The Hidden Ones: The Spotlight - 21. The Business Side

---Teddy---

As I looked over to Ryder I couldn’t help but let out a long sigh. Pride doesn’t even scratch the surface of how I feel about him today. He was on a stage in front of hundreds of people and rocked it. He proved that despite his anxiety and depression he can make it. I just hope that stupid band of his doesn’t weigh him down. I mean of all the people for my uncle to place him with, did he have to pick the biggest douchebags ever? Today’s supposed to be their day, and yet only one of them has even tried to help Ryder.

As we returned to the booth I saw my uncle lurking near my parents, as though he’d been waiting for us. The second our eyes connected he gestured for me to come over. “I just need Teddy.” He let out, as Ryder approached with me. “It’s family stuff, don’t even worry about it.” He nodded, seeing concern in Ryder’s eyes.

“What’s up?” I asked, as he led me between the cars behind us. “Is something the matter with,”

“I don’t think today’s going to be Messiah’s day.” He interrupted, cutting right to the chase. “They’ve only sold around sixty CDs.”

“And?” I asked with a quick shake of my head. “No one uses CDs anymore. Everything’s digital. I mean you saw the crowd, they were,”

“I know, they loved them.” He exhaled. “But rules are rules. I believe in Ryder just as much as you do, hell, maybe even more, but there’s nothing more I can do.”

“There’s gotta be a way,” I pressured looking over to Ryder. “This will destroy him, he’ll lock himself in his room for weeks. I mean, what if he gives up on music completely?”

“He won’t.” My uncle confidently spoke. “I learned something about him today. When I told him they need to go by Messiah I was wrong. He isn’t their leader, he’s one of them. Everyone goes up there and sings to the crowd, Ryder sings with them. He’ll make it, just not today.”

I bit down hard on my lip, trying my hardest to hide the sadness in my eyes. “And I guess you want me to tell him?”

“Yeah.” he softly exhaled. “but wait until the days over, the least we could do is give him that.” I nodded my head slowly and tried my hardest not to let the emotions bubble in my eyes. “He’ll be okay, he’s a lot stronger than you give him credit.”

“I hope you’re right.” I sighed, taking a minute or two to relax before throwing a mask on and rejoining everyone.

“So,” Blake began, giving me a friendly nudge. “How’d you like Beartooth, they were fucking awesome right?”

“Sure.” I smiled, as Ryder turned to listen in on the conversation. “I mean, I don’t know if they’re for me, but they were cool.”

“Think you’d be down to come to another metal concert?” Ryder poked, already coming up with ideas for future dates.

“Depends on the bands,” I shrugged “I guess as long as I have you serving as my bodyguard I’d be down for anything.” I teased, recalling how he tried to protect me from all the thrashing and jumping.

“I mean, I don’t like to brag, but I’m pretty strong.” He joked with a smile. I couldn’t help but bit down on my lip once more, as I realized all his new found confidence would be crushed in just a few hours. “Hey,” Ryder softly let out, lightly grasping my arm. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” I forced a smile and looked into his eyes. “Everything’s great, today’s been great.”

Ryder went to say something else but before he could Blake grabbed onto him. “Dude, let’s go catch Atreyu! If we hurry we can still get a good spot!” He hurriedly let out, hearing sound check begin from across the lot.

“Sure.” Ryder nodded his head, but I could tell he was worried about me. “You coming?”

“No.” I declined with a fake smile. “One’s enough for me today, maybe next time.”

“Next time.” Ryder nodded, still not certain what was wrong. “Harry.” he pivoted, turning towards my Dad. “You should come, these guys are good.”

My dad looked to my mom with wide eyes, and smiled. “You’re a grown man, you don’t need my approval.” She sighed.

“I’ll have to remember that!” he yelped, waving for them to take off before my mom changed her mind.

“Oh my god.” I groaned, watching them move through the crowd. “What world do I live in where my boyfriend, and best friend want to hang out with my dad?”

“A real weird one.” Liz laughed, pulling me back a bit/ “so come on, spill.”

“Spill what?” I shrugged, as my mom pulled me from Liz and back even further.

“You know what.” She began, as they both teamed up on me. “What did Martin tell you?”

