Chapter 7

*The day of the competition*

I stood in front of my bathroom mirror, the tap was running, our pipes so shoddy that I could hear the water flowing through.

My confrontation with Zoey loomed over my every thought like a phantom.

"Zoey, are you okay in the head? Cause' you act like a fucking lunatic, you know? What, all this stuff about Drew going mad or something? Just tell me why you're out to get me."

"Hailey." She said, voice shaky.

"You already said that."

"No, that's not what I meant, Jake." Her fists clenched, tears beginning to form in her eyes.

"Then what? What do you mean, Zoey?"

"Drew likes Hailey..."

"What?"

"And so do I, Jake."

It was stupid, it made no sense, it was so perfectly human. 

In many ways, knowing what drove Zoey to do what she did made everything a little bit better. None of it was out of malice, it was out of love. I can understand love driving people crazy, hell, I don't think I've been all that sane for the past week either. 

But its also disturbing. 

The people I'd surrounded myself with since I was some scared kid in middle school were never honest with me. Drew claimed to hate music, but he didn't... I couldn't do the only thing I've ever dreamt about since I was a child because of some middle schooler's dumb crush.

Whatever, I don't have the time to think that hard about all of it. If I keep thinking, I'll remember how this week started, and I'm sure as hell not over that yet...

"Come on, Jake. Get your game face on." I muttered to myself, hastily splashing my face with cold water.

I didn't take my time washing up. The less time I have with my own head this morning, the better. 

I didn't slow down until I was out the front door, taking in the wonderfully stale fall air of the morning rush. My stomach rumbled, clearly about to skewer me for skipping breakfast, but I just didn't have the appetite. By all metrics, this morning was shaping up to be a sucky one, not the best omen for the most consequential day of my life. 

Right, game face. Gotta walk to school.

The chiding voices in my head got louder as I subconsciously tuned out all the cars and strangers. I could still feel Luke's words from the other day, the hurt fresh as an apple in October. 

Right as I was about to fall down in hole, I felt my phone buzz.

I quickly yanked my phone out of its clothen jail, eager for any and all respite at this point. It was Hailey, just checking in on me.

H: you wake up?

J: im walking to school rn

H: and i thought i'd have to go over there and wake you up

J: im so hurt, i thought you had more faith in me

H: you able to call real quick?

J: yeah

The second I saw the call come through, I answered. 

"Morning, Princess." 

"What did I tell you... Nevermind that, you sound off, Jake. You okay?" Hailey began exasperatedly, quickly morphing to concern.

No.

"No." I answered truthfully.

I gain nothing from lying to Hailey, in fact, she knows when I lie. I'd just get in more trouble for even trying.

"Yeah... It's been one of the weeks of all time... Good news though, you don't got to class today!"

"Mhm, that's the silver lining, I guess."

"Jake."

"Yeah?"

"Hang in there, okay?"

At some point, tears welled up in my eyes.

"Yeah, okay, I will..."

"Also, I'm sorry about yesterday, you were so shaken because of the Zoey thing, and I just sen't you off... I should've kept you with me, I'm sorry."

"Hailey, you had a paper to do, it's okay-"

"No, it's not. Screw papers, I should have been more concerned about you."

I couldn't help but laugh, the moisture in my eyes slowly but surely fading away. 

"Yes maam!" I jested, getting a small giggle from Hailey as well.

"Hey, you didn't make me a 'maam' quite yet! Ah, Zander's yelling at me. See you soon, Jake!"

I couldn't even say goodbye before she hung up.

I refocused my eyes on the world around me and quickly realized I'd made it to the station. It was only a short while from here to school, thankfully. 

I tried not to let my mind wander for the last little while. 

---

The second I got to school, it was a scramble. We had to load everything, save for the drum kit, into a van the school got for us, then find our own way to the venue which was a good 15 minutes away.

To put it bluntly, it was a miracle we managed to get ourselves and our stuff to the venue in one piece. 

Even though we made sure to pack everything up and load it, Hailey insisted on doing one final check at the venue, just to make sure. 

"Okay, do we have the piano?"

"I've got my piano." Zander confirmed, clutching the poor keyboard as if it was Luke.

