So, I'm skipping ahead a little bit in the time frame, because I can't really do much in the classroom. I'll do a quick recap of Jaden's acceptance into Hollywood Arts though, then skip. I'm just really lazy…
Disclaimer: I do NOT own VicTORious, nor the song that Jaden sings. Or Avengers…
A week later-Hollywood Arts-Performance for Acceptance-Jaden's POV
"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, especially girls, please remain in your seats. This young man, who has whisked himself into our lives and has captured our hearts in the drop of a hat. I introduce to you, the young heartthrob, Jaden West, and his song Into the Night." Our quirky, lotion-obsessed guidance counselor, Lane, gave a sweeping bow and showed me to the stage. I heard a raucous uproar of screams from the girls, and a groan from the guys. I stepped up to the microphone stand, scratching the back of my head. I was over the Asphalt Café, just where Andre and Tori had sung that song "365 Days" a few months ago. It was nighttime, but I had spotlights shining on me. The band members behind me gave me a reassuring nod and started the song. I had chosen this song, instead of "Without You" because I really didn't want a sappy song. I wanted to show that there was something more to this supposed "lady-killer". I cleared my throat, and looked through the audience of jostling teenagers and faculty members. I saw Beck sitting on the tail of his pickup with Tori and Andre to his right, and Cat cuddled into his left side.
"Like a gift from the heavens
It was easy to tell
It was love from above
That could save me from hell
She had fire in her soul
It was easy to see
How the Devil himself could be pulled out of me
There were drums in the air
As she started to dance
Every soul in the room keeping time with their hands" I felt the bass player strum into the beat, and the drum boomed behind me. I could see the crowd bobbing to each pound on the drum, and Tori was nodding along. Andre had an arm wrapped around her waist, even though she was completely ignoring him. The chorus came up, and I continued,
"And we sang a, away, away, away
And the voices rang like the angels sing
And singing a, away, away, away
And we danced on into the night
And we danced on into the night" I took my hands away from the mike, and clapped my hands together over my head. The crowd mimicked my movements, like crazed zombies. I started to get into the lyrics, letting the song drive my actions. My steel-toed boot tapped to the rhythm, bringing the mike back towards me.
"Like a piece to the puzzle that falls into place
You could tell how we felt from the look on our faces
We were spinning in circles with the moon in our eyes
No room left to move in between you and I" My eyes happened to skim through the audience, finding the form of Cat. She had hopped off of the tail and was dancing beside it. Her light blue dress fluttered around her calves with each twist and turn. "And we forgot where we were
As we lost track of time
And we sang to the wind as we danced through the night." Cat had tugged Beck off of the truck bed, and they were doing a modified version of the salsa. They were laughing and singing along to the song. I repeated the chorus, taking the microphone out of the stand so I could move across the stage. Spinning once and stopping to hold onto the rail, I started the mesmerizing tune again. "Like a gift from the heavens
It was easy to tell
It was love from above
That could save me from hell
She had fire in her soul
It was easy to see
How the Devil himself could be pulled out of me
There were drums in the air as she started to dance
Every soul in the room keeping time with their hands" The crowd was clapping to the rhythm, gleefully appeasing my every caprice. They were so absorbed into the song; they looked like a mob motivated by an inspirational speaker. "And we sing a, away, away, away
And the voices rang like the angels sing
And singing a, away, away, away
And we danced on into the night
A, Away, away, away
And the voices rang like the angels sing
And singing a, away, away, away
And we danced on into the night
A, away, away, away
A, away, away, away
Singing a, away, away, away
And we danced on into the night" As the last chord rang out, the crowd erupted into applause and cheers. I could see my group of "new" friends, Tori was clapping enthusiastically and throwing in a "wooo" occasionally while Andre was pumping his fist in the air. Beck was twirling a squealing Cat, but he was looking up at me. He had a small smile, but his expression showed nothing but disdain.
"How was that everybody? Did you like it?" Lane slid in beside me, putting an arm across my shoulders. The reply was an uproar of hollers and yells. Nodding his head, he continued, "I think it's safe to say that Mr. West belongs here with us, am I right?"
"Thanks, Lane. I just hope to succeed in everything I do." Lane grabbed one of my hands and lifted it in the air, and another roar was elicited from the crowd. My friends were clapping along with the crowd. I waved with my other hand. So this is what it feels like to be a celebrity..
Two Months later-The Star Cinema-10:00 PM
"Aww, man, that such an awesome movie!" Andre clapped me on the back, still excited from the big screen. He was bouncing on the balls of his feet, and throwing punches every which way. "I liked it when the Hulk just, bam, bam, bambambam! You know, gets me all pumped up and stuff!"
"I liked all the humor they had in it. Dude, it was a perfect mesh of it all! Whedon is a genius! I hope to be in one of his movies." Beck gave Andre a jab to the shoulder, and the two started duking out a mock fight.
