Holding On To You

Another week later Matt sat on the couch, head tossed back against the headrest, the empty Jack Daniels bottle slipped from his hand and thunked to the floor.

“Dude he is passed the fuck out.”
Johnny laughed, earning a glare from Syn.

“Shits getting old…”
Matt had gotten drunk almost every night, which definitely is not normal for him. Matt was usually the caretaker of the group, not to mention he mumbled in his sleep a lot, it wasn’t rare for him to say Sadie’s name.
“That’s it, if he’s not going to do something about it, I am.”

Walking to the back of the bus he punched in a number and pressed the phone to his ear.

It rang a few times before a voice came on the line
“Hello?”

“Sadie?”

“Depends on who it is...”

“It’s Syn.”

*Click*
One not to be discouraged he called back

“Syn I’m not doing this with you!”

“”Will you just fucking listen?!”

“What?! What do you want?!”

“Look those pictures aren't what they see-”

“Oh yeah? They aren't what they seem? I've seen the pictures Syn! The whole country has seen them!”

“You're really living up to that Country Princess title right now, just shut the fuck up and listen!”

“....fine. I'm listening.”

Sadie had just finished a show and was freshly showered, sitting in bed nursing a bottle of wine.

“Yes you've seen the pictures, but have you seen the video?”

Her stomach sank
“Video?”

“Yes, of what really happened? I'm sending it to you now.”

A second later a video clip popped up on her phone.

“You got it?”

“Yeah”

“Good, now watch it.”

She hit the play button it seemed to be the guys doing a meet and greet, the girl from the pictures walked up for a photo. Matt politely put his arm around her, and that's when she moved in. Reaching up she pulled him in for a kiss, he quickly pulled away a look of horror and disgust on his face. Security stepped in and made her leave.
Sadie's stomach sank further as the truth unfolded itself right in front of her eyes.

“See? If your princess ass would have talked to Matt, instead of ignoring his calls, emails and text you would have known. We need our singer back, he hasn't been Shadz since you stopped talking to him, he more broken up about this than you realize.”

“Fuck.”

“Yeah, this is on you Sadie. Make it right.”
Syn quickly hung up the phone, not wanting to give her a chance to make any excuses.

Sadie flopped back on her bed, wanting to kick herself.

“What was that about?”
Jen walked in, handing a fresh glass of wine to her best friend.

“It was Synyster.”

“Oh god what did he want?”

“That picture of Matt and that woman? Yeah...there’s a video.”

“Oh Honey, why would you even put yourself through the torture of watching that?”
“Just watch”

She handed over the phone and hit the play button.

“Oh...uh oh”

“Yeah we were wrong this whole time...I have been a bitch to Matt, and apparently he’s taking it really hard. That’s why Syn called, he wants me to make it right.”

“Sade’s you couldn’t have known.”

“Yeah, but if I would have talked to Matt in the beginning none of this would have happened. God I really fucked this up!”

Jen got up and walked out of the room and came back a short time later.

“Pack your shit you’re going to Cleveland!”

“Cleveland!? But I have a show Jen.”

“Yeah in three days. Go to Cleveland, find Matt, make this right Sadie. For him, and for you. Then catch a flight to Nashville and meet us there.”

“But-”

“Don’t you love him?”

“Of course I do, you know I do.”

“Well now that we know he’s not a cheating bag of shit, go to him.”

****
“Mam I’m sorry I can’t let you in.”

The security guard stood at the back door of the venue, not letting Sadie in.

“Come on Man, look I hate doing this but don't you know who I am? I’m Sadie Lynn!”

He shook his head and shrugged his shoulders in a “no clue” gesture

“Country music singer? Two platinum albums?”

“Mam, I don’t care if you’re Kurt Cobain back from the grave. I cannot let you in without a pass.”

“Sadie?”
Turning towards the voice Jason Berry walked up
“What are you doing here?”

“Jason I need to talk to Matt.”

He stood there for a moment in contemplation

“Let her in Mark, she’s good. They’re on stage right now though, you can wait in the wings.”

“Thank you!”
She ran past the security guard and into the corridors. Following the sound she finally found the stage, the guys were right in the middle of ‘Paradigm’.
Seeing Matt her stomach tightened. What if he wasn’t happy that she was here, what if he didn’t want to see her.
Looking over she saw the set list taped to the wall, ‘Dear God’ was up next. A light bulb popped into her head. She found Bruce Danz, the guys Monitor Engineer, by the sound board.

“Bruce!”

He turned seeing the small singer. She wore a simple turquoise tank top, skinny jeans and grey converse sneakers.

“Hey Sadie...what’s up?”

“Can you mic me up?”

“Uhhh why?”

“Please! Just trust me!”

After a minute of thought he reached over and grabbed a transmitter and handheld mic out of one of the cases. Clipping the transmitter to her belt making sure it was secure then making sure the mic was in working order.

“Don’t fuck anything up Sadie Lynn, or I’ll strangle you myself.”

“I won’t I promise! Thank you Bruce!”

‘Paradigm’ was ending and the crowd cheered.
For the first time in forever Sadie was nervous about going onto stage, the mic shaking in her hand. She was careful to keep out of the line of sight until she was ready.

Syn walked over to grab his acoustic guitar, seeing her standing there. To busy to really speak he just nodded his head and quirked a crooked smile. The opening chords of ‘Dear God’ began. And when Matt started to sing, it was with more feeling than she had ever heard from him, almost like he was singing to her.

“A lonely road, crossed another cold state line
Miles away from those I love purpose undefined
While I recall all the words you spoke to me
Can't help but wish that I was there
And where I'd love to be, oh yeah”

Putting the mic up to her mouth she walked on stage, singing in sync with Matt.

“Dear God the only thing I ask of you is
To hold he/him when I'm not around
When I'm much too far away”

The crowd screamed and Matt realized that there was another voice singing with him, looking over Sadie was walking his way. Her eyes on him, not performing, but singing to him. His heart started to race, and she saw the corner of his mouth turn up in a smile.

“ We all need that person who can be true to you
But I left her/him when I found her/him
And now I wish I'd stayed
'Cause I'm lonely and I'm tired
I'm missing you again….”

They stood in front of each other, their sides to the crowd. Sadie looked up at him, a small tear rolling down her cheek. He wiped it away with his thumb, he continued to sing.

“ There's nothing here for me on this barren road
There's no one here while the city sleeps
And all the shops are closed
Can't help but think of the times I've had with you
Pictures and some memories will have to help me through, oh yeah”

They sang the chorus together again. Their voices together sounded so smooth, so right his raspy deep tone combined with melody of hers. Holding a finger up to his lips, Sadie sang.

“Some search, never finding a way
Before long, they waste away
I found you, something told me to stay
I gave in, to selfish ways
And how I miss someone to hold
When hope begins to fade”

They continued to finish the song together, and when came to an end there was a moment of silence, then the crowd broke into cheers and screams.
“Kiss her! Kiss her! Kiss her!”

They still stood there looking at eachother, Matt almost still unbelieving she was there. Her blonde hair glowing under the stage lights, her eyes seemed brighter.

Leaning up on her tiptoes she pressed her lips against his. Oh how she missed the taste of him. Lifting her up into his arms he passionately returned the kiss as her legs wrapped around his waist, the crowd cheered.

“Are you two done yet? We have a show to do!”
Zack spoke into his mic, receiving another cheer.

Placing her on her feet, Matt didn’t want to let go.

“Im sorry baby!”
She yelled over the cheering
“I love you!”

“I love you too!”

Notes

Thank you for reading :) I also love reviews it gives me an idea of how I'm doing