A.N. Hey guys I am so so so sorry for not updating in so long I suck so bad and I apologize. I actually have one more chapter left to clean up andand post so I hope you are all so excited and I hope you keep reading and sending in your interest and enjoy the story. All songs written by Marie are original and written by myself.
Chapter Ten
Nazz stares blankly up at the stage the streamers don't match the schools colors and really through off the whole stage. Kevin and Edd sit beside her chatting quietly to each other about school work and other things that Nazz can't focus on. She just keeps thinking about how Marie should be up on that stage. The tiny school auditorium is full. She can see Sarah sitting near the front with Ed and May. Jimmy must be doing an interpretive dance. She turns to look near the back and sees Lee standing there with Eddy of all people and another man that looks similar to her but not really. She shrugs and looks back towards the front. She can see those bitches who were rude to Marie near the front. Kevin nudges her shoulder and she looks over at him.
"At least try to look amused?" Kevin sighs, "You look like you'd rather be anywhere else."
"I'd rather we were at the diner with Marie." Nazz groans, "Talent show will be stupid without her."
"Oh I don't know about that, Ed informed me that Jimmy would be doing a very festive baton twirling performance to a popular pop song."
"Sounds….great," Nazz sighs.
"I think it's starting, I didn't know Johnny would be hosting it." Kevin mumbles as Johnny walks onto the stage dressed in an oversized tux, plank tucked under his arm.
"Hey guys, thank you all for coming to our spirit week talent show! Plank and I are so happy that everyone could make it! What was that buddy?" Johnny listens silently for a few minutes to the piece of wood before bursting out laughing, "Oh buddy, you are a riot. You guys are lucky plank isn't telling jokes tonight!"
Nazz wants to laugh at the confusion and silence the audience has for Johnny. Only a Cul-De-Sac kid could understand Johnny and Plank. She looks over knowingly and Kevin and he looks back with a smirk. Edd has his hand over his mouth trying to be polite but she can see the grin he is trying to hide.
"Well we have a great line up for you guys tonight!" Johnny cheers, "Let's give a warm round of applause for Jimmy, who will be doing a dance to the song-"
"Well this should be most exciting," Edd whispers, "try to have a nice time Nazz. I'm sure Marie will want to hear all about it."
Nazz reluctantly bucks up and watches as Jimmy performs a rather well choreographed routine to a popular Ke$ha song. The next few acts that follow are less than amusing. An out of tune rendition of another chart topper, a small tap dance performance from one of the freshman girls. A group of girls from the cheerleading squad doing the dance from Mean Girls. Nazz vaguely remembers being asked to participate but she had declined. She wanted to experience Marie's performance at the time… She sighs glumly and tries to focus as Johnny steps back up on the stage to announce the next act.
"Our next performer is new to the stage and I hope you will all help me in giving her a warm welcome. Please put your hands together for Marie Kanker who will be playing two songs for us this evening!" Johnny cheers.
Nazz sits up and stares in shock as Marie moves onstage with a stool and her guitar. She wants to glare over at the boys for not telling her. But she can't take her eyes of Marie. She looks nervous, shaky. Her blue hair tucked away in her gray hat and her fingers trembling as she mounts the stool and properly positions her guitar in hand. Nazz holds her breath as Marie begins to speak.
The announcement of her act is what starts the nerves. She is shaking the stool almost slips from her hand as she goes to pick it up. Come on Marie, she thinks to herself, you can do this, for Nazz remember. She takes a deep breath and approaches the microphones stand, avoiding looking at the crowd. The other acts had peaked through the curtain excited to see the amount of people they'd be performing for. Marie had avoided it at all cost but maybe she should have peaked as well. Then she could have mentally prepared. She sits on her stool, positions her guitars and flexes her fingers over the strings. This was it. She looks up at the crowd, gulps, and forces her voice to sound calm as she looks over the sea of blank faces. It was good that it was hard to see people…but then bad at the same time. She wouldn't be able to see Nazz…wouldn't be able to gauge her reaction. She breathes out and finally speaks.
