A Friday Night Like This

I listened to the new Sleeping With Sirens with interest. They had rewired a couple of songs and redone some of the demos. These Things I've Done - one of the songs I recorded - had been redone and Austin Carlile had been scripted in. He was currently onstage now, screaming his heart out while Kyle Even did the clean vocals. Kyle was the new lead. His old band, Breathe Carolina, had been torn apart after the passing of David. It had happened a few days after my leaving the band and Kyle, grieving and in need of a new job, had quickly filled my place. He was welcomed with open arms.

'I've been thinking now for a while. With you, I've got exactly what I need. When I see you stop and turnin' around. And now you've got me shaking in my teeth.' Kyle sang, while Gabe bashed on his beloved drum kit. The crowd screamed as Austin leaped into their midst. He was quickly thrown back onstage by the security guards, and he stuck his tongue out at them.

'Isn't a guy allowed to do a little crowd surfing?' He asked as the song ended. The security guard in question just crossed his arms and glared at the six foot something man. Most people laughed. The ones that didn't were near the guard. They all shuffled away from him a little bit. He was very intimidating, even at a standstill. He then started laughing along with Austin, and the atmosphere became more relaxed.

Kyle stepped up to the microphone and showed Austin out.

'Now, guys, we have an even more special visitor here.' I looked around for another singer.

'He used to lead this band before I filled his place,' My jaw dropped. No way. A few of the older kids in the crowd cheered. The rest looked at each other, puzzled. I rolled my eyes. Seriously? I had recorded the vocals for three out of the five albums that had been released.

'May I present Kellin...' He paused and looked at me, unsure of my last name. "Quinn" I mouthed and he very ungracefully covered his stutter.

'Quit?' His eyebrows jumped together. 'No! Quinn! Kellin Quinn!' He finally pieced together the fairly easy puzzle and I was shoved onstage by Austin, a mic placed in my hands.

'You're singing "A Trophy Father's Trophy Son".' Kyle said, taking the mic away from his mouth.

'What? No. I haven't sung in years.' I said back, mimicing his move with the mic. Kyle raised an eyebrow.

'Yeah right. You've still got it.'

'Hey guys,' I addressed the crowd. 'How many of you know who I am?' About a third of the crowd yelled back.

'How many have seen me before in concert?' Even less yelled at me. 'Well, I hope I don't disappoint you guys...' I gave a half-hearted laugh and looked at Kyle. Kyle gave me a reassuring smile and gestured for me to signal the band. I returned with a shaky smile. Gabe, Jesse, Justin and Jack started playing.

'Uhh...' I faltered the starting line and they replayed the intro. They were always in sync, in line with each others thoughts. It was amazing to be a part of it.

'Father, father tell me where have you been?' A few whistles came from the crowd and some girls had started shouting my name.

'Its been hell not having you here,

I've been missing you so bad.

And you don't seem to care.' Most people knew the song, and for that I was grateful. I was standing tensed onstage, and if people didn't know what I was singing, it would be that much more awkward. I held out the mic, saying

'Your turn.'

'When I go to sleep at night, you're not there!' The gathering sang, not skipping a beat. I brought the mic back to my face.

'When go to sleep at night, do you care?

Do you even miss us?

Your bottle's your mistress

I need to know, I need to know!' I started smiling, catching onto the crowd's enthusiastic approach to me being on stage.

'Why are you walking away?

Was it something I did?

Did I make a mistake cause

I'm trying to deal with the pain

I don't understand this, is this how it is?

I will try to understand.

Father, father, tell me where are you now?

Its been hell not having you

Last thing I heard, you were fed up, you're skipping town

With no note telling where

When I go to sleep at night, you're not there

When I go to sleep at night, do you care?

I need to know, I need to know

Why are you walking away?

Was it something I did?

Did I make a mistake cause

I'm trying to deal with the pain

I don't understand this, is this how it is?

Why are you running away?

I don't understand this, is this how it is?

Why are you running away?

Tell me please, tell me please, I need to know

Is this what you call a family?

Is this what you call a family?

Is this what you call a family?

Is this what you call a family?

Spent seven years wishing that you'd drop the line

But I carry the thought along with you in my mind

But is this what you call a family?

Is this what you call a family?

Family!

