Into My Arms

We back to the venue and we were running and sliding around the corners. I told Miley to go toward the stage to make sure everything was set since I only had minutes now and I headed to my dressing room. I ran around the corner, sliding but still keeping my balance, but as I shot forward I ran passed two bodies, knocking them both over. I turned my head to apologize when I realized those two bodies were Joe and Kevin.

“Oh my gosh! What are you guys doing here?” I asked them.

“Everyone’s been looking for you,” Kevin said.

“I know. I’m late to my own concert,” I told them as I gave them both super quick hugs and kept running.

“What else is new!” Joe yelled after me, obviously remembering the same thing I was remembering.

I kept running backwards as I spun to look at him and mock him and make a face at him. He just laughed and I continued running.

I ran into my room. “I know, I know!” I yelled before Anna could say anything.

I just started changing super fast. Miley met me in the room and started to do my hair as I was still trying to get my pants on. We kept arguing. I was yelling at her to leave it and that it was fine at the same time she was yelling at me to shut up and let her fix it. Then I jumped away from her as we both put our hands out to stop each other from moving and we both yelled “grr!” and it was silent. Then we burst into laughter.

“I need you to stall,” I told her.

“You got it,” she said and ran out.

I was doing last minute adjustments and when I ran out of the room, running down the hallway, I heard the crowd going wild as Miley was singing Party In The USA

My tummys turnin and Im feelin kinda homesick
Too much pressure and Im nervous
Thats when the taxi man turned on the radio
And the Britney song was on
And the Britney song was on
And the Britney song was on

As she hit the chorus, I was led under the stage and onto a platform.

Movin my hips like Yeah!
Got my hands up, theyre playin my song
They know Im gonna be okay
Yeah! Its a party in the USA!
Yeah! Its a party in the USA!

I platform began to rise. “Ladies and gentlmen, my best friend, Rachael Lewis!” Miley introduced and it got even louder in the sold out venue as I started singing and I got onto the stage.

Get to the club in my taxi cab, everybodys lookin at me now
Like Whos that chick thats rockin kicks, shes gotta be from outta town
So hard with my girls not around me
Its definitely not a Nashville party cause all I see is stilettos
I guess I never got the memo

My tummys turnin and Im feelin kinda homesick
Too much pressure and Im nervous
Thats when the DJ dropped my favorite tune
And the Michael song was on
And the Michael song was on
And the Michael song was on

Miley joined in as we started dancing around with the few dancers that were on stage with us.

So I put my hands up, they're playin my song
The butterflies fly away, Im noddin my head like Yeah!
Movin my hips like Yeah!
Got my hands up, theyre playin my song
They know Im gonna be okay
Yeah! Its a party in the USA!
Yeah! Its a party in the USA!

We started to walk down the catwalk together.

Feel like hoppin on a flight
Back to my hometown tonight
Something stops me everytime
The DJ plays my song and I feel alright

We ran back to the stage and reached out to some fans’ hands.

So I put my hands up, they're playin my song
The butterflies fly away, Im noddin my head like Yeah!
Movin my hips like Yeah!
Got my hands up, theyre playin my song
They know Im gonna be okay
Yeah! Its a party in the USA!
Yeah! Its a party in the USA!

So I put my hands up, they're playin my song
The butterflies fly away, Im noddin my head like Yeah!
Movin my hips like Yeah!
Got my hands up, theyre playin my song
They know Im gonna be okay
Yeah! Its a party in the USA!
Yeah! Its a party in the USA!

The crowd went crazy when we ended. “Give it up for Miley Cyrus everybody!” I announced and everyone got very loud. I gave her a hug. “Thanks,” I laughed lightly. “Anytime,” she told me and gave a few more waves before running off stage.

“Isn’t she awesome? She’s such a great friend. Wasn’t it a fantastic way to start the show?” I laughed lightly as the cheers wouldn’t stop. “Who’s ready for a great night!?” I asked as music began to play but the cheers and screams were almost so loud I couldn’t even hear myself speak.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A few songs later, I had my guitar around me and I was drinking some water. “Okay before this next song, we’re gonna take a small break…”

I took a few deep breaths to recollect my thoughts as I looked out to the crowd and connected with a few of the fans in the huge crowd.

“I don’t know if y’all know this, but I can see each and every one of you right now…some of you are making this face, saying ‘who does this girl think she is, thinking she’s all that’” I imitated a shrilly voice as my Tennessee accent, that I had adapted to, years before, showed a little.

I stood away from the mic and put my hands on my hips and made an annoyed face as laughs were heard from every direction. I stepped to the mic again. “But that’s okay, I don’t mind…some of the guys have these looks on there faces saying ’is she gonna take her shirt off?’” I said and a bunch of guys howls and cheers were heard as I made a face.

