Chapter 11 - Reanimation

10th May 2002:

"Hey Ruby, I miss you already. Wanna come and sing with us at the show today? - M" It just came back to me that Linkin Park were on their 2nd Hybrid Theory tour, the other one was in late 2001. "Of course, tell me the plans when we get there x" I sent back to Mike and got ready, luckily I had a shower the day before so my hair wasn't greasy. "I'm gonna do this show with the boys in memory of Zane" I said out to myself. 

Beep Beep! I heard the beeping of the van here to collect me, with all the boys inside. The driver opened the door for me, I thanked him and saw a spot next to Mike for me. "Hi guys!" I hugged all of them, obviously giving Mike to longest and biggest hug. "Well, how do you feel you're not in the crowd but on that stage this time?" Rob asked me, he was tapping his 2 drumsticks together in a rhythm. "I'm really excited, Mike told me I'm a good singer so it should be good." Smiled came across all the boys' faces, Chester piped up, "So this is how its gonna go. We are singing all the songs from Hybrid Theory in order, from Papercut to Pushing me away. You sing with us in: One Step Closer, Crawling, Runaway, In The end, A Place for my head and Pushing me away" He clapped both his hands together "That's great, I'm happy with it!" "Great!" Brad smiled. 

We got to the arena 3 hours later. "Don't be afraid of the paparazzi!" Mike held my hand and all I could see was flashes from the people and their cameras, I waved to them all. The guys that worked at the arena was putting all the equipment on us, "The mic's have each of your names on them" There was 3 mics for the 3 vocalists, Me, Mike and Chester. "You're going on in 10 Minutes and there will be cameras filming and taking pictures as usual, don't get distracted by the flashing of their cameras." One of the workers was saying to me. "Is that a ring Ruby??" Joe pointed out ans all the boys looked, except Mike. "Uhm, yeah it is. Me and Mike got engaged recently. And we are um, having a.. Baby" I smiled and held Mike's hand. "Congrats, why didn't you tell us sooner?" Phoenix shrugged his shoulder. "I was gonna tell you after the show, but then Joe pointed the ring out. "Aww, Joe!" Chester, Brad, Rob and Phoenix complained, "What?" Joe laughed. 

"Spike, you're being quiet, embarrassed?" Rob hit Mike on the arm with his drumstick lightly, "No, just nervous for the show" Mike looked like he was giving an excuse, "Well, I told y'all they had sex" Chester giggled like a little kid, followed by all the other members doing the same, even Mike was so I joined in.

"You're ready to go on now" The worker opened the little curtain to reveal the massive crowd, "You've got 30,000 Linkin Park fans to please, go!" I patted Mike on the back, "I'll be out there at One Step Closer!" All the boys walked out and I sat by the side, watching. The crowd screamed like a lion. "Hey everyone!!" Chester shouted and held his hands up to everyone. Their first song was Papercut, personally one of my favourites like I said a few chapters ago.

Mike opened his arm, pointing towards me and shouted, "For a few of these songs I'm going to get the help from my new fiance, Ruby!! Come over here!" I ran over and into his arms and the song began. With the mic in hand I held my hand up, "How are you all doing today?" To say it was my first time in front of thousands of people, it went surprisingly well and a massive roar filled me. 

When I was at the side of stage watching Linkin Park perform Papercut, I took a very cute picture of Mike, he had recently died his hair blue again. He said the day before, and it looked great. I can't ever say I could do better than the boys but I'd give a good shot on making the fans happy. As long as they enjoyed it, I'd feel accomplished.

One Step closer began and I skipped my way on to the stage towards all the fans. They cheered when they saw me. I got up close with the fans and high fived them all, I felt so famous and I was getting so carried away that I almost forgot to sing. Chester ran over and put his arm around me. "I cannot take this anymore, saying everything I've said before, all these words they make no sense, I find bliss in ignorance, less I hear the less you say, you'll find that out anyway" We sang into our mics in sync, followed by Mike saying the good old words, "Just like before" I didn't want to scream the chorus because for one I sing and I don't scream and two, my voice would hurt just trying to do it.

Later..

The show ended and we went to a nearby hotel because if we were to go home, we would get back at like 5am and we need our rest. When we got into the van that collected us and drove to the hotel. "We are bringing out an album at the end of July, called Reanimation." Mr. Hahn announced to me, I thought this was the album they were thinking of releasing sometimes this year or next yer, "Oh, is it the album with the songs I wrote in?" I smiled slightly and was excited for a new album I could rock to, "Oh no, it's a remix of all the songs from Hybrid Theory, the other boys thought I didn't do much contribution to the first album, so they pretty much put the weight on my shoulders to make an album that was focused on myself." He laughed ad we laughed out loud with him, "It's called Reanimation, don't worry the songs won't sound the same as the originals" Mike put his arm around me and I cuddled up to him. "Here take these, they are keys to my house and you can come over whenever you feel like it" He rooted in to his pockets to get the keys and gave them over to my open hands.

We got to the hotel about half an hour later and fell asleep in there...