Page 77 of Resist

We wait anxiously as the cameras pan over the crowd, and we glance up at the screens. I see some crying faces, but I also see so many screaming our names. I recognize worry and love, and suddenly flashlights fill the crowd. My eyes widen as more and more light up until a river of lights stare back at us, illuminating the arena as stomps fill the air and a chant begins.

It’s our name.

Sanctuary.

The entire arena stands behind us, and I know Po is right. Our fans will save us, but even if they don’t, we have tonight.

I know we are all feeling the same way in this moment, supported and loved, and no matter what happens, we will never forget this. Clearing my throat, I try to compose myself as much as I can as Ryker steals the mic with a grin.

“Since we aren’t hiding anymore, how about listening to a song we wrote about falling in love?” The crowd shouts, and he chuckles. “Baby?”

“Let’s do it.” I nod and peck his cheek.

There are no drums in this song, only a guitar and a singer, so Dash and Strike plop their asses on the edge of the stage facing us, giving us thumbs-up.

The spotlight hits us, and there are no pyrotechnics or fancy lights as Ry croons about falling in love with your best friend. I never take my eyes off him, and he never takes his off me. This is for us. We are done hiding. Whatever tomorrow will bring, we will always have this.

When the last note dies off, he steps into my side, and I press a kiss to his head as we breathe through the intense emotions.

Dash and Strike huddle around us for a moment before we break apart, and Dash takes the mic. “Okay, enough wallowing in our feelings. Let’s bring this house down! Let’s make this night last forever!” The crowd screams with him, and they hurry back to their positions while Ry and I follow them.

We perform every single song we have ever written. It isn’t perfect, and we make mistakes, but I’ve never had so much fun. We dance and play, and we do this for us and our fans, not the label, money, or fame. We do this for the love of the music, and I hope that comes through.

We perform two encores, but before long, we are told to come off stage, and I know we can’t put it off anymore.

None of us want to leave, knowing it will be our last time on stage, but we have no choice. The curtain is falling, so as we finish up the second encore, we form a line at the end of the extended stage.

“We are Sanctuary, and we will love you forever. Thank you for making our last performance the best night of our lives!” Ryker yells.

“We love you!” Dash and Strike shout, and I lean into the mic.

“Thank you for saving my life. We’ll always have this night.”

Waving, I memorize the screaming crowd. This could be the last time I experience this, and I never want to forget it, not for as long as I live, but more importantly, I never want to forget who is at my side during it.

Gripping Strike’s hand, I smile sadly at him as he looks from me to the screaming crowd. Ry is on my other side, holding Dash who is crying, and I swallow my own tears, tugging them into my embrace as we say our final goodbye.

As the lights turn off and we walk off stage, we still hear them chanting our name.

THIRTY-SIX

None of us wanted to get up the next day. Our last gig is over, and we know what that means. Technically, we are still on suspension, but that’s just a fancy way to say fired, so when we finally drag our asses downstairs, we freeze when we find Po waiting for us in the kitchen, one hand holding a mug, the other his phone.

“It’s about time.” He smirks as he glances up at us. “What’s with the long faces?”

I share a look with Fox. “Isn’t that obvious?”

Sipping his drink, he watches us carefully. “I’m guessing you haven’t been online yet.”

“We are avoiding our phones,” Dash admits. “No phones, no way for them to call us and let us go.”

Po shakes his head and drops his cell, turning it and pushing it across the table. We crowd closer. Fox wraps me in his arms as Dash and Strike huddle around us to see the tiny screen.

It’s a local news station, and despite the muted volume, the headline running across the bottom is clear as it switches between a reporter and a massive crowd chanting and screaming.

“Fans revolt as the up-and-coming rock band, Sanctuary, announced that they are disbanding following their label’s lack of support over the lead singer’s and guitarist’s relationship. Fans are outraged and rebelling downtown, demanding justice.”

Po taps the table, and we look up at him. “The news and entertainment industries have blown up overnight. Fans are angry on your behalf. They went straight from your gig to protest outside the label. The news had no choice but to attend. It has spread worldwide that Sanctuary is done because their label won’t support a same-sex relationship between their artists. Rage is filling every platform over the fact that they used that same relationship to sell you. You started a fire last night. There is no way to ignore this.”

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