Chapter 39: Chapter 39
I lunged at him for a hug. Deon froze for a bit, surprised at my sudden gesture but he wrapped his arms around me with no second thoughts. Keelan, on the other hand, finally spoke only to call my name with a warning but it fell on deaf ear for me.
"Thank you." I whispered.
He chuckled. "Thank you."
"That's enough." Keelan pulled me away from him. Deon and I's eyes rolled simultaneously.
"I guess I owe you an apology." Deon said to Keelan. Both straightened at their full height.
"And I don't." He retorted flatly.
I sighed. "I like to scold him about that but he already said he's not sorry."
"It's fine. I provoked him anyway." He shrugged.
"Glad you know that." Keelan retorted again.
"Keelan!" I warned. "Let's just go with the others and drink all night. Drei's having a mini celebration for our comeback."
"Agree. I'll go ahead then." He glances at Keelan. "I think you two need a talk." Keelan glared at him even more. Deon ignored it and finally left the room.
Lover boy crossed his arms.
"What?" I asked rather innocently.
"I hate him."
"Of course you do."
"I want to punch him."
"Of course you do."
"I want to kiss you."
"Of course-" My eyes widened, finally realizing what he said.
He grinned mischievously. "As much as I hated seeing you two together, talking... it's also necessary for both of you to sort things out and of course know his place. He needs to know that you're mine."
He grows to be more possessive each day. I thought while shaking my head.
I rolled my eyes. "Yes, yes, whatever."
"Watch it, Knight. I've been tolerating not only his presence but you two talking for a long time. Give me some credit here."
"Like what? Good job, Keelan. You did a good job not punching Deon." I replied sassily.
"Like telling me that I was your first kiss." I froze, stunned at his revelation. He was already grinning like a boy. "Because when you said he lied, I know he lied about everything. I already know I’m your first..." He looks at my body intently. I blush. "Tell me, sweetheart." He pressed his body against mine. He placed his hands around my waist and pulled me towards him closer.
"You already know the answer to that."
"I want to hear it from you."
"Keelan you are my first... everything."
He never stopped grinning that night and it annoyed the hell out of me.
---
"To Code:Red! Cheers! Hear! Hear!"
Our glasses clunk together for our precelebration. We drank the content in one go as we cheered again.
"Code:Red is back, baby!" Mase screamed. We laughed at his antic.
"Thanks for coming here, you two." I smiled at Rems and Mila.
"Of course. Now that everything is finally in place." She grinned.
"Gavin and the others are coming. I figured we let them know how you really rock the stage. I mean it’s time, right? Your parents need to live with the fact that this is you." Remi said proudly.
“And…” Mila chirped in. “You got us.” While glancing around the people that I care about. “Whenever you’re in trouble, you know we always have your back.”
I shook my head, feeling warm with their speech. The fact that I have them makes my complicated life easy. "I really don't know what to do without you guys. You've been my rock. Tell me how I can return all the things you guys did for me."
"Just go and live your dream. That's all we want." Remi's arm was around Mila's shoulder while they were both grinning at me.
"And..." Mila interrupted. "You promised me about his brother in law." She nodded towards Keelan. I giggled. Remi frowned at his partner. His brows are meeting together, obviously unhappy.
"What?" She asked and then shrugged. I laughed while Keelan smirked at Mila's silliness.
I looked at Keelan who's nothing but supportive beside me.
"I love you." He mouthed.
---
The light was still dimmed, waiting for us to light up in stage.
"Look." Caden nodded towards a certain someone standing among the huge crowd.
Darren fucking West.
We immediately gathered towards Mace's spot. "We show that bastard what he missed." Dustin proclaimed.
"Yes, sirre." Mace chirped. We all grinned knowingly.
"Let's get this show on the road." I beamed.
As soon as we parted, the sound of Dustin's guitar echoed in the whole building. The neon lights turned on in cue. I jumped at the center of the stage, my head banging, following the beat of the music. I screamed my lungs out as I hit the highest note. The roaring cheers and yells of the audience, jumping with me at the beat.
---
He inhaled as deep as he could before saying the three magic words. "I was wrong."
Darren West stood before us in all his stupid ass self. The four of us watched him with judgment and dislike, arms crossed while staring down at him.
Andrei offered his office again for the sudden meeting we have.
"And I regretted convincing you to betray your friends." He said to me. "I apologize. I realized that you four are highly amazing… together. You are an amazing band and you more than proved that tonight."
I rolled my eyes. "What do you wanna tell us, West?"
"That I was wrong."
"You already said that." Dustin retorted.
Darren sighed again. "Look, I regretted doing something behind your back when I offered you as a band. I want to offer you guys again the original deal. That is... if you still want it."
"What makes you think we still want it?" Caden voiced out.
"Okay, assuming not. But I still want you guys. Not for the reason of money-making- well that's only partly." We raised our brow simultaneously at his unexpected honesty. "I don't know how many people complimented how amazing and incredible you all are and I think you're beyond that when I heard you again tonight. Each one of you are very talented and I was wrong to only focus with Kyree when the four of you sound greatest together as a band. You make the crowd go wild with each and every charm and talent you have. I truly am sorry that I was clouded with greed to see you individually and as a band."
We looked at each other for a moment. There was a silent agreement between our invisible communication.
"Give me a chance to prove to you that I mean well. This time I want to let the whole world know what you could offer as a band. As a manager, I could already see a bright future ahead of you and I assure you that you will not regret it.