H-ON!

Chapter 10: Pure Awesome and the Intercollegiate Music Competition

It has been weeks since the foot-bridge incident, but it was still fresh in the Vargas brothers' minds. Lovino still bunked with Antonio, but once he came home. It was a surprise, really. Feli thought it was the mailman or something; but when Feli saw that it was Lovino, he stared at him again. But Lovino did not even seem to see him. He was still angry at him and did not acknowledge his presence that much. One such conversation during dinner showed it. It went like this:

Lovino: So Grandpa, how is Feli doing in school?

*Feli was surprised, why did Lovino had to ask Grandpa if he himself just sat across him?*

Grandpa Roma: Well, his little club will be joining the Intercollegiate Music Competition.

Lovino: I'm positive that they'll loose. They are all dorks and losers, geeks and nerds. But the biggest dork in that group is their lead singer.

*END OF CONVERSATION*

Lovino did not talk to Feli in school. Once Feli saw him in the hallway, and he wanted to say hi; but Lovino turned away and averted his eyes from Feli, as if he never even existed. Feli's poor heart broke every time this happened. He cared about his brother so much, and he never meant to read his journal and learn about his secret. But what was also hard about it is seeing Antonio. He could no longer look at him straight in the face after learning what he has done to Lovino's supposedly-straight heart.

The Intercollegiate Music Competition loomed closer and closer. Everyday the Chords Club practiced their song, and sometimes Feli broke down crying because the song was for Lovino. He tried to look happy the best that he can but, it was hard, too. Grandpa Roma's house seemed more quiet than usual. Grandpa Roma knew how broken-up Feli felt over it, but even if he tried to cheer him up, they would still miss Lovino.

…..

Suddenly, like lightning, the Intercollegiate Music Competition came. Grandpa Roma drove Feli to the Music Coliseum, where the competition was held every year. The Coliseum was big and wide, and Feli could not help but look around dazed at all the lights and the people dressed in fancy outfits. Pictures of the winners of the Intercollegiate Music Competition was posted on the wall, and since the 2009 competition, Pure Awesome was the winner.

A bell rang, and a voice came from the intercom, saying that all contestants for the competition should come to the backstage for a few preparations and a meet-and-greet with the defending champion, Pure Awesome. Feli gulped and his heart pounded as he went backstage. He silently did some voice exercises, and he hoped his voice won't get choked up or he won't forget the song due to stage-fright.

The backstage was dimly lit by yellow light bulbs, and the atmosphere was a bit chaotic. Fortunately, he was able to find his friends. "You guys feeling ok?" Feli asked them, and deep inside, asking that to himself. "Yeah, we're ok. I'm sure we'll win" Alfred said with a grin. Arthur looked up from polishing his bass guitar and strumming it a bit. He smiled. "Don't worry, Feli. I'm sure we'll wing it. And besides, remember: this is a song for your brother" Kiku looked a little pale, but he managed to smile.

Feli took a peek from behind the huge heavy red curtains, and saw that Lovino was there! He was sitting beside Antonio, who was chatting happily with a blonde-haired girl who Feli suspected to be Belle. Lovino looked a bit angry and bored, and was occasionally checking his wristwatch, probably wondering when the heck it will start so that he could get out of there. Feli sighed, and then closed the curtain.

And then 3 tall figures came to them. The one in the middle had gray, almost white hair and red piercing eyes. He looked really menacing and naughty. The one in the left had long blonde hair and looked a bit like a girl, while the one in the left had long dark hair in a ponytail and looked like an Asian. They wore ripped up clothes and the one in the middle had bling-bling. On their shirts was "Pure Awesome" Feli gulped, and Kiku turned even paler.

"So," the one in the middle said. He had a raspy voice. "This is the Chords Club that dares to sing against our awesomeness?" He grinned. "You losers will definitely fail cuz we are the awesomest awesome!" Feli was shaking, but he wanted to laugh. This guy just used the word "awesome" way too much!

The one on the left looked at Feli, and his blue eyes sparkled. "Oh my, what a cute little kid!" he crooned, and went to Feli, and ruffled his hair. Feli felt like a little kid all over again. "What eye candy! You are so cute…" Feli's heart pounded, and he wanted to run away from this maniac. Luckily, the Music Competition began before that man, named Francis Bonnefoy, could do any more, um, weird things to young Feli.

When Pure Awesome was called, they proudly stride up the stage like they have been doing it since they were born. The audience cheered. The host began introducing them. "They are: Gilbert Beillschmidt as lead singer, Francis Bonnefoy as drummer, and Wang Yao as the pianist!" the audience cheered as their names were called out. Feli's heart pounded louder.

They began playing. The song had a techie tone in it, and the spot lights lit the stage in the beat of the song. The audience cheered and it was deafening.

Let's hear it for America's suitehearts,

But I must confess,

I'm in love with my own sins…

Feli could see people in the audience jamming and cheering alongside them. He looked at his friends. Arthur was wide-eyed. Alfred still looked proud but Feli could see he was a little nervous because the song was really catchy. Kiku was almost hyperventilating, and Feli let him sit down on a chair so he could relax.

You could have knocked me down with a feather,

I'm sure you've heard all this before but we're just hell's neighbors,

Why why why won't the world revolve around me?

In my dream trees grow all over the streets….

…You can bow and pretend that,

You don't don't know you're a legend, oh,

Time time time hasn't told anyone else yet,

Sorry let my love let loose again…

The crowd was wild now, and Feli could barely hear himself think. Even the security people in the backstage were jamming along with Pure Awesome.

Let's hear it for America's suitehearts,

But I must confess,

I'm in love with my own sins…

Oh, let's hear it, oh, let's hear it,

Let's hear it, oh, let's hear it,

Let's hear it, oh, let's hear it,

Suitehearts…

They stopped playing, and it was over. The crowd was screaming, and so were the people in the backstage. When Pure Awesome went back down to the backstage, they were greeted by more cheers. The Chords Club felt like a tiny little dot in the wall. Gilbert Beillschmidt, the lead singer, took a long drink of water, and then looked menacingly down on the Chords Club.

"Let's see who the awesome one now is," he said in a threatening, low voice.

Feli gulped for what seemed like the thousandth time. As if on cue, a voice boomed inside the backstage. "Up, next, The Chords Club!"

Author's note:

The song was from Fall Out Boys' "America's Suitehearts" I thought of making original songs but I suck at composing songs so I just used this song.

Quick preview: The Chords Club will sing their song for Lovino. Will they succeed not only in winning the competition, but also in bringing Lovino and Feli back together again? (In a brotherly way, ok?)

Disclaimer: I do not own the new characters, the Music Coliseum, the song, but I own the name Pure Awesome.