Hey, guys . . . so, I'm guessing that you've been plotting my death out for a long time, huh? Yeah, well, I'm gonna list out my reasons later, so go ahead and enjoy this chapter. Then, I'll play out my defenses. Enjoy!
Korra's POV
Asami and I were permitted to ride with Mako and Bolin. Once we got on the main highway, Bolin asked his mom to turn on the radio and we were very fortunate to have two of our most favorite songs by Avril Lavigne come on.
"And that was Katy Perry's song 'Roar'! Up next is 'Rock N Roll' by Avril Lavigne!" the announcer said. Right then and there, Haru didn't waste his time to crank up the radio so we could sing along, and we were grateful. Of course, we didn't start singing until the transition of the song since we were laughing at the fact that one of our top favorite songs was playing on the radio.
"Some-somehow,
It's a little different when
I'm with you.
You know what I really am
All about.
You know how the story goes.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, yeah."
"Some-some way,
We'll be getting outta this
Town one day.
You're the only one that I
Want with me.
You know how the story goes.
Oh, oh, oh."
"When it's you and me,
We don't need no one to tell us who to be.
We'll keep turning up the radio!
When if you, and I
Just put up a middle finger to the sky?
Let 'em know that we're still rock n roll!"
"Rock n roll!
(Hey! Hey! Hey!)
Rock n roll!
(Hey! Hey! Hey!)"
"You call it a bad attitude, dude.
I am never gonna cover up that tattoo.
I might have a couple issues.
You say, 'Me, too' (Yeah)
Don't care about a reputation.
Must be living in the wrong generation.
This is your invitation:
Let's get wasted!"
"Some-somehow,
It's a little different when
I'm with you.
You know what I really am
All about.
You know how the story goes.
Oh, oh, oh."
"When it's you, and me,
We don't need no one to tell us who to be.
We'll keep turning up the radio!
What if you, and I
Just put up a middle finger to the sky?
Let 'em know that we're still rock n roll!"
"Rock n roll!
(Hey! Hey! Hey!)
Rock n roll!
(Hey! Hey! Hey!)"
"When it's you, and me,
We don't need no on to tell us who to be.
We'll keep turning up the radio!"
"What if you, and I
Just put up a middle finger to the sky?
Let 'em know that we're still rock n roll!"
"When it's you, and me,
We don't need no on to tell us who to be.
We'll keep turning up the radio!
What if you, and I
Just put up a middle finger to the sky?
Let 'em know that we're still rock n roll!"
"Rock n roll!
(Hey! Hey! Hey!)
Rock n roll!
(Hey! Hey! Hey!)"
We continued to sing the song and when it ended, it went to commercials and we laughed as we gave each other fist pumps.
"How do you guys understand that? I mean seriously, all I can make out from that song is 'Rock n roll'!" Haru said as he looked at us in the rearview mirror.
"Dad, there's something called 'looking up the lyrics'," Mako retorted. Bolin snickered in his hand while Asami and I fought to keep in giggles. Haru was quiet for a mere two seconds before responding to his son.
"Okay, now I feel really stupid," Haru said as he drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. Asami, Bolin, Mako and I couldn't take it anymore and busted out laughing.
"It's okay, Haru, it's okay," Andria said sarcastically as Haru mocked hurt, which only made us laugh even harder.
"You know, it's really weird that we were just singing about going haywire and wasting ourselves when we are so underage for that kind of stuff," Asami said once the laughing subsided.
"For those who vow to only get drunk at a bar and only cause havoc when necessary, say 'I'," Bolin said.
"I," the rest of us said, including Haru and Andria.
"But actually, we may not be causing destruction, but we're already drunk," I said. My friends looked at me with confused looks.
"How?" they asked me.