“Ladies…don’t fall for guys like that okay?” I said and a bunch of “ohhhsss” were heard as girls continued to cheer and the guys that didn’t howl started laughing.

“No I’m just joking, I’m sure you’re all great people…some of you have been singing the whole night and I think it’s great, really…some of you just like jumping around and screaming…” I laughed lightly.

“But I’m completely okay with that too, that kind of energy gets me pumped and it’s great for the atmosphere…this next song though is a little more slower so let me just hear you all scream, get it out of your system for the next song, come on, let me hear you!” I yelled and they all yelled back at me.

“I cant hear you,” I sang and they all got louder…if that was even possible. “Okay, okay, you guys sound great…now this one I recently wrote…but once you catch onto the song, it’d be great if you could all sing along,” I explained as a stage crew guy came onto the stage to take my guitar and hand me a stool.

I sat on it and as the music began to play, I started to sing.

Once upon a time
We swore not to say goodbye
Something got a hold of us and we changed
Then you sat alone in pride
And I sat at home and cried
How'd our fairytale just end up this way

We went round for round til' we knocked love out
You were laying in the ring, not making a sound
And if that's a metaphor of you and I
Why is it so hard to say goodbye

I can't wait to hate you
Make you, pain like I do
Still can't shake you off
I can't wait to break through
These emotional changes
Seems like such a lost cause
I can't wait to face you,
Break you, down so low
There's no place left to go

I can't wait to hate you

Oh this
Was a love phenomenon no one could explain
And I wish, I could press reset and feel that feeling again
I sit and press rewind and watch us every night
Wanna pause it, but I can't make it stay

We went
Round for round til' we knocked love out
You were laying in the ring, not making a sound
And if that's a metaphor of you and I
Why is it so hard to say good bye

I can't wait to hate you
Make you, pain like I do
Still can't shake you off
I can't wait to break through
These emotional changes
Seems like such a lost cause
I can't wait to face you,
Break you, down so low
There's no place left to go

I can't wait to hate you

No need to call my phone cause I changed my number today
A matter a fact, I think i'm moving away
Sorry, the frustrations got me feeling awake
And I just keep having one last thing to say
And I just wanna hold you, touch you,
Feel you, be near you, I miss you baby, baby, baby
I'm tired of try'na fake through, but there's nothing I can do
Boy I can't wait to hate you

I can't wait to hate you
Make you, pain like I do
Still can't shake you off
I can't wait to break through
These, emotional changes..
Seems like such a lost cause
I can't wait to face you,
Break you, down so low
There's no place left to go..

I can't wait to hate you.. baby..

I can't wait to H.A.T.E.U.
Cuz right now I need you
I Can't wait to let you go

I ended with my head down slightly as the air went from silent and whispers to screaming and cheers. I looked up and smiled. I looked over to the side and saw Nick standing there.

“Miley why don’t you come out here again!” I yelled and Miley came running out as I went running off. She started to perform 7 Things.

“I liked the song…I can only imagine what it’s about,” he joked lightly with a smile.

I rolled my eyes at him. “What are you doing here,” I asked him.

“I had to talk to you”

“We didn’t do enough talking at the park?” I asked him.

“Well I didn’t just come to talk, I was in the crowd with Demi, Chelsea, Nicole, Taylor, David, Eric, Jake, Joe, Kevin, Danielle and Frankie…Eric had to leave early though, he wasn’t feeling too well…”

“He’s still in mourning…I’m surprised he was here at all,” I said gently as I remembered what a wreck he was the day of his sisters funeral.

“I think he wanted to see you…but then when he did, it hurt too much for him to be out and around you especially…”

“How would you know that?”

“He told me…we’re cooler with each other more than you think,” he informed me.

“Well good…” I said and my voice trailed off.

He came a little closer. “You never gave me the chance to tell you I missed you too…I miss…not being able to call you mine…no being able to kiss you for no reason”

“Nick…” I started to say but I heard Miley was ending. “I have to go back on stage,” I told him and raced on as she raced off.

I tried to speak but no words were coming out so music to my next song just started playing…and when I went to sing…the music changed and I looked around to see what was going on. I saw my band had been replaced…by The Administration…and the music they were playing was Hero by Enrique Inglesias. It was my favorite song when it first came out. Nick started walking out onto the stage toward me with a mic in his hand and the girls went absolutely wild. He was walking so slow though, I thought he’d never get to me. He started to sing.

