Chad knows what I need so he lays it on thick. Gotta love GQ.
"Man, yeah that would be killer if you could help. We got a surprise." He whispers the last part close to Ral's ear and he immediately nods his head yes.
"Sweet dude, thanks man. See ya at the after party." Chad says and looks to me. "Let's go."
I lean down to Brights ear and kiss just below her earlobe. "Listen close here girl." And I was gone, out on stage and about to bring the truth to her face. I saw my sister and Cassa, Mike and Ron all huddle in close like I knew they would.
The lights came on and the crowd went crazy, I took my seat at the piano and waited for Chad to start em up. "So listen up guys, we love being home."
Crowd went crazy again and it was true, the best fans to play for were the hometown fans. We had so many passes we handed out knowing we weren't playing Seattle this tour due to the festival. All our boys from back in the day were back stage partying with our girls and it felt great.
"You know this has been a year for the books, those of you who are truly devoted know that just over a year ago one of my boys here, Beckett, lost someone."
I watch as the crowd lights the sky with lighters and cell phones, see my family to the right holding up theirs. Watch as Bright holds a lighter. There are signs in the audience that sayRIP Candey, we love you Noah, live on… they go for miles it seems and I am overwhelmed by the love.
"We almost lost him too, thank God for big favors." They cheer and the response is profound. "So we are gonna take it down a notch and play a little something Beckett wrote about letting go and moving on." Chad looks to me and then to Bright, but my eyes are on her.
"This one's for Bright, called Fallen."
We play the song, Chad singing because I can't. I see Bright take the words in and I see her wipe tears and smile at me. Raleigh, sobbing beside her, keeps hugging her and blows me a kiss and then I watch as Bright blows me a small kiss and I make a small move between keys to catch it.
The end of the song comes and Shame and Chad both stop playing, Chad taking a seat beside me at the piano as he sings, Cal's guitar riff fades out and it is just me and the keys while he sings.
I found it now….
I gotta let you go
I am fallen, oh baby I have fallen
I can't dance alone anymore,
Baby I have fallen,
I need to let go.
The lights go out, the crowd is insane and I feel Chad hug me. "Proud of you bro." He says and I watch Shame hop off the boosted stage he plays on and come in behind, Cal too. The lights kick back on and I stand from the piano as they chant my name, scream and yell then chant TAT and all I want is to see her face and if she understood.
She sees me and I watch as Carrie nods, then she makes her way to me on the stage, then runs until I take her and kiss her right there.
"Meet Bright everyone." Chad roars and he and my boys start clapping.
The whole place sounds like thunder the applause is so insane and we are on the big screen. She is in my arms, legs around me as we kiss and I admit, it's kinda cool being a girl like Chad.