"Okay, here's just to sum it up," I said. I cleared my voice and mimicked a commercial ad woman the best I could, and judging by how hard they were laughing, I did a pretty good job:
"'Music Maniac Beer'! The best kind of beer for music-crazy maniacs! Buy it now, and you will be singing and playing instruments wherever you go, in the garage, in the shower, and even in the car! And if you get it on time, we'll even give you a two-for-one coupon! Purchase the brand-new 'Music Maniac Beer' today and feel the music adrenaline flow through you like you've never imagined!" I said while holding up a can of Minute Maid Pink Lemonade, and then, I lowered my voice, "Warning: Do not take more than two bottles a day. If you do, you might end up risking the chance of music adrenaline pumping in your blood for life. I do not think that people who are not very fond of music but love to get high should drink this. It is utterly bad for your non-musical system," I said. By the time I finished, I was cracking up in hysterics with my friends. Even Mako and Bolin's parents were laughing! Seriously, I didn't think I would be that funny!
The laughing lasted for about three minutes and it finally stopped not too long before another Avril Lavigne song started playing, "Here's to Never Growing Up", our top favorite song by her. I literally shushed them up when I heard the broadcaster's voice.
"And that was Selena Gomez's 'Slow Down'! Now, another hit track from her, its Avril Lavigne's 'Here's to Never Growing Up!" he said. Haru once again cranked up the volume and we whooped as the song came on – heck, we love this song so much that we even sang it like we do during rehearsals!
(Key: Korra/Mako/Bolin/Asami/Bolin and Asami/Korra and Mako/All of them)
"Singing Radiohead at the top of our lungs
With the boom box blaring as we're falling in love!
Got a bottle of whatever, but it's getting us drunk,
Singing 'Here's to never growing up'!"
"Call up all our friends.
Go hard this weekend
For no dumb reason.
I don't think we'll ever change."
"Meet you at the spot
Half past ten o'clock,
And we'll never stop.
And we're never gonna change."
"Say 'we'll just stay forever.'
Stay.
If you stay forever,
Hey;
We can stay forever young."
"Singing Radiohead at the top of our lungs
With the boom box blaring as we're falling in love!
Got a bottle of whatever, but it's getting us drunk,
Singing 'Here's to never growing up!"
"We'll be running down the street yelling 'don't look back'!
I'm like, 'Yeah, whatever; we're still living like that'!
When the sun's going down, we'll be raising our cups,
Singing 'Here's to never growing up'!"
"Whoa, whoa!
Here's to never growing up!
Whoa, whoa!
Here's to never growing up!"
"We live like rock stars.
Dance on every bar.
This is who we are.
I don't think we'll ever change. (Oh, no!)"
"They say, 'Just grow up!',
But they don't know us.
We don't give a f_,
And we're never gonna change."
"Say, 'we'll just stay forever.'
Stay.
If you stay forever,
Hey;
We can stay forever young."
"Singing Radiohead at the top of our lungs
With the boom box blaring as we're falling in love!
Got a bottle of whatever, but it's getting us drunk,
Singing 'Here's to never growing up'!"
"We'll be running down the street yelling 'Don't look back'!
I'm like, 'Yeah, whatever; we're still living like that'!
When the sun's going down, we'll be raising our cups,
Singing 'Here's to never growing up'!"
"Whoa, whoa!
Here's to never growing up!
Whoa, whoa!
Here's to never growing up!"
"Say 'We'll just stay forever.'
Stay.
If you stay forever,
Hey;
We can stay forever young."
"Singing Radiohead at the top of our lungs
With the boom box blaring as we're falling in love!
Got a bottle of whatever, but it's getting us drunk,
Singing 'Here's to never growing up'!"
"We'll be running down the street yelling 'Don't look back'!
I'm like, 'Yeah, whatever; we're still living like that!
When the sun's going down, we'll be raising our cups,
Singing 'Here's to never growing up'!"
"Whoa, whoa!
Here's to never growing up!
Whoa, whoa!
(Raise your glass and say:)
Here's to never growing up!
Whoa, whoa!
(La-dee-die-dee-die!)
Here's to never growing up!
"Whoa, whoa!