"This….this first song is….is dedicated to my sisters and my mother." Marie nods and then begins to strum the guitar:
"There is an old bottle
With a ship deep inside
And sometimes I wonder
Why you left it behind
The memories of you
Haunt our painted walls
And sometimes I wonder
Why you even told us all"
It's shaky at first but Marie begins to feel comfortable as she moves into the chorus of the song. At least no one is booing her yet.
"Oh, goodbye my girls
Goodbye my world
Remember me when
I'm gone forever
And ever
And now
You're just a picture we haven't taken down
There is a little girl
Who feels so blue
Because she was left here
And doesn't know what to do
Her sisters all blame her
For what she couldn't stop
And now she's crying
Without her mom
And sometimes I wonder
Why you even told us all
Oh, goodbye my girls
Goodbye my world
Remember me when
I'm gone forever
And ever
And now
You're just a picture we haven't taken down
There is an old trailer
With a slanted screen door
And inside three sisters
Aren't united no more
And sometimes they wonder
What would it be like
What would it be like
To see their mother
One last time….
She said
Oh, goodbye my girls
Goodbye my world
Remember me when
I'm gone forever
And ever
And now
You're just a picture we haven't taken down."
The silence is almost deafening. Marie holds her breath and waits for something, anything. A clap or even a gasp or even for May or Lee to yell at her. But nothing comes. Then from the back row a soft clapping starts followed by a few more. Marie lets out a sigh of relief as a small round of applause fills the room. She smiles and feels a little more confident as she announces the second song.
"This…this second piece is a little self-explanatory, I hope you like it." Marie breathes in and then begins to play:
"She's got a voice like bells
And eyes a deep bright blue
She's got hair like gold
And skin so silky smooth
She dances in and out of my mind
And I think about her all the time
and I can't figure out what to do
because I'm in love with you"
Nazz gasps and brings her hands to cover her mouth as Marie finishes her first verse of the song. She feels tears well up in her eyes as Marie pours her heart into the next verse.
"She's got a smile so bright
It could blot out the sun
She speaks her mind
And I can't get enough
She dances in and out of my mind
And I think about her all the time
and I can't figure out what to do
because I'm in love with you"
Nazz feels her heart beat quickening in her chest. Was it acceptable to run up on stage during the middle of a song? Oh she was going to kill Edd and Kevin for this. She almost laughs as she sees Marie looking through the crowd as if trying to find her.
"You fill me up
With joy
Every time you're here
And you don't
Understand how much I fear
That you'll walk
Right on out of my life
Just as fast
As you walked in
She's got a voice like bells
And eyes a deep bright blue
She's got hair like gold
And skin so silky smooth
I think about you all the time
And I can't get you out of my mind
And I don't know what do to
Because I'm
In love with you
In love with you
In loooove with you."
Nazz claps so loudly as the last chord on Marie's guitar fades away. Kevin and Edd join her and most of the students around her. She feels the hot tears still running down her face and she wants nothing more than to express how much she cares for Marie in return. Marie smiles and carries her stuff offstage looking extremely relieved. Johnny walks back on stage and another act is announced but all Nazz can think about is Marie, Marie, Marie.
Marie lets out a sigh of relief as she walks off stage and into the back room. All the other performers who had already went on are sitting around relaxing and chatting quietly. Marie goes to the corner where her stuff is and puts away her guitar. Two more acts….two more acts and then she can see Nazz. She'll probably see May too and her Uncle. She hopes they like the song, thinking back on it now she should have dedicated the song to her uncle as well but-
"Hey Marie," a soft voice whispers behind her, she turns to see Jimmy standing over her in his sparkly attire, "I just wanted to say you did a wonderful job. You have a fabulous singing voice. Have you thought of joining the choir?"
"Thank you Jimmy." Marie blushes, "And no….I really hadn't thought of joining Choir."
"Well I hope you will consider it, your voice would make a great edition." Jimmy smiles before moving back over to the other contestants.