"You guys, stop, people are starting to stare." Cat came up behind us, gripping my forearm. We had just stepped out into the cooling night air, and she was starting to shiver. She was in a red tank top and short jean shorts, not covering a lot of skin.
"Cat, I think that's from our smokin' girls." Andre leered at Tori who was in skinny jeans and a camisole her mom made her wear. She shyly brushed a hand through her hair before looking at me.
"Aww, thanks, Andre." The poor guy's shoulders slumped and he unenthusiastically punched Beck back. Cat shivered again, this time the tremor ran up my arm. I took of my leather jacket and helped her into it. I was wearing a black muscle shirt with dark blue jeans. My jacket practically swallowed Cat's petite frame.
"If you were cold, all you had to do was ask." Cat just looked up at me and smiled.
"Thanks, Jaden." She looped her arm in the crook of my elbow again. The group of us started our walk down the sidewalk again. Beck, Andre and Robbie started babbling like a bunch of school girls over Marvel's Avengers. Tori and Cat stuck close to me as we went through the town. Cat's head rested on my bicep and Tori was walking beside me, nervously twirling her hair. She was eyeing the guys in front of us, who were still laughing about the antics the superheroes had gone through. It wasn't long before we came on to Beck's truck and Andre's firebird.
"Well, here we are. Alright, split up, you guys." Andre and Robbie hopped into his car while Tori and Beck got into the truck. Unfortunately, I had to park farther away, and that left quite a walk for Cat and I. We waved Andre and Robbie off, but Beck stayed behind. "You two going to be okay?"
"Yeah, if not, I'm ready for anything." I patted my pocket where I had a knife tucked away safely. I nodded as Beck and Tori drove away. Leading Cat along, I started our trip to my Camaro which was somewhere off in the distance. "Nice night for a walk, eh?"
"Hehehe, that's a Canadian word…" Cat giggled into her hand, not looking at me. "And yes, it is. At least we can see the stars tonight."
"My favorite constellation is Andromeda, the princess chained to a rock. She had to be rescued by the Greek hero Perseus from the titanic sea monster, the Kraken." I traced the familiar pattern in the sky with my hand.
"Wow, you really know your mythology, Jaden. I know that Jade hates anything that interrupts blackness, so we never really did any star gazing." Her expression was somber, her eyes pained. I patted her hand gently, drawing her attention back to me.
"Well, feel free to ask, and I'd be glad to show you more constellations." She gave me a bright smile, nodding happily. I lost track of where we were and we ended up on the darker side of town. Not meaning to sound judgmental or anything, but this was the ghetto. I stopped in midstride when I noticed a shady figure walking towards us. I moved Cat behind me, my hand resting on the pocket knife.
"You guys lost or somethin'?" The man's speech was slurred, and I could smell the booze in his breath. He had a hand in his jacket pocket, and another was grasping the neck to a bagged bottle.
"I think we just took a wrong turn, and we'll be heading back now." I started taking steps back, keeping my eyes on the drunk. He staggered forward, and I caught sight of what he had a hold of. The shiny metal of the small pistol gleamed in the low streetlamp's light. "We don't want any trouble, man."
"Nobody ever wants any kind o' trouble. Trouble just kind o' happens you know? Now, I'm going to ask you to give me your wallet, and yer shiny little purse." He pulled the gun out and pointed it at us. I raised one of my hands up, trying to pacify the slowly intensifying situation. I could feel Cat trembling behind me.
"Alright, come here and I'll give it to you." The man grinned, taking steps closer to us, gun still trained on me. When he got within arms' reach, I slipped my switchblade out and cut his wrist. The man howled in pain, grabbing his bloody appendage. He still had a firm grip on the gun, and he took aim. My heartbeat was pounding in my ears, and my brain was racing for an idea. I realized that I had to keep his attention on me, and the only way to do that was to inflict more damage. My solution was to throw the knife at the guy. Not a smart move, because as soon as the blade left my hand, the guy's finger pulled the trigger. I felt the bullet pierce my skin, and my blood spill onto my shirt. I closed my eyes, my hand pressed against the wound in my chest. Cat's screams were in my ears as I dropped to my knees. She had her hands on my shoulder, and she was trying her best to dial 9-1-1. The pain was searing through my flesh, and the blood was warm on my skin. I opened my eyes, seeing spots and a crying Cat sobbing into her cell phone. The last thing I remember was Princess Andromeda screaming on her rock above me.
Dun, dun, dun…No, I did not kill my main character. That would be stupid of me. I did throw her/him through a loop though. Didn't see that coming, now did ya? Well, it's been a long and exciting weekend for me. I graduated Saturday, along with my fellow peers. I had no one to talk to, and my brother sucks at taking pictures. *sigh* I need to teach him how to do that better. Oh well, stay tuned for my next episode, where I shall pull your heartstrings like a terrible harpist! Muwahaha!