hey everybody! sorry this took so long, i’ve been really distracted alll dayy! haha but here’s chapter 15! hope you enjoy :D

“5, 4, 3, 2, 1!” the crowd counted down to Midnight, “Happy Album Release!”

The lights flashed on brighter and “Tik Tok” came booming through the speakers. I started dancing and singing along, I couldn’t believe the head rush I felt.

“Babe,” Eric wrapped his arm around my waist, “at your album release shouldn’t they be playing your song?”

“Oh lighten up,” I smiled, “everyone knows Tik Tok is my favorite song.”

It was finally December 14th, the date my album was scheduled to release, and we were partying it up at the release party. Nick and Andrew flew in that afternoon and were somewhere throughout the party trying to find Taylor, who I didn’t even know if she was going to show up or not.

“Britta,” a voice behind yelled over the music. I turned around and met eyes with Brian,

“Brian!” I threw my arms around his neck, Eric snarled in jealousy, “what are you doing here, I thought you guys left LA.”

“Well we did,” he explained, “but we didn’t want to miss your album coming out, and this kick ass party!”

I laughed, “this is pretty sick huh?” I looked around at the brightly decorated teal and red room, my two favorite colors. The floor was filled with people, some I didn’t even recognize, many were from the record company, and some were celebrities.

“I feel a little underdressed though,” Brian laughed. He was wearing jeans and plain blue shirt with a light jacket, and his favorite beanie. I was wearing my favorite black sequin dress with the white underlining, along with red pumps. Eric wore his black skinny jeans and a nice shirt; we looked the next Brad and Angelina.

I gave Brian another hug before he had to go find the rest of the band, Eric and I went back to dancing,

“I still don’t like the way he looks at you,” Eric hissed through his teeth.

“Hey you look at me,” I softly pulled his chin towards me, “tonight’s about you and me, and the beginning of the rest of our lives, forget everything else.”

He kissed me lightly and I laid my head on his shoulder, but soon was interrupted by a tap on my shoulder,

“Oh darling,” a voice called for me, “congratulations!”

I turned around and Taylor Swift stood in front of me, the nerves set back in, I couldn’t believe she was here,

“Taylor!” I pulled her into a hug, “thank you for coming!”

“Like I would miss it,” she laughed, “there’s someone I want you to meet.” Taylor stepped aside and I looked into the crowd to see who it was, then I saw the firey red hair,

“Hayley Williams!” I gushed when she walked up, “oh my god, you are not here right now!”

Hayley was hands down my ultimate idol, next to Taylor and Demi, and she was at MY release party!

“I am here right now!” she joked, “and it’s awesome to finally meet you, I’ve been jamming to your tunes for a while now.”

My heart nearly stopped, “you, you listen to my songs?”

Hayley smiled, “yeah girl,” her face lit up, “you got quite a voice there.”

“Are you kidding me,” I gawked, “your voice gives me chills, no lie.”

“Well thank you,” she pulled me into a hug, “we should def do a song together sometime or something, I’ll call you.”

“That’d be amazing” I gushed, “I’ll be looking out for ya.” Hugging Taylor and Hayley again before they went back to the party, I texted Nick that Taylor was here and if he wanted to meet her come here now. Before Taylor could even get 5 feet away Nick was already at my side,

“Tay,” I called after her, “I’m sorry, there’s actually someone I want you to meet.”

Nicks face lit up as Taylor smiled and approached us, “well hi,” she smiled at him, “it’s nice to meet you.

“You’re pretty,” Nick stuttered, “I mean, hi I’m Nick, it’s amazing to meet you.”

Taylor giggled, “would you like to come with me to get something to drink?” she asked, “I’m afraid I’m gonna get lost.”

“I’d,” Nick’s voice cracked, he cleared his throat and tried again, “I’d love too.”

Taylor and Nick walked away and I went back to dancing with Eric,

“I can’t believe tonight,” I rested my head on his chest as “As Sweet As Sunday” came on, “there’s no one I’d rather be with right now, right here, than with you.”

“Oh really,” Eric laughed, “what about, about 25 fans?” he asked.

“What?” I asked confused.

“There’s a few fans outside trying to get in,” he explained, “Andrew texted me about it when he came inside, they really want to meet you, I don’t think they plan on leaving.”

“Eric it’s December,” I exclaimed, “they’re probably freezing!”