“Nothing.” I dismissed. “You know. Family stuff.”

“Oh yeah?” My mom sarcastically asked. “Like what?”

“If he wanted you to know, he would’ve told you.” I confidently let out. “It’s not my place to say.”

“Theodore.” My mom strictly let out, staring me down.

“Alright.” I groaned, as my eyes fell to the floor. “They’re not getting a spot on the eastern leg of warped tour.” I quietly explained so the lingering band members couldn’t hear. “They didn’t sell enough CDs, and it’s pretty much over.”

“Ryder’s going to be heartbroken.” Liz gasped, looking from me to my mother.

“I know.” I exhaled, trying to fight back tears. “But what can I do? It’s not like I can protect him from it.” I shook my head, and frustratedley looked around. “I even told that freaking singer he likes to speak up and recommend they stay on.”

“Sometimes we need to go backwards before we can go forwards.” My mom sighed, bringing me in closely. “Sure, it’s going to hurt in this moment, but he’ll come out better for it. You just have to keep pushing him.”

“I just don’t want to hurt him.” I moaned. “I don’t want to see him struggle, it’s,”

“Sometimes we need to hear the hardest things from the people we love most,” My mother continued, lightly rubbing my back. “He needs you to be there for him, even if its something you don’t want to do.”

“Okay.” I accepted with a light nod of my head. “When they get back I’ll pull him aside. Make sure to prepare Blake and Dad.” I instructed the both of them. “Ryder’s going to need all the support he can get.”

I spent the next forty minutes in my own head, preparing for how I was going to break the news to Ryder. For how I’m going to let him down gently. I need to be there for him now more than ever. I need to let him know that I love him through it all, the ups and the downs. He’s not alone anymore, he’s got people to lean on. I just hope he can accept that.

My heart broken even more as I saw him walking back with a huge smile. I swear it was the same smile he had in the picture from when he was a little kid. This really is his happy place. This music world really does mean the world to him. Fuck Warped Tour, he doesn’t need it to make it big. He’ll find his own way, I know he will.

“Hey Ryder.” I softly spoke up as he entered the tent. “Can we talk?”

“Okay, but can we make it quick?” he asked with excitement in his eyes. “A Day to Remember hasn’t played warped tour in forever! But they’re here as a surprise closer! You have to come along to see them.”

“Okay,” I nodded. “I mean, it can wait anyway, why don’t we just go,”

“Ahem.” my mother cleared her throat, overhearing my attempt to stall.

“Alright.” I exhaled, feeling the mask on my face beginning to crack. “It actually can’t wait.”

“Oh.” Ryder let out, giving me a concerned look. “Is everything okay?”

“No,” I confessed, pulling him back between the cars/ “When I spoke with my uncle, well, he, I,” I took a deep breath and saw the worry grow more and more on Ryder’s face “You guys won’t be continuing the tour.”

“What?” Ryder shook his head, staring at me as though he didn’t understand what I was saying. “What?” he repeated, swallowing hard.

“He said you guys didn’t make the sales they need, and there’s probably not enough time left.” I exhaled, seeing pain swell in his eyes. “I-I’m so sorry Ryder” I exhaled, grabbing onto him. “He said you did great, and that he’ll find a way for you guys to make it, but this isn’t going to be it.”

A soft no escaped Ryder’s lips as I felt a tear or two fall from his face. “It’s not fair.” he finally let out. “I, I gave it everything I had,”

“I know.” I agreed in a quiet voice. “And you did amazing, but this is a business, they only care about money.”

He let out a few heavy breaths and shook his head. “I’m chasing a fairy tale” he mumbled. “I don’t even know why I bother. This was it, and now it’s over.”

“Don’t say that,” I tried to comfort, grabbing him tightly. “You did better than every band here.” He tried to pull away but I didn’t let him “Every single one Ryder.” I confirmed in a broken voice.

He took a few minutes just resting on me before finally escaping my arms. “Where do I go from here?”

“I don’t know.” I honestly admitted. “But you’re not alone in it.”

He nodded his head and wiped the tears from his eyes. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” I confirmed, as he turned back towards the tent.

