Disclaime: I do not own:
All Time Low
Rihanna
Song in Chapter: 'Just a Friend - Tally Hall'
Naoko and Tomoyo shared an eye-roll as Arata came backstage from his performance with "Psychometric Minor". They played the All Time Low, punk-version of Rihanna's song Umbrella. Overall, it was better than All Time Low's version, but they weren't the only one who sounded like All Time Low or any other indie band. In fact, all the indie, punk, emo, scream, alternative bands played during The Battle of the Bands seemed…outplayed.
Arata wagged his head like a dog, trying to wiggle out the excess sweat and hollered obnoxiously as he passed by "I Bid Adieu, Hannah".
"Everybody seems to like all the bands." Syaoran muttered to their group.
Yamazaki joined in and mumbled, "Do we really have a chance winning a place with those bands out there?"
"Oh, please," Chiharu waved her hand, "They all sound the same! There's, like, literally no diversity! It's all alternative bands out there!"
"Well, then. What are we?" Naoko fidgeted with the hem of her baby-doll top. Everybody had the same style they had at the auditions. They weren't as decked out as everybody else, but Tomoyo felt it gave them an advantage for the audience to notice them and their very own diversity.
"We're…" Tomoyo began and exhaled, "…different. But not too different, I guess. It's hard to explain, but I know for sure we'll do fine."
Syaoran groaned and smacked his head. His voice grew loud as the audience cheered for the next band, but "I Bid Adieu, Hannah" could tell the audience was getting tired and couldn't wait for the last band to finish.
"You always say that!" Syaoran cried. Tomoyo caught the smirk from Arata across the room, as she knew he heard their grumblings. She crossed her arms and glared at their rival.
Tomoyo sighed and mumbled, "This is why I like working in smaller groups. I hate all this negativity."
"Shut up!" Chiharu shouted, "Everybody! Come on! We're up!"
She swatted them like flies up the stage with the curtains closed and the audience mumbling on the other side. Meanwhile, "I Bid Adieu, Hannah" set up their instruments in the dim lighting, tested out their microphones, and fiddled with their instruments for some last-minute tuning.
"Testing, testing." Syaoran mumbled into the microphone with one hand on the mic and the other on the neck of his electric guitar, "I've always wanted to do that."
Tomoyo felt the atmosphere between their band lighten up, "How's your lips, Naoko?"
She called from the other side of the stage, "Dry, but, eh, good enough."
They nodded to each other and nodded to the rest of the band. When they reached Chiharu's gaze, she gave them a hearty thumbs-up.
Tomoyo couldn't keep in her excited jittering any longer, and she knew her friends couldn't either. Ever since their audition last Saturday, they practiced their one-song performance until the very end.
Friday. Today.
It was hard to hold back the feeling of pride that had been welling up inside of her since every one of their practices sounded like they had a sure chance of winning a place and getting "seemingly unintentional" revenge on Rika's ex. But getting revenge didn't really matter by the end of their last practice together; getting out and performing what they worked so hard on was what really mattered.
Earlier on her way to the theater, it was hard to hold back the feeling of surety of winning-since she felt she might jinx it if she didn't-but it didn't matter if they won or not. Just as long as they were able to give the audience what they feel. She wagged her head the same way Arata did, but to shake out the shakiness building up in her knees and her teeth.
The sound of the M.C. announcing them and the audience's welcoming cheer was drowned out and went fully gone as everything quieted down to a couple of coughs in the audience and shuffling from the stage. The curtain rolled to the sides.
Syaoran began with Naoko following up by beatboxing.
Have you ever met a girl that you tried to date
But a year to make love she wanted you to wait?
Well, Let me tell you a story of my situation
I was talkin' to this girl from the U.S. nation
The way that I met her was on tour at a concert
She had long hair and a short miniskirt
I just got onstage drippin', pourin' with sweat
I was walkin' through the crowd and guess who I met
I whispered in her ear, "Come to the picture booth
So I can ask you some questions
To see if you are a hundred proof"
I asked her, her name, she said blah-blah-blah
She had 9/10 pants and a very big bra
I took a couple of flicks and she was enthused
I said, "How do you like the show?"
She said, "I was very amused."
I started throwin' bass
She started throwin' back mid-range
But when I sprung the question
She acted kind of strange
Then when I asked, "Do ya have a man?"
She tried to pretend
She said, "No I don't, I only have a...friend."
Psh, Come on!
Oh, baby!
You, you got what I need
But you say he's just a friend
And you say he's just a friend
By the middle of the chorus, Naoko ended her beatboxing momentarily, but everybody was in full swing of their instruments. This brought the audience into a mellow, but dancing type-of-mood. They bobbed their heads, absorbing the refreshing sound compared to the electric guitar, drums, or vocal slaying combinations or slow ballads they heard previously.
