I glance at Alex, and she nods, so I pull the bass back to me and adjust the frets to how I like them.
“Do you know many James Arthur songs, Matt?” Gianna asks, and I glance at Alex with a smirk.
Did Alex know that’s what they’d be wanting to play tonight, and that’s why she was listening to him before we left to come here?
“Yeah, I know quite a few. When we tour, we do a few covers throughout our concerts, and James’ songs are always on our list. We actually met him when we were a backup band for12GAUGE-Slayedin the UK. James is a top guy,” I reply, and she nods and looks at Alex.
“Okay, well, so you know his song, “Rewrite The Stars”?” she asks.
I give a brief nod, trying to remember it. It’s got that slow, stripped-back melody that creeps under your skin. The harmonies hit hard, clean, and emotional. And the lyrics? Solid. Makes you feel like maybe fate’s a choice, not a curse.
“We’ll start with that. Then maybe we can play a Recoil song afterward?”
Chuckling, I nod. “Sure. I’m not much of a singer, though,” I tell them.
“All good, we got that part covered,” Gianna informs me and bangs her sticks together, counting us in.
The moment Gianna starts tapping out a rhythm on the makeshift drum, a steady beat fills the air. It’s raw and unpolished, but there’s something genuine about it—something that pulls me in. Her timing is solid, and her energy is infectious, setting the foundation for the rest of us.
I wait for her cue before sliding into the bass line, letting my fingers find their place on the Ibanez. The deep, resonant notes pulse through me, grounding the rhythm with a soul that only the bass can provide. A guitarist joins in, weaving a melody over the beat, and suddenly, the song begins to take shape—a harmony born out of nothing.
The sound washes over me, and I let it pull me under. My head moves in time with the music, my body instinctively following the rhythm. My fingers flow over the strings. Each note is a piece of me pouring into the melody. I close my eyes, letting the acoustic tones wrap around me like a warm blanket.
It’s been so long since I’ve played like this—stripped down, casual, unfiltered. The simplicity of it all tugs at something deep within me. It’s not about the roaring crowd or the stage lights—it’s about the connection, the purity of creating something with others in the moment.
And for the first time in a long time, I feel at peace.
With my eyes still closed, I lose myself in the blend of the instruments, the melody pulling me deeper into its rhythm. The first verse is about to start when a husky, sensual, yet hauntingly familiar voice cuts through the air. It hits me like a wave, stunning and unexpected. The voice is so mesmerizing, so achingly beautiful, that my fingers falter on the strings for a brief moment.
My eyes snap open, and through the flickering glow of the fire pit, I see her—Alex.
She’s the one singing.
I barely manage to keep playing as her voice carries through the night, rich and soulful, with a tone that wraps around every note and makes it her own. My breath catches, a quiet gasp escaping as I watch her. I had no idea—none—that she could sing like this.
Her voice is incredible—a talent that could easily sell records. It reminds me of Effa from Luminous, with that same husky depth that resonates in your chest and lingers in your soul. She’s captivating, and as she transitions into the chorus, her voice floats higher—delicate, controlled, almost falsetto. It takes my breath with it.
A few women join in as backup, their harmonies blending seamlessly, but my focus is locked on Alex. She’s fantastic, magnetic, and as her voice fills the space, it’s like the entire world fades away, leaving only her song and the spell it casts.
I’m utterly awed, caught somewhere between admiration and disbelief.
She’s even more amazing than I thought.
Alex sings the second verse, and she looks right at me. Our eyes lock, and it’s like the warmth of the fire burns and scorches right into my very soul. Or is it just the warmth I feel whenever I’m around Alex seeping through me tenfold? The intensity in her gaze is sending a shudder down my spine, making it difficult to remember I’m still playing my bass. My thoughts turn, thinking of my fingers strumming away at the strings as if I were gliding them along the sensitive skin of a beautiful woman.
Staring at Alex, with the music flowing through me, feels like euphoria. She’s so stunningly beautiful, and the way she’s watching me like she’s wondering…what the fuck am I thinking?I don’t even know.
I’m in a state of shock.
Alex astounds me, and the more I learn about her, the more every new detail makes me want to discover something else. I never want to stop learning new things about this incredible woman.
Alex half-smiles as it heads into the chorus, and that voice is like honey, belting out the lyrics about two people who were not meant to find each other, but fate had other plans, and though they’re fighting it, their love is written in the stars, and all I can do is breathe a little faster while watching her as her body moves with the rhythm of the song.
Tonight couldn’t have gone any better, and being here with Alex makes me realize just how good I have it. Sure, I might not have a woman on my arm, but every other aspect of my life ispretty fucking awesome. I’m in one of the world’s biggest rock bands. I have a great home and a supportive friend base. Being here has shown me that I really have it good in comparison to others, and I need to remember that.
Always.
Alex finishes up the outro, and the song draws to a close.