“I better go let the guys know.” With a heavy heart he disappointedly confronted the guys. I saw a couple of them shake their heads in shock, but the other two seemed to have expected the news.

“He’ll be okay.” My dad approached, resting a hand on my shoulder as Ryder and his band spoke. “He’s too good of a frontman to not be.”

“I just hope you guys are right.” I breathed, looking up at him. “It’s going to take everything he has not to give up.”

“And he’ll come out better for it.” My dad comforted. “Pressure makes diamonds after all. Now go, he needs you.” He instructed, pushing me towards the band.

“I’m sorry guys.” I let out as Ryder grabbed onto me.

“It’s cool.” One of them unhappily spoke. “We should’ve pushed the CDs harder. We just felt like we did so good that we were a lock.”

“We’ll go back to the drawing boards and figure it out.” Another spoke up. “Get the E.P. on Spotify, Pandora and youtube, and just get it out there the way we did with the CDs we sold today. Our music’s spreading, we’ll get there.”

“Who died?” A man with a golden badge observed as he approached the table. Silence filled the air and he uncomfortably shrugged trying to ignore the awkward quiet “I’m just surprised you guys aren’t at the main stage for A Day to Remember, that’s some surprise huh?”

“Yeah” Ryder spoke up. “I think most of us are going to head over there in a minute.”

“Good” The man smiled “It took a lot of effort to keep them a secret. We just found out a week ago they could make this stop, pretty crazy right? I mean who knows; maybe you’ll be the band making a surprise appearance next year.” I anxiously looked at the band, not sure why he would kick a band that’s obviously down.

“Maybe” Ryder forced out, trying his hardest to cover up the pain on his face. “But thank you Mr. Nichols,” he leaned forward and extended his hand. “For the chance today. Getting to play warped was a dream come true, even if it was just this show.”

“Yeah” the man cautiously let out, looking at the band. “It’s just, what do you mean ‘just this show’?”

“We heard the news.” Ryder explained, trying his hardest to be strong. “and we get it, I mean maybe,”

The man raised his hand and looked around. “What news?”

“My uncle Martin told me Messiah didn’t make the cut.” I spoke up. “Something about E.P. sales.”

“Woh woh woh.” The man shook his head. “When did he tell you that?”

I shrugged my shoulders and thought. “Like an hour ago.”

“And he didn’t come back to correct the news.” The man asked with concerned eyes.

“No” I cautiously let out, unsure what was happening.

“What are you trying to say?” Ryder interrupted.

“Messiahs got the spot.” The man smiled, as a wave of shock ran through the band.

Ryder looked at his bandmates before turning back to me with wide eyes. “What?” he gasped with a wide smile growing on his face “How?”

“I mean sure, at first we almost had to cut you guys, but then Caleb from Beartooth approached us.” He began look directly at Ryder. “He sees something in you. Said he wants you guys opening for them in Boston, Scranton, Pittsburg, Hartford and Garden Center. Play those cards right and it could turn into something big.” A spark began to fly in Ryder’s eyes as the words connected with him. “We’ll be in Scranton in two days, see you guys there.”

“Yeah.” Ryder forced out, trying his hardest to play it cool. “See you there.” The second the man escaped their view they all started freaking out. Ryder immediately flew to me, trying his hardest not to scream in my ear.

“This is it!” Ryder yelped. “This is it!” I couldn’t help but laugh, shocked by everything that was happening “I, you got me here.” He began, hugging me tightly.

“No.” I quickly denied, grabbing him back. “You did this, you, not me.” I tried my hardest to fight off proud tears, but could feel myself losing the battle. “I’m so proud of you, I-I can’t even begin to explain it.”

“I hate to break this up” Blake spoke up .“And don’t get me wrong, I’m super proud, but A Day to Remember is coming on soon!”

“Yeah!” Ryder exclaimed, as excitement surged even more in his eyes. “Come on!” He grabbed onto me. “You’re coming to this one.”

“Alright” I laughed, impressed by how lively he was becoming. “Now let’s go!” he shouted, dragging me along with him and Blake. “Harry, are you coming?” he turned, looking over at my dad.

