Page 102 of Heart of a Rebel

His eyes fall to the microphone in my hand.

“Remember the headaches you were saying we give you.” I scrunch my nose. “Sebastian decided I’m singing this one, so if I’m out of tune, get ready to field the media.”

Adrian pulls me in. “Never.”

He plants his lips on mine, but even as he pulls away, I still feel the petals of his kiss blooming with each tick of the smile that climbs his cheeks.

I follow the guys to the stage, and it feels funny to stop in the middle of it. I’m more comfortable off to the side, playing off their energy. I’d rather let the guys throw themselves around and make the screaming fans happy. Here in the middle, I’m exposed.

But that’s my life lately. Ripped open so there’s no hiding. No more secrets.

As I hold the microphone up and feel Rome start in on the guitar, I remind myself of that fact.

Nothing can stop me. This is my stage, my life, my destiny. I open my mouth, and I celebrate surviving with every last breath.

“When you strike a match to your life

you expect something bigger than the flames that eat it up

I waited, I waited, and I burned

For a phoenix that never came

When you set your life on fire

You expect something more than the scars that make a map

Of who you were

And who you became

It was darkness before I ever saw the light

It was darkness before the flames that lit up died

And it’s darkness still

But you saw the light

For me

You saw the light

So I wrote this song for you, chaos so sweet

I wrote love for you, with the broken bones in me

I stand and burn for you, will you burn for me?

Tell me can you stand this wicked, wicked heat?

When you walk through fire you forget about the coals

They don’t go out as easy as the flames that scald your soul

When you walk through fire you learn it leaves a mark

In places you’ve forgotten, seen only in the dark

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