A/N~ Really long chapter here as it involves a grand total of 7 songs of great lyrical importance that cannot be skipped as they all relate to the story, more specifically, the relationships in the story. Except one that's just for fun. Just trust me on this. BTW, I've tried to shorten a couple of the songs so if any of the lyrics are missing, that's why.
The next morning I am woken up by Thalia. She is standing over me, smiling. "Hey, Tornado. Your friends at the door. Cat, I think." I smile at her.
"Thanks." I reply, climbing out of bed and walking over to Cat, who is jumping up and down on the spot in what I can only assume is excitement. "Hey, Cat." I say.
"Tori, Tori, Tori, Tori, Tori! Guess what!?" She asks/yells.
"What?" I laugh.
"Chiron says we can do a big showcase at the end of the week!" She squeals.
"That's great, Cat! Why don't you let me get dressed and I'll meet you later and we'll talk?"
"Kay kay!" She says, running off.
I watch her run away and mutter "way too early" before going back to my bed and changing into my camp shirt and skinny jeans.
"What's a big showcase?" Thalia asks.
"Oh, it's this thing we do at Hollywood Arts. It's an arts school and every now and then we have a big showcase where everybody basically takes turns showing how superior they are to each other. Also, you can get extra credit for classes and stuff if you do it." She nods.
"Did Trina ever do that?" She asks
"Every time." I grimace. "Unfortunately." I add. She laughs. I'm glad I get along with her and Jason, now. It'd be pretty miserable living in the same cabin as two people I didn't get on with.
My thoughts are interrupted by Cat knocking on the door and yelling "Tori! Why aren't you ready, yet!?" I laugh and turn to Thalia.
"She's a little impatient." Thalia chuckles and nods. "I should probably go."
She nods again, and lies back on her bed. "Have fun. While you're doing that I'm gonna get some sleep." She smirks. I stick my tongue out at her and leave the cabin, almost bumping into Cat.
"So when's the first showcase?" I ask
"Tomorrow! It's going to be so much fun! Andre agreed to MC and everyone else is singing!" She screams.
"Okay... Have you picked a song yet?" I check.
"I'd Lie by Taylor Swift."
Robbie. I think. "Is that song for anyone in particular?"
She nods.
"Robbie?"
She says "yeah", and then she covers her mouth with her hands, wide eyed. I laugh.
"Okay... now we've established that your song is not for Robbie can you help me pick one?"
"For Jade?"
"Yeah."
"Good, because I already have the perfect song!" She exclaims
"Really? This is Jade, so there aren't any mentions of rainbows or puppies or unicorns?" I check.
"No. Just read the lyrics!" She says, handing me a pink notebook covered in glittery stickers. "Page 10."
I turn to the page and read through the lyrics. Three times. Wow. I look at Cat.
"Did you write this?" I ask
"No. It's by my fave band and I wrote it down when this whole thing started." She smiles
"It's perfect. Do you know the tune or backing track? Can you teach me?" I ask, my words all coming out in a jumble.
She nods. I hug her. "Thank you." I whisper into her ear.
She pulls me toward the Apollo cabin. "Come on, I'll teach you. They have all kinds of cool instruments in there. I'll show you how to play it. Everybody else knows what they're doing, so all we need to do is show you how to do your song. Then we can all rehearse until tomorrow."
I blink. 5 sentences and not one mention of bibble or rainbows. I shrug it off. "Okay, then let's go rehearse. Oh, when is it?"
"After dinner, instead of campfire." She says. "Liquorice?" She offers, pulling some out of her bra.
"No thanks, Cat." I shake my head. "Now, come on, let's go rehearse!" I yell.
After a full day of rehearsal I collapse on my bunk in the Zeus cabin.
"What happened to you?" Jason laughs, seeing me in my current state.
"Cat. Rehearsal. Showcase. Tired." I tell him.
"Okaaayy..." He says, lying down on his bunk. I fall asleep straight after that.
The next day flies by. I train on the climbing wall for a while and then the archery range with Thalia and Jason. During free time I try some knife throwing before Carly drags me to the Aphrodite cabin to get ready for the showcase.
I'm wearing my trademark skinny jeans with brown boots. I'm also wearing a plain white tank top and, thanks to Cat backing me up, Jade's red shirt. I inhale. It still smells just like her, and it feels like she's with me even now. I look to the stage. Sam's first. I smile. This'll be good. She got into HA mainly because of her voice, but I've never heard her sing once. Behind her I can see Andre playing violin. Sam speaks. "Hi. I'll be singing So Close by Jennette Mccurdy." Sam starts singing. Whoa.
