Even If You Don't

Calum's POV

I had left the stage so the girls could play an encore song, finding myself with Mari's brother in my arms once again. Asher had grown more and more attached to me throughout the band's time in the city – not that I was complaining – and had absolutely refused to leave my side all day. We laughed as we danced around to the girls' song before they took their group photo with the crowd and came backstage.

"Mawi, you so good!" Asher cheered, clapping and bouncing on my hip as I was holding him.

"Thank you, Ashy," she smiled, kissing his cheek before holding her hands out to him. He reached out and leaned toward her, allowing her to take him from me. "Why don't we give Cal a break, huh?" she told him, "You've made him carry you around all day."

"But I like Calum," he pouted, making me smile.

Although I didn't hear much about them before meeting them, I felt incredibly lucky in that Mari's family seemed to really like me. Lori had managed to have a few minutes alone with me while Mari was getting ready for one of our dates one evening, telling me that she was happy her daughter met someone she got along with so well. I thanked her, of course, but I didn't really know what to say, to be honest – I'd never had a parent tell me something like that before. But I was definitely thankful to have someone like Mari.

"Ah, come on, Mar," I chuckled, shaking my head, "It's not like I don't enjoy spending time with him." I reached over and tickled his stomach, making him giggle loudly.

"Well, I hate to break it to you, Rockstar, but you can't carry him around and play your set at the same time," she smirked.

"Is that a challenge?" I grinned mischievously. She only responded by rolling her eyes, shoving my shoulder as she went to talk to Lori. I watched her for a moment, smiling to myself, before heading over to the boys and preparing to go onstage.

~

In the middle of our set, Luke took his mic off of its stand and hurried to the side of the stage to hand his guitar off to our guitar tech since he didn't do anything but sing for Waste the Night.

"You guys still with us?" Luke asked everyone as he came back to center stage. The crowd screamed in response, making him smile. "Awesome!" he beamed, "Well, we have a special person coming out to help me with this song, so I want you all to be as loud as you possibly can as Miss Mari Duncan comes back to the stage!" They obviously screamed even louder as she came back on, microphone in hand and a smile plastered on her face. She bowed obnoxiously, making us laugh as Michael, Ashton, and I started playing the song.

[Luke]

Taste of your tongue, oh, the smoke in your lungs
And I need your love, and I need your love
The salt on your skin is pulling me in
And I need your love, and I need your love

I don't wanna say goodbye to another night
And watch you walk away
I don't wanna let it burn in the city lights
And make the same mistakes this time

[Luke, Calum, Michael]

I don't wanna waste it, don't wanna waste it
I don't wanna waste it, don't wanna waste it
I don't wanna waste it, don't wanna waste the night
I don't wanna waste it, don't wanna waste it
I don't wanna waste it, don't wanna waste it
I don't wanna waste it, don't wanna waste the night

"Asher!" I heard Lori all but shout, causing all of us to look over our shoulders. We smiled when we saw Mari's brother racing toward her. She quickly picked him up, making the crowd awe, before she had to start singing.

[Mari]

The scratch in your voice leaves me no choice
And I won't give up, and I can't give up

I don't wanna say goodbye to another night
And watch you walk away
I don't wanna let it burn in the city lights
And make the same mistakes this time

[Luke, Calum, Michael]

I don't wanna waste it, don't wanna waste it
I don't wanna waste it, don't wanna waste it
I don't wanna waste it, don't wanna waste the night
I don't wanna waste it, don't wanna waste it
I don't wanna waste it, don't wanna waste it
I don't wanna waste it, don't wanna waste the night

[Michael]

I don't wanna say goodbye to another night
I don't wanna let it burn in the city lights

[Luke, Mari]

I don't wanna say goodbye to another night
And watch you walk away
I don't wanna let it burn in the city lights
And make the same mistakes

[Luke, Mari, Asher]

This time

Mari had held her mic up to Asher's mouth so he could sing with her and Luke. The audience screamed loudly as Luke laughed and missed the first line of the chorus before rejoining on the second with a smile.

