Author's Note:

Lyrics are to the Tenth Avenue North version of We Three Kings, which is in the public domain.

Chapter 3 – We Three Kings:

The next day, I went to concert practice. Todd tagged along to give me support.

"Oh! Nicole, you're just in time," Miss Lapis said. Luckily, she wasn't wearing her ugly sweater this time.

"Well, I'm here. Where do you need me to stand?" I asked.

"Just sit down over there for now. I'll give you the sheet music you'll need in a minute." Miss Lapis said, then walked out of the room.

There were about fifteen other students in the room, most of them in the choir. A few others were in the band. Kion was there, as well.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't Little Miss Cop and her boyfriend," Kion said as he walked up to me and Todd.

"Leave me alone, Kion," I said.

Kion was Noah Simba's son. He's just as bad as his dad at being specist, who is a cop himself, and very mad my dad is chief. Kion is also the school bully, and a solo guitarist in his own band.

"Or what? Go home crying to Chief Daddy?" Kion made a pouty face. "Ooh, I'm so scared!"

"She said leave her alone," Todd said, standing up to face the much larger mammal.

"And what'll you do, little guy?"

"I'll show you the dark side of a male fox."

Fear flashed across Kion's face for a second, then he grumbled and went back to his seat.

Just then, Miss Lapis entered. "Alright, students. I have the sheets for each of you." She started handing each student a few sheets of paper. When she got to me, she handed me and Todd sheets.

"Oh, I'm sorry, but I'm just here with Nicole. I'm not singing," Todd said.

"Can you sing?" Miss Lapis asked.

"Well, yeah, but—"

"You're in!" Miss Lapis said with a smile. "You play guitar, right, Nicole?"

"Yes."

"You can play guitar with Kion during the instrumentals we'll do."

"Great," I said, glancing at Kion, who winked at me. I just rolled my eyes.

Miss Lapis walked off to hand out the rest of the sheets. Todd nudged me in the arm. "I guess we're in this together, right?"

"I guess so," I said, wondering how on earth I'd be able to do this, but it seems even more possible since Todd would be up there with me.

"Alright, students!" Miss Lapis said. "Everyone get onto the stage."

Once everyone was on stage, Miss Lapis had the ones with the solo sheets to step forward. As it turned out, only me and Todd were soloists!

"Wait, what?" I asked. "Where are the other soloists?"

"You two are the only ones who volunteered," Miss Lapis said. "Now we're going to start with We Three Kings, with Todd leading, Nicole and the choir doing backup.

Todd breathed deep as the music started. I winked at him and mouthed "You'll be great."

We three kings of Orient are,
Bearing gifts, we traverse afar.
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.

Born a king on Bethlehem's plain,
Gold I'll bring to crown Him again,
King forever, ceasing never,
Over us all to reign.

I took a deep breath as I started to sing along with Todd.

Star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright.
Westward leading, still proceeding.
Guide us to thy perfect light.

Todd sang the next verse with me echoing him.

Glorious now, behold him arise (Behold him arise),
King and God and sacrifice,
Alleluia (Alleluia), Alleluia (Alleluia),
sounds through the earth and sky.

I sang the chorus along with Todd like before.

Ooh, ooh,
Star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright.
Westward leading, still proceeding.
Guide us to thy perfect light.

Oh, I'm gonna need, gonna need some perfect light.
Yeah, I'm gonna need, gonna need, some perfect light.
I'm gonna need.

Next, the choir started singing alone.

Let your light shine, let your light.
Let your light shine, let your light.

"Stop! Stop! Stop!" Miss Lapis said, stopping the music. "It's not right. I don't know what, but something is wrong with this song."

"John was dragging a bit," said one of the choir members.

"That's part of it, but something's wrong." Miss Lapis started chewing on a carrot, then shrugged her shoulders. "Meh. We'll try again tomorrow. Practice dismissed."

I gathered up my papers and started walking out the door with Todd right behind me. But then, as I half expected, Miss Lapis called for me. "Nicole, would you come here?"

"Yes, Miss Lapis?" I said. Kion was standing next to her.

"You both know of Trans-Siberian Orchestra, right?" Miss Lapis said.

"Yes," we both said.

"We'll be doing two of their songs before the singing. We'll do Christmas Eve/Sarajevo and Wizards In Winter. Sound good?"

"And I'll do the shredding, right?" Kion asked.

"Yes, Kion. You will do lead."

"Yes!"

"Nicole, you play electric, too, right?"

"Yeah, I do."

"You'll do rhythm."

"Great."

"See you two tomorrow."

I walked out of the room behind Kion. Todd was waiting outside the door. "What was that about?" he asked.

"I'm going to play a rock song in front of everyone, too."

"Isn't your dad a big classic, hard, and nu rock fan?"

"Yeah, so?"

"I think Miss Lapis just wants to please your parents."

"Oh my gosh! It makes so much sense! The sweater, me singing, the TSO, it has to be true!"

"Anyways, how about you and me go for a drive in the countryside. It's beautiful this time of year."

"I'd like that," I said as I laid my head on Todd's shoulder as we walked out to my car.