-SIN'S POV-

"Alright everybody! We have three hours till opening time, so those who haven't had their lunch break yet now's your time! We need all hands on deck later, rest up! Thank you for all the hard work so far!" I yell, clapping my hands as for some reason I'm one of those people who feels as though it adds authority and power to my words.

"Your kind of sexy as a bossman." Lizzie whispers as she ticks off another thing from her clipboard.

I grin, "And you'd be kinda sexy if you did some bossing. Lazy ass."

"That's not nice!" She pouts, handing me a glass of water, "I was getting you this."

"Thank you. But we don't have time for water, Lizzie. We still have so much to do, and not enough time, god if only we had more time-"

"Calm down, babe, your getting way too stressed. It's going to be okay. We are going to ace this. We already have an amazing reputation, the best staff and we have the best partnership. Okay? You need to breathe, it's fine, everything is going to be fine." She runs her fingers along my arms, smiling flirtatiously at me.

I take a deep breath and nod. "Yeah. Yeah, your right. Okay. I'm going to go call the DJ. He isn't here yet, he should be setting up already."

Noticing her judgemental look, I rub her shoulders gently. "A problem I'm obviously not worried about."

"Good," she beams, "now you get to work, mister, seeing as you put all our staff on break."

Chuckling, I go back upstairs to call the DJ. We closed the main bar and restaurant area so staff could prepare for the opening of the Arena.

I have worked my ass off, putting everything towards this place. The Arena is the final straw; the final asset; the final display of how much I have overcome, how much effort Lizzie and I put in, how much time my staff have devoted to this place.

The Bigger Apple is the elite of any dining, any drinking and it will be of any clubbing place.

"Hello? Hello Michael, it's Sin Moon from The Bigger Apple calling. I'm just checking that your on your way? We are nearly ready here, just waiting for the stars of the show, you included."

For the opening night, we have some extraordinary performers alongside DJ M-MIKE, equally as extraordinarily expensive as our performers.

"Hey, Sin. Yeah bruv, I'm on my way, I've got some sick tunes lined up. Just checking that the Arena isn't as up the ass as your restaurant area? Amazing place, but my tunes aren't that classy." He responds and I laugh, shaking my head despite the fact he can't see me.

"No, mate, all the fancy shit is Lizzie's idea. It gives us a wider range of customers, so it's calm. I've gotta get sorted, but I'll see you soon, yeah? Bye mate."

Looking at the time, I begin to head back down to the Arena.

"Sin. Sin. Sin! This is important. The first performer, she- she can't make it. I don't know what's wrong, I just know she's sick, real sick. Like really sick. Like ill." Annabel states, biting her lip as she looks at me, apprehensive of my reaction.

This cannot be happening. All this hard work. The other performers have set time slots, they can't make their set longer or earlier- it wouldn't work.

Fuck.

"Okay, Annabel, breathe. I'll go upstairs and call some people, pull a few strings. Don't tell Lizzie, I am begging you. And make sure to have a break!" I respond as cheerfully as I can, before rushing back upstairs.

Performers? I don't know any performers.

I need to rack my brain. A dancer, a singer, even someone who just plays a guitar or piano. Someone who could come at short notice and be able to play a decent set.

As a person comes to mind, I press CALL on their contact desperately, praying they'll answer.

"Catalina??Thank god, I need a favour."

***
"You want me to perform? How many people are going to be there, Sin? I'm a writer, I can't bloody sing!" Lina exclaims, her hand on her hip as she pouts at me.

I shuffle between my feet. "Please, Catalina. You can sing, I remember singing with you-"

"We were drunk!"

"And yet we were still amazing. That says something. Fuck, please, Lina? For olds times sake? I've put my all into this place. I've worked so hard and it can't all come down because of a performer has the bloody flu. It'll give your songs good press. I'll give you few drinks. Higher pay. Anything to convince you, okay? I really need this from you. Your the only person I can think of. Please, Catalina, I am begging you to do this for me. Tonight has to work, it has to."

She sighs. "Beg a little more."

"What?"

"You heard me. Beg." She responds, her tone and her facial expression both displaying amusement.

