Susanna's POV

When ever I think of New York City the first thing that comes to my mind is Bailey Flannigan. She is the main character in my favorite series by the well known Christian author, Karen Kingsbury. It's actually part of what helped me go for my dreams. Just like Bailey. It also doesn't hurt that there's also an Anthem Lights connection to that story. The face character for Bailey (Kelsey Kingsbury) is married to Anthem Lights former member, Kyle Kupecky.

The thing that seperate these books from a lot of others, is that each of the four books in that series touched my life right when I needed them. They helped me keep my head above the water, and focus on God through some really hard times. It was such a God thing that God gave me the ability to read those books in His time, to work it out when I needed it the most.

I'm getting a lot of free time because Jamie and Kelsey are both talking to their families right now. I talked to mine earlier today. Also getting to chat with a few friends back home, Lynn, Willow, and Brianna. It was good to talk with them again, but I'll be seeing them again before to awfully long.

I'm taking advantage of the private time. I'm practicing on a little keyboard on the bus on the way to our next tour stop. I have my headphones on and I'm practicing a song I've been secretly been working on trying to learn. Eyes closed, and singing the words silently in my mind, I feel in an awesome place of worship. Usually the words of this song are sung about other people, but I'm singing them to God. Soon the words spill out of my mouth on accident.

You raise me up
So I can stand on mountains
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas
I am strong when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up to more than I can be

When I finish and look up, Jamie and Kelsey are looking at me their jaws dropped.

"I... I thought you guys were .... getting ready..and...talking and..." I pulled the headphones off and let them hang around my neck.

"That was good, Sus." Jamie said, coming up beside me. "We first heard your playing just the song."

"Then you started to sing. That was great. You have to do that on the tour. Tonight, even." Kelsey said a wide grin on her face. Little Romo seemed to be giving her approval, because she bounced over to me and started pawing at my leg.

Picking up the Yorkie puppy I looked at my two bus mates. "Guys don't team up on me. And three sets of puppy dog eyes, one being a real set. Is so not fair." I whined. A thought hit me. "Wait a second. You said you hear me playing. I had my headphones on. How'd you..?"

"The other end of the headphones wasn't plugged into the keyboard." Jamie said holding up the chord.

"I seriously don't think that I can do this." I beg with Kelsey and Jamie. "I mean. I'm no piano player."

Kelsey looks at me hard. "WE beg to differ." Jamie nods. Romo's eyes are latched on me too.

Jamie speaks up now, "Look tonight we are in New York City. It's a pretty musical place. Pun intended." She laughs. "Oh come on. That was funny!"

"Is that supposed to be helping me?" I look back and forth at them both.

~Later that day~

Up ahead, I saw the back of three very familiar looking people. They were already in the theatre we would be performing at in just a matter of hours. "Oh wow." I turned to Joey, my eyes wide. "I think that's..."

Before I could finish the dark haired guy turned and his smile spread across his face. Alan, Chad, and Caleb rushed forward and the four hugged. Caleb pulled back, "Kyle, we had no idea you were going to be here."

"We were stopping by to take in a show. So we all agreed to take in your concert tonight too." The brown haired girl beside Kyle smiled and said in her soft voice.

I heard a sound that sounded a lot like "eep" and then I realized it was me. I grabbed Joey's arm. "Joey. It's Kyle. And Kelsey. And Ty." I felt like I was grinning like a total goofball.

Joey shook his head. "Sus. I am hurt. So hurt. You fawn all over them and I'm just nothing." He turned his back to me and his shoulders shook.

"Joey.. I'm sorry..I." I stepped in front of him, and saw that he was pulling a trick on me, and he was having a good hard laugh about it. "You jerk." I swatted his arm, my turn to turn my back on him. Which he couldn't stand and started tickling my side.

Everyone was watching us and Kelsey was coming over. "Hi, I'm Kelsey. Kyle's wife. My mom is Karen Kingsbury."

"I know! You're my role model!" The words spilled from my mouth.

She gave me a genuine smile. "Thank you. That means a lot!"

Joey's POV

The show is already well under way. Chosen has already performed. Kelsey and Ty each did a song a piece, and one separately. Ty sang a song that he had written called, "Just Beyond The Clouds". And Kyle sang several of his songs, I think the one I liked the best, and Susanna said it was her favorite to was called, "Plans". Really great song. I think later on tonight we are going to have Kyle sing with us, be like the old times only better. Cause I'm here too!

Susanna seems bouncy excited tonight. I asked her what was up, but she just grinned nervously at me and said, "I'm doing something different tonight."

"Different as in bluegrass, different?" I ask, with a nervous laugh, remembering my slip of the tongue that night. My thoughts had just seemed to pour right out of my mouth.

"Nope, different as in you will have to wait and see, different." She laughs.

"Hey no fair, Sus. We are tour mates. And I thought we were friends." I fake cry, peaking at her from behind covered eyes. "Was that believable?"

"No. Not really. I know you too well. Besides you already fooled me earlier, and I don't want a repeat of that again." She smiles. "You're still not going to know until I take the stage."

"Alright." I nod and grab her hand, giving it a light squeeze. "I know it'll be amazing. Cause you are." I was surprised that I didn't feel the need to make excuses. This girl had a place in my heart.

As she took the stage to sing, she surprised all of us. Except for Kelsey Grimm and Jamie Grace. Who wore sneaky, very knowing grins. Susanna made her way to the piano on stage and sat down. With a happy smile, that I knew by the slight tremble in her voice that she was slightly nervous.

"This is my first time ever playing the piano in front of anyone. So I'm not all that great, the song is called "You Raise Me Up". I know it's usually sang to other people, but I sing it to God. Because He is the One that always lifts me up, and raises me to more than I can be."

She started singing soft and slowly and her voice grew louder and more powerful as the song continued. I stood there stunned at this beautiful woman that God had put in my life.

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Author's Note:

When I was presented with the idea of New York City, I was stumped for a few days about what to write. I mean that is a BIG city. I've tried to make each of the chapters and each experience in each city be you unique from all the rest. So I just thought. Okay... what comes to mind when I think of New York. A list of things came to mind, one being Christian author Karen Kingsbury's book series about the life of Bailey Flannigan.

These books have inspired me and have helped me in rough spots in life. So as I thought about that I wrote the first paragraph. Very rough and just sort of random. As I got ideas I would work them in however I felt lead. And then I had a MEGA brain storm. Why not bring in former member, Kyle Kupecky, his wife Kesley (Kingsbury) Kupecky, and her brother Ty.

I fell in love with the idea. And believe me if I could add multiple videos to a story I would do just that. But sadly I can only add one (which to be honest is probably for the best anyways). So I added the trailer for the first Bailey book, Leaving. It fits Susanna so well.

I'm now going to give you links to watch and listen to the songs that I picked for them to sing.

Ty - Just Beyond The Clouds
http://youtu.be/_frxU4_OLmg
http://youtu.be/NvFWM63_Lpo

Kelsey - (i couldn't find a song that she was singing that I wanted to use, but here is what she sounds like)
http://youtu.be/0z498JgTjIc
http://youtu.be/XegVenr9C2k

Kyle -  Plans
http://youtu.be/X7uSzgAU0KU

And totally unrelated to my story, but totally relate-able to the books series I mentioned. is this one....
http://youtu.be/xG9drzxlyHc