(And no, we're never growing up!)
Here's to never growing up!"
"That was epic!" Bolin exclaimed once the song was over.
"I know, right? It's like our first day of school all over again; am I right, or am I right?" I asked Mako.
"You're right; except this time, we're listening to the radio," he corrected.
"True; very true," Asami said.
"Hey, Dad, was that song more understandable?" Bolin asked Haru.
"Yes, yes it was. You know, we're lucky that your mother and I don't sing with you four; otherwise, people would be honking like crazy. Seriously, I think my right ear went deaf for a few seconds, you guys are loud," he said, pretending to clean out his right ear.
"Dad," the boys groaned as Asami and I giggled. We talked about the competition and how we might have a chance at going into the main event in this category until Asami looked out the window.
"Oh, we're here," she said as the van parked next to my cousins' car in the parking lot in front of the arena, followed quickly by Asami's parents and aunt and Reese. We went ahead of the adults and our cousins and went back stage to retrieve our costumes. Asami and mine's costume was a white shirt that was ripped wide enough at our shoulders to let them show, a silver chain necklace, black ripped leather half gloves, a mid-thigh black leather skirt, a pair of navy blue ripped skinny jeans, and black combat boots. Our hair was up in high pony tail braids. The boys' costume was a black t-shirt, three silver dog tags, one ripped black leather half glove on the left hand, blue jeans, and white sneakers, and to top it off, a black hat that was tipped to the right side. It's funny; the song is about being discovered, yet we're dressed like a bunch of rebels in high school!
So there were the introductions, recap of the dances, and then the competition started. Since it was group dance, it didn't take very long until it was our turn to show our stuff.
"Alright, well, this competition is pulling to a close. But what better way than to end it than to see a show-stopping performance by the rock-the-house band 'Team Avatar'? Let's see how this young group of friends took on this event before the break," Butahka said. After that, our documentary for the group dance played on the big screen.
(Key: Korra/Mako/Bolin/Asami/Events during the video)
"This week has been deliberately crazy. All it's been is non-stop dancing, choreography, music, ideas, hours in the studio practicing for this event. Four heads are better than one right? Well, if we put our heads together, we always get these ridiculously crazy lifting and stunting ideas to mix in with our choreography, and if you think about it, like, really think about it, we are very dangerous people, not just in hand-to-hand combat and stuff like that, but in stunts and lifts in dance. One wrong move and one of us could up having a serious concussion. "
"If there's one thing that has us stuck, it's this group dance. Our choreography is so fast, it's so technical, that if one person makes the slightest wrong move, the whole entire routine we have can just collapse. When Butahka came in the studio to check on us, he scared the crap out of Bolin and was almost too late to catch Korra when she was coming down. If one of us is too slow, too fast, too startled, or too side-tracked, the whole thing is just done. It's as simple as that. If one fails, we all fail. We want to pass this round. But there's no way we can without focus and persistence."
"We are a very accurate group. Since we're all hard workers, especially if it comes to music and dance, and we go all-out. Most of the time, we're flipping, we're tumbling, we're falling, we're diving, we're doing all kinds of crazy stunts. Working as a group has always been our strongest suit, but it's also been our biggest down downfall as well. If we can't do what we have to do to help each other out with all these crazy lifts we're doing, it can lead to one of us having a life-threatening injury. When we throw each other up to do all these crazy flips, it's almost like we're flying, and because of that, we go REALLY high. If there's a case where one of us is not ready to be there as a safety pillow, it could lead to us being disqualified until next event."
"If there's one thing I know, it's that no one in our band gives up. We give it our all in anything we do, even if it's just a very small assignment, because we know it gets us higher. Now, dance and music, it's a completely different story. They are our Number One thing on our list, music topping everything else. Our dance choreography, we want to make sure that it tops everyone else's. We are hard core fighters when it comes to this. If there's something we want, we make sure nothing and no one stands in our way . . . well, at least we try, considering an epic fail attempt that one time."
