Hollywood Arts- The next day
Andre POV
Music class, my favourite. This year I share the lesson with Cat and Tori, so in pretty much every group project, we've worked together. Which is great, both of them are power-houses when it comes to vocals, pretty much the only problem is that Cat could only work on the projects during the lessons or late at night, which I now know is due to her busy work schedule. Today is one of those in-between-project lessons, where we don't have any real work to do, so the teacher lets us have some free-time in the studios to do covers and develop our musical style though small tasks he gives us to complete.
"Hey guys." Cat said, walking into the studio where Tori and I were sat jamming out with some guitars. "What's today's task?"
"We were waiting for you before we read the sheet." Tori said, picking up the task paper.
"Oh." Cat replied, "Sorry I was using the toilet."
"'Recently, you have all be producing pop music and developing your style in that genre'" Tori read out. "'of course that is a great style, but in my classes I want you to all to expand your musical outlook and explore different genres. Which is why today I have set you the task to play a cover of an Alternative rock song. Good Luck - Anthony.'"
"Alternative rock?" I wracked my brain for any songs we could do. "We could do 'Somebody That I Used to Know' by Gotye?"
"That song's never appealed to me." Tori said back. "What about Panic! At The Disco: Say Amen?"
"You, Tori Vega, like Panic! At The Disco?" I asked, shocked.
"Yes I do actually." Tori said, crossing her arms over her chest. "Got any ideas Cat?" She turned to the red-head, who was now sat by the piano on a small stool.
"Um... I know this one song." She said in a almost inaudible whisper "It's a little sad - but I already know how to play it on piano."
"Sure Lil' Red. What's it called?"
"Slipped Away by Avril Lavigne."
"That is a sad one." Tori replied. "Let's hear it anyway."
Cat slowly raised her shaking hands onto the piano keys and played the four bar intro before starting to sing:
"Nah nah, nah nah nah, nah nah
I miss you, miss you so bad
I don't forget you, oh, it's so sad
I hope you can hear me
I remember it clearly
The day you slipped away
Was the day I found it won't be the same, oh
Nah nah, la la la, nah nah
I didn't get around to kiss you
Goodbye on the hand
I wish that I could see you again
I know that I can't
Oh, I hope you can hear me 'cause I remember it clearly
The day you slipped away
Was the day I found it won't be the same, oh
I had my wake up
Won't you wake up
I keep asking why
And I can't take it
It wasn't fake
It happened you passed by
Now you're gone, now you're gone
There you go, there you go
Somewhere I can't bring you back
Now you're gone, now you're gone
There you go, there you go
Somewhere you're not coming back
The day you slipped away
Was the day I found it won't be the same, no
The day you slipped away
Was the day that I found it won't be the same, oh
Nah nah, nah nah nah, nah nah
I miss you."
As she dragged out the last word, it was hard to miss the pure emotion in her voice, and the shake in her voice added to the harshness. I've never heard her sing so beautifully in all the time I've known her - who knew Cat Valentine had the ability to sing such a sad song.
"That was amazing Cat." Tori smiled at the red-head, wiping away a tear - obviously it had effected her too.
"Thanks." Cat mumbled in appreciation. "I've never played that to anyone before."
"When'd you learn it?" I asked.
"When I was younger- after someone close to me died." She gulped.
"Who?" I asked sincerely - not missing the tear roll down her cheek.
"My... Nonna." She said. For some reason I could sense that it was lie, but a part of my brain told me to not push it- I'd find out who it really was soon anyway on her day of the project.
"I vote on using that song to show Anthony." Tori spoke up.
"Agreed."
At Andre's house later on
"ANDRE!" His grandma screamed. "A CAR JUST PULLED UP ON THE DRIVEWAY!"
"It's Beck and Jade!" I yelled back, "My friends are coming over remember!"
"OH YEAH!" She screamed back, no longer scared- yelling is just her normal tone. I rushed to the door and opened it before Beck or Jade knocked on the door.
"Hey guys." I greeted them, welcoming them into my house.
"Hi." Jade said harshly, pushing past me.
"Sorry." Beck apologised for his girlfriend.
"I'm used to it." Andre chuckled. "I've know her as long as you have."
"Back in ye olde days." Beck laughed, putting on a fake old-fashioned accent.
"It wasn't that long ago." I replied. "It was only Middle School."
"You two twerps reminiscing again?" Jade cut in.
"Apparently you are with that elementary insult." I shot back, quickly regretting it at because of the annoyed look Jade gave me. A knock at the door cut us off and I opened it to a happy Cat Valentine. "You're really good at that Lil' Red." I said as I hugged her.
"Huh?" She asked in confusion. "Good as what?"
"Stopping tension by arriving at the right moment." I explained
"That's why we keep her." Jade shot in. "Which room are we going to go into then?"
"My bedroom." I pointed to the door at the end of the hall. "So we aren't in my Grandma's way."
"ANDRE!" Grandma screamed.
"Speak of the devil." Jade rolled her eyes.
"THERE'S A GIRL WALKING UP THE DRIVE!"
"That's just Tori!" I yelled back, opening the front door for 'Tori'. "Robbie?" I said, looking at the frizzy haired boy walking up the driveway.
"Hehe." Cat giggled. "Robbie's not a girl."
"You sure?" Beck said to the red-head, jokingly raising an eyebrow.
"What's that support to mean?!" Cat yelled suddenly.
"Hey guys." Robbie said, walking into the house. "You alright Cat?"
"I'm good." She smiled at him, "Let's go to Andre's room to wait for Tori." She suggested.
"Sure." I said, leading the group to my bedroom.
No POV
"I really don't have an interesting life." Andre shrugged as Beck focused the camera onto him.
"Well something must have happened for you to live with your Grandma." Tori said slowly.
"My parent's aren't dead or anything dramatic like that." Andre cleared up quickly. "They live a 20 minute drive away with my sister, Poppy."
"I think I met her," Tori said, "at the Big Showcase last year."
"You did, she's auditioning to come to HA next year." Andre said.
"So why do you live with your Grandma?" Jade pushed, getting bored quickly.
"You all know she's mentally ill right?"
"No offence," Robbie said. "But it's kinda hard to miss it."
"Well, she basically has a fear of everything and everyone. She needed a carer, so when I was like 14 I offered to help look after her. Reluctantly, my parents agreed, only really because she lived so close to HA so I could walk there rather then them having to drive me each day. She's normal most of the time, just has moments of disillusion and irrationality."
"Why is she scared of everything?" Cat asked, looking at him with innocent enquiry. "If it's okay to ask."
"It's fine." Andre ran a hand through his dreadlocks.
"ANDRE!" His Grandma yelled, making the group simultaneously sigh. "DO YOUR FRIEND'S WANT ANYTHING TO EAT OR DRINK?!"
"See." Andre chuckled. "She can be normal. You all want anything?" He asked his friends, who all shook their heads. "WE'RE GOOD THANKS."
"OKAY!" She yelled back.
"So what happened to her to make her so scared?" Beck asked.
"It all started when I was 8..." As Andre told his story, the groups emotions flickered between sympathy, confusion and empathy. His backstory was certainly a unique one and involved many questions being asked in order for the group to understand it.
"All of that- it isn't your fault Andre." Tori comforted. "You were too young to know- and had no way of even fathoming the outcome."
"I know." Andre sighed. "I just can't help but feel guilty."
"I know how that feels." Jade commented. "Trust me."