"Acoustic bass?"

"We have all the guitars!" Milly screamed.

Hailey raised an eyebrow without even looking up from her checklist. 

"That's comforting, Milly, but do we really?"

"Yep, acoustic bass, electric guitar and the two acoustic guitars you insisted on bringing!"

"Great, that's all four then... Do we have the mic?"

"It's in my hand, Hails." I answered.

She looked up at me, a small smile gracing her perfect face, probably the first smile of the day at that.

"Amazing! And last but not least, Sean, do you have everything?"

"Everything present and accounted for, we're ready to go!" Sean practically beamed.

"Okay, let's head in then!" Hailey announced, herding us all like cattle into the packed concert hall. 

The place already looked filled to the brim on the outside, but on the inside? It was honestly incredible, the sheer droves of people made me shake with excitement. 

This, this is what I've been yearning for. 

Even while just standing there, waiting to register, I could feel the energy of the crowd. I could hear their cheers, the adrenaline that each moment sent flooding through me.

Hailey, however, was shaking. 

"Nervous, Princess?" I teased, earning me a piercing stare. 

"Obviously I'm nervous! Look at all the people Jake!" She whisper-yelled, though she'd finally stopped vibrating like a tuning fork. "Hailey, we've been practicing this for weeks, you've been preparing for literal months, you got this." I tried to reassure her, but pre-performance jitters can be a real killer. "But, what if I freeze up? What if I stumble over my words and-" I interrupted her overthinking by taking her hand, "Hailey, you've got it down pat, yesterday's rehearsal was perfect, just like the last ten have been. You got this, don't listen to your brain, it's being unreasonable right now. Just be like me, ignore the thing!" Hailey chuckled, "Well, not everyone's used to ignoring their brain, Peach Idiot." "Hey, I am not an idiot!" I exclaimed, earning the attention of everyone else. 

Zander, of course, wasted no time third-partying.

"You are by far the person with the least amount of foresight I have ever met in my entire life." He said, depressingly monotone as always.

"Says you, ZANDER!" I countered.

"Well, I'll have your peach-for-brains looking a-"

"Both of you, we're at the front of the line now." Sean chided.

Zander and I turned our heads nearly synchronously and realized we'd been arguing in front of a very kind and very tired looking employee who'd been waiting patiently for us to shove it.

"Hi, I need your school name and band name." The employee asked Sean as he was the most mature-looking out of the club. 

"Our school is Rosemeadow Secondary School, and our band name is... The Music Freaks."

"Okay... That is six of you, correct?"

"Yes, six of us."

"Here's six wristbands, they mark you as performers, try not to lose them!"

The lady handed Sean six of those adhesive paper wristbands, the same kind they give to kids at the pool to prove whether they can go in the deep end. 

"Thank you ma'am!"

"No problem, and good luck to you guys. NEXT!"

Since the lady was done with us, Sean led us out of the crowded registration area and into the slightly less densely packed atrium area. It was remarkably unremarkable. I mean, the building was very opulent, but the space we were in was just large and empty, which was probably the point...

Sean handed each of us a wristband.

"Alright guys, let's get these on then find our way to the waiting area for performers." Said Hailey, casually retaking leadership.

"Aye aye captain!" Milly screamed at the top of her lungs, drawing the gazes of people next to her.

"Milly."

"Come on Hailey, let me have some fun!"

"This is gonna be a long day..."

---

We spent hours just waiting around, building up our nerves, getting comfortable with the stage and with our fellow competitors. I didn't see anyone familiar, obviously, but it would've been comforting.

Honestly, the pressure is starting to get to me.

This is our shot, this is our first live performance, a time to make a name for ourselves.

This is it.

I'll say though, the weight of the show helped focus up my mind, shut out any unnecessary reminders.

And finally, it was time. 

"Look alive people, we're next." Luke muttered.

We were awkwardly standing with our instruments backstage, waiting for the band before us to finish. 

The competition was tough, everyone so far had been really good. There had been a variety of genres and subgenres, though most of the bands were pretty pop rock-y, very upbeat.

