Chapter 9:

Sepi:

I didn't care how many times that Armin and Alexy gave me the puppy dog eyes. I refuse to sign up for the talent show. I have reasons though….

"You're worthless! Your voice is painful to hear! Do you even realize how bad of a singer you are?!"

"You shut up with that singing," she said as she rolled her eyes. I looked at her painfully. She didn't care and she continued, "like, oh my gosh, your voice is like so terrible."

I wasn't that good of a singer. I wasn't. The bruises on my body from them proved that I wasn't. I don't know why Armin insists that I have, but…it's not true. I am bad. I bit my lip and continued to the auditorium. I needed to do some last minute preparations to the tech. Hopefully, no one will be there. I don't know how long I stay like this. Stay strong and not….not cry. I bit my lip.

Nathaniel:

I was getting really stressed out. First, all the stuff that happened with Sepi was still on my mind- after all I did kiss her…and really liked it. Did she like it to? I shook my head, got to focus. I have a whole talent show to help with and judge. I sighed as I ran back and forth between the stage and the judging table. I saw Sepi enter, she was the first one to get here. Apparently it's a bit early for the others to get here to help. At least I have someone to help this early. After all, we needed to get this done before school since the talent show is being held during school hours. I smiled at Sepi.

"Hey, Sepi."

She jumped and I think I scared her. Oops. I walked over.

"Thank goodness you're here. I don't think I could handle-"
I looked at her. She looked even worse than before.

"Sepi," I said sincerely, "Are you okay?"

She looked at me and started to tear up. I hugged her tightly as she cried into my shoulder.
"Shush…it's okay Sepi. It's okay. I'm here."

She kept crying into my shoulder and it broke my heart to hear her cry. I kept hugging her until she let go.

"Are you sure you're okay? Do you want to talk about it?"

She shook her head, tears still streaming down her face. I sighed sadly.

"Sepi, I may not know what happened or why you act this way. I may not know why you're crying, but…I do care Sepi."

She looked down.
"No you don't….no one does."
I lifted her chin with my hand.

"I do Sepi. You may not believe me, but I do."

Sepi (later):

I felt a bit torn as I looked over at Nathaniel. I was still a bit embarrassed about what happened. I didn't mean t break down like that. It makes me frustrated when I do that, when I show weakness. I hated to do that. I also hated that I was torn. I couldn't figure out my own feelings. I know I feel something towards Nathaniel, but I feel towards Armin too. I just…I don't know…

I shook my head and then smiled. Nathaniel was nearby and we were still doing last minute preparations. Nathaniel was doing something with the list while I was going over the sound checks.

"Sepi?"

I looked at him. He looked at the list then back at me.

"I- never mind."

He seemed a bit embarrassed. I shrugged, ah well. I headed back stage to make sure the curtains would be able to fall and rise correctly. I made my way up the crow's nest.

"Sepi? What are you doing?"

"Curtain check."

He nodded and I titled my head. He looked shorter since I was up high. I leaned over the side of the crow's nest slightly and swayed. Shit. I gulped as I fell over the side,

"Look out," I tried to call, but it wasn't that loud. Nathaniel looked at me with wide eyes. I clenched my eyes tightly, waiting for the impact that…didn't come…?

Nathaniel:

I quickly ran over and Sepi landed on me with a thud. Well, that didn't go quite as planned since I was trying to catch her. However, her landing on me works fine too. I looked at her in my arms. She still had her eyes clenched.

"Sepi, it's okay. I got you."

She slowly opened her eyes and looked at me. I smiled.

"You're safe."

She blushed and I carefully sat her down.
"So, you think we're ready?"

She titled her head and I chuckled.
"You know, for the talent show?"

She blushed.
"Yeah."

I hated my spot next to Castiel. We were both judges, but why did I get the seat in the middle? Between him and Lysander. I looked at the stage. It looked nice. The dark red curtains were off to the side. The background was pure black with a few 'stars' here and there. There were two flower pots on each side of the stage and a few flowers at the front. There was a piano off to the side, along with a guitar, chair, and other things. Beside me, Lysander sighed.
"Nathaniel," he whispered, "would you like to trade spots?"

