Chapter Ten---Down to One
Aiden sat and stared at the phone for the better part of a half hour. Should she call? Finally picking up the phone she dialed her home number and heard it ring until the machine came on. However, this time the message was different.
You've reached the Valentine's. If you want Areith, please press One...If you've called for Zack, please press Two and if you've called for our little girl, press Three.
It was her father's voice and as the beep sounded, she forgot how to speak.
"Um..mom, dad?...My performance is Firday...I wanted you guys to be there...uh...it starts at seven...so I guess I'll see you there if you come...I love you guys..." She hung up the phone and returned to practice with the girls.
---
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the live concert of the three bands in the Play the Music contest!" Noa's falsely cheerful voice rang throughout the auditorium and the crowd cheered. Once everyone was hushed, she gave them an overview of the night. Each of the band would introduce their members and their songs, who played what instrument and so on. Then each would play and opening song, a closer and one the judges had picked for the groups. Only the judges knew who would get what song.
"Alright, let's get this show on the road!" Another round of cheering erased the smile from Noa's lips. She hated these stupid contests and the crowds even more.
"Please welcome Heartless, Velvet Steel and...
--- Previous Day---
"We need a different name then Unknown..." Yuffie told the group and Kairi agreed.
"This is true...we've got a loyal following at Tabs but with that kinda of name we aren't going to get the attention we want." Selphie thought about this. Maybe they were right. But what on earth were they going to call themselves? Aiden smiled at them.
"How about--
---
"Fallen!" Kairi ran out on stage her arms up and a huge grin on her face. Noa handed her the microphone.
"I'm Kairi and I play bass in Fallen!" Selphie and Yuffie ran out next.
"I'm Yuffie, this is Selphie no we're not related and I'm on drums and Selph's on keyboard!! You know we're gonna win!!!!" The audience laughed as Aiden walked on on stage. Areith sat in the corner in the very front of the audience, Zack next to her holding her hand. That was their little girl.
"My name's Aiden Valentine and I play vocals and electric." She waved at the crowd, seeing some familiar faces from Tabs. They cheered wildly for Fallen and the crowd quieted some for the introduction of Heartless.
"I'm Riku Loire, lead singer and bass for Heartless." Riku had a great smile and the girls went wild. Tidus and Sora were next and for some odd reason many of the girls and a lot of boys went crazy as well.
"Our next and final band is called Velvet Steel, composed entirely of long time musicians. Please welcome Velvet Steel!" Squall, Axl and Cloud all came out together and the entire crowd, well the girls anyways, began to drool. This band was absolutely drop-dead gorgeous.
"My name is Axl, I play electric and I'm also on vocals." Axl gave the mic to Squall and the look passed between them was not lost on Aiden. She smiled happily for them.
"My name is Squall Leonheart, I'm on bass and backup vocals." Cloud took the mic next and smiled to the crowd.
"I'm Cloud Strife and I love Yuffie Kisargi." Noa glared at him and took the microphone away from the blonde Yuffie just about died from embarassment, vowing to kill him in the worst way.
"Alright, now that we've hear from our bands, we have a special treat for you all...please put your hands together for Mr. and Mrs. Zack Valentine!!!! Zack is one of the most welknown artist and most influential artists to hit the business in nearly 15 years. Areith had an up and coming record label nearly 19 years ago when she suddenly dropped out of the game, however, their musical duet is still one of the biggest hits ever to be recorded." Aiden just stared at her parents walking on to the stage. To say the least, she nearly had a heart attack from shock.
"Thank you Noa. Ladies and gentlemen , the first group performing tonight will be Heartless, with their song, It's All Right." Areith's smooth voice floated over the speaker system as the lights dimmed and brightened, showing the band ready and waiting.
---
Can't have what you never had
never had nothing now aint that sad
Why not take a look back just so we can see
just what went down silent as the grave, I never made a sound
All we ever had was the lies we said
now everything we had is just as dead as the ground beneath my feet
Sit and listen to the sound of the glass breakin cuz now we see through the mirror and the image is taken
We played each other, no winner or loser in the game of now or never
cuz now is always here and ever isn't enough
to feel the cold dead touch
of what wasnt there
It's alright
I'm still here
It's ok
Save it for another day
It's alright
I know you're near
It's ok
I feel your fears
Take a look back a see
all we had
never meant to be
We went down
silent as the grave
never made a sound
It's alright
I'm still here
It's ok
Save it for another day
It's alright
I know you're near
It's ok
I feel your fears
---
"Let's hear it for the boys!!!!" Zack called and the audience erupted into applause. Riku had a deep, melodic, yet raspy, voice and it had the crowd in appreciative silence. The group packed up their guitars and Velvet Steel took the stage and opened with Looking Glass.
---
Choking on the words I can't say,
everyway I look I'm still the one that pays,
I am a lover hater
I am an instagater...
your like an addiction the blessing and the malediction
crime and punishment..seeing the time gone and spent and sooner or later
we're gonna lay here,
think about the way things came here
I'll dive right in cuz I hate to see the world spin
it's alright it's ok save it all for a rainy day
there's nobody out there
no one has found her
It's so cold let it fade away
I'm so cold just let it fade..
your like an addiction the blessing and the malediction
crime and punishment..seeing the time gone and spent and sooner or later
we're gonna lay here,
think about the way things came here
call out my name and it's all ok
I hear you when you whisper
I know that you miss her
I can't see you and your right in front of me
show me how this was, never meant to be
one of these days you'll find you lost in so many ways
There's so much you can't see
I can't show you what I mean
reach through the glass
and see what you've become
How long can this image last?
All your thoughts ar come undone
Call out my name and it's all ok
I hear you when you whisper
I know that you miss her
---
Axl and Cloud were a perfect blend of a lighter, smooth voice and a deep, raspy one. The song was slow and sped up during then chorus only to come to an abrupt halt when entering the second verse, only the sound of the electric riff gliding throughout the silence.
"That was Velvet Steel with Looking Glass. And now," Zack paused looking to Aerith, whose grin was very large. She stepped in for him.
"Please welcome Fallen with their song Daddy's Roses." Areith smiled at her daughter and the band as they set up. Since you all already know the song, to repost it would be pointless. But let us just say that the desired affect was cast and the judges were at a cross-roads in the desicion as to who would be a potential winner. All of the bands, unfortunately, were good.
"That was the first round of our Play the Music contest! Give it up one more time for the bands!!!" Noa called and the auditorium shook with applause. Round Two was ten minutes away.
a.n: OMG AN UPDATE!!!! And its really long two!!!!!! WOOT! I do own LOOKING GLASS AND IT'S ALIRGHT!!!! Okies review my lovelies and I will write more!!!!!!! bwahaha!!!
i Ultimate !