Hidden Beneath the Mask

Disclaimer: Well two shows I do not own: "Good Luck Charlie" and "How to Rock", so try not to give me grief, as I'm not claiming them.

A/N:

Chapter 10 (Crashing Down)

The battle of the bands was finally here, PJ and Emmett were making their way towards the school where the whole thing was going down. Mr. Davis wasn't with them, due to recognition. No one wanted to intimidate the bands by his presence there, so it would be up to PJ and Emmett to 'discover' the potentials. They were running a little late though, due to the traffic. "LA is a damn big place," Emmett muttered from the passenger seat of their car. PJ chuckled and stared at the license plate on the bumper of the car in front of him.

"Yeah, but you know today's that band thing, so traffic's just going to be slow getting there." They should have left much earlier than this. They did not want to miss the performances, they had to catch all of them, and Emmett was supposed to be recording every one of them. "I told you to wake your butt up an hour ago man." Emmett lodwered his hand from the window and moved his head up.

"So my bed is comfortable, sue me!" PJ laughed and shifted his gaze to the clock. It was 1:43, the whole show began at 2:00. He was a bit worried they would have to find a shortcut through all this traffic, but that was only if they could get out of the traffic. "Mr. Davis really came through with everything he said, I can respect a guy like that." They were indeed in a large condo with two bedrooms, a large living room, and even a game room! PJ had utmost faith that he would help them make it big, so he and Emmett would have to make their selections very carefully.

"Agreed." He grabbed his cup of water from the cup holder and sipped on the straw. He corrected himself mentally, traffic in LA was just bad, period. They hadn't been out often since they arrived, most of the time spent there was either working with Mr. Davis, or unpacking their rooms. He'd spoken with his family a few times over the video chat, and Teddy surprised him by saying Spencer had run off somewhere after she told him what he was up to. "By the way Emmett, if we run into Spencer down here…"

"The hack probably wants us to get him to join our band. He's really not as good as he thinks he is."

"I know…" As they began reaching an exit, PJ's eyes flicked off to the left at a billboard advertising the Battle of the Bands. Apparently, there was some sort of big time prize being offered here, and the 'hope of being discovered'. Although, he saw something that made his heart stop, a girl that looked very familiar to him, but he needed to get closer to see her more clearly.

"PJ, take this damn exit!" He tore his gaze from the billboard and to the exit, sighting heavily. There were no cars going down it, so likely it would be better than this stop-and-go traffic. He flipped on his blinker and swerved into the exit lane, speeding up just a bit. He put the billboard in the back of his mind, clicking his tongue as he tried to figure out who the familiar girl was. "Something wrong, bro?"

"No, I just wish I got a closer look at that billboard we were coming up on. The one advertising this thing…"

"Ah, I'm sure it's not something to worry about."

"Maybe…" His lips fell into a frown and he pulled over onto the lane of the new freeway. "We need to hurry the hell up, we're going to be late for the first performance."

Skyler paced backstage with Grace and the Perfs watching her, she was extremely nervous and really didn't know if she wanted to go up on the stage. They were the opening act, and she honestly didn't want to sing their typical song again. She couldn't believe these girls thought their song was so perfect that it got better every time it was sung. It didn't. It only grew worse each time they sung it!

Spencer had not been a huge problem lately, Gravity 5 kept him relatively busy. She still hadn't opened herself up to anyone, and why should she? The Perfs only assumed she was no moodier than usual, but Grace seemed to keep prying at something. Their best activity was their cooking together, the bonding never stopped. "You're more nervous than usual," One girl said. She groaned and rolled her eyes.

"Stating the obvious, Kelly." She had a sinking sensation in her stomach that something was going to go wrong, more so than ever before. "I can't believe I'm about to say this, but I almost don't want to go onstage."

"But Molly, you have to. If you don't, you're going to make us all look bad!" Grace rolled her eyes and pushed Kelly back some while walking over to Skyler. She wrapped her arm around her shoulders.