Getting on my knees, I clasp my hands together and look up at her- feeling like a twat. "Please, Catalina, I am begging you. It will all turn to shit if you don't do this. Please, I am begging you, I need you, your amazing voice and guitar skills to save me. Please?"

"Quítate el culo, corazón, te ves como un idiota." She laughs, before pausing, "I'm in England, nevermind. Just get up."

"Did you just call me an idiot?"

"Do you want me to do this or not?" She retaliates, glaring at me.

I gulp. "Yes. Yes please, Cat."

"Lina. God, I can't believe I've been back like a week and I'm already doing you a favour."

"Neither can I. Spain made you soft."

"Or I could just walk out right now." She shrugs, standing up and flicking her hair as she walks to the door.

Leaping up, I grab her soft, delicate hands and spin her to face me. "Don't go. This is gonna be your breakthrough, baby. That's what they say isn't it? In those movies where it's like a shy singer and she starts singing on a pub stripping."

"Your talking about Coyote Ugly and I an not stripping for anyone." She laughs, rolling her eyes at me in a playful manner.

I smile, reminiscing, as I realise how natural it is to have her hand in mine.

Fuck no.

"Sin?"

Dropping her hand, I turn to the familiar, obviously jealous voice. "Lizzie, babe! Lina is going to be our first performer. How great is that?"

"Is she any good? We need a good performer-"

"I'm fucking amazing." Lina says proudly, eyeing Lizzie up and down, "Trust me. I need to prepare a set and sort out shit, but I'll be a good performing account."

Elizabeth decides its her turn to eye up Lina, looking her up and down distastefully. I can see the pure disgust on her fafe as she looks at Catalina's somewhat controversial outfit- at least in Lizzie's eyes.

Lina is dressed head to toe in her two iconic, favourite colours: red and black. Her short,curly red hair is tied into two adorable space buns, paired with 2 black hair clips. She has two black eyeliner wings alongside a dark red lip, all to match her outfit; a red bodysuit, black leather pants with black AF1's. Obviously, she's wearing her mother's necklace and smells of a sweet mix of dark cherry and vanilla.

On the other hand, Lizzie has changed into her own style outfit. We agreed her and I would wear what we like, alternative to bar clothes as it is such a special night. She bleached her hair extremely yellow yesterday, which is tied in a low ponytail. She's wearing a pink, turtleneck, long-sleeved jumper alongside white jeans and white converse. As always, she smells of the Bigger Apple- a familiar scent of beer and amazing fries.

"You go get yourself sorted then. Sin baby, can I talk to you?"

"Of course love. Bye Cat. Thanks again." I whisper, grinning, before walking off with Lizzie.

"I don't like her."

"She's doing us a favour, Liz."

"I know, but I don't like her. No, don't look at me like that, I don't like her," Lizzie sighs, before placing her head in her hands, "oh my god. I'm awful. I'm an awful person, right? She's helping us out. I'm sorry. It's just... Well, you know how I feel about you. And I respect you and I wait, but now she's back, even though it hasn't been long, I'm just worried. I don't have a chance when she's here, do I? Sorry. Need to focus on the Arena. We have things to do. People to see, speeches to prepare. La la la."

"Your jealous? Lizzie, who do I share a whole fucking empire with? You know I like you, I'm just not dragging you into my shit. I'm nearly there, babe, you know that, right?" I respond, hugging her closely.

She grins, kissing me gently. I return the kiss, but for some reason the only image in my head is a specific old-flame, one with wild curls soaked in the colour of  passion and anger.

"Ok. Um. I better go inform Annabel of the situation, she was stressing almost as much as me!"

"She's a darling, isn't she? She reminds me of when I was younger." Lizzie laughs, patting me on the back, "Shoo then."

When I find Annabel, she's with Taylor, doing last-minute preparations.

"Bet Lizzie is happy that Cat's here." Taylor snorts, gaining a death stare from me and an elbow in the stomach from Annabel.

Annabel smiles. "That's nice of her. And I think it's great. That your getting with Lizzie, Catalina is probably sleeping with people and your both aware of this and like after the past three years of no contact and hating each other, she has returned and you both maturely sorted it out. No feelings, no lust, just mature adults in separate lives with a history. I personally respect you both so much for this situation. I bet she's amazing."

