I see here everywhere, like she’s my shadow. I count the seconds she stays beside me. I count the days when she leaves to inspire. I count the ways I can say, I love her. I’m setting up on this little stage, just like I used to. It fits about 100 people. They’re all here to see me and my boy Ernie play our cover. I lick my lips and check the mic to see if it’s just right. I nod my head and walk out to the cold air in L.A. I sigh through my lips. My mom approaches me. “You ready? It’s just a little show. Your sister’s here. She wanted to—” But before she could finish, the little girl jumped into my arms. “Bieber!!” She yelped. I laughed out loud and kissed her all over her face. “Jazzy, baby.” I smiled into her eyes as she opened them wide. “Are you gonna sing today?” I looked up into the air and made a confused face. I looked at her and shook my head. “I’m too scared babe.” I joked. Her smile went straight into a droop. “No! No, don’t be scared!” She cried and held on to me. I patted her back and kissed her hair. “Okay…..I’m not scared.” I whispered and I let her go. Show time in 2 minutes. The crowd was already screaming. It was nice not to hear millions of girls screaming. Just a hundred. I looked around the room to see all the beautiful girls smiling at me. Their cameras were flashing already and Ernie was in the chair, sitting with his guitar. I walked over and smiled. “You ready?” I asked. Ernie nodded. I smiled and turned my head to see her. She stood there, folding her arms, smiling like an angel. I couldn’t believe it. She made it. My heart pumped so loud, I think everyone in the room heard it. Ernie asked 3 times if I was ready, but I couldn’t hear it over the way my body ached for her. Ernie hit me and I turned. “Oh uhh….r-ready.” I stuttered and he started to strum. I patted my leg to the beat, but kept staring at her. I sang and people cheered. She laughed and I blushed. The song was over and everyone clapped. I cleared my throat and did the most daring. “Give it up for Ernie!!” The girls screamed. I smiled and turned to her. She bit her lip. I flipped my hair. “And to my beautiful….girlfriend.” And everyone gasped. She did too. I beckoned for her to come and she ran. All I could hear was clapping in the distance and her running towards me. Come home to me, come home to me, back into my arms, home where you belong.