Why are you walking away?

Was it something I did?

Did I make a mistake cause

I'm trying to deal with the pain

I don't understand this, is this how it is?

Why are you running away?

I don't understand this, is this how it is?

Why are you running away?

Tell me please, tell me please, I need to know

Is this what you call a family?

Is this what you call a family?

Is this what you call a family?

Is this what you call a family?'

I passed the mic back to Kyle, giving everyone a cheery wave. I was having so much fun! It had never occurred to me how much I had missed this. It was only now I felt the ache. I met up with Austin. He had been joined by his band mate, Alan. The short ginger was proudly bearing a gold band on his fourth finger.

'Alan!' I exclaimed, giving him a hug. He returned it.

'How have you been, Quinn?' He asked, crossing his arms.

'Ahh, not too bad. When was the wedding? And who is the lucky gal?' I asked, gesturing to his jewelry. He blushed, his hair blending into his neck.

'I thought you told him!' He whisper-yelled at Austin. Now I was confused.

'What are you two going on about?' I asked, my eyebrows furrowing. Austin grinned at me and turned Alan quickly, so that he was facing him.

'This,' Austin said simply, grabbing Alan and landing a kiss on his lips. I could see Alan smirk at me as he pulled away.

'What? Jealous of the Cashby?' He asked, looking at me. I realised my mouth had dropped open and was scraping along the ground and my eyes were round blue saucers. I vaguely remembered their relationship but thought that it was just put on and a product of two guys being lonely and craving some company.

'Anyway, Kells, do you feel like kissing Austin at all?' Alan asked, recrossing his arms.

'What?' I asked. 'He's your husband and you're asking me to kiss him?'

Alan shrugged. 'There's this new craze that's been going on for a while. You've been rediscovered on an old record when you sang with Austin so... Meet the new "shipping" craze: Auslin!' He made inverted commas. 'I don't really mind.'

'Okay...' I turned to Austin.

'Not here! Onstage. We're naming this "ship mix-up day". I think it's kind of cool. See who the kids think of us with...' Austin stopped and rethought his sentence. 'Actually... It's probably not that good...' I rolled my eyes and watched Sleeping With Sirens perform.

'Up next is... With Ears To See And Eyes To Hear!' Kyle yelled. 'Guest vocals on this one guys. It's Auslin! Or whatever you guys call Austin and Kellin...'

Austin dragged me onstage.

'This doesn't mean anything.' He murmured before crashing his lips to mine.

My eyes widened in shock. I let him control the kiss, and he pulled away a few seconds later. I glanced at Ashby. He was smiling. He gave me a thumbs up. I have him a thumbs up back and a shaky smile. He gestured for me to slap Austin's ass while I was singing and I nodded, turning back to Austin and Kyle. I saw a blur of black flying towards my face and I reached out instinctively to catch it. The microphone stopped centimeters away from my face. I started singing at the same time as Kyle, my voice raising above his and harmonizing perfectly. Austin screamed the appropriate parts and when he was leaning down, I pranced over and slapped him, just like Alan had gestured for me to do. He then slung me over his shoulder, and I hung there, useless. It was pretty high up. He swung me down when it was my turn to sing and we dashed offstage, giving each other a brief peck.

'Im so sorry!' I yelled at Alan as we reached him.

Alan laughed. 'I said it was fine. As long as you don't keep him.'

Austin looked shocked. 'Why would I cheat on you? You're my ginger princess. He's just a black haired shorty.' Alan and Austin kissed each other and a spark flew in my stomach. I longed to feel Austin's lips on mine once again. He was a good kisser. Wait, what am I thinking? Austin's my friend and he's married for God's sakes! Just like you're supposed to be. The band walked offstage.

'We're having a party later tonight. Want to join us?' Jack asked Alan and Austin as he ran a towel through his long hair.

'Sure thing! We haven't had a party in ages!' Alan said excitedly.

'Honey, we had one two nights ago. You were totally wasted.' Austin reminded the bouncing-off-the-walls ginger.

'So? That was ages ago!' He said. 'Where and when?'

'About eight, outside our bus.'

Notes

What is this madness!?! AUSLIN!?! No, Kellin, baby, you can't have him. He's Alan's man ;)

And where the fuck has Vic gone? Just wondering...