"One, shut the hell up Kelly. Two…You're going to do fine, Molly. Just go out there, sing your heart out like always, and step off. This is no different than any other battle of the bands that we've opened up for. No different, okay?" She lifted her head up as the announcer began speaking from the other side of the curtain. He was cracking jokes and buttering up the crowd, getting them ready for the bands. "No different, except maybe for the fact that there are about fifty other bands out three, thirty more than usual."

"Yeah, this is the biggest battle yet. That's not what I'm worried about."

"What are you worried about?"

"I…can't say…" She really couldn't say what was troubling her, because even she didn't know. This feeling inside, it was heavier than she was used to. Maybe it was Spencer being out there, but perhaps not. Maybe it was the thought that Gravity 5 would win, but she really didn't care about them. "No different."

Kelly called out again, much to Grace's aggravation. "We don't want Gravity 5 to win again, Molly! We need to put them out!" Skyler winced and shifted her eyes to the side as Grace let out a low growl and snapped at Kelly, much like an alligator snapping at their prey.

"Did I not just tell you to shut your mouth, Kelly? Keep it shut, or I will personally kick you from the group myself!

"B-But you need a vote from all the girls to do that…"

"No, that's only if we're trying to kick the leader out. When it's just someone like you…" Grace narrowed her eyes and formed a scowl. "I can do it without a group vote." Kelly silenced herself and started backing up as the other girls surrounding her snickered. "Now keep your comments to yourself, or leave, because I'm really not in the mood to deal with you right now!"

"Okay! Sorry!" Grace had been getting more and more frustrated as time went on, this was clear to Skyler. She knew what Grace wanted, the truth, but she was still afraid. Even Grace hadn't been able to crack open that safety box that held her emotions away. However, her heart had jumped up to her throat, and for some reason, PJ had been running through her mind during the past few days. It was stronger even now, and she wanted to release it somehow. When she thought of a way, remembering the music therapy she and Stevie had, it brought to mind a song by Celine Dion that she enjoyed listening to, It's All Coming Back to me Now.

"I…Grace, I want to do something different…" Grace raised an eyebrow as Skyler looked up to the curtains. "I want to go out first, and then the Perfs can do their opening song." Grace raised an eyebrow and looked back to the girls, all of whom, were not risking anything by speaking up.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah…there's just something I feel like doing." It wasn't going to be anything revealing, just a song. When the curtains started to shift, Grace led the girls away, leaving Skyler standing there with her heart pounding like crazy. The announcer looked at her, but she was practically frozen as the lights stung her eyes. She cleared her throat and walked towards him.

Outside, PJ and Emmett entered the building, trying anxiously to find the place they needed to be. They heard the announcer on the PA system, so fortunately they would be able to hear the first performers. "God we're late, and I think we entered the back, Emmett…"

"What? Did you want to run all the way around the school?" PJ sighed and started rubbing his forehead.

"Opening for the Battle of the Bands, we have Molly Garfunkel, leader of The Perfs, um…without her group?" PJ put his hands to his hips and laughed, it was never a good idea for a singer to go on without their band.

"Sorry, they'll be on after this, I just wanted to sing something for you…" PJ's jaw dropped and heart skidded to a halt. That voice, he knew it in an instant, but no. That was impossible. Too impossible, as she was in New York the last he'd heard. Regardless, it was good to hear the singer, perhaps they could gauge her and consider her for the band. "The song I'm going to sing for you is not my own, it's sung by one of my favorite performers, Celine Dion. So here goes, 'It's all Coming Back to me Now'."

The music began playing as Emmett and PJ glanced around the school, desperately seeking the auditorium. As they rushed through the halls, listening to the song, they could only think of how beautiful the voice of the singer was. "Molly Garfunkel, let's try to remember that name Emmett. We can put her in with the group of singers that we find."

"Got it."