So I took blah-blah's word for it at this time
I thought havin' a friend couldn't be no crime
Cause I got friends and that's a fact
Like Agnes, Agatha, Germaine, and Jacq
B-but forget about that, let's go into the story
About a girl named blah-blah-blah that adored me
So we started talkin', getting' familiar
Spendin' a lot of time so we can build up
A relationship or some understanding
How it's gonna be in the future we was plannin'
Everything sounded so dandy and sweet
I had no idea I was in for a treat
After this was established, everything was cool
The tour was over and she went back to school
I called every day to see how she was doin'
Every time that I called her it seemed something was brewin'
I called her on my dime, picked up, and then I called again
"Yo, who was that?"
"Oh, he's just a friend"
Oh, Baby!
You, you got what I need
But you say he's just a friend
And you say he's just a friend,
Oh baby
You, you got what I need
But you say he's just a friend
But you say he's just a friend,
Oh baby
You, you got what I need
But you say he's just a friend
But you say he's just a friend
By this time, "I Bid Adieu, Hannah" had the audience in the palm of their hands. They squeezed them into their grip so hard that the audience almost forgot about how stupid their name sounded. From Tomoyo's view, she could see the audience with people scarcely jumping in their spot, swaying bodies, head bobbing, and she could hear them clapping, trying to keep up with the beat. But most of all, she could see the beaming smiles directed towards them.
So I came to her college on a surprise visit
To see my girl that was so exquisite
It was a school day, I knew she was there
The first semester of the school year
I went to the gate to ask where was her dorm
This guy made me fill out a visitor's form
So I did and I was on my way
To see my baby girl, I was happy to say
I rolled up to her dormitory
"Yo, could you tell me where is door three?"
He told me where it was and for the moment
I didn't know I was in for such an event
I went to her room, I opened the door
Oh, snap! Guess what I saw?
A fella tongue-kissin' my girl in the mouth!
I was so in shock my heart went down south
So please listen to the message that I say
Don't ever talk to a girl
Who says she just has a friend
Oh baby
You, you got what I need
Doo-Wah
But you say he's just a friend
But you say he's just a friend
Oh, baby, you
The audience happily sang along at the ending chorus and bellowed from what seemed to be the top of their lungs when they trailed beats and harmonies on their instruments. They left the audience cheering as they skipped, jumped, and fist-pumped their way offstage, passing by "Psychometric Minor". 'I Bid Adieu, Hannah' had the turn to laugh obnoxiously in their own corner with other bands and passer-bys congratulating them. Tomoyo could easily feel herself smirk as she saw Tatsuya sputter nonsense, trying to make sense of what just happened. He smirked and his face grew into anger then smirked again and shook his head in disbelief. Arata left his band and made his way over to 'I Bid Adieu, Hannah', twirling his drum stick between his fingers.
Arata smiled genuinely, making his charms stand out even more, "Mr. Takeuchi must've saved the best for last."
Chiharu fake-gasped, "Is that a compliment?"
"Aw, come on," he stopped twirling, "Just 'cause I'm competing against you guys while I'm in another band doesn't mean I hate you or anything."
Naoko pushed her glasses and smiled knowingly, "We know, Arata."
Tomoyo cocked her head to the side as Naoko and Arata locked their gazes at each other. Arata stared, with a smile and fascinated gleam in his eyes as if Naoko was a new, wonderful person that he was trying so hard to figure out. Naoko stared back with her usual polite grin and blinked twice, "Something the matter, Arata?"
Arata stumbled with his words, coming out of his trance. The voice of the M.C. of the night, blaring into the microphone, saved him from anymore embarrassment.
"…'I Bid Adieu, Hannah'!" is all that Tomoyo caught when she paid her attention to the stage. Tomoyo muttered to Chiharu, asking what he just said, but Chiharu shooed her away, waiting for him to continue. The M.C. paused after a long applause and continued, "Let's give them another warm welcome as they make the stage for an encore!"
"Huh? What?" Tomoyo fussed, staring at her teammates for some information. They laughed and joined their arms together, then ran to the stage, grabbing their instruments along.
"We won? We won, right?" Tomoyo asked, but Chiharu rolled her eyes and shouted 'yes'. She swatted Tomoyo's butt toward the stage with a Battle of the Bands program. "I Bid Adieu, Hannah" converted the audience into speaker-blasting, fist-pumping, head-swaying, bits of inappropriate mosh pits with bustling energy.
