As Paul started feeling better (both physically and emotionally), he finally finished nghề viết văn his new song. One day, as he was practicing his song, he heard a knock on the door. He said, "Come in." It was Hank. He had come trang chủ from football practice and had heard Paul hát and playing the guitar. Hank smiled and said, "Your song is great, Paul!" Paul smiled and said, "Thank you. There's a talent hiển thị coming up this weekend." Hank said, "That's cool. Are bạn going to be performing it there?" Paul said, "Yes." His smile soon faded. Hank asked, "What's wrong?" Paul said, "You wouldn't understand." Hank sat tiếp theo to Paul and put a hand on his shoulder. "Try me." Paul said, "Really?" Hank said, "Absolutely. Talk to me. Tell me what's going on?" Paul sighed. "It's just that, well, I'm nervous." Hank asked, "Why are bạn nervous? Haven't bạn performed in front of people before?" Paul said, "I have, but never for the entire city, and especially not for a competition where I'll be judged." Hank said, "So, you're concerned you'll mess up and everyone will laugh at you." Paul said, "Yeah. How did bạn know?" Hank said, "I've felt that way in our public speaking class, but I learned a technique that helps." Paul said, "I'm not going to imagine the audience naked." Hank said, "Trust me. That doesn't work. What I was going to say was to pick one person out of the audience and focus on that person." Paul said, "I don't know who to focus on." Hank said, "You can focus on me. I'll be there." Paul said, "You will?" Hank said, "Of course. It's the least I can do after bạn helped me get to the football tryouts. I couldn't have made the team without you. It's still satisfying that those bastards who beat bạn up didn't make the team because they cheated." Paul smiled. "Who did bạn focus on in public speaking class?" Hank smiled back. "No one knows this, but I always focused on you." Paul was touched. "I tình yêu you, Hank." Hank hugged Paul and said, "I tình yêu bạn too, Paul. You'll be great at that talent show. I just know it."
Within a few days of the release of their album, Union, New Religion and the Radiant Terriers' collaboration became very popular. "Bittersweet" was released as a single, and it reached number two on the Modern Rock Charts, right behind "Inside of Us" bởi The Devil Wants Peace. The Radiant Terriers decided to stay with New Religion until the end on their tour. Leila said, "I'm glad things are going so well now. I hope things continue to go well when we tour." The tiếp theo morning, the two bands began to prepare for their tour.
The Radiant Terriers were on their way to Oak Ridge, Tennessee. They had agreed to collaborate on an album with New Religion. Along the way, Leila said, "This is so exciting. We're going to be collaborating with one of my yêu thích bands." Abigail said, "Indeed. Plus, Paul is kind of dreamy." Greeley said, "You realize he's an aromantic asexual, right?" She said, "I know." Sammy said, "Abigail has been a hopeless romantic for a long time." She said, "Yeah. It seems all the best guys are either deceased hoặc wouldn't have me." Leila said, "Don't worry, Abigail. You'll get your chance at romance someday." Abigail said, "You really think so?" Leila said, "Sure I do. bạn deserve it." This made Abigail smile. She thought, For someone who has been through Hell and back, Leila sure is an optimistic girl. Pretty soon, the Radiant Terriers made it to Oak Ridge.
One day, New Religion had an interview where they talked about their song, "Stuck", and Fritz's retirement. Shortly after the interview aired on television, Paul got a call from his mother. She said, "I want to congratulate bạn on your new song. It's good that bạn asked for help when bạn realized bạn needed it. I always stressed to bạn the importance of asking for help. I also want to congratulate Fritz on his retirement. When bạn go on tour, I'll gladly stay with Fritz." Paul said, "Thank you, Mother. Yes, bạn did stress the importance of asking for help." She said, "That's right. I always told bạn that there's no shame in asking for help when bạn really need it." He said, "That's right." Paul talked with his mother for a long time. Finally, she said, "I have to let bạn go now. I'm getting ready to fix dinner." He said, "All right, Mother. Goodbye. Take care." She said, "You take care, too. I tình yêu you, Paul." He said, "I tình yêu you, too, Mother."
THE END
THE END