Camera catches the band resting after their tenth run-through of their mash-up and then zooms in on a gasping Korra who's in the middle of an asthma attack and then the room is full of yelling and screaming. The paramedics bring Korra out on a stretcher closely followed by Mako, Bolin, and Asami, and catch the shocked and panic-stricken faces of the parents.
"Now, no one could really tell what was happening or going on with her but I could tell that Korra was pushing herself not just past but beyond her limit during dancing. We couldn't tell what was going on because she was so steady and so focused. We didn't know why she kept persisting us to keep going."
"If there's one thing that I didn't understand, it's Korra refusing to take a break. We were all tired, yes, but Korra alone was literally dying for breath. She was heaving, gaping, gasping, almost clawing for air. Once we finally got through the last run, THAT was when she decided to tell us she had asthma while she was having an asthma attack. And it really tore all of us apart, considering the fact that she kept something extremely important from us."
"It scared the crap out of all of us. Seeing her knocked out was really scary. Korra is the closest thing to a sister we'll ever have. From what the doctor had told us, he said that it was the strongest asthma attack she ever had. It was really terrifying to see our best friend drained from all life and energy and just turn into a limp body when she's usually so strong and energetic and bouncy. I mean, honestly, I almost cried on our way to visit her!"
Korra comes back to the studio and they start changing their routine to something simpler and less complicated for Korra.
"Okay, well, we all know that I won't be doing anything that rough anytime soon, so let's try to stay clear from that area of things. We're not forfeiting because of me and a stupid health issue."
"Nice to know we got you back."
"Yeah, we were really freaking out about that. Bolin, for the most part."
"Hey, you can't blame me! She was going through a fight with life and death on the line!"
All double over in laughter.
"Yeah, well, it's true. Now, back to dancing. We're definitely not doing the mash-up like we wanted to, so I guess we'll move on to Plan B . . . what was Plan B again?"
"Plan B was 'Made in Japan' by Zendaya and Bella Thorne."
"Oh, yeah, now I remember! But we're still gonna have to make the choreography complicated and over the top if we wanna stand out from all the others."
"But how exactly are we gonna know if we're pushing you too hard? After what's happened in the past three days, I don't want anything else to go wrong. One asthma attack is enough. I don't want another to interfere when we're so close to the first mini event."
"She has a serious point. If we're gonna get through until Wednesday, we have to make sure we're not pushing your limits. From singing to dancing, whether you like it or not, Korra, you're the best of us. Without you, there's basically no point in trying. You're like our ring leader. We gather around you. If we can't help you survive, we might as well die with you."
"He's right, Korra. We can't keep on reviving you after each attack. Eventually, the doctor will only be able to let you do anything BUT dancing. We'd hate to see you fall again like you did last week. Sure, you all think I'm second in everything, but second command here won't be enough to keep everything running smoothly. You started pretty much everything we've been through – meeting each other, the band, the Fall Fest, and now this. You're the head trouble-maker, and first command. Everything will go completely wrong unless we have everybody. Like Bo said, we revolve around you, Korra. We're gonna need to know if you need to take a break, or if you can still keep going."
"Don't worry, you guys. I have everything covered. I'll tell you if we can still go high or if I need to take it down a notch. Everything you guys said, it's true. I got us into this; and I'm gonna make sure that I'm the one who pulls us through it. I promise you guys that."
All smile and group hug
We heard an assortment of "aww's" from the audience as they applauded. We did a quick huddle up before the commercial break ended.
"Like I said, if I started it, then I'm ending it. You guys ready?" I asked in a hushed voice.
"Been waiting for my entire life to do this."
"I was born ready."
"As ready as I'll ever be."
"Let's do this!" we said together. And with that, our routine started.