“Yeah.” he smiled, trying his hardest not to let his age show, but I could tell the last band they went to had taken a lot out of him.

“I’m gonna have to drive home, aren’t I?” My mom sighed, watching him try to catch up to us.

“Maybe” he shouted back, before we got out of speaking distance. As we approached the main stage I couldn’t believe the crowd that had formed. It was nearly double the size of Messiah’s and even more rowdy. They screamed at the empty stage, demanding that the band come on as soon as possible. We tried our hardest to push through them, but as we reached the midway point realized it was going ot be impossible to push eight people through.

“So what are these guys like?” I asked, leaning against Ryder. Before he could answer loud guitar began to blare over the speakers, and a song I swear I’ve heard before began to play. “I know these guys!” I exclaimed, trying my hardest to get Ryder to hear me. He raised his eyebrows, and grabbed onto me tightly so the initial surge of the crowd wouldn’t knock me over.

I could tell he was enjoying this set more than he did any other band of the day. It just seemed like the perfect moment for him, his band, friends, boyfriend all together, enjoying his favorite type of music. As a slower song kicked in he leaned against me and started singing along. Suddenly it felt like all the noise around me had given way to him. As if he was the only voice I could hear.

I rested my head on his, as we let the movement of the crowd sway us back and forth, just enjoying the moment. “Alright” the singer began “This next one goes out to warped tour, the biggest fuckin spark our band received, and maybe the reason we are where we are now. Because that’s what today is about right?” he exhaled, trying to catch his breath “Sharing music, and finding new bands. Speaking of new bands Poseidon stage just added a band for the rest of the eastern leg. They go by Messiah, and according to the guys from Beartooth they kick ass.” Ryder and the band members next to me shouted the loudest they could, but it was deluded by everyone around us “Give them a chance,” the singer nodded “They might be the ones to take the torch from us, god knows we can’t do this forever.” He looked over to the stage Ryder had played on and nodded “This one’s called The Downfall of us All.”

Once more the crowd jumped into a frenzy at the music blasting through the parking lot. It’s funny, I thought this genre was dying out, that they were losing fans to pop music, but by the looks of it rock music is just as alive as ever. I looked over to Ryder and smiled, and they’re about to get a new icon.

As A Day to Remembers set ended I couldn’t help but look at Ryder in a new way. To think; after just one day of performing he’s already been given shout outs by two bands. I wonder where he’s going to sit after the next four or five. I wonder if they’ll realize just how special he is.

As we made it back to their booth we couldn’t help but celebrate. Sure, maybe didn’t make the sales they wanted to, but god, they found a way to stay on the tour anyway. If that’s not Ryder Sullivan’s way, then I don’t know what is. We tried our best to help them load up the old white van, but I could tell everyone’s energy had been tapped by the long day in the heat.

“I really am so proud of you” I heard Liz let out as she embraced Ryder “You’ve made it so far, and I’m so to have you as a friend.” He happily hugged her back, but couldn’t find any words “Text me later?”

“Of course” he finally spoke as she let him go.

“Alright bud” Blake sighed, patting him on the side of the arm “I get the feeling this is good bye for a little bit, but don’t forget about me while you’re touring. I want to know everything that happens, understand?”

“Sure thing” he smiled, quickly hugging Blake.

I felt my heart jump to my throat as he returned to my side “Are you leaving tonight?”

“No” he shook his head “We’ve got a day before we have to head out.” I bit my lip and nodded my head, trying my hardest to wrap my head around the idea “Hey, it’s only going to be a week and a half,” he reached out, reading the look on my face “I’ll be back before you even know it.”

“Yeah” I nervously laughed.

“Ryder!” one of the band members interrupted “Are you coming? First round of drinks is on me!”

“Oh” Ryder let out, turning towards the guys “we’re not going home?”

“Are you crazy?” another asked “We made warped tour baby! It’s time to party!”

“You can come home with me and my parents,” I whispered, seeing the fatigue get to him “I mean, if you want to go out you,”

“Sorry guys, I’m gonna ride home with Teddy.” He dismissed, not even letting me finish the offer “Besides I’m not twenty-one, they’d never let me in the door.”