“Hey,” Eric began, “They’re the ones…”

I pulled him away before he could finish his sentence and headed for the front of the building, “where are we going?” Eric asked confused.

“We’re going to meet the fans,” I replied pushing the door open.

We descended the stairs and passed Mark in the lobby with other label mates, a shaggy haired cute face caught my attention, “Justin Bieber?” I asked stopping in my tracks.

“Britta!” Mark exclaimed, “we’ve been looking for you, Justin just snuck in the back, he’s a big fan and wanted to congratulate you on your album.”

Justin walked over smiling, since he’d grown up he’d gotten so much more attractive than when he first became famous back when he was 15, now he was 18, his voice was deeper and his stature had matured beautifully,

“Hey,” he took his hands out of his pockets, “congratulations on your album, it’s sick I checked it out online a few days ago.”

“Thank you Justin,” he pulled me into a hug, “are you gonna join the party?”

“Yeah, eventually” he shyly replied, “I was waiting to meet you, my manager thinks we should tour together in the spring.”

“That’d be awesome Justin,” I replied, “I’ll meet you inside alright, I’ve got to go do something and I’ll be right back in.”

Justin waved goodbye and Eric and I rushed down another flight of stairs,

“I’m so excited,” I gushed, “this is going to be so fun!”

“I think you’re more excited to meet your fans than you were to meet Taylor Swift,” Eric laughed.

“My fans are the most important people I’ll ever meet,” I replied, “they’re the ones who got me here.”

We pushed open the door and the security guard turned around looking confused, “Britta?” he asked.

A group of about 30 people stood outside, with cameras and eager faces, “oh my god!” one girl exclaimed. It was undeniably freezing and pitch black with the exception of the outdoor lights hanging off the building. A gush of icy wind blew and stunned the back of my neck, I then regretted pulling my hair up in a slick bun.

“Hey everybody,” I smiled and walked over to the ecstatic fans, “you guys must be freezing, what are you doing out here?” I laughed.

“We wanted to meet you,” a tall scrawny boy smiled, “you’re seriously my idol.”

“Thank you,” I gushed, “do you wanna take pictures or something?” I asked. Eric stood beside me and scanned the crowd,

“I can’t believe you’re doing this,” he whispered, “you’re something amazing you know that.”

After taking pictures with all the fans and signing some autographs I’d fallen in love,

“You guys are incredible,” I gushed, “thank you for everything, for listening, for supporting, for being here tonight.”

“We love you,” three girls replied simultaneously.

“You know what,” I tapped my lips with my index finger, thinking, “you guys, I’m not going to let you freeze out here any longer, you’re coming inside.”

“What?” the fans, Eric, and the security guard all emitted at once.

“I’m serious,” I walked towards the door, “let’s go, you guys are all welcome.”

The security guard stepped back and let the fans file in the door; I held it open and watched as they texted and tweeted, it made me smile to know I was making them smile.

We marched back to the party, the fans still giggling and “oh my goding” it was an incredible feeling. Mark gave me a confused look when we reached him and Justin’s manager,

“What are you doing,” he asked laughing, “who are these people?”

“They’re my new friends,” I smiled, “I wasn’t going to let them freeze outside, they should party with us too.”

“Oh Britta,” Mark shook his head, “you’re too much, have fun.”

Pushing open the doors to the party “Shadow” hit me in the face with full volume, people stood around everywhere, but one person stood out…Kennedy?

I walked up to the guys, forgetting the fans had even come up with me,

“Uhm guys,” I asked confused, “you’re here?”

Everyone in The Maine turned around and smiled, Pat had healed well; his stitches were gone and his eye wasn’t swollen anymore, Kennedy no longer had his neck brace, but he still had a walking cast and sling on his right arm.

“Hey Britta,” John Ohh pulled me into a hug, “we wanted to see you on release day.”

“Well thanks for coming guys,” I smiled and hugged the rest of the band, when I got to Kennedy I sighed and pulled him aside, leaving Eric to talk to John.

“How’ve you been?” I asked.

“What do you mean?” he smiled.

“I mean everything Kennedy,” I rolled my eyes, “how’s your arm, and your head, and your everything.”

“Just relax,” Kennedy smirked, “my arm and my head are fine, I just need a little while to recover, and we should be set for another tour in the spring.”

