"Scottyyyyyyy!" I heard Mitch sing as he shook me awake. "We're gonna be late to the writing session!"

I sat up in bed, realizing what time it was. I swore loudly, tearing off the covers.

I jumped out of bed and got dressed hurriedly, not bothering to brush my teeth.

I grabbed a pack of Pop-Tarts and stuck it in my pocket.

"Why didn't you wake me up earlier, Mitch?" I asked.

Mitch rolled his eyes. "I did, but you refused to get out of bed you stubborn mule."

I shook my head, grabbing the car keys.

Mitch and I climbed into the car and drove as fast as we could to the studio.

We came running in, panting while taking our seats.

"I was about to call you two." Kirstie says.

"Sorry, Kirst." Mitch apologizes. "Someone didn't want to wake up this morning." He adds, shooting me a glare.

I raised my hands innocently.

"It's fine, Scott." Kevin reassures. "Now that you two are here, we can get to work."

~

We had written two songs and recorded one when it was lunchtime.

We went out for a quick lunch at Chipotle before getting right back to work.

We were discussing song ideas when Mitch piped up. "How about we do a ballad? We haven't done a ballad yet."

We all looked at each other, nodding.

"What were you thinking about the ballad being about, Mitchie?" I asked.

Mitch smiles a little. "I was thinking a lullaby type thing. Like the one who's singing promises that they'll stay there and sing their loved one to sleep."

I smiled.

"That sounds great!" Avi says. "Let's get started on it. Right now."

Mitch grins. "Let's just jump right into it!"

And so, we did.

We were spitting out lyrics, writing them down, erasing some, spitting out some more.

I was smiling the whole time. Mitch had come up with a wonderful idea, and it was becoming a gorgeous song.

Once we were done writing it, we went into arranging.

We decided that Mitch should sing the lead for this song.

The thing about Mitch is that he sings straight from his lungs, which gives his voice such clarity. His voice is like honey, and we thought that his voice would be perfect for a song like this.

We all sat and listened as Mitch sang his part.

The whole atmosphere was so calm and tranquil.

It was absolutely beautiful.

We were all in tears as we listened to the final product. Everyone was going to love it.

We wiped away the tears and kept working until we realized how late it was.

We went out for a late dinner because we were starving, and also to celebrate our progress on the original album.

Esther rose her glass. "To the beautiful voices of Pentatonix!"

We all clinked glasses, saying, "Cheers!"

We talked, drank, ate, and laughed until we had to leave since the restaurant was closing.

I pulled out my phone to check the time.

11:30
Thursday, June 4

"Put your hands in the air!"

My head snapped as I heard a voice bark that command.

There were three burly men standing there with guns in their hands.

My breath hitched, my blood running cold.

I obeyed, putting my hands in the air, my phone still in my right hand.

I looked around and saw everyone else shaking.

I swallowed and looked forward.

"Search 'em. Take anything valuable." The guy who I assumed was the leader ordered the other two.

They both nod.

One starts with Esther on the far right, the other starts with Avi on the far left.

They mainly took money, but I saw both guys stealing jewelry from Kirstie and Esther.

I looked over and saw one of the goons slipping Mitch's gold bracelet from his wrist.

"Cut the googoo eyes, kid." Barks the other goon as he walks up to me. "If you follow directions you'll both get outta here without a scratch."

I nodded.

I could feel Mitch watching my goon search me.

My goon digs into my back pockets, pinching my butt in the process.

I wince, inhaling sharply.

"Hey!" Mitch barks. He cries out when his goon traps him in a choke hold.

"Let him go!" The leader commands.

The goon obeys and releases Mitch.

Mitch shot him a glare before standing at attention again.

"Act out again and it'll be the last thing you ever do." The boss warns.

Mitch nods, his jaw clenching. I saw his fingers curl inward as he balls his hands into fists.

I continued to let my goon search me, hoping he wouldn't take anymore unwanted advances.

The goon slips my phone from my fingers and turns it on. He glances at Mitch when he sees the lock screen. (Scott's lock screen picture is in the media box! ^^)

"You two an item?" He asks, looking at me, bobbing his head in Mitch's direction.

"As a matter of fact," I replied coolly. "We are."