You just keep tuggin, pushin, pullin, all my little heart strings
Got me all tied up in knots, anytime I see your face
Oh, it brings out, it brings out the girl in me
Don't know just how you did it, but you got me real good
Hook line and sinker like I knew you could,
But you don't even notice, boy I wish you would
I can't help myself
I can't help but smile, every time I see your face
If we never met, I bet you don't know my name
Am I outta my mind, I think that I might be goin crazy
Cause my heart is yours to have and hold or break
How do you get to be so close and be so far away
I wish you were mine,
All mine, mine all mine,
I wish you mine, all mine,
I wish you were mine
I can't help but smile, every time I see your face
If we never met, I bet you don't know my name
Am I outta my mind, I think that I might be goin crazy
Cause my heart is yours to have and hold or break
How do you get to be so close and be so far away (oh, oh, oh)
How do you get to be so close and be so far away
Sam smiles as she finishes singing. Everyone cheers. Man, that girl can sing! I glance at Freddie. He has no idea. I smile. How can one guy be so dense? Sam clearly likes him! Speaking of girls who like Freddie... Carly mounts the stage. "I'll be singing About You Now by Miranda Cosgrove."
Maybe I'm wrong, you decide
Should've been strong, yeah I lied
Nobody gets me like...you
Couldn't keep hold of you then
How could I know what you meant?
There was nothing to compare to
There's a mountain between us
But there's one thing I'm sure of
That I know how I feel about you
Can we bring yesterday back around?
Cause I know how I feel about you now
I was dumb, I was wrong, I let you down
But I know how I feel about you now
Not a day, pass me by
Not a day, pass me by
When I don't think about you
And there's no moving on
Cause I know you're the one
And I can't be without you
Can we bring yesterday back around?
Cause I know how I feel about you now
I was dumb, I was wrong, I let you down
But I know how I feel about you now
Yeah I know how I feel about you now
Her applause is about the same amount Sam gets. I glance at Freddie again, who is currently being flanked by both Carly and Sam. Seriously, how does he have no idea whatsoever that they like him? Then I remember that I'm after Carly. I half run half stumble to the stage. I signal Andre and he starts playing the guitar. I step up to the mic, and I'm immediately blinded by the spotlights. I imagine Jade is standing in front of me, giving me that same smile that was so rarely shown, and looking at me as if to say, "well, Vega?" I say "Out of The Blue by Aly & AJ. This is for Jade" before my cue comes.
When somethings pure
How can people just say
We're not meant to be
And when somethings true
How can people just
Keep me away from you
Out of the blue
They said we couldn't be together
I have to get over you
We've been given no choice,
We have no voice
Out of the blue
Can't even call on the telephone
Don't even know if you're at home
But to control just how we feel
Between you and I
Not for one to steal
Out of the blue
They said we couldn't be together
I have to get over you
We've been given no choice,
We have no voice
Just wanna hear what you've got to say
Are you feeling the same
'Cause I'm not okay
Thought when we met there was something more
But the others said no - they shut the door
Out of the blue
We should have been together
Don't wanna get over you
When love makes a choice, it has a voice
Out of the blue
The music fades. Silence then clapping. More than Carly and Sam combined. I walk off stage and collapse on the nearest chair. I see Beck mount the stage. My breath catches in my throat. I hear him say "this is for Jade, too. When it was Me by Paula DeAnda". Everyone's eyes are on me. Beck. Singing. To Jade. Crap.
She's got brown eyes and she's 5'5"
Long brown hair all down her back
So the hell what
What's so special about that
She used to model, she's done some acting
So she weighs a buck 'o 5
And I guess that she's alright if perfection is what you like
And I'm not jealous, no I'm not
I just want everything she's got
You look at her so amazed
I remember way back when you used to look at me that way
Tell me what makes her so much better than me
What makes her just everything I can never be
What makes her your every dream and fantasy
Because I can remember when it was me
And now you don't feel the same
I remember you would shiver every time I said your name
You said nothing felt as good as when you gaze into my eyes
Now you don't care I'm alive
How did we let the fire die
And I'm not jealous, no I'm not
I just want everything she's got
You look at her so amazed
I remember way back when you used to look at me that way
What makes her so much better than me
What makes her just everything I can never be
What makes her your every dream and fantasy
Because I can remember when it was me
That made you smile
That made you laugh
Me that made you happier than you have ever been, oh me
That was your world
Your perfect guy
Nothing about me has changed
That's why I'm here wondering
What makes her so much better than me
What makes her just everything I can never be
What makes her your every dream and fantasy
Because I can remember when it was me
When it was me
When it was me
The music fades. Beck stops singing. What the Hades was that? What was the point of that? I'm so focused on figuring out what that was exactly that I barely hear Robbie as he sings "Broken Glass". I zone out for a bit. I come back to my senses as hes sings the last verse.