I pinched the bridge of my nose, then looked at him.
"Please," I managed to get out. Lysander and I then switched places quickly. Luckily, the talent show didn't begin yet. Rosayala walked out on stage.

"Attention every one!"

The audience quieted down. I saw that people's parents, families, and siblings were also here in the audience. Luckily, mine wasn't. Rosa smiled brightly.

"The Sweet Amoris Talent Show is about to begin! First of all, the judges of tonight are Nathaniel Hall, Castiel Skull, and Lysander Wright. They'll be judging the events, and for tech crew we have Kim Athena and Sepi Lavender." Rosa chuckle then continued, "First up is," she glanced at the clipboard in her hand, "Armin Butcher playing….rock band?"

Rosa looked a bit confused and I saw Sepi in the pit. She was sighing and shaking her head, muttering something about an idiot. Wonder what that is about? Nevertheless, Armin came out, holding a fake guitar. I sighed, this will be a long day.

Third Person:

Amber and her friends sat backstage. She chuckled.
"Just wait and see."

Charlotte pursed her lips.
"Just what did you do?"

"That Sepi freak keeps messing me up…so…I signed her up for the talent show. That weirdo has no talent, she'll look like a fool!"

The three girls laughed.

Sepi:

Why did I have the oddest feeling that something was going to go wrong? I shook my head. Armin was already off stage. Some girl did a song and some girl played the guitar, a real guitar. They weren't that bad, but they weren't necessarily good either. I raised an eyebrow when I saw Amber come on stage with her 'lackeys.' All three of them were dressed slutty. They had black booty shorts that barely covered their butts, and gold bandeau bras as tops. They had high silver pumps. Who the heck color coordinated these outfits? I saw Rosa in the background scowling at the terrible outfits, and I saw Nathaniel at the judge table pinching the bridge of his nose. Kim and I shared a look, 'if these are their outfits…what's their music?' I rolled my eyes and grabbed the CD labeled 'Amber.' I held my breath, put it in, and hit play.

My eyes widened. It was…the Pussy song.

"Shoot your pussy like this. Don't stop, don't miss.

My neck, my back, lick my pussy and my crack…"

I could feel my eyes burning at Amber's little 'dance.' I saw Kim gagging. They were dancing rather sexually. I saw some twelve year old boys in the audience get nose bleeds and parents try (and fail) to cover their eyes. It was rather funny. When the dance was done, thank God, Rosa came back on the stage. She looked dishelmed.

"Well…wasn't that…interesting…and on behalf of Sweet Amoris, I would like to say Sorry and we didn't have a rehearsal as we wanted to be just as surprised as you all with the talents…however now we wish we had at pratices…"

I heard a few parents chuckle lightly. Rosa looked at the clipboard and her eyes widened.

"Next up is Sepi Lavender!"

I dropped the tech I was holding. Kim looked at me shocked.

"Girl, you didn't tell me you signed up."

I blinked.

"I didn't even know I was signed up."

Kim shook her head.

"This has Amber written all over it, I swear that bitch is-"

"Sepi Lavender!"

I looked up and Rosa was motioning me to come on stage. I gulped.

"You could back out," Kim pointed out gently.

I looked backstage and saw Amber giggling. I clenched my fists.
"No, I'll do this."

I walked up there confidently as I could manage. The question was, what should I do? I looked at the piano, perfect.

Castiel:

The last person I thought that would sign up would be Sepi. I thought she said she wasn't doing the stupid talent show? Maybe she wanted to keep it secret. Either way, she didn't seem prepared. She got up on stage, her hoodie hiding her face. Rosa left the stage and Sepi looked at everyone in the audience. She grabbed the microphone stand and moved it to the piano. I didn't know she played…

She removed the hood from her head, and her dark purple hair fell down, framing her face. She looked nicer now that people could see her face. She started to play the piano. She was pretty good. I saw Nathaniel and Lysander also had wide eyes. I mean, come on. It's not that impressive.

