Count Down discussion

A large performing arts theater, for plays, performances, and practices for drama students.

Liam pulled into the parking lot of his school. His equipment was already in the theater so all he had to hold was Odessa's hand. "I hope you're ready for the best show ever." He said trying to keep the mood light. He didn't want to think about what would happen when he took her home.

"Oh, I'm ready," Des said with a smile. After days of being cooped up at home, it was nice to finally be out with him again. Everything just seemed better when Liam wasn't around. If her parents caught on, though, she would probably never see daylight again.

Liam grinned. He gave the ticket for Odessa to the usher before showing his backstage pass. "I have to go get ready ad set up." He said. He brushed a kiss across her forehead. "I'll see you after okay?" He asked squeezing her hand and heading backstage.

"See you later," Dessa agreed. After he was out of sight, she went to look for a place to sit. She didn't know any of the people that filled the seats. After picking a seat towards the back, Odessa sat down and tried to focus her thoughts on the show that was about to start instead of the possibility that her phone might start ringing with calls from her irate mother at any moment.

Liam made his way to the back, nodding and greeting his fellow classmates. He was more nervous than he normally got at these functions. It had to be because Odessa was here and he wasn't used to having anyone in the audience. Multiple people were before him so he had enough time to calm his nerves.

Des sat back as the concert started. She wished she knew when Liam would perform, but she was satisfied with the students that she was seeing. It was no wonder they were going to a school for the arts. They were all fairly talented, some more than others. Odessa thought that Liam was better than all of them, but then again, she was a bit biased.

The last person before Liam was currently doing her dance performance. He grabbed his guitar and tuned it before standing off the side of the stage. There were more people than Liam originally thought there would be. He swallowed nervously. Liam walked onto stage when his name was called and began setting up his stool and microphone.

Odessa sat up a little straighter when she saw Liam come out on stage. She wondered what he would be playing. Would it be what he had played for her at the studio or something different? It didn't really matter, though. He would be brilliant no matter what.

Liam hopped up onto the stool and smiled slightly to the crowd. He cleared his throat before speaking. "I just recently wrote this so please go easy on me." He chucked slightly, running his hand over the strings once. He took a deep breath and began to play.

Odessa smiled, closing her eyes as Liam started to play. The theater didn't have as dry acoustics as the recording studio, so the chords rang out easily. Des didn't remember hearing this song and wondered when he had written it. It must have been when her parents had her under house arrest.

Liam sang the song he had written the night after his and Odessa's clocks had timed out. It was a life changing moment for them and the words had just came pouring out of him that night. Now as he sang it he let those same words consume him and he sang with all the passion he had felt that night.

It slowly dawned on her what the song was about. Odessa had to bite her lip to keep from grinning like an idiot. Most girls always nag their boyfriends to write poems or songs for them, and Liam did it all on his own. It was a good thing he had enough artistic ability for the both of them.

As the song ended Liam looked out into the crowd and searched for Odessa. The last few lines of his song he sang to her. He wanted her to know that she was his and he would always love her. He held her gaze for a few beats before smiling to the crowd and thanking them.

The crowd applauded him, and within moments, she was on her feet, clapping alongside them. This had definitely been worth sneaking out for. The audience had been asked to turn their phones on silent, but even still, Dessa had not felt her phone go off once. Maybe everything was going to be okay.

Liam walked off the stage, applause following him. His heart was beating faster than normal. It had gone pretty good considering the start of their night But he knew he should get her home as soon as possible. He maneuvered his way through the crowd accepting compliments and praise, trying to find Odessa.

Odessa heard someone say Liam's name and she craned her neck to try to spot him. Why couldn't she just be a few inches taller? Standing on tiptoes, she called his name, hoping he would be able to pick out her voice from the others trying to catch his attention. There were so many people in the theater, it had to be a fire hazard.

There were so many people saying his name it sounded like just a roar of voices. He didn't even register the fact that a music recruiter was standing in front of him until the last minute. "Hello Mr. Douglas, I'm Patrick Carman and I had to say that you have a lot of talent." Liam nodded and thanked him trying not to be rude. "We'd like to talk to you sometime. Give a call when you can." He slipped a card into Liam's hand and left him to the masses. With him gone Liam continued his search for Odessa.

Odessa sighed. She finally resorted to stepping up onto a chair to try to see over everyone's heads. It hadn't seemed like there were that many people when they had gotten here. "Liam!" she called again, trying to spot him.