“You sure?” one of them asked, as the rest got into the van “If you sneak in with,”

“I’m sure” he interrupted “We’ll party when we hit the road,” he tried to comfort “but have fun tonight, and make sure no one steals our shit! That’ll end us as a band!”

“Sure thing” he nodded, quickly jumping into the van and signaling them to take off.

“Party pooper” I teased, grabbing on his hand.

He shrugged his shoulders and let me lead him towards where we had all parked “If I only have a little over one day left in New Jersey I want it to be with you.”

“You sure you don’t want it to be with Liz?” I provoked, watching her and Blake get in a friendly shoving match.

“She’s a close second.” He laughed, noticing the same thing as me.

“Hey!” Blake yelped, overhearing our conversation “And where exactly do I fall in this?”

“You’ve been slipping” Ryder taunted “Pick up your game a bit.”

“Sorry, I guess setting you up with my best friend wasn’t enough!” He defended, as we finally reached the cars “It’s not like I’m the best wingman in the world or anything.”

“You could’ve done better.” Ryder smirked, turning towards me.

“He’s right, Ryder’s a rock star now, and I’m only a school president. I think you have to pick up your game.” I supported, as he rolled his eyes and unlocked his car.

“Be safe” he smiled towards Ryder, before entering the driver’s side of his car.

An emotional smile crossed Liz’s face as she took one last look at Ryder “Keep your head on out there, I’ll see you soon.”

“Sheesh” my Dad couldn’t help but laugh as Liz hopped into the passenger’s seat “He’s not dying!”

“The Ryder we knew is,” I corrected “And I think a new one is being born.”

“That’s true,” my dad agreed “After all, this kid is a lot different than the one that stopped by our house at the start of summer.”

“Yeah he is” I smiled, as we both hopped into the backseat.

“Just don’t forget who you are.” my mom began, climbing into the driver’s seat “Always remember where you came from, and you can’t go wrong.”

“Got it” Ryder nodded, tiredly leaning his head against the window. As the car started to move I quickly shifted over, and let him rest on me instead.

“Harry, no” my mom argued as he hit the radio “We’ve been listening to music all day, and,”

“It’s either the radio, or I’m talking the whole way home.” He stubbornly insisted.

“Please music!” I pleaded, knowing how much my dad could ramble “I’ll do anything!”

“Alright, alright,” she muttered, giving into my father

As the first few songs passed I felt Ryder fall fast asleep on my shoulder. I couldn’t help but smile as I looked over at him. Hair all messy, bandana crookedly covering his forehead, exhausted eyes, and yet he still looked just as perfect as ever.

“This next one goes out to all you kids who were at warped tour today” The man on the radio began “Even if this is a classic rock station, I think we can all support the new wave of artists in the genre. This next one’s by a local band named Messiah.”

“Ryder!” I quickly exclaimed, sending my dad jumping in his seat “Wake up! Wake up!”

“My son just gave me their new E.P. about two hours ago, and let me tell you, this is some powerful stuff” The man continued, as Ryder groggily rubbed his eyes “I get the feeling they’re going to be something special for a long time to come. Here’s their first song ‘Disclosed’.”

“Oh my god” Ryder softly exhaled, waking up enough to realize what was happening “This-this is my song, this, I wrote this.”

“Yeah” I forced out, just as surprised as him “You’re on the radio!”

“I’m on the radio!” he repeated, as my dad turned to look at the two of us “This isn’t real, this can’t be,”

“It’s as real as the stars in the sky” My dad spoke up, with a proud smile on his face “I knew you could do it.”

I pulled Ryder in close as a tear or two escaped his eyes “I, this, thank you guys, I,”

“We didn’t’ do,”

“No” Ryder interrupted my dad “You did. Without you guys I would’ve never met your brother, and even if I did, I would’ve never had the confidence to chase this. You guys gave me that, thank you.”

I held onto him even tighter and couldn’t help but smile “I love you Ryder”

“I love you too” He forced out, as my dad turned the music up.

Imagine that? My boyfriends on the radio! My boyfriends going on tour! My boyfriends a rock star! My boyfriend’s Ryder Sullivan, and I don’t care what anyone says, that’s not changing anytime soon.