The format for the competition was weird as well, with each band having up to 12 minutes on stage to perform a cover and an original song. I guess the cover requirement was to see what we could do with songs that already existed, but I couldn't make much sense of it.

Since everyone was doing songs from artists like Taylor Swift, Weezer or even Lana Del Rey, with their originals in roughly the same neighborhood, I knew we had to switch it up.

Starlight is really similar to most everything people have played up till now, at least in the overall sound of it. If we want to keep the judge's and the crowd's attention, we need to have a major switch up in sound from original to cover. 

Of course, your truly already had a plan for exactly this.

"Guys, we need to switch up our cover." I whispered. I could see the colour drain out of everyone's faces, and rightfully so.

"Jake, you have to be kidding me. I'm sure we'll be fine with 'Wake Me Up'..." Hailey whisper-yelled, but I could tell she was slightly unsure.

"Look, remember how I made you guys practice that one song yesterday?"

"You want to play that one instead?"

"Please Hailey, I think it'll be the thing that sets us apart. Can you trust me on this?"

She sighed, all her romantic feelings for me clearly pushed aside so she could evaluate this as Madam President herself. 

"Fine, you all heard him. We're changing our plans. We'll still do original first and cover last though." 

Everyone was  bit too stunned to speak, but nobody had a better plan.

"We got this, we've been practicing for too long not to." I muttered to no-one in particular.

"Jake, are you nervous?" Apparently, Hailey was able to hear me. A smirk formed on my face, "Just like you, princess." Hailey snickered, "And here I was thinking you were Invincible... Seeing you nervous makes me feel a little better though, thanks." "Hey, anything for you, Hailey."

Her whole face turned scarlet and I could hear Milly gagging from eavesdropping on us. Before I could scold her though, we got called up by the MC.

"The Music Freaks? Come set up, curtain will open when you give me the signal."

Our setup went by in a flash, it took two minutes, tops. Granted, it was Sean's equipment that took pretty much all that time. 

Once he'd finished, Hailey gave the signal to the MC.

"Here goes nothing..." She mused, shooting me a panicked glance.

"Hey, you got this. You're the best at what you do Hails, just imagine we're at rehearsal again."

She gave me a small nod and took a deep breath with her whole body. Her tension was definitely still bad, but she was gonna be fine, of course she was. 

Hailey's the best singer I know.

"And now, from Rosemeadow Secondary School... The Music Freaks!"

I looked at Hailey and gave her a nod, it was our sign.

It meant 'introduce the song'.

"This one is an original song, it's called Starlight."

Then, it was a click of the drumsticks. 1, 2, 3-

4.

https://youtu.be/gHkxjqRB66M

Lately when I see my reflectionStaring at me, I don't recognize who's insideGuess I'll wait for the day whenI don't feel so out of place in this townSafe and soundI'm stuck in a cycle I can't break

Now somethin' has to change

I looked over at Hailey again, she was frozen in time, like Dialga had gotten to her or something. Our eyes met, she looked back at the crowd, and got in the zone.

I was never meant for the starlightWhat if I tried, I could shatter the stratosphereNothing can stop me now, I'll ride on wild horses

There's nowhere too far away in outer space, nothing can stop me now

Now that I waited foreverGreat moments slipped through my fingers many timesToo many timesI won't waste anymore secondsPut the rock that I keep in my arms on the ground

It's weighing me down

The feelings are always brave even though I'm still afraidI was never meant for the starlightWhat if I tried, I could shatter the stratosphere

Nothing can stop me now

I'll ride on wild horsesThere's nowhere too far away in outer spaceNothing can stop me nowI'll break the chains that kept me on the floorI'll walk away, won't hold back anymoreA grand escape I'll make from myself and I

From myself and I 

I was never meant for the starlightWhat if I tried, I could shatter the stratosphereNothing can stop me nowI'll ride on wild horsesThere's nowhere too far away in outer space

Nothing can stop me now 

Nothing can stop me now

I'll ride on wild horsesThere's nowhere too far away in outer spaceNothing can stop me now

For a second, there was nothing, then there was applause, cheering, the whole nine yards. It was everything I had imagined and more. Adrenaline coursed through me like blood. I could see some familiar faces in the audience. My parents were right up front, Milo too stunned to act up. I could see Daisy in the third row, she was one of the few people standing up and whooping like a crazy person.