Liam's head snapped around at the sound of Odessa's voice. He had to be getting close if he could hear her voice over everyone else's. Finally he spotted her standing on a chair and began pushing his way through the crowd. He stopped in front of her and put his hands on her waist. "You're a tough girl to find you know that?" He teased.

Odessa smiled when he finally reached her. "So I've been told. It seems you have a number of adoring fans," she said, looping her arms around his neck. She enjoyed standing at this height, she could look him in the eye without having to crane her neck. "You were wonderful."

Liam rolled his eyes. "I don't even know half of these people. How can you love someone if you don't know them." The attention kind of bothered Liam. It felt weird having random people coming up to him and praising him for his music. He smirked up at Odessa. "You think so? These people have you to thank for the song. My little muse." He teased, even though it was true.

"But they love your music. You should be proud that you have that much talent, Liam," she told him. If she hadn't known him, she could easily see herself fawning over him, imagining that he was singing to her. Well, he kind of had been singing to her... Des smiled. "I'm glad I could be a source of inspiration," she told him simply, giving him a quick peck on the cheek.

Liam smiled. "You're the only opinion I really care about. All the rest can go to hell." He lifted her off the chair and set her in front of him. He rested his forehead on hers. "Any phone calls?" He asked worriedly. He wondered how her parents were reacting.

Odessa bit her lip, reaching down to grab her phone. Unlocking the screen, she let out a slow breath when there were no new notifications. "My mom must have gotten sucked into her work again," she told him. "As long as she thinks I'm in my room, it should be fine," she added hopefully. Dessa was a little surprised by how lax her father was compared to her mother. He definitely stood for controlling her life, still, but he seemed to be trusting more of her decisions. He hadn't torn Liam apart yet, so that was definitely a good sign.

Liam glanced down at her phone and let out a breath he hadn't know he was holding when he saw nothing there. "That's a good sign then." He said smiling slightly. He didn't know how long they would have together tonight but he was going to use every last second to make up for the time they lost the last few days.

"Do you want to take me home? You've kind of been taking a lot from my parents and I don't want you to have to deal with them again if I get caught," she said. Odessa didn't want to leave him, though. Despite how guilty it made her feel, she wanted to spend as much time with him as she could even if they got in trouble for it. She just wished Liam wouldn't have to get caught in the middle all the time. It seemed like every chance he got, he was putting himself between her and her parents.

Liam sighed. He knew she was right and that he should take her home just incase her parents did go and check on her but he didn't want to. He had just got her back after days of only talking on the phone. He groaned and his head fell on her shoulder. "I know you're right, but does it make me a bad person if I say that I don't care?"

Odessa smiled, closing her eyes for a few moments. She missed being able to be this close to him. "If it does, then I'm just as bad," she informed him. Des just hoped this wouldn't become a regular thing for them. Even though she would do anything to see Liam, she didn't want to have to sneak out of her house every night and hold her breath, waiting for her phone to go off.

Liam lifted his head and kissed her softly before pulling away. "What shall we do for our little bit of time together Mi'lady?" He asked jokingly. He took her hand in his and began pushing his way through the crowd again so they could get to the door. "Some people I swear." He muttered when they finally reached it.

Odessa smiled, lacing her fingers between his as he pulled her through the crowd. "I never got the chance to see where you live," she said thoughtfully. She was curious to see where Liam lived. She also wanted to meet his roommate, but he had said he was rarely ever there, so she got the feeling that would have to wait for the time being.

Liam turned and quirked an eyebrow. "Okay. I have to warn you though. The place isn't that clean." He hadn't been expecting company so he didn't take the time to pick up any of the stuff around the house. "If you don't mind that then you're welcome to come over anytime you want." He didn't think that his roommate was home which was a good thing since he wanted Odessa to himself tonight.

"I'm sure I can handle a little mess," she assured him. The only reason her house was so clean was because there was usually a maid who came in during the day. Odessa had become acquainted with her when her parents had forced her to stay home over the weekend. She probably annoyed the woman to death, but Des had been bored out of her mind and needed someone to talk to.

Liam smiled and led her to his bike. He didn't care if he was supposed to help clean up backstage. It was his time with Odessa and he would deal with them later. Hopping onto his bike he waited for Odessa to climb on before speeding in the direction of his apartment.