[Calum, Michael]

I don't wanna waste it, don't wanna waste it

[Luke, Calum, Michael]

I don't wanna waste it, don't wanna waste it
I don't wanna waste it, don't wanna waste the night

[Mari]

I don't wanna waste the night

[Luke, Calum, Michael]

I don't wanna waste it, don't wanna waste it
I don't wanna waste it, don't wanna waste it

[Mari]

Waste the night, oh

[Luke, Calum, Michael]

I don't wanna waste it, don't wanna waste the night

[Luke, Mari, Calum, Michael]

I don't wanna waste it, don't wanna waste it
I don't wanna waste it, don't wanna waste it

The crowd screamed as we finished the song, all of us grinning again as Mari smothered her brother's face with kisses. He giggled loudly, squirming around, as Luke started talking.

"How about that, huh?" he smiled, "Did you guys like our special guests?" They cheered again.

"I only thought Mari was coming out," Michael commented while Luke went to get his instrument back, "I didn't know we added someone else. No one in this band ever tells me anything!" Mari simply laughed as she put Asher down, pushing the back of his head after taking her brother's hand and walking by the guitar player.

"Hey, hold on," I said, waiting until both Mari and Asher turned around before continuing, "C'mere, bud." Asher happily let go of Mari's hand to waddle back across the stage. I moved by bass so I could pick him up and hold him on my hip. "You wanna introduce yourself?" I asked. The toddler nodded with a giggle. "Go ahead," I urged him, "Tell 'em your name." I helped him lean toward the mic so he could speak into it.

"Asher," he giggled again, causing the crowd to cheer.

"Asher, I wanna try something out, okay?" I told him, "Do you think you could help me with our next song?"

Obviously knowing what song was coming up, I noticed Kaylynn hurry out from behind where Mari was standing and come over to me. She whispered that she would play bass while I held Asher, and we carefully got the instrument off so she could put it on herself.

"You know the song Mari sings to you every night?" He obviously nodded and I continued, "Do you wanna help me sing it for everyone?" The audience cheered once again when he nodded and the boys and Kaylynn started playing the song.

"I'm so glad I was informed of this change too!" Michael pouted, picking up on Kaylynn's lead and beginning to play as well.

"Don't worry, Mike," Luke chuckled after returning with his guitar, "I don't think anyone was informed about this one."

[Calum and Asher]

Within a minute, I was all packed up
I've got a ticket to another world
I don't wanna go, I don't wanna go

The silent words are hard to speak
When your thoughts are all I see
"Don't ever leave," she said to me

[Luke]

When we both fall asleep underneath the same sky
To the beat of our hearts at the same time
So close, but so far away
Can you hear me?

[Luke, Michael, Calum]

She sleeps alone, my heart wants to come home
I wish I was, I wish I was beside you
She lies awake, I'm trying to find the words to say
I wish I was, I wish I was beside you

The crowd clapped as the chorus ended, making Asher giggle again. I could see Michael motioning to Mari, causing me to look over as she held her mic back up to her mouth.

[Mari]

Another day and I'm somewhere new
I made a promise that I'll come home soon
Bring me back, I'll bring me back to you

When we both wake up underneath the same sun
Time stops, I wish that I could rewind
So close, but so far away

[Luke, Michael, Calum]

She sleeps alone, my heart wants to come home
I wish I was, I wish I was beside you
She lies awake, I'm trying to find the words to say
I wish I was, I wish I was beside you

[Calum, Mari, Asher]

There are pieces of us both under every city light
And they're shining as we fade into the night

[Calum, Asher]

She sleeps alone, my heart wants to come home
I wish I was, I wish I was

[Luke, Michael, Calum]

She sleeps alone, my heart wants to come home
I wish I was, I wish I was beside you
She lies awake, I'm trying to find the words to say
I wish I was, I wish I was

[Calum, Mari, Asher]

She sleeps alone, my heart wants to come home
I wish I was, I wish I was

The crowd screamed as Mari smiled widely at her brother.

"You were so good, Ashy!" she praised him, making him giggle. He happily returned back into her arms when she prompted him to so I could take my bass back from Kaylynn. I high-fived her as she laughed as well as kissing Mari's cheek before they both walked offstage to let us finish our set.