Mmm, children that glass sure does look delicious, doesn't it?
But you can't eat it.
'cause broken glass is not a food,
So don't you listen to some dude,
Who says put cheese on broken glass,
And make a sand-a-wich!
Out of broken glass...
Let's sing a song about broken glass,
I'll help you write it after class,
There is no song that can surpass
The song we sing,
About broken glass...
He gets off stage. Half the camp are smiling, which is a good sign, but the other half all look really weirded out. Robbie gets off stage and Cat passes him on her way up. He is so busy watching her go up the stairs he trips over his own foot.
"Hi, guys. I'll be singing I'd Lie by Taylor Swift."
I could tell you his favorite color's green
He loves to argue, born on the seventeenth
His sister's beautiful, he has his father's eyes
And if you asked me if I love him,
I'd lie
He looks around the room
Innocently overlooks the truth
Shouldn't a light go on?
Doesn't he know that I've had him memorized for so long?
He sees everything black and white
Never let nobody see him cry
I don't let nobody see me wishing he was mine
I could tell you his favorite color's green
He loves to argue, oh, and it kills me
His sister's beautiful, he has his father's eyes
And if you asked me if I love him
If you asked me if I love him
I'd lie
He stands there, then walks away
My gods if I could only say,
"I'm holding every breath for you..."
He's probably told you, but he can play guitar
I think he can see through everything but my heart
First thought when I wake up
Is "My god, he's beautiful."
So I put on my make-up
And pray for a miracle
Yes, I could tell you his favorite color's green
He loves to argue, oh, and it kills me
His sister's beautiful, he has his father's eyes
And if you asked me if I love him
If you asked me if I love him
I'd lie
The camp cheers and Cat blushes. She makes her way over to me.
"So, Cat, how do you think Robbie liked your song choice?" I tease.
"What's that supposed to mean!?" She yells.
"Nothing, nothing," I lie.
I look towards the stage. Freddie is up on stage, sans Carly and Sam.
"This song is for someone special. It's by Jason Chen. It's called Best Friend. Here goes."
Andre starts playing guitar. This should be interesting.
Do you remember when I said I'd always be there.
Ever since we were ten, baby.
When we were out on the playground playing pretend.
Didn't know it back then.
Now I realize you were the only one
It's never too late to show it.
Grow old together,
Have feelings we had before
Back when we were so innocent
I pray for all your love
Girl our love is so unreal
I just wanna reach and touch you, squeeze you, somebody pinch me
This is something like a movie
And I don't know how it ends girl
But I fell in love with my Best Friend
Through all the dudes that came by
And all the nights that you'd cry.
Girl I was there right by your side.
How could I tell you I loved you
When you were so happy
With some other guy?
Now I realize you were the only one
It's never too late to show it.
Grow old together,
Have feelings we had before
When we were so innocent.
I pray for all your love
Girl our love is so unreal
I just wanna reach and touch you, squeeze you, somebody pinch me
This is something like a movie
And I don't know how it ends girl
But I fell in love with my Best Friend
I know it sounds crazy
That you'd be my baby.
Girl you mean that much to me.
And I don't wanna ruin what we have
Love is so unpredictable.
But it's the risk that I'm taking, hoping, praying
You'd fall in love with your best friend
I pray for all your love
Girl our love is so unreal
I just wanna reach and touch you, squeeze you, somebody pinch me
This is something like a movie
And I don't know how it ends girl
But I fell in love with my Best Friend
I look at Sam and Carly. They both look really happy with themselves. Then they realize that they both think that the song is for them. Their expressions change so quickly and so drastically that it's almost comical. Freddie comes down the steps and the two girls are immediately on him, probably asking him who the song was for.
Then Chiron sends us to bed and I go straight to the Zeus cabin. I strip into my underwear and like last night I lie down in bed, hugging Jade's shirt close to me, amazed and thankful it still smells just like her.
To recap:
Sam
So Close- Jennette McCurdy
Carly
About You Now- Miranda Cosgrove
Tori
Out of the Blue- Aly & AJ
Beck
When it was Me- Paula DeAnda
Robbie
Broken Glass- Matt Bennett
Cat
I'd Lie- Taylor Swift
Freddie
Best Friend- Jason Chen
I AM NONE OF THESE PEOPLE AND CONSEQUENTLY OWN NOTHING!
