Through the Lens

Two weeks later, it was finally the last show of the tour. We were in Valencia, Spain. We were all settled in the venue before show time. Mike was drunk, Vic was drunk, Tony was drunk... hell, everyone was drunk. Even I was slightly tipsy. It was the last show. Go big or go home right?

We all hung out in one of the rooms backstage. Mike sat across from Jaime and Vic trying to explain something about Harry Potter, since he was probably the biggest Harry Potter geek I knew other than myself.

Tony poured two shots of Fireball (cinnamon whiskey) for us at the table covered with various alcoholic drinks. He picked up both shots and handed one to me. He smiled. "Last show... and there's no one I'd rather be here with than you." Gosh, he was so mushy and cheesy sometimes.

I smiled back and nodded. "Same to you, Tone."

He clinked our glasses together a bit and we took the shots at the same time. I felt the warmth go down my throat and into my stomach.

Suddenly Tony's lips were on mine, kissing me hungrily. I felt his free hand reach for my waist and hold me closer to him. I blindly put down my shot glass onto the table next to us as the kiss deepened, my arms wrapping around his neck. Fuck, he was so perfect.

His lips pulled away from mine a bit. "I should have kissed you like that the first night at the hotel in San Diego..." he mumbled softly into my ear.

"Ahem..." we heard from behind us.

We both turned at the same time to see Jaime standing there with his arms crossed and a raised eyebrow. I soon noticed everyone else in the room had their eyes focused on us. Oh man, this was a little embarrassing.

Tony simply just raised his hand and gave them all the finger. "Fuck off, guys."

A few minutes later it was showtime. The guys took their spots on the sides of the stage and I went down to the spot between the audience and stage once again.

The audience cheered as the curtain rose up for the last time. This was the last show in the tour. We had been in Europe for 4 weeks and I visited places I never thought I would before. I met people I never thought I'd meet and even fell in love with someone I'd never thought would fall for me. Even though I was tired and wanted to go home, I would miss this. I'd miss all of it.

After a few songs Vic stood at the front of the stage with the mic in his hand hanging at his side. The crowd was cheering wildly. Vic stood there and shook his head for a moment before bringing the mic up to his lips. "I'm not even doing anything." he laughed.

The crowd cheered even more. He really didn't have to do anything to get the crowd riled up.
"Okay, okay, lets take it down for just a second. This song is special for a few of you, and it's very special for someone in particular. It's an oldie but a goodie, 'Yeah Boy and Doll Face'." Vic said as he put the mic back on the stand and picked up an acoustic guitar next to him.

It was for me. The song was for me because of Razell. I looked to see Tony give me one of his adorable smiles as Vic began to sing and play the song. I couldn't help but to smile back. This song brought back so many memories, good and bad, but all of them reminded me of Razell. The times we would sneak out of our houses late at night to hang out, take long drives down the freeway to who knows where and getting lost in the mountains.

There was one memory in particular that stuck in my mind...

--FLASHBACK--

"Razell, where are we going?" I asked as I moved my head slightly to look out of the car window. It was starting to get dark out and we were on the freeway going down the coast. We had been in the car for about an hour after he showed up outside of my bedroom window and told me to come with him for a drive. It wasn't odd at all for him to show up randomly at my house for late night hang outs. At the time I was 19 and he was 20. We both still lived in Los Angeles at the time down the street from one another.

I noticed he still hadn't answered my question as he sat there silent and focused on the road.
"Raz!" I snapped at him.

I looked to see him smile. "I can't tell you. Also, you're probably going to miss school tomorrow." he said.

I rolled my eyes. "I figured as much, but why can't you tell me?"

"It's a surprise."

I hated surprises. He knew that.

I sat in the passenger seat with my arms crossed, pouting a bit as we sat there for another hour. I noticed we were now in San Diego as we got off an exit from the freeway. Why were we in San Diego? We were far from home and it confused me until we went down a few streets towards what looked like a theater with a line forming out front. Band names all over the sign in the front on the white lit up board with bold black letters.

Pierce the Veil - April 15

I looked at him and my jaw almost dropped. "You kidnapped me to see a PTV concert?"

Razell smirked and pulled the car into a parking space inside a lot on the side on the venue. "Yup. Aren't you glad I did?"

Before he could even set the car in park, I wrapped my arms around him tightly as I kissed his cheek over and over again, squealing like a little girl. "Oh, Raz! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

He laughed and hugged me back tightly. "Anything for my best friend. Now come on, let's get in line."

We got out of his car and into line and he handed me the ticket he had for me. I was beyond excited. As we got into the venue, we went right to the front by the stage to get a good spot. There was already a crowd we had to push through to get there.

A few minutes later, the lights went down and it was time for the show to start. The crowd cheered around us and Razell and I were among those cheering as well.

It was a night I'd never forget with my best friend.

--END FLASHBACK--

I found myself cheering with the crowd as I lost myself in the music. The memories I had made me sad but I knew that Razell wouldn't want me to be sad. I was living the dream. He'd want me to be happy and singing along with the song like we used to together. He would have been so happy for me with what I was doing. I was doing what I loved, taking pictures and being around music all the time. He would have been happy for me and Tony. Oh man, I wish he had met Tony. More importantly I wish that Tony could have met Razell and known what an amazing person he was. I wish they all could have met him...

My eyes met with Vic's as I saw him smile and wink at me. He knew I would be singing along with the song that meant so much to me. All I could do was wink back with a huge smile across my lips as well.

The song ended and I didn't know whether to cry or to smile, or both. I was filled with all different emotions. I felt a tear fall down my cheek as I just stared into blank space for a moment. I reached my right hand to wipe the tear from my face but then I felt a warm hand hold mine. I focused back to reality from the slight bit of shock... but no one was there holding my hand.

Was that my imagination?

No, he was still there with me, just like he told me he always would be.

Razell?

Notes

Hope you enjoyed! <3