Marie smiles and closes her guitar case. She feels great. Her body is buzzing with energy and all she wants to do is scream from the rooftops that she did it. She did something that took confidence, guts, bravery, whatever. She did it. And it's all thanks to Nazz… She feels the urge to write almost instantly. She has no means of writing down her words but somehow she feels like she will be able to remember them later. The new song keeps playing on repeat in her head and she feels it surge through every pour of her skin, Marie feels free.
"Marie we're going on for awards come on!" Jimmy calls to her.
Marie follows him back onto the stage and stands awkwardly around the other contestants. She just wants to find Nazz. See her reaction, god she hopes it's a good reaction. There are three different prizes for people in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. Marie is flabbergasted as she is announced the second place winner and handed a twenty five dollar gift card. She claps loudly when Jimmy comes in first place for his routine. She watches Johnny make a joke with plank and then they are free. She grabs her stuff from the back room and moves out into the audience with the rest of the participants. She doesn't see Nazz, Edd, or Kevin. She goes to start her search but is stopped when she sees May coming forward, Lee and her uncle right behind her. Marie barely has time to put her guitar down before May has her arms around her neck, hugging her tightly.
"That was beautiful Marie," May whispers, "You sang so well."
"Thanks May, I'm glad you liked my songs." Marie smiles, hugging her sister back.
"May move." Lee states.
May lets go and steps back and Marie braces herself for a punch but is instead enveloped into another hug. She is surprised, it's been years since Lee has hugged her. It doesn't last long but she accepts it. Lee was never a truly touchy feely person to begin with, why would she start now.
"You did good Marie….I'm proud of you." Lee smiles, "and no matter what we'll always be sisters. Don't forget that."
"I won't….thanks Lee."
Lee gives her a little half smile and turns on her heels and leaves. She can see Eddy in the background waiting for her sister and she smiles. Her uncle hugs her next and kisses her forehead.
"Thanks for coming Daddy," Marie smiles, "You didn't have to-"
"I did, you did so great Marie and I know that took a lot of courage for you to do it. I'm very proud of you." Her Uncle smiles, placing his hand on her shoulder, "I am the proudest father in the entire world."
"Thanks Daddy, you're the best." Marie chokes, holding back the tears.
"Now I want you home tomorrow alright?" Her Uncle grins, "It's been sad not having you home with us. Have fun tonight and good luck with your girl."
"Thanks…I'll see you at home."
May gives her one last hug before running back to Ed and giving him a peck on the cheek. The room has cleared up a bit and she can see Kevin and Edd talking in one corner of the room. She grabs her stuff and begins to head over but stops when Nazz steps in front of her. Marie holds her breath and gently puts her stuff back on the ground. Nazz's eyes are red. This was bad….this meant rejection didn't it?
"Nazz-"
"Marie-" Nazz says at the same time as her, "Me first. I have had a bad week. I haven't seen you in days and….and it has sucked dude, like totally sucked not having you with me… god Marie." Nazz launches herself forward and Marie enjoys her fourth hug of the night from the person who matters most, "That was so totally brave. No one has ever done something so sweet for me."
"Did you like it?" Marie mumbles, insecurities still fluttering in her stomach.
Nazz releases her and looks her dead in the eye with a serious look on her face. Marie feels nervous… why did she look so serious. Then it happens and Marie can hardly believe it but Nazz's lips are gently touching hers. She kisses back quickly hand reaching up and cupping Nazz's cheek because she can touch her now. This is real now. Nazz pulls away slowly and smiles up at the blue haired girl.
"Does that answer your question?" Nazz whispers.
"I think it does," Marie mumbles, "but I don't know if I got it, you may need to tell me again."
Nazz chuckles and they are kissing again and it's wonderful. Marie feels like fireworks are going off in her brain and her heart is stuttering out an awkward rhythm that matches up with her new song and all she thinks of is Nazz, Nazz, Nazz.
"Hey love birds!" Kevin calls, "are you going to go grab some grub or not? You can suck face later."
"Now Kevin don't be rude." Edd chides, "although such public displays of affection are technically banned on school grounds and-"
"We're coming!" Nazz grins, intertwining her fingers with Marie's, "ready?"
"Yeah…yeah I am." Marie smiles back.