Then, someone I didn't expect to see.

Fifth row, Zoey, Lia, Drew. Henry and Liam were in the seventh row. 

I let every negative thought I had over the last week back into my mind, wash over me like a wave and try to pull me under.

I knew I'd need it.

Once the crowd had died down a little bit, I looked around me. Everyone had taken up their places for the cover. Hailey had her bass, Zander got on a guitar, and Sean shut off his equipment in favour of the other backup acoustic guitar Hailey brought on impulse.

And thank whoever above that she did. 

I looked over at Hailey, she gave me a nod.

Next song.

"This one's Nutshell." 

Then, the click of the sticks. 1, 2, 3-

4. 

https://youtu.be/G23iLGhh9lo

I took a deep breath, mentally readied myself. When the time came for vocals to start, I glanced at Hailey and we began in unison, with her harmonizing . 

We

Chase misprinted lies

We

Face the path of time

And yet I fight, and yet I fight

This battle all alone

No one to cry to

No place to call home

Ooh

Ooh-ooh

Ooh

Ooh-ooh

My

Gift of self is raped

My

Privacy is raked

And yet I find, and yet I find

Repeating in my mind

If I can't be my own

I'd feel better dead

Ooh

Ooh-ooh

Ooh

Ooh-ooh

Afterwards, the instruments spoke for themselves. I couldn't help but look at the fifth row, the expressions on their faces unreadable.

That or maybe all the stress was finally cooking my brain.

Then finally, the song ended, that last note lingering through a dead silent auditorium.

Then, there was another moment of silence.

Then another.

It was suffocating.

And then, applause. Cheering. Whooping.

Just like we rehearsed, everyone gave a big bow as the curtains closed on us and the MC gave final remarks.

"And that, folks, was The Music Freaks!"

The crowd only intensified. 

As we hastily grabbed all our equipment and ran of stage, I could feel my entire body shaking. Why? I could not tell you.

All I knew is that I wanted to go back up there so badly that it almost killed me.

Nobody said a word while we walked all the way around backstage area to where we were before and waited patiently for the results to be announced. Luckily, it wasn't long since we were the last band to go. 

"First off, let's get a round of applause for all of our performers here today, everyone gave it their all and it was really impressive seeing what everyone could do!"

The whole venue erupted like a volcano with claps, but nobody was cheering.

"In third place... the Creeps from Castlemore!"

Applause, they got their bronze medals, they got off stage.

It could still be us.

"And in second place... the Westdale Music Club from Westdale!"

Applause, the got their silver trophy, they got off stage.

It could still be us.

"And in first place..."

I felt Hailey grip my hand, her knuckles already white.

"The Music Freaks from Rosemeadow!"

"WE DID IT!" I screamed.

"YEAHHHHH!" Milly whooped.

"OH MY GOD!" Hailey gushed.

"No way... No way..." Zander chanted in disbelief.

"I knew we'd do it!" Sean cheered.

"Thank the lord...!" Luke groaned.

The crowd went crazy, the whole place sounded like a South Asian wedding. We all ran up there like Milly, in other words, we ran up like psychopaths and Hailey grabbed the trophy. I barely remember what happened, but apparently Sean and I picked Hailey up and she raised the trophy up above us all.

It was the second happiest moment of my life up to that point. 

And so, everything that had happened since Monday, all of the conniving, the unwanted information, betrayals... I had burn bridges, nearly compromise both old and new relationships. Hell, I even had to write a Ms. Jackson parody to appease Zander...

But, it was all worth it.

We'd done it.

It took blood, sweat, and tears. It took countless hours of practice, writing, arguing with Zander. It was just about the hardest thing I'd ever done, but god, did it make me feel like nothing else. 

Somewhere in the back of my mind, behind all of the elation, reality was nagging me. Reminding me of those people in the fifth row, how strained my relationship with Luke had become, how many people I'd hurt.

And yet, in the moment, none of that mattered. 

In spite of everything, because of everything.

We won. 

That's the end.

I may write an epilogue, probably not though.

Hey, at least I finished this after 2 years!