"Only two day's left until the competition, are you nervous yet?" I asked Natsume on Thursday evening after lessons.
"Nope, thought any more about dropping out? It's not too late" he reminded me.
"Nope," I said grinning.
"Fine"
"Fine."
He sat on the couch exhausted. He sighed heavily. Normally I would tease him around this time but he looked really depressed.
"What's up?" I asked. "Nerves getting the better of you?" I couldn't resist!
He frowned at me, "Nah you wish!"
"What then?" I asked, genuinely curious.
"Nothing"
"Tell me"
"It's nothing!"
I stared at him in disbelief.
"It's just that…"
"Yes?" I prompted.
"Well a friend of mine won't believe me when I tell him something. How can I make him believe me?"
"Believe you about what? You're going to have to be blunter" I told him.
He sighed, "It doesn't matter"
"It does matter! You're no fun to tease like this. All you do is glare, you don't argue back anymore"
"Maybe I've just grown up a bit"
We both looked at each other for a second and burst into fits of laughter.
"Okay maybe not…" he laughed.
I waited expectantly.
He put on a serious face, "Okay so you know Luna?"
I thought back. Ah chav almighty. "Yeah I know her"
"Well she's been going out with a friend of mine for two years now and all that time – and a bit before then too – she's been flirting with me and asking me out non stop. She even tried to kiss me and when I told my friend, he didn't believe me and he said I was jealous. How can I make him see?" he asked.
I bit my lip. She tried to kiss Natsume…Stupid bitch!
"How many times have you told him about her?" I asked.
"More than I can count" he said.
"Oh that can't be that much then"
He glared at me.
"Sorry, couldn't help myself. Well I think; if he's ignored you for all this time, then he deserves this. He'll find out soon enough and when he does that's his problem. You did all you could do. Besides, it won't be long now; she's not exactly the cleverest tool in the box."
He smiled and put his arm around me awkwardly. I gave him a reassuring hug.
That night, I slept peacefully for the first night in longer than I could remember. It was a dreamless night but that's a good thing; my dreams are always weird and end up confusing me the morning after.
The next morning, Natsume's alarm clock woke me up as usual. I got up out of the mattress and went to brush my teeth.
I caught a glimpse of Natsume on my way down; he looked as if he'd had rough night. I smiled apologetically at him.
Natsume was quiet all morning, he didn't even shout at me for taking too long in the bathroom. How I used to hate that, now, I almost wished he would.
We went to breakfast separately as usual and I sat with Hotaru, quietly munching on some cereal even though I wasn't particularly hungry.
"What's wrong?" she asked after about three minutes of silence. I didn't say anything. All that was audible was the cling of my spoon against my plate and my slow, apathetic chews.
"Pissed off" I said monosyllabically after a short, uncomfortable silence.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
I shook my head.
"Okay" she said and she left it there; that is one thing I really love about her - she knows when best to keep her mouth shut.
After breakfast, Hotaru and I walked over to Mr Fedrick's room together. We were a bit late but I knew he wouldn't really mind. He was probably busy shouting at his early-morning tutoring pupil anyway.
Mr Fedrick decided to give me the day off practise so I could rest my voice for tomorrow – meaning everyone had to attend his lesson today. He probably wanted to win even more than I did. And I really wanted to win.
Not surprisingly, everybody was already there – even Natsume who was leaning against a wall casually. I heard Luna's voice and turned to look in her direction.
"Hey!" she beamed and she walked up to Natsume.
He ignored her.
"How are you babe?" she asked touching his chest gently with her too-long (fake) finger nails.
Again, he ignored her; she wasn't put off though and she didn't seem to care that a whole crowd of people was watching her.
She pressed him against the wall with one hand and unbuttoned his shirt with the other.
"Get off you slag!" he yelled, pushing her back.
She smiled and licked her lips, "You're so hot when you're angry" she whispered.
God does this girl ever give up? Doesn't she understand the term: not interested? What a cow.
Natsume glared at her. She glared back falsely, pretending to be angry "grr!" she said snapping her hand forward like a tiger.
The door opened and I heard a snapping sound.
"Ouch!" I heard Luna's voice cry.
Everybody gathered around. "What's wrong? Are you okay?" even Natsume checked it out looking slightly concerned.