"*Why do they leave me all by myself?

Why do use me and bring me down?

Why do they hurt me?

Why do they leave me?

Why doesn't anybody stick around?"

I take that back. She was impressive. I thought that her regular voice sounded smooth and pleasant, but man her singing voice is…Damn…it's really good. I hate to say it, but Sepi's better than Lysander at singing. She sounded so…sad though too…She sang with passion.

"Why doesn't anyone stay here?

Why do they leave me?

Don't they realize I'm a porcelain doll?

Small, unsure, beautiful, breakable…"

The song was pretty too. I wonder if she wrote it herself. The way she sang it with passion suggested it.

"If I sit waiting to be wanted, something good will pass me by.

Many people look through the windows, but solemn to they ever look in my eyes.

Why doesn't anyone stay here?

Why do they leave me?
Don't they realize I'm a porcelain doll?

Fragile, helpless, unwanted, breakable."

She stopped singing for a minute or so, just playing the piano. That's okay though. She was a good piano player. I saw that the audience was wanting to hear her sing more though. She really did have that type of voice- you just wanted to hear it.

"They can't tell I'm light and sweet.

They can't tell I'm like a porcelain doll.

Beautiful, and demure,

But played with one too many times.

Why am I not numb to this?

Why I can't all let it out outside my mind?

Don't let me sit here, collecting dust,

But please be careful,

Please be kind."

I wasn't sure, but was there a second meaning to this song? I mean, I'm not exactly the deepest guy out there but- I could tell she means what she is singing. I mean, she sings so passionately, but sadly.

"Why doesn't anybody stay here?

Why do they leave me?

Don't they realize I'm a porcelain doll?

Lost, alone, unsure, kind, demure,

Small, fragile, helpless,

Breakable.

Oh,

So breakable."

She played the piano for a few more seconds, then stopped. The audience clapped. I saw her blush, put her hood up, and then head back down to the pit. Rosa came back up on the stage, clapping and smiling.

"Well, that brings the talent show to an almost close. We just have to look at the tally's, the judges, and we'll be back shortly with the winners!"

Damn.

Sepi:

I watched from the pit as Rosayla called out all the talent show contestants. I looked at Kim. She smiled.

"You go on up there girl," she whispered as my name was called, "I'll take care of the music."

I nodded and as I began to walk up I heard the ending music playing. It was something called The Final Countdown. I stood up on stage beside Armin- who kept smiling like an idiot. I kept my face hidden as Rosa called out the winners.

"Third place," Rosa said, "Armin Butcher."

Rosa looked confused and Armin cheered.

"Whoo-hoo!"

I smiled faintly at his childhood antics. He was so…kid-like sometimes. It wasn't that much of a surprise that he got third place. He was kind of good at rock band and frankly- the challengers weren't exactly…challenging. I bit back my laugh.

"Second place," Rosa said into the microphone, "Iris Gina."

Rosa smiled and Iris shyly picked up the second place trophy from Rosa. She was pretty good, I'd admit. She was good at playing guitar, nothing extrodinary, but she had a lot of potential.

"The two runner ups are," Rosa crinkled her nose, "Amber with Lee and Charlotte-"

Amber and her lackeys went up, strutting like a peacock.

"and Sepi Lavender."

Rosa smiled and I felt my jaw drop. I wasn't supposed to win. I can't win. I'm nothing special. Nevertheless, I went up.

"And the winner is…SEPI LAVENDER!"

I saw everyone clapping and cheering. I smiled faintly as I grabbed the first place trophy. For once, I won something. That's…new.

Later, I stood by Rosayla. I was talking to her about where the best hair dye could be bought- as I needed to dye my hair again. Castiel came up to us along with Lysander and Nathaniel.

"I don't recall us having any runner ups," Nathaniel said.

I looked at Rosa, who laughed.

"Well, I couldn't pass up the chance to put Amber in her place- sorry Nathaniel."

I laughed.

Author note: I do not own nor claim the song Porcelain Doll by Megan McCauley. I do not own nor claim The Final Countdown.

~CWA