Would you dance if I asked you to dance?
Would you run and never look back?
Would you cry if you saw me crying?
Would you save my soul tonight?

We finally got to me…and I was frozen…I didn’t know what to do…if I should do something. All the while, everyone in the audience was whispering oh my god’s to each other and screaming.

Would you tremble if I touched your lips? (he sang as he brought his hand up to touch my face but stopped himself and put his hand back down)
Would you laugh oh please tell me this
Now would you die for the one you love?
Hold me in your arms tonight

I can be you hero baby
I can kiss away the pain
I will stand by you forever
You can take my breath away

He started walking away…and I think he was going to walk off stage. Everyone was yelling at him to stop. Then some girls in the front row were yelling at me to sing or to go after him. I quickly recomposed myself, brought the mic to my lips and began to sing. As the words flew out of my mouth, he stopped in his tracks, turned and faced me as the screams got louder.

Would you swear that you'll always be mine?
Would you lie would you run away
Am I in too deep?
Have I lost my mind?
I don't care
You're here tonight

Now, I was holding my head down shyly, avoiding his eyes as he started singing again, walking back toward me, ever so slowly. I've never been like this in front of Nick...it was weird for me.

I can be you hero baby
I can kiss away the pain
I will stand by you forever
You can take my breath away

During the small instrumental break, he just continued to stare at me with bright eyes that made my stomach get butterflies.

I just want to hold you (2x)
Am I in too deep?
Have I lost my mind?
Well I don't care you're here tonight

I can be you hero baby
I can kiss away the pain
I will stand by you forever
You can take my breath away

Now he was inches away from me…serenading me

I can be you hero!
I can kiss away the pain
I will stand by you forever
You can take my breath away

You can take my breath my breath away
I can be your hero

He ended by holding my hand and the crowd was seriously…crazy! “Nick…you cant…we cant…”

“Don’t make me start singing Stay,” he threatened with a smirk…since he said it into the microhpone and now all the girls were on his side.

Stay was my favorite song of his…it was right up there with Turn Right by him and his brothers. He got into the song…and sometimes he got emotional…so it got me emotional as well…and the song alone always gets me emotional. A whole section of girls started to chant Sing it! Sing it! Sing it!

“Don’t do it,” I whispered.

“I have to,” he whispered back and…the band started to play it.

It's hard to believe,
Where we are now.
Your hand in mine, babe(he held my hand)
Feels right somehow.
But now it's okay,
So don't make a sound.
Cause it's almost perfect,
So, baby, Don't you look down.

He smiled a smile that made my insides melt and made my whole body and mind go numb.

We've had our past
Leave that behind.
Cause none of it lasts,
All that we have is tonight.

Cause you're not the only one,
Who's ever felt this way.
Don't let the world cave in,
Just tell me that you'll stay.

Now that the pain is done,
No need to be afraid.
We don't have no time to waste,
Just tell me that you'll stay.

I felt like I was on the verge of tears…and I was fighting to hold them back.

Beautiful, one of a kind.
You're something special babe,
And you don't even realize
That you're my hearts desire.

All I want and more.
I know you're scared,
But I promise, babe,
I'm not who I was before.

He continued to look deep into my eyes…showing me the love he still had for me.

Cause you're not the only one,
Who's ever felt this way.
Don't let the world cave in,
Just tell me that you'll stay.

Now that the pain is done,
No need to be afraid.
We don't have time to waste,
Just tell me that you'll stay.

“Sing with me,” he whispered. I slowly pulled the mic to my lips and I began to sing with him.

Cause you're not the only one,
Who's ever felt this way.
Don't let the world cave in,
Just tell me that you'll stay.

Now that the pain is done,
no need to be afraid.
We don't have time to waste,
Just tell me that you'll stay.

We were both getting really into the song as tears filled his eyes and a few tears slipped down my cheeks but I whipped them away…and when I went to wipe another away…he did it for me and his hand stayed, cupping my cheek.

Cause you're not the only one,
Who's ever felt this way.
Don't let the world cave in,
Just tell me that you'll stay.

Now that the pain is done,
no need to be afraid.
No, no, no, no (he sang)
Tell me, that you’ll stay

I stopped singing as he finished up.

Tell me
Tell me you'll stay.
Tell me…tell me
That you'll
Stay.

He ended and everyone was absolutely going crazy as Nick and I were just starring at each other. I finally found my thoughts, my free will…and I leaned forward and kissed his cheek. He smiled brightly. Then he walked over to the drummer and he handed him something. He came back over to me and pulled out a rose from behind his back. I took it into my hand and…as if on cue…fans in the crowd threw roses into the air. I looked in awe as Nick just kept smiling at me.