The goon nods. "Always wanted a smartphone..."

"With all this we can go buy one for all of us." The boss says. "Give him his phone back."

The goon nods and slides my phone into my back pocket, spanking me this time around.

I heard the sound of shoes sliding against pavement.

I saw Mitch turning to attack out of the corner of my eye.

I turned my head and saw Mitch's goon grab him by the shoulder, turning him and holding his gun to Mitch's stomach.

Time seemed to slow down as I called Mitch's name.

I watched as the goon pulled the trigger.

I watched as I saw the blood burst from Mitch's back as the bullet exited his body.

"Run for it!" The boss yells.

The gangsters fled into the trees, yelling and whooping.

Mitch stood there, swaying a bit before he dropped to his knees and fell forward.

"Mitch!" I cried, dashing to his side. I turned him over and pulled him onto my lap, cradling his head.

Avi, Kevin, and Kirstie kneeled in front of us.

"My friends and I were just robbed. O-one of them s-shot my friend. Get down here with an ambulance, please." I heard Esther sob into her phone.

I looked down at Mitch.

His brown eyes were wide and filled with fear. His breathing was labored and raspy.

"Shh," I soothed, stroking his cheek. "We're here, Mitchie. You're gonna be okay." I consoled him, though I did it more for me and the others.

A bit of the panic left his eyes as his eyelids began to droop. "'Sing Me to Sleep.'"

"Sing Me to Sleep."

That was the ballad we recorded just this morning.

I looked up at the others and they nodded, tears going down their cheeks.

I counted to three and we began to sing the song.

With stars in our eyes
Bathing in the moonlight
We slowly fall asleep

The sun and morning sky
Made the world bright
But now they're asleep

Kevin reaches out and sets a shaky hand over Mitch's wound.

Avi placed his hand above Kevin's, and Kirstie places hers over Avi's.

Mitch lifts his hand and places it on top.

Sing me to sleep
Guard me 'til the sunrise
Sing me to sleep
Be there when I open my eyes
Sing me to sleep
Sing a lullaby for me

The night doesn't seem so long
Not when I'm not awake to see it
It's not long for you either if you sing it away

Sing me to sleep
Guard me 'til the sunrise
Sing me to sleep
Be there when I open my eyes
Sing me to sleep
Sing a lullaby for me

Sing softly
So as not to wake those around us
But loud enough to lull me
To sleep

Sing me to sleep
Guard me 'til the sunrise
Sing me to sleep
Be there when I open my eyes
Sing me to sleep
Sing a lullaby for me

Sing a lullaby for me...

As we held out the last note, Mitch's eyes fluttered shut as he sighed.

The second we stopped singing, Mitch's hand slides off Kirstie's and hits the ground, still and lifeless.

Mitch's body went limp in my arms.

Kirstie bursts into hysterical sobs. Avi pulls her close, kissing the top of her head. He rocks slightly, soothing Kirstie.

Kevin lifts his hand and stares at Mitch's blood on his palm. He closes his hand and held his fist to his heart, closing his eyes.

Esther was sitting on the pavement, a blank look in her glossy eyes.

I stared at Mitch in disbelief.

Just this morning he was singing my name and coaxing me out of bed.

Now he's lying in my arms, dead.

I sniffled and reached to brush his fringe out of his eyes.

His skin was still warm.

I kept my hand on his cheek, and I could feel his skin cooling beneath my fingertips.

I let my hand slide down to his neck and I began to search desperately for a pulse, even though I knew I wouldn't find one.

I felt tears on my cheeks as I finally accepted reality.

My best friend, my boyfriend, is gone.

My best friends and I fulfilled his last request by lulling him into a sleep he'll never wake up from.

I held his body close to me as the sobs racked my body.

"Mitch," I whispered in his deaf ear. "Please... Come back to me. The fans need you. Avi needs you. Kirstie needs you. Kevin needs you. Esther needs you. I need you."

I waited for him to answer.

I let out a sob and continued. "There's a long list of things those guys stole from us last night. Don't let your life be on that list. Don't let them win, Mitch. Don't be gone. Please..."

I waited for him to say something, anything, but the only sound was the distant sirens of the ambulance that got here too late.