10. Take a Bow

Fred POV

So here I was. Time had flown by these past two weeks. I figured since the girls I had been dating seemed to still be in love with me, they didn't know about how I had been dating all of them. I had gone out with all of them again last weekend and flirted with them whenever I passed by them in the hallway. It may not be right, but I needed this. Or... at least that was what I kept telling myself.

I looked around the auditorium. This was the third rehearsal for the show and today was the day the groups performed their songs for Ms. Mipla's stupid music theme idea. This should be fun.

I sat down in a seat near the back just to stay out of everyone's way, but of course people still saw me. I waved at a few people and stayed quiet and out of the way. I never even noticed that all of my girls were there, gazing at me.


PAPARAZZI

Miranda; We are the crowd, we're c-coming out

Got my flash on it's true, need that picture of you

It's so magical,

We'd be so fantastical

Brianna; Leather and jeans,

Garage glamorous

not sure what it means but this photo of us

It don't have a price, ready for those flashing lights

All; Cause you know that baby, I

I'm your biggest fan

I'll follow you until you love me, Papa-paparazzi

Baby, there's no other superstar

you know that I'll be your

Papa-paparazzi

Promise I'll be kind, but I won't stop until that boy is mine

Baby you'll be famous, chase you down until you love me

Papa-paparazzi

Kairi; I'll be your girl, backstage at your show

Velvet ropes and guitars, yeah 'Cause you're my rockstar

in between the sets,

Eyeliner and cigarettes

Fina; Shadow is burnt, yellow dance and we turn

My lashes are dry, purple teardrops I cry

It don't have a price, loving you is cherry pie

All; 'Cause you know that baby, I

I'm your biggest fan

I'll follow you until you love me, Papa-paparazzi

Baby there's no other superstar

you know that I'll be your

Papa-paparazzi

Promise I'll be kind but I won't stop until that boy is mine

Baby you'll be famous, chase you down until you love me

Papa-paparazzi

Real good, we dance in the studio

Snap, snap, to that shit on the radio

Don't stop for anyone

We're plastic but we still have fun!

I'm your biggest fan

I'll follow you until you love me, Papa-paparazzi

Baby there's no other superstar

you know that I'll be your

Papa-paparazzi

Promise I'll be kind but I won't stop until that boy is mine

Baby you'll be famous, chase you down until you love me

Papa-paparazzi


The girls stared at Fred lovingly. All oblivious to the truth.

"Sit down everyone so we can start this." Ms. Mipla motioned for everyone to sit. The students sat with their bands that they had formed earlier. "So, who's ready to perform their song? Hmm?" She looked around as all the groups moved forward and stared at her with eager eyes. "Hmm... you." She pointed to Cade and Lisa who smiled gladly and walked onto the stage with their band and dancers. They both cast Sam flirty grins, but he seemed oblivious to it. "Let's hear it."


REAL THING

Cade; Jamie's in love
She's got the summer blowing through her hair

Lisa; She turns it up
She says tonight you take me anywhere

Cade; Bobby's in luck
He got a fire burning in his eyes

Lisa; He turns it up
And he says girl you better hold on tight

Both; 'Cause this is the real thing
Love changes everything
This is the night when every heart's exploding
The real thing
Slow down it's happening
'Cause you got time to burn in the heat of the moment
That summer radio
Fireworks off the patio
3 AM string of green lights in a row
And the real thing
Love can change anything
If you can just let go, let's go!

Lisa; Jamie's alive
She's got him rushing through her veins tonight

Cade; So hit the lights
It feels too good to ever say goodbye

Both; 'Cause this is the real thing
Love changes everything
This is the night when every heart's exploding
The real thing
Slow down it's happening
'Cause you got time to burn in the heat of the moment
That summer radio
Fireworks off the patio
A 3 AM string of green lights in a row
And the real thing
Love can change anything
If you can just let go
Whoa

Cade; Can't pull the brakes on this runaway train

Both; 'Cause whoa

Lisa; This is the heartache that won't go away

Cade; Jamie's in love
She's got the summer blowing through her hair

Both; 'Cause this is the real thing
Love changes everything
This is the night when every heart's exploding
The real thing
Slow down it's happening
'Cause you got time to burn in the heat of the moment
That summer radio
Fireworks off the patio
A 3 AM string of green lights in a row
And the real thing
Love can change anything
If you can just let go
Just let go
Jamie just let go


"Excellent!" Ms. Mipla clapped along with everyone else. She let them exit the stage and gestured to another group to go on. When they finished she pointed to Sydney and her group. "You're up." They all jumped up onto the stage. Sydney shot Joe a flirty smirk before walking over to the microphone.


