Chapter 10: A New Soloist?
Yay! Ten chapters! I think I'm doing pretty well. I have a feeling that Demyx is going to be a fun character. So yeah... auditioning for a solo the first day! Totally something I would do. Lolz.
So, I'm publishing two chapters again. Why? Because I can! XD
And you all are probably gonna hate me, because this chapter ends in a bit of a cliffhanger. Just saying.
Oh, and by the way, any of your loyal readers who are looking for other stories to check out, you should really read 'Is There an Elephant in the Room?' by Sunechirei. It's wonderful. I'm in love. Just saying.
And, still, I don't own these characters in any way, shape, or form. I'm starting to run out of different ways to say that, and I really detest repeating myself. :/ Blargh.
…...
They stayed in the auditorium as most of the class filtered out. Roxas texted Sora to let him know where he was. There were seven other people there for the audition, including both Demyx and Axel, who were sitting side by side on the edge of the stage, talking. So...he does have friends. Everyone seems to think he's all alone. Roxas remembered Riku mentioning Demyx this morning, when he was telling Axel's story. He was one of his friends from before...maybe he'll help me out, help me get through to him. I'll have to try and talk to him some more.
Miss Kimberly started playing the opening chords on the piano. "Alright guys, lets gather around the piano. I hate to disappoint, but there's only two solo's, so not everyone will be getting one. We'll just start from the first solo, so open up your sheet music. We'll sing it through together, and then we'll go through and do it individually." she began to play the song, and they all sang along. Wow, there's a lot of good singers here... he thought to himself. This is gonna be tough competition.
They went through to the end of the first solo, and then Miss Kimberly started singling people out. The first three were girls, all sopranos' who sang nicely enough, but it just didn't sound right for the part. Namine went up, and she sang very well, right up to the last line, where her voice cracked. Roxas looked at her sympathetically. The next girl went up, and Namine came over to Roxas.
"I blew it," she whispered, looking dejected.
"You were great right up till the end. I'm sure she will take that into consideration."
"I guess..." she still looked very depressed.
The girl and another guy went, both singing well, but neither seemed like anything special. Demyx stepped up next, and belted it out in an incredible voice that Roxas had not expected at all. He was blown away. Wow, I'm willing to bet he gets one! He thought, very impressed.
Next was Axel. He sang with a voice as smooth as silk, a voice to rival Freddie Mercury's own for dexterity. Once again, Roxas was blown away. I know now why so few people showed up for this audition. Against these guys, no one stands a chance!
"Good luck, Roxas!" Namine said, smiling.
"Thanks," he replied. I'm gonna need it...
He stepped up, closed his eyes, and sang from memory.
"Each morning I get up, I die a little,
Can't barely stand on my feet.
Take a look in the mirror and cry, 'Lord whatcha doing to me?'
I spent all my years believing you, and I just can't get no relief
Oh, somebody, oh somebody,
Can anybody find me somebody to love?"
He finished the part, and opened his eyes, to see everyone staring at him, looking shocked. "Ummmm... that's all?" he asked. Why are they staring at me like that?
Miss Kimberly was the first to recover herself. "Uhhhh... yes, that's all. Thanks for auditioning, everybody! The results will be on my office door tomorrow morning!"
The group broke up, going their separate ways. "Roxas! You didn't tell me you were that good!" Namine exclaimed.
"Huh? I'm nothing special." he said, shaking his head.
"Are you kidding? You were incredible! It's going to be you and Axel who get the solos, you mark my words." they headed out of the auditorium together, running into Axel and Demyx at the door.
"You're pretty good, kid." Axel said, and walked out into the hall.
Demyx shook his head. "That's my Axel, the king of the understatement. You were frigging amazing, dude!" he grinned and followed his friend out.
Namine and Roxas walked out and saw Sora and Riku waiting in the hall. "Hey! I didn't expect to see you here!" Namine said.
"Yeah, well, doofus here forgot that I have no sense of direction. If I were going to try to get home on my own, I'd get all kinds of lost, and probably wind up halfway back to Destiny Islands." Sora said, grinning.
"Why didn't you go and find Ventus or Vanitas?" he asked.
"Well... I kinda wanted to hang out a while longer, too..." Sora turned red again.
Roxas grinned. "Whatever. Lets head home." the four of them walked out the side doors and towards the student parking lot, all the time, Namine going on about Roxas' singing.
"Namine, I'm not that good." he protested.
At the same time, Sora and Namine both said "Yes you are."
Roxas just rolled his eyes. Sora looked at Namine and said "Don't worry, he's always like this. He doesn't seem to realize how crazy talented he is."
"I guess so!" she exclaimed.
"Whatever. Just drop it, okay? Let's go home, Sora." he headed down the street.
"I can give you a ride home, Roxas!" Riku called. "I have a car." he gestured to a small gray sedan Roxas hadn't noticed, sitting a few parking spaces away from where they stood.
Roxas looked at the car, and found himself short of breath. Oh, my god, it looks just like... His knees gave out, and he collapsed on to the ground.
The others raced over to him. "Roxas, what's wrong? Are you okay?" Namine was freaking out.
He tried to tell her he'd be fine, but he couldn't get his breath. He heard Sora murmur "Roxas, you need to just breathe..." but he couldn't seem to get himself back to normal.
It looks just like my car I can't do this why does it look the same I can't get in there it looks just like my car oh my god it's going to happen again I can't do this I can't handle this please make it stop someone please-
"Roxas, can you hear me? ROXAS!" mutely, Roxas found himself nodding, still lost to the panic. "You need to listen to me. Listen to my voice. I'm going to count. I want you to breathe in as I count to three, okay? Just breathe." he found himself listening to the voice, a voice he couldn't connect to anyone at the moment. "1... 2... 3...4..." Roxas found the strength in himself to suck in the air as the voice counted for him. "Okay, now let it go, slowly, 3... 2...1..." he let the air go. The voice kept counting, and he kept breathing in time, until he was back in his head enough to look up. He realized with a start that the one who had been counting for him was none other than Axel.
"You back with us now?" he asked quietly.
"Yeah... I'm okay." Roxas responded.
"No, you're not. But your better than you were." Axel looked worried. Roxas looked past him and saw Sora, Riku and Namine standing behind him, looking just as worried.
"Really. I'll be okay... I just... I think I'll walk home, Riku." he looked at the silver-haired boy, who, if it was possible, looked even more concerned.
"No you won't. I'll take you. Is my truck okay?" Axel asked. He pointed to a bucket of rust sitting not far from them.
"I... I guess..." he was unsure of how to respond to Axel's sudden concern for him. Well, he did just bring me out of one of the worst panic attacks I've ever had. Axel grabbed him by the arm and pulled him up. Roxas stood for a moment on his own, and then lost his footing again. Axel caught him around the waist and half-carried him to the passenger side of his truck.
Axel went back over, spoke briefly to the others, grabbed Roxas' back pack, and got into the truck. "Do you want to go straight home, or do you want to go somewhere for a bit until you feel better?"
"Ummmm..." If I go straight home, Ventus and Vanitas will want to talk to me about my first day, and Sora will tell mom about the attack, and she'll go into mother-hen mode, and I ….. "Do you mind riding around a bit? I don't think I'm ready to go home yet."
"Yeah, that's fine. I know a place we can go." Axel started up the truck, which made some extremely loud protests, and they drove out of the parking lot.
My bones all resonate a burning lullaby; you can't take that from me, just go ahead and try. She stands at the shoreline, with hands in the air, her words pierce the dark night, does anyone care?