Chapter Twenty

Arias POVIt was the day of the competition. Me and Ashton were up and ready to leave our hotel around 8am, ready to practice. We made our way to the recording studio downtown where we had agreed to rehearse. The venue from the other night was only down the road so it wasn't going to take long to get there.

We practised until 6pm only stopping for lunch. We headed down to the venue at 6:15pm. We were still a bit worried that the rest of the competition had probably been practising for months. We on the other hand had only 2 and a half days, if that. The competition was due to start at 7pm. We headed to the venue where we found a stage had been erected for the performance. We were taken to a room that we had not been into where we met the other people taking part in the competition. All the competitors had to be there by 6:30pm so they knew who was competing and when they were going to perform. We found out we were up last, which made our performance time about 8:30pm. I was beginning to let the nerves get the better of me. I think Ashton had noticed too. I kept fiddling with the sleeves of my long sleeved t-shirt, which I would soon be changing out of. Ashton gave me a look to ask if I was okay, I took a second before I nodded hoping it would convince him enough. I think it did. Calum  suddenly appeared. 

'They have some changing rooms down the hall so we are going to go and get ready, girls are next door. Are you coming?' He asked. I nodded and followed them down the hall.

Ashton's POVI noticed Aria was looking a little pale and I thought how nervous she must be. I didn't really understand why, she had the best voice I had ever heard. I loved it and I loved her, but I wasn't just saying that because of that reason. She actually did have an absolutely incredible voice. Everyone was saying it. 

We all went down to the changing rooms to get changed. Aria went next door where the girls changing room was. I told her I'd wait outside after we were done and she nodded. It took us about 10 minute to get into our smart casual attire and sort out our hair. Then we made our way outside. Aria wasn't out yet so I assumed she was still getting ready. I tried to phone her to find out, it went straight to answer phone. I was confused, she always answers her phone. I tried to peak in, and there was nobody I could see in there so I called Aria. I heard a sob come from one of the cubicles and told Luke to tell any other girls that this changing room was out of order.I knocked on the cubicle door, there was no answer. 

'Aria? I know that's you. Please talk to me.' I begged. I heard the catch on the cubicle go so I opened it slowly. Aria was sat on the bench with her head in her hands. 

'Baby girl, what's up?' i cooed....Nothing. 

'Aria, babe, I can't help you if I don't know what's wrong?' I encouraged. Finally she took her head out of her hand. Her eyes were raw red and bloodshot. I pulled her up by her hands and towards my chest. I wrapped my arms around her and kissed her head. I didn't think I could love anyone more then I loved Paisley, but I couldn't have been more wrong. I loved this women in my arms more then everything in the world that I had. It hurt to see her cry, it completely broke my heart. It made me want to cry but I knew I had to be strong for her. I didn't even know what was wrong.

'I can't do it Ash' she sobbed into my chest.

'If you don't want to do it then we won't do it. No one is forcing you Aria, it's just a bit of fun.' I explained, knowing she was on about the competition.

'I just don't want to let you down' she continued, still sobbing into my chest.I pulled her away to look into her eyes. 

'Aria, you could never let me down. I love you more then you could ever possibly know. However I do not say that you are the best singer I have ever heard because of this reason. I say this because it is true. So many people say it. All the guys, Nia, Arzaylea, Crystal, John, everyone. It's only you that can't see it. You truly are incredible and the most beautiful girl I have ever set my eyes on. You could never ever let me down. If you don't want to do the competition, we won't do it.' I explained to her, not blinking or taking my eyes from hers once.

Arias POVHow could I be so lucky to have this beautiful human being as my boyfriend? How was it possible that this man standing in front of me was in love with a girl like me? Yet he was, he had just confessed it right in front of me. I was so in love with this man that no words could possibly explain it. My biggest worry was letting him down and losing him. 

'I love you more then life Ashton Irwin' I gushed as I kissed him. His speech had helped me make up my mind. I was doing this competition, for him. 