She was crying hysterically and clasping her fingers tightly.
"Is it your hand?" one of her closest friends asked.
Even I stepped closer to examine the damage.
"Should I call the nurse?" Mr Fed asked, not sounding very concerned.
"I…I broke my nail!" she cried.
A loud groan came through the crowd. "Is that it? Sheesh, I thought you'd broken your fingers or something" someone said.
One of her friends shot the person a glare, "It's serious. Losing nails is painful!"
"No listening to you is painful" Mr Fed groaned and the rest of the class laughed in agreement.
Luna got up and walked away, her tear-stained face looking ugly for the first time.
I almost pitied her but I couldn't. I mean come on, a nail? Pfft... I cried less when I accidentally stabbed my leg with a butcher's knife.
Grr… one day; one day, I will sort that cow out I vowed.
The rest of the day went pretty quickly. Before I knew it, it was time to go to bed and when I woke up, I would have to get through the competition.
I slept okay; it was a dreamless night again.
When I woke and caught my reflection in the mirror, my eyes widened.
My hair was all over the place, sticking up at all angles. I tried to make a run for the bathroom before Natsume saw me but it was locked.
"Damn it Natsume, the one day I want you to wake up late, you wake up early. You hate me don't you?" I asked with mock outrage.
"Well I need to look my best for the competition. They take photos of the winner you know"
"Oh. Sorry you're right. In that case, take your time, you're going to need all the time you can get to try and make yourself look the slightest bit decent"
"Don't worry I'm done" he said smiling at me as he walked past.
"Well you're in a good mood today aren't you?"
"Yes I am."
"Oh, you haven't looked in the mirror yet"
"I know you lust over me really. I make your bed wet every night"
"Heh, yeah, because you haunt my nightmares!"
"Love me or hate me, you still think about me" Natsume countered.
I laughed - he can really put up a good argument!
"Good luck" I wished him as it was time to leave.
"Aww don't worry about me; keep all your luck to yourself. Besides I realised something last night"
"What's that?"
"It's not about winning; it's about making a statement."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" I asked confused.
"You'll see" he said chuckling darkly.
I narrowed my eyes at him suspiciously, "I'm watching you" I warned him.
He laughed, "I'm counting on that" and he stormed ahead of me, into the grand hall.
When I got to the hall it was packed, everybody had come to see the competition and I mean everybody. I sat in the front row where the other contestants sat. "Are you nervous?" Mr Fed asked me when he spotted me.
"Nope" I answered honestly.
"Good, because you can win this. I know it" he said patting me on the back and walking over to the side where the other teachers sat.
I saw him talk to a lady next to him and point at me, I tried to ignore him so I spoke to the scene girl next to me.
"Hey"
"Hi"
"You in the competition?" I asked my voice barely audible over the loud chatter of the crowd.
"Yeah, I'm singing solo. You?"
"Same"
"Oh, well good luck!" she said smiling warmly.
"Thanks, you too" I said smiling back.
"Okay Ladies and Gentlemen, quiet please"
It took a while but soon all the chatter hushed down. Then the nerves kicked in. Oh crap, what am I doing? What am I thinking?! Everyone's gonna laugh at me!
I tried to ignore the nervous feeling in my stomach as one of the teachers announced the rules and procedures of the competition.
"No lip synching, No talking when someone is singing, cheering for everyone before and after their performance no matter how good or bad…" blah blah blah…
"First up, please welcome to the stage Jennah and Conner singing 'No air'"
There was a loud moment of applause and when the music started, everyone quietened down.
Jennah and Conner sounded amazing, their song was great and their voices fitted together perfectly.
It was clear they were a couple and they made a very cute couple at that.
Once they were done, a big round of applause came from the crowd and they both bowed and left the stage hurriedly.
I clapped in the right places but couldn't concentrate properly on the next singers and their songs.
I glanced up when I heard Luna's name being called by the announcer.
This I had to see.
She strutted on stage confidently, as if on a catwalk and she stood in between her two friends. They were all dressed like supermodels.
Luna, with her perfect eyes, perfect hair and perfect make up, wearing an incredibly flashy, expensive-looking, way too short dress, her blond hair floating delicately on her shoulders. She looked as plastic as ever.
