Chapter 23

The crowd erupted into cheers the moment they saw who was about to perform, the excitement stirring the air. Sienna's heartbeat quickened, matching the energy of the room.

"Breathe, Sien," Mia said with a teasing grin, noticing how tense Sienna had become while her eyes stayed fixed on Riley. "We get it, your girlfriend's cool," Mia added, shrugging. "No surprise she's a total chick magnet."

Sienna rolled her eyes and nudged Mia playfully, though the butterflies in her stomach refused to settle. On stage, there were four performers. Nyx stood at the center, bass in hand and ready to take on the role of both bassist and vocalist. Harriet occupied the left corner behind her keyboard, while Anne was perched behind the drums at the back, setting the rhythm. And there, on the right side of the stage, was Riley. Her electric guitar hung coolly on her back as she knelt down, adjusting her guitar pedal with focused precision.

Sienna shifted in her seat, crossing her legs and leaning slightly into Mia. Absentmindedly, she bit down on her second knuckle, trying to calm her racing heart. She gulped as her gaze fixed on Riley—who, with effortless cool, was testing her equipment. What is happening to me? Sienna thought, feeling as though her pulse was trying to outpace the growing excitement in the room. She just looks so... incredible.

Riley stood up, her fingers lightly brushing the strings of her guitar as she tested a strum. The sound echoed through the hall, drawing cheers from the audience. A wireless mic was fixed discreetly at the corner of Riley's cheek, while mic stands were positioned in front of the performers, ready for their voices to fill the space.

Sienna's heartbeat refused to slow down. Riley wasn't just about to perform—she was about to take command of the stage, and Sienna knew, without a doubt, that she was going to be mesmerized.

Riley tapped the microphone in front of her, giving the strings of her guitar a slow strum. She leaned in slightly, a playful smirk on her lips. "I'm working late, 'cause I'm a singer," she teased, borrowing a lyric as the audience erupted into cheers. Riley laughed, holding up a hand to shush the crowd, though her grin remained wide.

Harriet and Nyx exchanged amused glances, shaking their heads with laughter. It was clear Riley had a natural talent for keeping the energy up and entertaining the crowd.

"Good afternoon, everyone!" Nyx greeted them once they had finished setting up. "We're Rebel Anthem, and we hope you enjoy our performance for this afternoon!"

As Riley started to strum her guitar, a catchy party melody filled the hall. Nyx's voice followed, carrying the upbeat tune, and the room buzzed with excitement as the band's energy swept over the audience. Cheers erupted as the instruments came together, creating a lively, irresistible rhythm.

Sienna couldn't take her eyes off Riley, who moved with effortless grace, swaying to the beat as if the music were flowing through her. Riley's slow, subtle dance with her guitar—her body attuned to the pulse of the song—made Sienna's heart race all over again. She watched as Riley lost herself in the performance, the joy in her movements visible, and Sienna couldn't help but smile.

The hall had transformed, alive with music and energy, and in the midst of it all, Riley was the magnetic force holding Sienna's attention completely.

In the fourth part of their performance, during a captivating riff solo, Riley's electric guitar suddenly snapped a string, cutting her middle finger in the process. She felt the sting but maintained her composure, a professional even in the face of the incident.

Nyx, ever perceptive, quickly signaled to the crew for a replacement string while continuing to sing. Riley glanced at her sister, giving a thumbs-up to reassure her that she was alright, even as a thin line of blood began to bead from her finger. She forced a smile, determined to stay in tune despite the inconvenience.

Sienna couldn't help but notice something was off. Riley was still dancing smoothly, but the sight of blood trickling down her hand made her stomach drop. "What happened?" Mia leaned in, still swaying to the music but her brow furrowed with concern.

"I don't know," Sienna replied, her eyes darting between Mia and Riley. "It looks like Riley's bleeding." Just then, one of the crew members darted onstage, crouching to remain inconspicuous as he rushed to assist.

Riley accepted the equipment with a practiced ease, her energy unshaken. She continued to sway and sing, a picture of resilience as she opened up a new string for her guitar.

"Come on, Rile!" Nyx encouraged, ad-libbing as she sang. Riley chuckled softly, quickly removing the broken string and deftly attaching the new one. Thankfully, they had brought extra supplies. Just before the second riff kicked in, Riley managed to secure the new string and slipped back into the rhythm, drawing cheers from the audience.

"How the hell can she do that?" Sienna marveled, captivated by Riley's performance. It felt as if Riley had cast a spell over the crowd with her presence and energy.

As the fourth song came to a close, Nyx turned to Riley with a grin. "Alright, everyone, Riley here has given herself a bit of a wound." Riley raised her hand, blood trickling down her fingers and forearm, yet she laughed as if it were all part of the show.

"Can you still play?" Nyx asked, concern mingling with sisterly love.

Riley nodded, still smiling through the pain. "Yeah, sure," she replied, panting slightly but unbothered. Most of the audience had their phones out, recording the moment, while Mia was busy live-streaming, her excitement noticeable. Sienna chuckled, amused by Mia's fangirl enthusiasm.

"Alright, you say so," Nyx responded, stepping off the stage to get closer to the audience. Riley followed, her guitar in tow, all while checking her finger.

Nyx approached Riley, assessing her sister's injury. She pulled out a tissue and wiped the blood from Riley's hand and arms, her care apparent. "Ready, Riley?"

"Whenever you are, Nyx," Riley replied, bracing herself for the final act.

"Alright, hit it!" Nyx snapped, and the music surged back to life with an infectious energy. Anne's drumming and Riley's strumming blended into an exhilarating rhythm. Riley danced along with the beat, her hands playfully tracing down her neck and chest, teasing the crowd.

As Riley and Nyx sang together, Sienna was taken aback by Riley's boldness. The audience cheered, caught up in the electric atmosphere. Sienna glanced at Riley's parents, who were smiling and laughing, enjoying their daughters' performance.

"Wow, Riley's such a tease!" Mia exclaimed, laughter bubbling from her as she focused her phone on the stage.

Both sisters moved closer, dancing face to face, their bodies swaying in sync. "What the hell," Sienna gasped, unable to believe her eyes.

Riley caught her gaze while singing, "Give me your love, make it true, or else forget about it." At the last line, she walked back, flipping her hair dramatically, while lost in her solo riffs.

"What the fuck..." Sienna whispered, her heart racing as she processed the electrifying spectacle unfolding before her.