“That’s great Kenny,” I sighed in relief, “you know, ‘Kennedy’ is about you.”

“Oh really,” Kennedy laughed, “I never would have guessed.”

“Shut up!” I smacked his good arm, “I’m serious, that songs means a lot to me, and I want you to know that it’s not an ‘I hate you’ song, cause I don’t Kennedy, you know I don’t hate you.

“I know,” he caressed my cheek, “I’ve heard the song, and it’s amazing, and I’m flattered, I just wish the story behind it wasn’t true.”

Sighing I held on to his hand on my cheek, “oh Kennedy, me and you, we are so fucked up,” I laughed.

“So true,” he smiled, “but now all your dreams are coming true, and you need to go have fun, so stop worrying about me, and go party.”

Just as I was about to turn away “Kennedy” came through the speakers, we both froze and locked eyes,

“May I have this dance?” I asked taking his hand, he followed me to the dance floor and we swayed to the music.

“I can’t really dance with my foot,” Kennedy admitted.

“It’s alright,” I rested my head on his chest, “we don’t have to dance.”

Though to some it’d seem Kennedy and I were together, or in love, it wasn’t anything of the sort. I missed him and the song I’d written about him was playing, we both knew that when the song was over we’d go back to our separate lives, but for the time being, we lived in the moment of memories, good and bad.

The song ended and I lifted my head off his chest, “well Kenny,” I smiled, “thank you for the dance.”

“No problem darling,” he smiled and we walked back to the guys.

“Oh my gosh, I almost forgot,” John Ohh exclaimed with a mouthful of chicken strips, “thanks for mentioning me about ‘The Only One’ you didn’t have to do that.”

“Uhm yes I did,” I smiled, “you helped me write it, I wrote you a little section in my ‘Thank yous’ in the album too.”

“Fuck yeah,” John exclaimed licking his fingers.

Before I could respond I felt a tap on my shoulder, I turned around and met eyes with a smiling Mark,

“Hey Britta,” he looked anxious, “Justin wants to know if you want to talk tour now? He’s really interested in touring together this spring.”

“Mark,” I replied laying my hand on his shoulder, “tell Justin I’m flattered, but I’m not talking business tonight. Tours can wait, all I want is to go back to Arizona and live happily ever after with the love of my life.”

“You want me to tell Justin all that?” Mark asked crocked faced.

“Yes indeed I do,” I replied before he walked away.

Eric wrapped his arm around my waist, “I love you,” he kissed my forehead and I smiled. Quickly I glanced over at Kennedy, he was staring at the floor, I felt bad.

“So where did all those fans go?” I asked breaking the tension.

“They’re right there,” Eric pointed at a group of girls talking to Justin and smiling, “looks like they’re happy, what you did, that was too nice, you know that right?”

I smiled and rested my head on his shoulder, “they deserve some fun too, and I wasn’t just going to let them freeze outside.”

Garrett laughed, “You brought all those fans in?”

“Yeah I did,” I smiled, “they’re cute.”

My phone vibrated in my dress, it was a picture message from Nick, I clicked open and smiled when I saw the image. Taylors face took up half the screen and she smiled wide, Nick filled the other half, his eyes bright and smile pasted on his face. I quickly texted back, “So cute, when’s the wedding?” Soon my phone vibrated, “When’s yours? ;)” Nick texted back. I slid my phone in my dress and closed my eyes, I couldn’t think about that now.

For the next few hours we danced and chatted with the fans and I exchanged numbers with Hayley, by 3 am everyone was incredibly tired.

“Hey everyone,” the dj announced into the microphone, “the party is coming to an end soon, I hope everybody had a good night, and congratulations to Britta on her new album.”

The crowd cheered and soon the floor emptied out, after hugging Taylor, Hayley, Justin, and all the fans goodbye, the guys from The Maine, A Rocket To The Moon, and The Summer Set were the only ones left.

“Well that was a hell of a party huh?” Stephen exclaimed holding a cup full of punch and strong smelling vodka.

“Stevie,” I smelled his cup, “who gave you alcohol?”

“The bartender,” he replied, “I told him I was with you.”

Eric gave me an incriminating look, maybe this alcohol thing was a real problem for Stephen and John, I felt guilty for letting this happen.

“Well no one else is drunk I hope,” I looked around at everyone shaking their heads no.

