There are two words that mean the world to me for very specific reasons. Those two words are Hollywood and ending. Hollywood Ending was the absolute best thing that happened to me. Brown, red, blond and more brown, that’s what filled my days. Voices that sounded like an angel from the heavens, that’s what filled my ears. Their songs sounded like absolute happiness, and that’s what they gave me.

Nine concerts was the amount my best friend and I went to. Meeting them 8/9 times, they began to remember us throughout the two year period. Two Pennsylvania dates, four New Jersey dates, one New York date, one Virginia date, and one Maryland date. All of them were equally as amazing as the last. Racing to each one was one of my favorite parts. Running down the street, trying to find the ratty old venue they’d be playing at. Stopping to talk to all of our other exhausted friends, some band members, some not. One of them was Parker Wilson, one of Hollywood Ending’s member’s little brother.  We got bracelets from him and talked about how great his set was going to be, and moved on to get in line for the show.

We were always front row, at the barricade. Different colored shoes stepping all over ours, but we didn’t care one bit. We couldn’t wait for the room to go dark, to hear the fog machines starting and to see them sprint out with their guitars. Bright white smiles would appear across the faces of our friends and deafening screeches would be heard.

“I’m openin’ up, so don’t let me down!” was the first line we always heard from their mouths. It was the first song I’d ever heard from them, and it was one of my favorites. We may not had known about them for very long, but we knew every word to every song. We jumped with them, screamed the well-written lyrics and laughed when they made a joke or accidentally forgot a chord. The redheaded boy, Dan, always knocked over the mic stand, and we all giggled as he picked it back up.  It was always a great time.

One day, April, 21st, was the day a little part of my world came crashing down. They had announced that they had a big thing to tell us, and we were all hoping it was another tour. It wasn’t a tour though, it was the little fact that they were parting ways. We all spoke about it with teary eyes, hoping it was a cruel joke. It was no cruel joke, but a terrible reality. We went to three more shows, on the last tour before they officially split. Sobbing and ruining our makeup each time. Talking to Tyler was painfully hard.

“I’ve seen you guys around here for a hot minute, thank you for all of the support!” he said as I stayed silent. He asked what was wrong and I explained I was trying not to cry, and he told me it was okay, not to cry. In turn, it made me cry harder.

At the very last concert, we were very glum and it seemed like it took forever to get to the venue. We pulled up to the familiar venue in New Jersey, iPlay America, read the logo. We walked in and immediately started searching for Tyler, Dan and Cameron. Chris was back in his home country, England. We didn’t find them, but it was okay. It would have only made the mood more sad. We went into the room that the concert would be held in, and waited for them to go on stage. Once again, we talked to all of our other friends and cried a little with them. Once Hollywood Ending went on stage, we all smiled and sang along. This time it was different though, we all sang softly and slowly, paying more attention to their actions and savoring the moment. I noticed a few people crying, and it made me realize that this would be the last time I would see Hollywood Ending. I began to sob, holding onto my friends as I continued to sing, attempting to hold the tears back. It didn’t work.

Hollywood Ending was a huge part of my life and I will never forget them.