"Ooh! What about 'I came in like a wrecking ball.'"

"No... that's a Miley Cyrus song. Jeez, I thought you'd know this." I glared at my cousin.

"I'm sorry. But we've been staring at blank paper for an hour now, I can't come up with any new ide—wait! I just thought of something. It's kinda in a middle-aged man voice though. 'If it hadn't been for cotton-eyed Joe-'"

"No! What is wrong with you?" I groaned and threw my head in my hands.

"I really thought that one was original this time." He shook his head at me.

"Can't you write some new love songs or whatever? You've literally got a new boyfriend, do something around that." I glared at him.

"Or maybe, as the other half of this partnership, you can come up with some ideas instead of leaving it to me!"

"Okay, what if I come up with a beat?" I rolled my eyes. Sure, finding a new beat was as difficult or more than just trying to come up with lyrics, but he was still taking the easy way out.

"If you come up with the entire song's beat." I spaced out on my phone, watching all the TikToks centered around Dex and I. I've gotta admit, watching edits of myself is way too fun. I should definitely reuse some of my concert dances, they looked good for edits.

I also saw lots of people from my school posting videos about how excited they were for our concert in Eternalia that week. After hearing Wylie and Jensi complaining, I brought it up with Forkle so we decided to have a Europe tour over winter break. We were starting with Eternalia and nearby areas before break started, then would move on during the break. But in order for our set list to work, we needed to pump out some new songs fast.

"Okay, check this out." Dex hit the play button on his fancy computer, using one of those algorithms where you layer sounds and things and have them loop or something. That's why he works with tech and I don't.

I started bobbing my head to the beat, it was pretty good. Sounded like something people would break out dancing to in the middle of the street... until I realized what lyrics came to mind.

"Dex... Imma let you down easy here. That's the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse theme song." I winced at his completely calm expression. It didn't last.

"Gosh dang it!" He threw his computer across the room, slamming it into a wall.

...

Okay not actually. What he really did was much lamer. He took it and winded up to really chuck it, but then he just gently lowered it onto the sofa and patted it gently like it was a child. Then he flopped down next to it and buried his head in his hands.

"Why can't we come up with anything original?" I groaned.

"I dunno... ooh! I have an idea!" I quickly came to attention. I was willing to try anything at that point. "We take a breather, go outside, maybe hang out with our friends, and listen to a lot of Taylor Swift, because she's got all the genres." I wiped a tear from my eye.

"I've trained you so well. Thank gosh you're finally a Swiftie." He rolled his eyes at me but I didn't care. Looked like my Swiftie boot camp worked.

We climbed a tree and sat up there for another hour, both of us listening to Taylor Swift, the queen, the legend, hoping she could inspire us and guide us on our paths to being as great as her then becoming besties with her and meeting up at the Grammys and other award shows and sitting together. I don't know if anyone knows this, but I'm a bit of a fan.

After the hour was up, I called Stina, hoping she could distract me for a bit to get my lyrical juices flowing. And she did just that.

"Hey Sophie, what's up." She said with a very congested voice. And not the sick kind, no, it was the bawling-your-eyes-out kind.

"Hey. I'm just calling to check up on you, see how you're doing. And, well, it's December now. How's your dad?"

"Can you come over? Actually wait no, can we go somewhere?"

"Like my house?" I asked her. "My parents are working right now if you need privacy. I can make sure Dex and his family stay in their own house for once." I could hear a small chuckle.

"Yeah, that sounds great. Send me the address? I'll be there soon." She hung up and I quickly sent her my address, going back inside and quickly throwing junk in a bunch of different closests. The doorbell rang not long after I finished.

I was right, Stina had definitely been bawling her eyes out. Her blue (again?) eyes were rimmed with red and very puffy, and with the height difference, my line of sight was right up her nose. I wrapped her in a hug as soon as I could, thankful that she reciprocated and didn't push me away. It's so much easier when physical affection makes them feel better. Okay, that sounded a little heartless, but I promise that it's true, and I like to help people so I like it when it's easy.

"Here, come in." I shut the door behind her and led her to the living room. "Do you want something to drink, like hot chocolate?" She nodded her head, scrubbing at her eyes with the heels of her hands. I rushed to the kitchen and made the quickest Keurig Hot Chocolate the world has ever seen. I just poured myself a glass of water then carefully made my way back to her. Our couches were a medium gray with yellow and blue pillows, so I really hoped she wasn't the type to spill. She thanked me as I handed her the drink, carefully taking sips of it while it was still burning hot. My type of girl.