“Alright well I’m exhausted,” I sighed kicking off my heels, “do you guys have a place to stay?”

“We got a hotel room a few blocks from here,” John replied putting on his jacket.

“Yeah and we’re hitting the road tonight,” Brian explained, “finally going back home.”

“Okay,” I slipped on Eric’s overcoat, “I’ll see you all soon then.”

After hugs and goodbyes Eric and I left the venue and traveled home, the next morning when I woke up my album would be on the shelves at every Target and FYE across the country.

* * *

We slumped into the apartment and I kicked my shoes off and sighed in relief as the carpet cushioned my aching feet. Eric took his jacket off me and kissed my shoulder,

“If you’re tired babe I’ll lock up and put the stuff away, you go lay down,” he urged.

“Okay, thank you,” I groaned, “don’t be too long,” winking I walked towards the bedroom and slipped out of my dress as I stepped into the doorway.

“Dayumm,” I heard Eric exclaim and chuckle before shutting the door behind me.

The room was pitch black and I kicked my dress towards my dresser, I was too tired to think about anything but sleep. Flopping into bed I grabbed Eric’s shirt off the floor and threw it on, resting my head on the pillow I heard Eric shut the fridge and soon enter the room. He changed out of his party clothes and hoped into bed, kissing my temple he whispered, “Surprise.”

I turned around to see him holding a copy of “All These Mistakes I’ve Made” I had no idea how he’d gotten it, they weren’t supposed be out until the stores opened.

“How’d you get that?” I asked reaching up for it.

“I pulled a few strings,” he smiled and pulled it back towards him, “I want to read my thank you section,” he teased.

“Fine,” I giggled.

He opened the CD and slid out the lyric book and flipped to the last page, “Thank yous” he read aloud,

“Eric James Halvorsen,” he began, “that’s me!”

“Indeed it is,” I smiled.

“Well lovey it’s been quite the adventure hasn’t it? Thank you just isn’t enough when it comes to you, you’re my world, my everything, my shining star, and my inspiration. You were there when I fell apart and put the pieces back together better than they were before. I love you more than words could describe, and you’ve taught me to trust in love again. I dedicate this album to you, because without you, there’d be no album. Thank you for believing in me and not letting me give up, ever. I trust you with my life, and with you there’s no secrets, you know me better than I know myself. I never thought I’d fall so hard for someone until I found you, thank you for giving me the strength to see another day. I love you and I always will.”

A tear formed in my eye as Eric read his thank you, I loved him more than anything but I was still keeping something from him, I couldn’t take it anymore.

“Eric,” I whispered, “can we talk?”

“Sure,” he looked concerned and set the CD down on the nightstand, “why are you crying?”

“I have to tell you something,” I choked.

“What is it, you can tell me anything,” Eric brushed the hair out of my face.

“You remember the night The Summer Set was here, and we got drunk?” I asked.

“Yeah,” Eric wrinkled his brow, “what about it?”

“Well John was tired and I went to the cave to get the cot and Brian came with me to get it and,” I stopped.

“And what?” Eric asked anxiously.

“And we kissed, but it meant nothing,” I finally admitted.

“You kissed Brian?” Eric asked furiously.

“Yes, but we were drunk, and it didn’t mean anything,” I tried to explain.

“It didn’t mean anything?” Eric sat up, “A kiss always means something.”

“Eric you have to believe me,” I pleaded, “it was just a little kiss, nothing else happened, and we laughed about it after.”

“I can’t believe this,” Eric shook his head.

“Eric, I promise you, it meant nothing,” I assured him.

“I can’t deal with this,” Eric got up and walked towards the door.

“Where are you going?” I asked crying.

“Away from you,” he slammed the door behind him and I ran after him. Flinging the door open I found him sitting on the couch,

“Eric, come back to bed, let’s talk about this,” I cried.

“There’s nothing to talk about,” Eric murmured, “and I’m staying out here tonight, I need to think.”

“Well fine then,” I replied wiping my eyes, “here’s something to think about, YOU were in Brians shoes not too long ago when I was still dating Kennedy and you kissed me.”

“That’s completely different,” Eric lilted through his teeth.

“And how so?” I demanded crossing my arms.

“Because I was ridiculously in love with you,” Eric explained.

“And Brian’s not Eric,” I replied, “and that’s why his kiss meant nothing.”