Her friends were wearing matching outfits; short pink skirts and tight white tank tops, incredibly hot but nothing compared to Luna. I guess that was the whole idea though.
The music started and Luna bobbed up and down, clicking her fingers.
"S-T-A-R –all together
S-T-A-R
S-T-A-R
(What?) – (One friend)
(It's Luna bitch!) – (other friend)
(Luna)
I'm on the top,
There's no luck,
Never turn around or stop
Make my move,
Make you move
Make you wanna hear me talk
See me walk
See me fuck
See me suck a lollipop mmm…
Wanna get messy?
I'll, make you hot,
Make you rock.
I'll leave the world in shock
I'm the tease
I'm your fuel
I just wanna see you drool
On your knees
Pretty please
You wish you were my main squeeze
Like-like-like luxury
Fuck me, I'm a celebrity
Can't take your eyes off me
I know you wanna (uhh) me just to get somewhere
Fuck me, I'm a celebrity,
Can't take your hands off me
I know you wanna suck me
What you waiting for?
Lip gloss and Lollipops
Let's rock our world of pop
Can't take your eyes off me
I'm all that you can see
Lip gloss and Lollipops
I'll make your jaws drop
Can't take your eyes off me
I'm everything you wanna be
Mmm hot damn here I come
Tell me how you want it done
At the mall, in the hall,
On your mumma's bedroom wall
You can choose
Either way
You will end up on the news
I wanna hear you say,
Love my pink knife
You wish you had a slice of me *knife clings*
Fuck me, I'm a celebrity
Can't take your eyes off me
I know you wanna (uhh) me just to get somewhere
Fuck me, I'm a celebrity,
Can't take your hands off me
I know you wanna suck me
What you waiting for?
Lip gloss and Lollipops
Let's rock our world of pop
Can't take your eyes off me
I'm all that you can see
Lip gloss and Lollipops
I'll make your jaws drop
Can't take your eyes off me
I'm everything you wanna be
O-M-G LOL it's true that sex will always sell
Now it's time for you to go so what?
So what?
Oh-my-God
Can't you tell?
My (uhh) makes you wanna sweat
Are you good enough?
Not yet, not yet
Lip gloss and Lollipops
Let's rock our world of pop
Can't take your eyes off me
I'm all that you can see
Lip gloss and Lollipops
I'll make your jaws drop
Can't take your eyes off me
I'm everything you wanna be…"
(AN: I did NOT write this, this is a song by Jeffree Star, and I do not claim to own it in any way shape or form)
She was dancing around on the stage like someone at a club. I also noticed that she made a lot of eye contact with Natsume.
At the end, when everybody was cheering and wolf-whistling she blew a few kisses to the crowd and left slowly. Huh, that song was so predictable for someone like her.
"Next up, we have Natsume Hyuuga and Kei Redmond."
The loudest cheer yet erupted through the crowd and even I was clapping louder than I had for anybody else.
"This song is for a very special girl in the crowd" he said and he winked at Luna, who had resumed her place in the front line. She smiled and giggled flirtatiously.
"Listen carefully."
(A:N/ This song is not mine either, this is called Hofasho by Brokencyde.
The lines with a – in front of them are Kei's lines and the ones that don't have a - are Natsume's lines for better effect, watch the video on Youtube, it sounds cool really cool, here's the link: .com/watch?v=Dzx3zZpRb78&feature=PlayList&p=584C5125C7066F32&playnext=1&index=18 )
"She's starin',
And the mood is right.
Music blurrin' and the ladies are lookin' nice
I'm lookin' good and you know it too.
But tell me why should I,
Fuck wit you?
She always callin,
Blowin' up my instant messenger.
It's getting hot in here,
I'm turning off the temperature.
This girl is crawling with exotic stripper leopard skirts.
They got's me feeling like I'm never having sex with her!
-You ain't got's to go slow motion
-Hoping that, she'd know the disease.
-Even though she's bleedin'
-I'm leavin'
-Heavy breathin',
-There'll be no conceivin'.
-That's a rap,
-After the big nasty,
-Grabbed me into the happy.
-Gone. Stop.