'Lets do this' I said, before pushing him out of the cubicle to finish getting ready. 10 minutes later I was changed into my black dress that stopped just before my knees. I had black heels to match and a few bracelets up my arm to cover my scars. I walked out of the cubicle and Ashton's jaw was on the floor. He was completely speechless. 

'Are you okay?' I asked him slightly concerned. He coughed before replying and went slightly red noticing that his mouth was still open. 

'Yeah, it's just you look absolutely stunning. Not that you don't usually, it's just I don't think I've ever seen you in a dress.' He stumbled over his words as he explained. I walked over to him and pecked him on the lips. 

'Thank you, I love you' I replied simply, looking him in the eyes when I said it. 

'I love you more' he smiled. 

'Not possible' I grinned as I walked over to the mirror to sort out my make up. I heard him chuckle at my response. My eyes were still a little puffy from where I had been crying but nothing a little make up couldn't hide. About 10 minutes later after I'd finished my make up and we had a little make out session, we saw it was 8:20pm. Ashton took the lead as we walked out of the changing room doors, nearly walking into Michael who was looking a little stressed. 

'What took you so long? We are due on in 10 minutes. I was about to come and get you. We need to get ready.' He exclaimed. 

'Mike calm down, we are here now and ready to go' Ashton said, trying to get Michael to relax. We all made our way to the back of stage waiting for our cue to go on. The nerves were making me feel sick, but I had my mind on one thing. Making Ashton proud.

Ashton's POVSomeone signalled for us to head on stage, I put my thumbs up to Aria who took a deep breath before nodding and smiled. I smiled back as I walked towards her. 

'Ignore everyone out there, just concentrate on Michael, Calum, Luke and me. If all else fails it's just you and me. I love you, break a leg.' I smiled at her. 

'You too' she replied, as we all made our way on stage. There were at least 700 people out there. Not that we could see them due to the bright lights, that was just what we were told before we walked out. There were a few cheers for us as we stood in our positions. Aria turned to look at Luke, who had taken up drums for the evening, and nodded he then counted us in. We started playing the intro and everyone went quiet. She closed her eyes and began to sing.

Arias POVI took a deep breath, nodded to Luke, closed my eyes and waited to come in.

https://youtu.be/eg50JGPEoo8

'I love it when we're at party,In a downtown crowd oh,But I can't hear you call me baby,With the music up loud,Red wine, good times,No I don't mind being with everyone else,And then there's nights like tonight that I,I want you to myself'

At the chorus Ashton comes in with the backing vocals, I can't hear the crowd and I'm too scared to open my eyes.

'Tonight I wanna drive so far,We'll only find static on the radio,And we can't see those city lights,And I love the way you look in the firefly glow,Saying everything without making a sound,A cricket choir in the background,Underneath the harvest moon,Standing on your shoes in my barefeet,Dancing to the rhythm of your heartbeatAnd we're dancing to the rhythm of your heartbeatI wanna feeling like a kick drum,Beating faster in your chest'

Suddenly I feel a pair of arms wrap around my waist from behind. I opened my eyes still singing and found the man I loved. I leaned back into his chest resting my head on his shoulder.

'I wanna feel you holding on to me,And make me hold my breath,You pull me closer, my head on your shoulder,Baby we won't need a song,We'll make a falling star wish,One more slow kiss,What are we waiting on'

I turned around in his arms as he turned so we stood at the side. The audience could see us both as we sang, looking into each other's eyes. It was like there was nobody else in the room.

'Tonight I wanna drive so far,We'll only find static on the radio,And we can't see those city lights,And I love the way you look in the firefly glow,Saying everything without making a sound,A cricket choir in the background,Underneath the harvest moon,Standing on your shoes in my barefeet,Dancing to the rhythm of your heartbeatYeah we're dancing to the rhythm of your heartbeatI wanna feeling like a kick drum beating faster in your chestTonight I wanna drive so far,We'll only find static on the radio,And we can't see those city lights,And I love the way you look in the firefly glow,Saying everything without making a sound, with a,A river rolling in the background,Standing on your shoes in my barefeet,Dancing to the rhythm of your heartbeatAnd we're dancing to the rhythm of your heartbeat, oh'