Slowly, Ollie lifted his head from his arms, searching for Ronan's outline in the thick, inky darkness of the night. It wasn't hard to spot him—those bright eyes of Ronan's shone even in the shadows, twinkling like stars. Whether it was writing "Born This Way," performing at the Full Moon Party, negotiating with Scooter, or belting out "Chasing the Light" on a wooden table, Ronan's eyes always sparkled. The light deep in his pupils never dimmed, glowing with a steady brilliance.
"Ronan."
Ollie's voice came back to him, hoarse and tinged with hesitation, a soft call as if he feared waking some sleeping demon.
"Hm?" Ronan's tone lifted slightly at the end, a gentle acknowledgment.
But Ollie couldn't quite gather his thoughts. The air fell quiet, the darkness reclaiming the cramped space as its ruler. It was a long while before Ollie found his voice again.
"What if… I really turn into that demon and ruin the last shred of hope we have?" Hesitantly, he let slip his deepest fear.
A low chuckle came from Ronan in the dark—not mocking, but a relaxed, easy laugh, as if it were the simplest question in the world. "Don't worry. You know I'm always here. You can call on me anytime, and I'll fight alongside you, shoulder to shoulder."
Then, Ronan's voice rose into song, ringing out beside Ollie's ear: "Through the wind, through the rain, maybe dreams will break apart. Keep going! Keep going! With the hope deep in your heart! You'll never walk alone! Keep going! Keep going! With the hope deep in your heart! You'll never walk alone!"
From soothing to upbeat, calm to lively, the energetic tune burst forth with a rhythm clapped out by his hands. It was bold and stirring, the kind of sound that swept you up and set your blood pumping.
Ollie froze, his head full of question marks. "…Is this… Liverpool?"
The song was famously known as the anthem of England's Liverpool Football Club—"You'll Never Walk Alone."
As a song, it started back in 1945 as a number from a musical. It gained fame through covers by legends like Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley. Then, in 1963, English musicians reworked it, and it took off at Anfield Stadium, gradually becoming a beloved staple for Liverpool fans—and eventually the official anthem of the iconic football club.
But… Liverpool's anthem? Here? Now?
Ollie felt like he was drowning in question marks.
Even without looking, Ronan could picture the baffled look on Ollie's face perfectly. He burst into cheerful laughter. "The literal meaning, dummy."
You'll never walk alone.
It was that simple, that straightforward. Ollie got it instantly, brushing off the goosebumps on his arms in mock protest. "Ronan! Ronan Cooper! Can you talk like a normal person, please? We're not filming High School Musical here—what's with breaking into song out of nowhere? Does Alice know you're like this?"
"Hahaha!" Ronan let out a full, hearty laugh, the sound bouncing around in his chest.
Ollie grumbled like he was annoyed, but a smile crept back onto his face. Watching Ronan laugh so freely in the dark, he couldn't help but join in, half-exasperated, half-amused. Warmth flowed through his chest, and the weight pressing down on his shoulders seemed to ease up, just a little.
"Ronan, I'm serious," Ollie protested again, though the laughter in his voice betrayed him, his taut nerves loosening slightly.
"Ollie, I'm serious too," Ronan shot back, trying to sound stern. But the leftover giggles in his throat undermined his effort, and he couldn't help chuckling again. That set Ollie off too, and soon they were both laughing like idiots.
They kept at it, giggling over nothing, unable to stop. The night's chill and sharpness softened around them.
Finally catching his breath, Ronan rubbed his stiff cheeks and sore abs—pretty sure that's how you get a six-pack—and found his voice again, a little raspy. "Ollie, you know no matter what happens, I'm here. Whatever demon it is—Sauron, Voldemort, you name it—we'll face it together."
What could've been a touching moment turned funny with Ronan's phrasing, and Ollie couldn't hold back another laugh.
This time, Ronan just grinned without laughing aloud and kept going. "I was serious about singing 'You'll Never Walk Alone' too."
"Serious? Serious about what? Staging High School Musical?" Ollie jumped in with a quick jab.
Ronan chuckled again but didn't let it derail him. "I mean, you should take all those thoughts, those feelings, and write them down. Ollie, you haven't forgotten our dream, right? Remember what we said about creating after the Full Moon Party?"
"From the heart," Ollie replied without even thinking, the words spilling out naturally.
Ronan gave a small nod. "Write it all down—the good, the bad, turn it into notes. It's a way to let it out. Music's how we connect with the world, how we express ourselves. You should capture it, honestly."
That was the whole point of keeping up the road tour. Ronan truly believed Ollie and Maxim had real talent as creators—not the worthless trash Scooter made them out to be. They just needed to find their own way to say it.
That's all.
Especially after tonight, Ronan was even more convinced Ollie could do it. Artists often draw inspiration from their emotions—especially the dark, messy ones. Disasters, pain, scars—they're the perfect breeding ground for ideas. Suffering has a way of birthing great art.
Ronan knew it firsthand. "Born This Way" and "Chasing the Light" were proof of that.
Now, he hoped Ollie could find the courage to start creating again.
Since the Full Moon Party, Maxim had kept at it, trying nonstop. But Ollie? He'd pretty much given up. He didn't show it, but you could feel his unease.
Maybe tonight could be the turning point.
But Ollie still hesitated. He didn't say anything, didn't respond to Ronan's encouragement—just stayed quiet. He needed more time.
Note 1: "You'll Never Walk Alone" (Gerry & The Pacemakers)