"He's still alive, made it to December." She let out a dark chuckle. "But he's doing really bad. And, I feel like a terrible daughter for saying this, but he's not going to get better and he's in a lot of pain. Wouldn't it be better to just let him move on? Pull the plug?" I gently rub the back of her hand.

"Have you tried bringing it up with your mom or the doctors?" Maybe if they let him go, it would help Stina to feel a sense of peace.

"My mom, she hated the guy while he was fine, but now she just can't let him go. I think she doesn't like the idea of being considered a widow most of all. She wouldn't even let the doctors think about it, but they agree with me on this. In the end, she's the one that decides."

"Maybe we could get some of the authority switched to you, or have the doctors override her and say it needs to be done."

"Yeah, maybe." I could tell this wasn't helping. She probably just wanted me to listen, not try to fix her problems. So that's what I'd do from then on.

"How are you feeling though?" I kept getting her to let more and more out and eventually she'd spilled all of her feelings to me. She was crying into my shoulder with her arms around me tight while I rubbed her back and just listened.

When she left, she was definitely feeling better. I had even gotten her to smile and laugh a few times. And I hated to admit it, but she gave me a song idea.

"Hello Eternalia! Techno and I are so happy to be here tonight! I cannot tell you enough how absolutely beautiful-"

"And quaint." Dex whispered with his mic turned off.

"-your kingdom is. I would just love to be able to come here again, hopefully for the next tour." That got a lot of cheers from the crowd, especially from where all of our friends were in the front row. Darn rich kids, always getting good seats.

We kicked off the concert with a mix of our old songs and songs from newer albums. I always loved to hear the crowd singing along at the tops of their voices. Even if the individual's singing didn't sound good, the mass blend of voices was so beautiful. Every few songs, I turned the mic to them during one of the choruses, just wanting to hear them, and feel good knowing that many people knew the words to the songs that I poured my heart and soul into.

Eventually, we were nearing the end. Dex already sang his brand new song, then we sang one together. So, it was time for mine.

"Okay, I want everyone to quiet down real quick. This song is another brand new one." I had to pause for all the cheers. "Sadly for all you Techno fans, this one's just me." Paused again for some cheers, not a whole lot though. Ouch. "This song means a lot to me. It's dedicated to a very good friend of mine, who probably knows who they are after this. But it's also dedicated to myself and losses I have gone through. And, of course, dedicated and in honor of all my beautiful fans who have lost someone of their own, or my fans who themselves have passed. I love every single one of you, and hope you love this song. Thank you."

I saw Dex at the piano and took up my spot at the microphone. I patted my leg and took a breath, his way of knowing when to start, since he had to hit the keys right after I started singing.

Early morning there's a message on my phone
It's my mother saying, "Darling, please come home"
I fear the worst, but how could you leave us all behind?
There's so much to say but there's so little timeSo how do I say goodbye
To someone who's been with me for my whole damn life?
You gave me my name and the color of your eyes
I see your face when I look at mine
So how do I, how do I, how do I say goodbye?When I couldn't, you always saw the best in me
Right or wrong, you were always on my side
But I'm scared of what life without you's like
And I saw the way she looked into your eyes
And I promise if you go, I will make sure she's alrightSo how do I say goodbye
To someone who's been with me for my whole damn life?
You gave me my name and the color of your eyes
I see your face when I look at mine
So how do I, how do I, how do I say goodbye?And there's no way you could ever let me down
Gonna steal some time and start again
You'll always be my closest friend
And someday we are gonna make it out
Just hold the light, just hold the lightSo how do I say goodbye
To someone who's been with me for my whole damn life?
You gave me my name and the color of your eyes
I see your face when I look at mine
So how do I, how do I, how do I say goodbye?
So how do I, how do I, how do I say goodbye?

There was total silence in the arena for a good few seconds after I finished. I was grateful, it gave me a moment to collect myself before having to address the applause. That sign had hit me harder than I thought it would, bringing back so many memories of my own parents and sister. I felt truly bad for Stina, knowing she'd now have to go through that.