A flip here, a twist there, a somersault over here, a back flip down there. We made our choreography full of simple stunts and lifts that butted in very few moments. The crowd was going crazy! Seriously, we had everybody in the palms of our hands, including the judges! By the time the song ended, I was heaving. We were safe, because I didn't feel like wheezing or gaping for more breath, but it was enough to make me exhausted. I sarcastically pretended to fall on Mako's shoulder and he shoved me back up as we laughed. The audience was still going nuts, and all three judges were standing. I guess we did better than I thought. And since this is the group dance, I'll spill the beans on judges' comments. The first one to speak after the crowd died down was Moona Lianté.
"Oh, my Dear Yue, I – I just – you lost me, I am speechless, I don't know what to say!" she stuttered a bewildered and impressed expression was spread all over her face. The crowd bubbled up in more applause when she said this and then immediately quieted down as she started to speak again.
"But, but here's one thing I can say – you four were outstanding! It's probably the most incredible dance I've seen tonight! It was beautiful! So upbeat! Now, you two," she started, pointing at me and Mako, who had on "what?" faces, "I don't think I will ever, in my life, get over how amazing you work together. I've been told so many times by Butahka that you two bicker almost twenty-four, seven, but you always manage to keep it together every, single, dance! It's just remarkable how you two can shove everything aside and have fun and perform everything with grace and power and flawless, oh, my, how flawless everything is with you two!" she noted on us. We laughed while the audience and Bolin and Asami applauded.
"Yeah, well, it's more like a natural habit when it comes to stuff like this," I said.
"Yeah, she's right, I mean, yes, it seems to some people that we," he air-quoted, "'love' to fight over the stupidest things, but, either way, it never really matters. It just kinda . . . goes away after half-an-hour, or something," he said.
"Well, I can definitely tell by your performances," Moona replied. Next was Raquelle Montez.
"That performance that just happened right in front of me just proved to the whole world that kids like you four children, all preteens who're only in their first year of middle school, can shine. All my life, I've heard countless times, that kids like you shouldn't perform, that kids like you shouldn't express themselves, that kids like you should wait until you're in college in order to prove that they have that star quality. But they were wrong. They were proved wrong by fearless, headstrong, confident, determined, heart-set preteens who would do absolutely anything to make music their life. And if I had the power to turn back the hands of time and become eleven-years-old again, I would do exactly what you are doing right now," she said. The crowd went nuts and we cracked the biggest smiles as we draped our arms across each other's shoulders. We turned our heads to see our families going nuts and my specifically my father shedding a tear or two. My friends noticed it and we held back laughs. I'm wondering if that was just a trick of the light, or if this is all a dream. But the past events of the day – especially Eska's earlier attack – reminded me that this was all real.
Our looks went to Andrew Olson with anxiousness. Our grips around each other tightened as the audience quieted down to hear his opinion. But once I saw the corners of his mouth quirk up, my uneasiness vanished and, if it was even possible, my smile grew wider. And his comments wanted to make me jump around in delight.
"I agree with them." And that was enough to make the audience scream once again. Then, he looked at me directly in the eye.
"I can clearly see how much you want this, Korra. And anyone would want this, but probably not as much as you. I see pure steel and determination in your eyes, young lady. Your personality is probably even bigger than the city. When you perform, you lighten up the floor and bring color to the dull world, and shine like a star. A simple smile would be enough to turn around someone's day for the better. I can see your passion and love for music. You glimmer like the stars, and you glow like an ember. And even though this is only Part One of the competition, I guarantee that just the sight of you four talented children performing today was enough to inspire others to follow in your footsteps. And I would be very disappointed if you four weren't in the actual competition," he said, each compliment causing my friends to tighten their grips around me ever so slightly. And all I could do is smile, and at one point, I even shed a tear or two, including Asami.
Never, in my life, have I ever been this touched by someone's words of faith that's directed towards me. These three judges put all their hope and faith in me –in us. And then, I feel like I'm dreaming again; because to me, this here, right where I'm standing, is no longer reality – for a big-dreaming, music-loving tomboy, this here, that's supposed to be reality, is a fairytale. For once in my life, this is all too good to be true. But the eruption of noise and cheering coming from the ginormous audience below me reminds me that I'm not dreaming – I'm awake.
