves. Congratulations, Chasing Avenues." The CEO beamed.

I took the ticket and held it in my hands, unable to believe that it was true. It took a long time, and the journey was long and unpredictable. But as a little kid, I always had a motto growing up.

It will all be worth it in the end.

And all the memories and the friends and the people I've met...

Well, they really were worth it.

--

I'm literally on the verge of tears. the epilogue will be posted tomorrow. excuse me while I cry myself to sleep.

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-Isabelle