On stage, Skyler had brought a hush over the auditorium with her singing. Even Gravity 5, seated in the front row, were stunned by her singing. No one expected her to actually break from her typical Perfs song. She didn't look to them very often throughout her song, as Spencer was down there with them. There was a huge scowl on Kacey's face, which disturbed Skyler just a bit.

At the end of the song, Grace and the Perfs started walking out onto the stage. She turned to them, wiping her eyes and smiling confidently. She felt a lot better after releasing her emotions through that song, and what more, nobody would ever suspect why she was singing it. Except perhaps, Spencer, but only because he knew who she was, and who that song was for. "Are you done?" Grace asked calmly. Skyler nodded and looked over to the announcer.

"As much as I'd like to sing her other one, My Heart Will Go On, and others, it's time to move ahead. So let's get this show underway." Deciding to go into Molly mode before anyone grew suspicious, she shot a glare at Kacey and put on a smug grin. "Top that, Kacey Simon." Kacey growled, shifting angrily in her seat. Her friends looked at her, and Skyler cheered inside as Molly began coming out.

"It's about damn time, Skyler, no one wants to hear your god awful singing. Now get out of the way and let me rock this show!"

Grace stepped beside her as the Perfs girls formed an arc behind them. They began their popularity song, and immediately the audience released a collective sigh. She moved her hands in an upwards arc and Grace did a spin pose.

Then suddenly, it ended. Everything crashed down inside of her, and her heart began flipping out. Her body, frozen, and her eyes glued to the door of the auditorium. Emmett Heglin was walking in the auditorium. "Oh my god. Oh shit, oh god, oh Jesus, oh god…" This only meant one thing. He was here too, because Emmett hadn't even seen her yet, he was motioning for someone to hurry into the place.

The only sound to be heard was the beating of her fragile heart and Grace calling out her name, she'd frozen on stage yet again. Kacey was smirking triumphantly while the Perfs girls were groaning. A whimper left her lips as she staggered backwards, Grace moved behind her, catching her in her arms. She saw Kacey look back to the door just as PJ stepped in.

Her stomach flopped about and she immediately pushed herself from Grace, running backstage before he saw her. She couldn't let him see her, that wasn't allowed. He'd hate her if he knew who she was pretending to be! She wasn't sure she could handle that rejection, that pain. She held back a scream while running out the back door of the stage. She heard Grace calling out to her after ordering the girls to continue singing as if nothing was going on.

When she finally stopped running, she slid down in the corner of some science classroom. She pulled her knees to her chest and began weeping. How could he really be here? So soon after Spencer, even. Why did her past come chasing her? Were PJ and Emmett the band that Zander had told her about? Were they the ones trying to find two band mates and make it big?

She had a huge urge to vomit, she was disgusted with herself, that she had to lie about everything only to have her past come right back. Now, without trying, just by mere appearance, PJ shoved a crowbar into that safety box of hers and tore it open. No different than any other Battle of the Bands, huh?

Skyler was startled when two gentle arms wrapped around her. When she looked up, Grace had found her. She wiped her eyes and quickly looked away. "Don't be here Grace, please, I can't take it anymore…"

"I'm not leaving your side until you tell me what's going on." She whimpered and buried her head into Grace's chest. It was no use, hiding it all away anymore. She knew Grace would hate her, would leave her. "Please, just talk to me."

"No, you won't like me…"

"There is nothing you can say that will change my opinion of you."

"Want to bet? There are a lot of things you don't know about me." She tried not to snap at her. She was hurt, scared, angry, and none of it was Grace's fault. "If you knew the things that I've been feeling, if you knew who that guy out there was, and everything I've never told you…you wouldn't want anything to do with me…"

Grace's expression grew firm, but her eyes remained gentle and caring. She spoke with a soft voice, and made sure the classroom door was shut. With a heavy breath, Grace turned her gaze back to Skyler.

"Try me."

It would appear she finally has seen PJ, and yikes, what a meltdown it was. Do tell me your thoughts