We were soon dismissed by Butahka to go back up to the balcony so people would have time to vote during the commercial break – and we were in for an eyeful and earful once we got back to that balcony.
The eyeful was the many faces of kids, even 17 and 18-year-olds, had wet faces caused by crying – but they were smiling. Yeah; a little hard to believe that people who tried so hard to compete were rooting us on. And the earful was a little more shocking. They were applauding, too. Then, there was an "I know you'll make it in" from a 13-year-old here, and a "You give out really good competition" from a 16-year-old there. There was even this one guy – about 18 or 19 – that came up to me, and this is what he said exactly:
"I mean this in the nicest way possible, but I'm really wishing I was in your position right now. You might only be a preteen, but you're a good leader, and I can see that by how your band is. They look up to you, because not only do you lead them right, but you have the traits of a true friend – a friend who would risk anything and do anything to make others happy. And they reflect that. Soon, other kids will be comin' up to ya asking you for an autograph and saying that they wanna grow up to be just like you someday. You'll become a role model, and they'll look up to you – kinda like how some of us look down to you." And all I could do was return his respectful smile.
"Thank you," I said sincerely with a slight nod. He gave me one last smile before I called him back for a second.
"Hey," he turned around, "I wish you the best of luck during the elimination round later. It would be nice to see you make it. And if you make it as far to the Top Three next month, and if a miracle drops out of the sky and somehow we make it, too, I think it would be awesome to work with you someday," I said, making sure I let him know how much his words meant. He got the message and his smile widened. He nodded and turned around to join his dancing group. Then, the lights dimmed again and I joined my friends on the comfy seats in front of the balcony railing, who were chatting about the judge results. Then, Butahka started to speak.
"Alright, welcome back, Republic City! Now, as we had just witnessed, the spectacular 'Team Avatar' just finished their group dance. Now, the dangerous part will play its cards. Who will stay and move onward to the competition next month, and who will go home? It all comes down to this last battle, this final round – the final showdown," he said with anticipation at the end. My palms become sweaty. My heart's racing. My skin turns cold. I feel myself paling. My stomach begins to churn. And suddenly, I'm not so sure if my stage fright was really gone.
Uh-oh . . . the symptoms of stage fright is returning! Okay, so here are my reasons:
1. I'm not home until past 4:30 after school because I'm in the school musical and my time limit restriction only allows me to up until 7:00 at night, Friday's the only exception.
2. I used to have an F in Science (Which was a real slap in the face, since I never get anything below a B) so I've been stressed about that, but when i got my interum, it was bopped back up to a B. Guess my science teacher found my missing papers. Thank the Lord.
3. Upsetting drama is going on between me and my best friend, which is causing even more stress on my head. Seriously, she's calling me a bitch now! But then again, it takes one to know one, so if she calls me a bitch, then she's a bitch, too. We were supposed to be smoothed over now, but it's been nothing but a fake smile with a fake friendly glance for the past week or so, so I don't care anymore.
4. I HAVE TO TAKE THE FRICKIN' MSA! And in case you don't know what that is, that's the assessment the state requires us to do. Ugh. But no worries, it's half-way done! So glad that the math comes last. I soooooo do not like math.
So, I'm gonna be workin' on the next chapter over the weekend, so be grateful, I might even be able to update twice in one day if I try hard enough. Well, it's, like, 12:15 in the morning and I was supposed to be asleep an hour ago because it was movie night and we decided to watch "Catching Fire", since my mom pre-ordered it on Amazon, and the move is, like, 2 1/2 hours long, and I am so stinkin' tired, so, g'night world, this Bad Girlie's out!
DISCLAIMERS:
I DO NOT own "The Legend of Korra", "Rock N Roll", "Here's to Never Growing Up", or "Made in Japan". Belongs to either Mike and Bryan, Avril Lavigne, or Zendaya and Bella Thorne.