Speaking of Stina, I searched the crowd for her. Just like the rest of my friends, she told me she was going and asked if I was going. One of the parts Dex and I liked about being singers, bashing ourselves. I had told her that I really hated Moonlark and couldn't stand her music. Stina bought it, but I think she liked me a little less after that.

I locked eyes with her, not that she knew with the mask covering my face, but she was staring straight at me with tears in her eyes. Maruca was holding her tight, Wylie next to them and talking to them.

Dex and I closed the show then walked backstage, preparing to throw off our suffocating masks and let our sweaty faces breathe fresh air.

"Ahh, Moonlark, Techno, we have some guests for you!" Mr. Forkle exclaimed, pulling us with him and farther back stage where a group of very familiar people were waiting.

"This is Prince Keefe Sencen, along with his friends. they have backstage passes to meet you." Dex and I didn't actually lock eyes and gulp really loud like in those cheesy movies, but we definitely did it mentally.

I scanned over the group, and it was everyone. Including my own friends, Stina, Maruca, Wylie, and Jensi. Noah wasn't there, which I found a little odd since everyone got along with him at Thanksgiving.

"Hi everyone!" I waved awkwardly, deciding to end the silence. "How'd you like the show?" I was never more thankful for the voice mods while we were talking, they would've seen right through us. I was also pleased about the black beanies we had covering our hair the entire time. Other than that, we had nothing covering our identities.

For our concert outfits, Dex had decided on gray sweatpants (said his fans really liked those) and a white long sleeved tee. Of course, having to match him in some way, I was also wearing a white long sleeved shirt, although it was a turtleneck, with one of the black tour shirts on over it, then straight legged jeans. Yes, I wear the tour shirts on tour, it's called a good promotion.

I was hoping and praying that the group wouldn't be able to recognize us since we were wearing normal clothes, and they didn't seem to. Linh waved back at me with lots of enthusiasm.

"Hi I'm Linh, I'm such a big fan!!!" I laughed, glad to know my friend liked my music that much.

"Nice to meet you. What about the rest of you, what're your names?" They all introduced themselves to us (reintroduced?) while I was trying to think of what to do.

"So..." Dex started. Thank you, finally he decided to join in. "We don't usually do backstage passes," he glared at Forkle, "so we don't really know how this works. Would you all maybe like to ask some questions, then we could give you some stuff?" I hated to admit it, but that was a pretty smart idea. I sent some of the backstage crew to grab some of the shirt designs so they could pick which ones they wanted, along with tour posters and sharpies.

"First of all," Marella said, "my aunt's name is Sandy Crane." My eyes widened and I almost peed my pants. "And I just wanted to say, thank you. She's so annoying."

"And why does she dress like a candy cane?" I laughed with her.

"Who knows, she's crazy." The others continued to talk to us and ask questions until Stina's came up.

"What inspired your new song, the one you just sang?" I smiled at her though she couldn't see it. Her eyebrow was slightly raised in a suspicious way. I had to play this off so she would know but the others wouldn't.

"A friend of mine, a while ago, lost their dad. And I was hanging out with them the other day, we were talking about it, and it inspired me to write that song. I figured a lot of my fans would appreciate it, given we don't have many sad songs about losing people." Someone else asked Dex something, so while they were focused on him, I wiggled my fingers at Stina. She smiled and nodded, understanding.

We got out of there a bit later, thank gosh, I couldn't handle the stress. Dex also seemed relieved, though he seemed more relieved to get the mask and hat off.

We went home, got showered, and went to bed, but I was scrolling on my phone through more amazing edits of myself, along with people's reactions to my new songs. It had gotten a lot of positive reactions, which I was thankful for. The only bad ones were trolls or just people saying they wished I had debuted it at their concerts.

While watching an incredible edit of myself to a mashup of my own songs, I got a text from Stina.

Stina: i swear you keep getting better and better

I smiled and quickly typed a reply.

Me: thanks ;)

I put my phone up and went to bed (well past midnight but who cares), only to wake up two hours later by my alarm telling me to get up for volleyball practice. It was seven in the morning. I cried.

My chapters keep getting so long. *wipes a tear from my eye* I feel so proud of myself. I hope you guys like this chapter, I know some of you were wanting some more moonlark and techno content so there you go! Hope you all enjoyed, I love you all so much!!!! 

Avery, out ->

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