Hidden in Plain Sight

*Jaime's POV*

We were all back at Carly's favourite club 'Wolf' again. It was all of us. The band and their girlfriends. We haven't been here all together since Jess died. Carly hasn't performed here since then either. It's been 6 and a half months since she died. And yet, we still don't know what killed her. I think everyone has just given up.

But we're all back here again, drinks in hand and enjoying the vibe of the place. We were watching a young teenager performing at the moment. Her name is Kendall and she has written her own songs and they are nice. But I'm not gonna lie. I'm more excited for Carly. She's been practicing in her back room on her piano and occasionally she'll play the guitar out on her patio.

Kendall had finished and had exited the stage. Background music began to play and people began to move. It was confusing me. I thought Carly was meant to play next. Where is Carly? We all looked at each other confused so I told them i was going to speak with the manager. But really, I wasn't speaking to the manager about Carly, I was speaking to him about something else.

"Yes, just before the end of her last song, you can walk back stage and I'll be there so I can hide you from her. She won't see you. I'll send her down to your table and then boom! You're on stage being a hero!" Russell laughs at me.

Russell is a nice guy. He's letting me perform a song for Carly tonight. Although it is a risky move because I am in a band and I'm sure the internet will romanticise this but I don't care. This is for her and she has no clue. Nor does anyone else actually. It's all just a big surprise.

I sat back down and pretended that he had told me a few technical issues were holding them back. But nonetheless, the music died and the announcer came on. "Lady's and gentleman, we have had a fantastic night here tonight, now let's welcome back an old favourite of the Wolf club here. She's been playing here for years and has now returned after a short break. Please welcome Carly Fox!"

Everyone was screaming and cheering, and so were we. Instantly as the curtains we opening, piano began to play. Carly was soon revealed at the large grand piano on stage. She was playing a new song. One she wouldn't let me hear when she was practicing. Then she began to sing, and gosh how I have missed her beautiful voice.

'Job well done
Standing ovation
Yeah you got what you wanted
I guess you won
And I don't want to hear, they don't know you like I do
Even I could've told you
But now we're done

'Cause you play me like a symphony
Play me till your fingers bleed
I'm your greatest masterpiece
You ruin me
Later when the curtains drawn
And no one's there for you back home
Don't cry to me, you played me wrong
You ruin me'

Her voice was so beautiful to such a sad song. She played that piano like she hadn't played it in years. Mike tapped me on the shoulder, asking me if we were okay. I laughed a little because I think he got the hint that she was breaking up with me. But i shook my head and told him no, and that it was only a song she liked to play. Then I sat back, and let the thought sink slowly into my mind. She kept singing.

The song softly came to an end, and the crowd roared. I didn't really Carly was this famous here. It's either that or there are a lot of people drinking from suffering a break up. But the crowd cheered on. She stood up and took a bow beside the piano. She was acting as if she was a real performer but it was just all fun.

"Wow it's so good to be back here. I haven't played here in ages, but I'm back and I can still play a musical instrument!" The crowd laughed. "Anyways, this next song has quickly become an absolute favourite of mine, and i highly recommend listening to the original. This is Drown"

'What doesn't kill you makes you wish you were dead.
Got a hole in my soul, growing deeper and deeper.
And I can't take one more moment of this silence.
The loneliness is haunting me.
And the weight of the world's getting harder to hold up.

It comes in waves, I close my eyes.
Hold my breath and let it bury me.
I'm not okay, and it's not alright.
Won't you drag the lake and bring me home again?

Who will fix me now? Dive in when I'm down?
Save me from myself, don't let me drown.
Who will make me fight? Drag me out alive?
Save me from myself, don't let me drown'

Carly absolutely smashed that song. She played that piano so well, she might as well be playing a guitar on stage at a tour with the way she played and sang. She played that song with so much heart and soul, I got so lost in it. Then Russell slapped the back of my head, telling me I had to get my shit together. Carly is about to start her last song.

And so I snuck backstage, got my guitar fine tuned and Russell hid me in a room so Carly wouldn't see me when she walked past. I was silently rehearsing in the room and I heard Carly finish her last song. She said her goodbyes and the crowd went absolutely mad. Seconds later, I saw her walk past. She didn't see me.

Russell got me out of my room and shoved me behind the curtains and with little time to gather my thoughts and words, the announcer came on. "Ladies and gentleman, we have a very special guest here tonight, please welcome, Jaime Preciado".

Wait, I'm a bass player in a famous band. What the fuck am I afraid about? Nothing.

I walked up to the microphone, and instantly spotted my table, and Carly. They were all stunned. "I would like to dedicate this cover to someone very special to me. The beautiful Carly Fox" I pointed to her and the spotlight quickly found her. The crowd cheered.

'Oh no, this couldn't be more unexpected
And I can tell that I've been moving in so slow
Don't let it throw you off too far
Cause I'll be running right behind you

Could this be out of line? (Could this be out of line?)
To say you're the only one breaking me down like this
You're the only one I would take a shot on
Keep me hanging on so contagiously'

I played sung my favourite song for her, there on that one stage. The stage that felt like no other. This time was like no other. I wasn't playing with 3 other guys, on a massive stage to thousands of people. I wasn't jumping off amplifiers and I wasn't sweating terribly. Instead, I was just standing on a single stage, with my acoustic guitar, singing my heart out into the microphone. To them, I was playing to a bunch of people, but really, I was playing for one person. And one person only.

I opened my eyes as I sang my last note, and I caught sight of Carly straight away. Her hands were clamped shut to her mouth and I think she was crying. The sound of whistling and clapping filled the club. But the moment was between me and Carly. I started at her from the stage, blocking out the sight and sound of everyone else.

There she stood. Curly blonde hair with sea blue eyes and a smile as white as snow. Her ripped blue jeans and black and white baseball tee with black converse dressed her perfectly. I remember the first day I met her. She wore a batman tee and black jeans with red converse. She was on her wheelie chair and her smile was amazing.

She became the best person ever. The best person to work with and the best person to talk to. She is definitely my better half and i honestly don't know how I would be if it wasn't for her. Would I still be my happy self or still brought down by the death of Jess? I will never know. But I all I know is, she is so beautiful. She's the one that makes me happy and I just love her.

"Carly Louise Fox, I love you"

Notes

I've updated! Ahh!!!
how was your Christmas? Mine was great. :)