Paige paced the tiny dressing room in the club.

“Where are Marco and Ellie?” Paige asked for the tenth time.

“They’ll be here,” Craig assured her while Jimmy just kept his head down and tuned his guitar. 

“They better hurry up. You’re on in like 20 min,” Paige continued to rant.

Just then the door open and Marco walked in followed by Ellie.

“It’s about time,” Paige started but then stopped when she got her first look at Ellie. “Ellie, hun, you look awful.”

“Thanks Paige,” Ellie replied with a glare.

“El isn’t feeling too good,” Marco offered for her.

“What is it El?  You sick?”  Craig asked.

“It’s nothing.  My back is just hurting.  I lay down to nap before the show and woke up when Marco beat on the door.  Sorry I just haven’t been up too long,”  Ellie answered.

“Well come on hun lets get you ready,” Paige said showing Ellie to a table covered with makeup and hair products. 

Ellie wanted to tell Paige to leave her alone; she could get her self ready.  But she just didn’t feel like it.  So she sat there and let Paige do her makeup.  When Paige plugged in a curling iron Ellie came to her senses.

“Paige just leave my hair down.”

“Why?” Paige huffed “It would be so cute up.” 

“Just leave it!” Ellie snapped.

******

“Is she okay?” Jimmy asked Marco once Ellie was out of earshot.

“I don’t know.  She says she’s fine but she just looks bad.  I think school, homework, band and baby is just all too much for her.”

“Are we going to need a new drummer?” Jimmy asked both Marco and Craig.

The three guys looked at each other.  None of them wanting to voice what they all knew had to be done.

“Lets just get through tonight then we’ll all talk tomorrow,” Craig finally said.

Paige was still trying to talk Ellie into putting her hair up when someone knocked on the door.

“I’ll be right back,” Paige said when she saw none of the guys were moving to get the door.

“Hey,” Ava said.

“Hey,” Paige said opening the door so Ava could come in.

“Hey there,” Marco said standing to give Ava a hug.

Every eye in the room was on the tall guy beside Ava, every eye except Ellie’s.  She was staring at her reflection in the mirror.  She could hear everyone behind her, the introductions between Ava’s brother and everyone else in the room.  She had hoped he would come.  She had even been excited about it earlier in the day.  But now she just didn’t feel right.  If she had her choice she would still be at home snuggled under her favorite quilt on her couch. 

Just a couple hours and I’ll be home having hot cocoa.  Ellie told herself as she stood to join the others.

“I’m glad you guys made it,” Ellie said with a fake smile on her lips.

“El” Ava’s words died as she turned to see Ellie’s face.  “You alright?”

“I’m fine.  I’m almost 8 months pregnant.  I have the right to feel crapy don’t I?”  Ellie said with the fake smile still in place. 

“Wow 8 months,” Jimmy said.

“It doesn’t seem like it’s been that long,” Marco agreed.

“Three minutes,” a voice yelled outside the door.

“Are you all ready?” Paige asked.

There were some yeahs and a definitely but Ellie said, “Not yet I can’t find my water.”

“Just go I’ll find it and bring it out,” Paige assured her.

Paige went out front after dropping off Ellie’s water to find Ava and her brother.  Unfortunately she found Manny sitting with them. 

“Hi Paige,” Manny said meekly.

Paige didn’t answer she just smiled and sat down beside Ava.

“God is that bitch ever going to get the hint,”  Paige whispered to Ava.

“What do you mean?”

“She is at every show.   It’s getting really old.”

“Well she is getting friendly with Cam now so maybe she will leave you and Craig alone tonight,” Ava answered.

“What! Are you crazy get your brother away from that slut.  She will have him out in your car in like 15 minutes.”

“Ugh!  I don’t think so.  Not in my car,” Ava said wrinkling her nose.

“I got it,” Paige said with a big smile.  “I’ll be right back don’t let them go anywhere.”

“Where are you -” Ava didn’t get to finish because Paige was lost in a sea of people. 

Just as the guy on stage finished introducing the band Paige came back with her arm tucked through the arm of a guy.  “Hey everybody this is Jake.  Jake this is Ava, her brother Cameron and this is Manny,” Paige said giving Jake a push towards Manny. 

“Who is that?” Ava yelled over the song being played.

“He is a friend of Craig’s.  He works at Craig’s favorite music store.”

“He’s cute,”  Ava said.

“Yeah he is.  And he is really nice maybe too nice for Manny.  But the best part he’s in a band.  So the little tramp can have her own musician and leave mine alone.  Why didn’t I think of this sooner?”  Paige said beaming over her matchmaking.

******

About 45 minutes into the show Ellie started feeling worse.  She didn’t know if she could sit there much longer.  As the song they were playing ended Ellie stood up to tell Craig she needed to take a break.  Suddenly she was wet.  Oh god no, she thought.

“Craig, CRAIG!” Ellie screamed.

“What is it Ellie?” Jimmy who was closest asked.

“I…I think my water just broke,” she whispered.

“What I can’t hear you,” he said over the crowd.

“MY WATER BROKE!”

“Oh no.  Don’t move El”

Jimmy moved beside Craig, “Hey man we have to go”

“What are you talking about?” Craig asked as if Jimmy were crazy.

“It’s Ellie.  Let me see the mic.  Paige we need you up here,” Jimmy said into the mic. 

Everyone realized something was wrong then.  Marco ran to Ellie.  She didn’t answer when he called out to her.  He lifted her chin and saw the tears. 

“El its okay.  We’re going to take care of you just tell me what’s wrong.”

“My water broke.  It’s too early Marco.  It’s too early,” she cried.

“Oh El.  Just hold on its going to be okay,” he said hoping that it wasn’t a lie.

“Someone call an ambulance,” Craig yelled. 

When Ava heard this she pushed her way onto the stage.

“What’s happening?” She asked Paige. 

“Ellie,” was all Paige said.

Ava pushed past Paige and made her way to Ellie.  “What’s wrong?” she asked but then saw the puddle at Ellie’s feet.

“Your water broke.”

“I know.  My baby is going to die,”  Ellie said crying.

“Don’t say that El.  Cameron pick her up.  Let’s get her outside to wait for the ambulance.”

Cameron reached down and lifted Ellie into his arms.  She buried her face into his neck and gripped his shirt in her fingers.  As the pain that had been in her back all night moved to her stomach. 

Cameron felt her hand as it held his shirt and her nails began to dig into is chest.  He felt the liquid that had soaked her clothes began to seep through his.  He felt her body tense as her pain intensified.  But the worst he felt were her tears on his skin.  She was so small and light and she was terrified.  Did Ava feel this fear? He wondered.  A feeling of protectiveness filled him.  This girl hardly knew him yet she went straight into his arms.  It felt like she needed him.  And he embraced that feeling.  He wanted her to need him. 

“I’ll go with her,” Cameron said when they walked out the front doors just as the ambulance pulled up.

“It’s okay I’ll be okay,” Ellie said looking up at him. 

“I’ll go,” Ava said.

“No,” he answered.

Ellie didn’t argue with him.  She was too tired.  Ava didn’t either she didn’t want to waste any time. 

As the doors closed after Ellie was settled into the back she heard the woman beside her ask her questions.  She tried to answer but she just wanted to go to sleep and wake up to find this all a dream.  Ellie noticed heat in her left hand and realized that Cameron was holding it. 

“You’re holding my hand,” she said softly. 

“Is that okay?” He asked.

She squeezed his hand tighter and said, “Don’t let go.”