"Yeah, Spanish people aren't just peng, they have some great voices too." Taylor adds, gaining another elbow from Annabel which convinces him to add, "don't worry, they don't compare to you babe."

"Oh, shut up Taylor. It's not going to happen, I mean it." Annabel giggles, her eyes telling my brother a different story.

Leaving them be, I make sure everything is organised. Lina has prepared an amazing set, the band is going to play for some of her songs too. All the other performers are set and ready. The DJ arrived. My staff are all fed and energised. The red carpet is laid out, the ribbon ready to cut. The banisters on the stairs are decorated with fairy lights. The Arena is decorated and ready.

Tonight, the opening of the Arena is going to make history. The Bigger Apple is a fucking awesome place and after tonight, it's a venue that has it all.

Lizzie and I go over the opening speech multiple times, before checking once more that everything is in place and heading upstairs.

"Hello everybody! We would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for coming here today." Lizzie begins, giving my hand a tight squeeze in front of the enormous, growing and excited crowd.

I continue, "As you all know, this is a place full of staff with amazing interpersonal skills. The two of us could never take the entirety of the credits for this place, as the support from the community and our wonderful staff is what enables The Bigger Apple to thrive."

"This place has ran through my family for generations. I am proud to say this is my right, but Sin should be even prouder to say this is something he deserves."

"I wasn't in a good place, as some of you may know but I don't want to talk about that. This place, you people, Lizzie, you all saved me and I want to thank every one of you. I hope with the Arena we can give it all back to you. We deserve some good nights! You deserve to get drunk and have the best dance/club scene ever!"

The crowd cheer and I beam, looking at Lizzie.

"Next week there will be another speech like this as we have a surprise for you all. See you then, now go have the time of your life!" Lizzie yells, before we cut the rope together.

****
"I'm scared." Lina whispers, her leg bouncing her guitar sporadically.

Rhiannon wraps her arm round her best friend. "No babe, stop. Your going to fucking ace this. Your amazing. You've always loved writing and singing and now is your chance to shine, darling. You've got this!"

"Yes girl, you've got this." Brandon cheers.

Lina looks up at me. "I'm sorry that I'm freaking out. I said I'd do this and here I am, almost crying like a baby. Oh my god, can you all get out? Please, leave."

Rhiannon and Brandon look confused despite being used to her mood swings. They nod and cough awkwardly before leaving the bipolar scene.

"Don't apologise to me, Lina," I sit beside her, giving her a light hug, "it's okay to be scared. Your performing in front of tons of people, all the eyes are on you-"

"Your helping me so much."

"Shit. Sorry. What I'm trying to say is everybody gets nervous. Everyone. It's natural, it's a natural feeling human feels. I know your not used to feelings, but.." I wink, before she cuts me off.

"Hilarious."

I smirk. "I try, I try. But don't feel bad or ashamed that your scared, okay? I'd be more worries if you weren't. But your going to be fucking amazing, Lina, I promise you that. In fact, I googled something to say, do you want to hear it?"

"Sure?" She says hesitantly, bouncing between feet.

"Buena suerte Catalina, la aplastarás!" I tell her good luck and she'll smash it in her most familiar language, hoping it'll make her feel more at ease.

Lina stands up, smiling at me slightly.

"Gracias. Your accent was a little off, but it was a good attempt. I appreciate it. When did you become so wise though? Is this going to hit me when I turn twenty two?"

"No, when your twenty two your meant to dress up like a hipster and make fun of your exes. Have fun, I have a whole lot of bad qualities."

"Love the Taylor Swift reference, kinda corny, but it works. Anyway, I have a performance to do sooo..."

"Oh shit. That reminds me, I have a performance to watch."

"Bye fucktart. Thanks for the weird pep talk."

"Fucktart?" I chuckle, heading to the exit.

She grins. "Bye bye."

"Auvoir!"

"That's french, idiot." She mutters as I leave backstage, practically running to the stage area to watch her.

"Our first performance.. Catalina Aldonondo!"

~~~~~

hi guys!

i am so sorry i am so late. this chapter isn't the best, its kind of a filler as although its not much it is important for the rest of the story.

i hope you enjoy having my babies back and i'll try to post more regularly!!

thank you so much for the support <3