THE ONLY EXCEPTION

Sydney; When I was younger, I saw my daddy cry
And curse at the wind
He broke his own heart and I watched
As he tried to reassemble it
And my momma swore that
She would never let herself forget
And that was the day that I promised
I'd never sing of love if it does not exist
But darling, you are the only exception
You are the only exception
You are the only exception
You are the only exception
Maybe I know, somewhere deep in my soul
That love never lasts
And we've got to find other ways to make it alone
Or keep a straight face
And I've always lived like this
Keeping a comfortable distance
And up until now I had sworn to myself that I'm content with loneliness
Because none of it was ever worth the risk
But you are the only exception
You are the only exception
You are the only exception
You are the only exception
I've got a tight grip on reality
But I can't let go of what's in front of me here
I know you're leaving in the morning when you wake up
Leave me with some kind of proof, it's not a dream, oh
You are the only exception
You are the only exception
You are the only exception
And I'm on my way to believing
Oh, and I'm on my way to believing


"Great job!"

Ms. Mipla let the rest of the bands go. "Joleena, I think you're the last one to go. Show us what you got!"

Joleena stepped onto the stage and smiled out at the other kids, her eyes lingered on Joe.


FUTURE LOVE

Joleena; A couple of years
and I´m gonna know your name
it´s like I waited for you forever
and I know this might sound insane
but it won´t be long
til´ we´re gonna take this up
what I´m talking about our future love
it´s so far away
and baby you´re right next door
got me picturing your face again
something worth waiting for
i put all others behind me
they don´t live up
i know what I want what I need to the T
baby if they ask me
i would say I don´t even know your name
and when they ask me
does it change?
no it don´t change a thing
´cause it´s something about the way you love me
and it´s something about the way you know me
that I can´t explain enough
just something about our future love future love future love
something about a future love future love future love
walking hand in hand
going on the second date
i can picture how we´re touching
and the kiss I can almost taste
i imagine the all the ways
we meet for the very first time
i can see the place feel the love at first sight
baby if they ask me
i would say I don´t even know your name
and when they ask me
does it change?
no it don´t change a thing
´cause it´s something about the way you love me
and it´s something about the way you know me
that I can´t explain enough
just something about our future love future love future love
something about a future love future love future love
i know the minute you pull up next to me
we standing there like destiny
when it feels like you´re fighting just to breathe that´s when you know
the minute I pull up next to you
suddenly you don´t know what to do
everything inside you says that I´m the one
baby if they ask me
i would say I don´t even know your name
and when they ask me
does it change?
no it don´t change a thing
´cause it´s something about the way you love me
and it´s something about the way you know me
that I can´t explain enough
just something about our future love future love future love
something about a future love future love future love


Joleena walked off stage and gave Sydney a quick glare, which Sydney returned.

Ms. Mipla hopped onto the stage and congratulated Joleena's group on doing so well. "Everyone did very well. I'm glad to see how your bands turned out. I think-"

"What are you talking about?"

"Excuse me?" Ms. Mipla looked around to see who had spoken.

"Me? What about you?"

Ms. Mipla spotted two girls in the back of the room who appeared to be fighting. She squinted and realized the two girls were Fina and Kairi.

"Girls! Sit down this instant! This is no place for your-"

"He's dating me!"

"No, he's dating me!"

"Ladies please!"

"What are you two going on about?" asked one of the backstage hands.

"Fred!" The two girls glared at him.

Fred sunk down in his seat, "Oh, sh-"

"What is going on here?" Ms. Mipla looked around the room, as if an explanation would fall out of the sky. "Care to explain?" Her eyes settled on Fred.

"Well..."

"Fred! What does she mean she went out with you last weekend? We went out last weekend?" Kairi waved her arms frantically at Fina.

"Wait a minute. What are you two talking about? Fred and I went out last weekend." Brianna stepped forward, crossed her arms, and joined Fina and Kairi in glaring at Fred.

"Uh, you guys must be confused. I went out with Fred last weekend." Miranda stepped forward.

"You two?" Brianna looked at her.

The girls sneered at Fred, "Well?"

"Uh, um..." He nervously looked around the room. He was Joe and Sam and gave them a pleading look, but they just shook their heads, disappointed, and basically told him he was on his own. "You're all right?" He looked back at the girls slowly.

"What?"

"Well, I went out with all of you. I- I didn't think we were exclusive so I-"

"Dated around?" Miranda put her hands on her hips. "What is wrong with you?"

"I didn't think it would get this out of hand. Really, I-"

"Shut up!" Kairi yelled.

"We don't want to hear your excuses. What you did was wrong." Fina added.

"And don't expect us to not get back at you." Brianna finished.

Fred looked back and forth between the girls. "But-"

"Hmph!" The girls turned and left.

The room went silent.

Ms. Mipla sighed. "Well, now that, that's over, I think we should move on. Today we are going to..." Ms. Mipla went on about what today's plans were and the next music theme. "Alright class," Ms. Mipla started, "The next music theme will be, drum roll please," She pointed to Charlie who rolled her eyes and started to play a drum roll, "Mine." She received blank stares. "You know, any song that's about something being yours. It could be about you getting what you want, or even you winning over someone." Almost every girl perked up at that. They all knew what they were doing. "So, come up with something good. OK?"

The groups started discussing their plans and songs for the theme immediately. Of course, since everyone knew what they were doing, they finished early and had plenty of time to talk about other things, such as all the drama that seemed to be happening lately.