-This goes no further,
-You couldn't pay me to touch that traunch burger.
What the fuck is a Traunch burger?!?
…
She's always callin',
Blowin' up my instant messenger.
It's getting hot in here,
I'm turning off the temperature.
This club is crawling with exotic stripper leopard skirts.
They got's me feeling like I'm never having sex with her!
I AINT NEVER GUNA FUCK YOU!
YES IT'S TRUE,
ROSES SMELL LIKE, POO POO!
You say you love me
I bet that you do!
But I will
Never,
Ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever *gasping for breath* …ever, ever, ever, ever, ever
FUCK YOU!
I don't wanna have sex with this whore.
-she looks so sexy the way she moves.
I don't wanna have sex any more.
-quit bein' a fucking prune!
I don't wanna have sex with this whore
-but dude, this bitch is hot!
Well I don't wanna have sex anymore!
-just take another shot, or I'll beat the FUCK outta' you.
hahaha, ahh, you son of a bitch!"
The music stopped and Luna ran out of the hall in embarrassment, her two puppy dogs following close behind her.
"Yo man, what the fuck did you do that for!?" someone yelled at Natsume, crawling through the crowd and onto the stage.
"Dude, she's been hitting on me for ages, can't you see she's a whore?" -Natsume through the microphone
"Liar!"
Suddenly, they broke out into a fight across the stage.
What was strange though, was towards the end of the song, the two boys were screaming. Kai sounded genuinely pissed but Natsume sounded like… Like a screamo artist… Or was that just my imagination?
I stood up in alarm whilst the teachers ran on stage to try and separate the boys.
I had never see Natsume look so angry…and attractive…
No just angry! And sexy... grr why does he have to be so good looking!? It makes it so hard to hate him!
Natsume was completely red in the face and he was huffing and puffing, trying to break free from the teachers' hold. There were about six teachers surrounding him just trying to calm him down.
What is he thinking? He could so easily be expelled for this!
"You girlfriend stealer!" his friend accused, struggling with all his might to get his hands on Natsume.
"I don't want her. I never have, look she even tried flirting with Kai, why do you think he was rapping with me today?" Natsume yelled angry.
The other boy stopped struggling and suddenly his face looked upset.
"Is this true?" he asked Kai, his voice breaking.
Kai nodded apologetically, the boys face fell and suddenly, he gathered up enough strength to be rid from the teachers and he ran as fast as he could out of the hall.
I felt so sorry for him. "Should I go after him?" Natsume asked.
"No just leave him to settle down for a bit" a teacher replied.
"Okay everyone sit down, there's still one more performance to go" The announcer called.
Oh crap…
Natsume sat in a seat in the middle of the front row. He smiled at me encouragingly. I was too amazed to be nervous at this point.
"Everybody please welcome our newest student and first-time competitor, Mikan uhhh…" He laughed embarrassed, "Mikan!" he said trying to cover up for the fact he didn't know my last name.
I laughed a little and walked onto the stage, I very nearly tripped over a wire.
The sound of cheering and applaud was deafening. I could see Mr Fed in the front row, standing on a chair and chanting loud encouragement.
The music started, I closed my eyes and sang my heart out…
"Here I am
Nobody's woman
Nobody's hero
I'm confused
Sick and diffused
And everything's fine
What about your life
Is alright now
I walk around
I turn around
But nothing looks right
Through my eyes
My eyes
My eyes
Some days
I am beautiful
Oh so beautiful
To me
Some days
I am pitiful
Oh so pitiful
To me
I feel angry
I feel silence
I feel so far away
I feel beautiful
Just not today
It's all smoke
My life's a joke
For no rhyme
Or reason
No one knows
How deep it goes
And everything's
Fine
What about your life
How should I know?
Your sorry but
You'll never find
The pain that I carry
Inside (Inside)
Inside
Someday I'll be
Beautiful
Is this real
'Cause I don't feel
Beautiful
I feel angry
I feel silence
I feel so far away
I am crazy
I'm amazing
I have nothing to say
I'm pathetic
I'm a giant
I'm a moment away
I'll be beautiful
Someday…"
The crowd roared and cheered, a rose flew onto the stage. I laughed and took a bow. I think I did pretty well for a first time. If I do say so myself…