'I Bid Adieu, Hannah' laughed uncontrollably as they bounced and sauntered out the parking lot after their encore. They stayed for an entire hour signing autographs and collecting praises. The other bands gracefully praised them with hints of sorrow for their loss, but overall, there were no hard feelings between anybody.
"Should we use it now?" Syaoran asked, holding the glossy fast food coupon under the streetlight. It was one of their prizes: a fast food coupon, a hundred dollar check split for each of them, and separate, little trophies. It wasn't as glamorous as the Talent Show trophies, but their prizes tonight meant the world to them.
"You should use it tomorrow," Hotaka added, following behind 'I Bid Adieu, Hannah', Rika, and Sakura into the empty parking lot, "I think Arata works a shift there tomorrow, so we can rub it in his face or something."
Naoko giggled, "Sounds good."
"Oof," Tomoyo grunted as she saw a flash of blonde that she bumped into. The flash of blonde turned into Hana as she stepped into the nearest streetlight, "Hana?"
Hana brightened under the streetlight, "Hi, Tomoyo! You did really great tonight!" she pouted, then stammered, "I, uh, hmm"
Chiharu stepped forward, noticing Hana glazing over her more than once, "Hana? What's the matter?"
"Miki- She, uh, I came here with Miki and then she went backstage to look for Tatsuya, I guess, and he and Miki were kinda arguing when I saw them backstage. But they always do that. But I'm worried 'cause I don't know where they are now." Hana fidgeted with the animal bracelets on her wrist and bit her lip.
"Miki and Tatsuya?" Chiharu asked as Hana nodded, "Gah! I hate him!"
"What about it, Chiharu?" Yamazaki placed a hand on her shoulder.
Rika stepped in, "Tatsuya seems like he's some gentle, sensitive guy, but he's pretty competitive. He gets heated when he loses sometimes."
"Heated? Like how?" Tomoyo asked, getting more concerned by the minute. Her eyes were darting back and forth around the parking lot, searching for a hint of Miki and Tatsuya.
"You know," Rika muttered, "He punches walls and stuff. Or he breaks things," she waved her hands quickly, "But never a human being. Well, when I was with him, he never hit me but I got pretty scared when he drove over the speed limit after an argument."
"We have to find him!" Chiharu placed her hands on Hana's shoulder urgently, "Do you have any idea where they are? When was the last time you saw them?"
Hana's mouth was agape at Chiharu's sudden urgency. Hana's eyes darted over Chiharu's shoulder and Chiharu caught her gaze. The group followed Chiharu's gaze and found Tatsuya with a firm grip on Miki's upper arm. She was struggling behind his brisk steps and trying to tug herself out of his grip. Tomoyo squinted as Miki and Tatsuya were walking, getting further across the parking lot, but she saw Miki holding Tatsuya back from wherever it was they were going. Tomoyo matched Tatsuya's steps from earlier and walked briskly. She marched her way across the parking lot ignoring her friends' cries and her heart pounding loudly in her chest. Tatsuya's gaze did a double-take between Miki and Tomoyo as she was standing firmly in between them. He scrunched his face in anger and confusion, and muttered a 'What the hell?' before Tomoyo used all her strength in an attempt to break his nose. Miki stepped back and panted heavily in panic as her former friends, Chiharu and Hana, went to her side.
He groaned and cradled his nose in both of his hands momentarily, then glared. Tomoyo gulped as she noticed he recovered fairly quickly, since her punch didn't do so well. But she waved her hand back and forth to try and ease the pain. He squeezed her shoulders and Tomoyo gasped and winced under the pressure. She never knew the lanky Tatsuya had enough muscle within him to give Tomoyo bruises on her shoulders that very moment.
"You bitch." He stated with a fire in his eyes. He formed a fist and halted his upcoming loogie in the middle of his throat for good measure. Tomoyo drowned out Miki, Chiharu, and Hana behind her as they cried out in horror and Hotaka and Syaoran's attempt to calm him down from a distance. At first, she prayed for a way out, but her feet was planted on the ground, not planning to fly her anywhere, and then she prayed he would just punch her instead of the spitting the upcoming, germ-filled loogie lodged in his throat. She closed her eyes tightly ready for the impact and prayed he would swallow the loogie.
She felt like gasping but she couldn't breathe. Her pounding heart drowned out anything audible.
Before she knew it, Tatsuya had his face planted into the ground with Eriol kneeing his back to pin him down. Tomoyo gasped, finding the sudden oxygen and taking it into her lungs. A panic attack was forming in her lungs and she bent down to touch the ground. She held her chest and gasped desperately.
"Tomoyo!" Sakura dropped to her knees beside her, locking her in a tight embrace. Tomoyo looked up as her breathing was becoming normal and found a concerned Katsumi holding her hand out. Tomoyo grabbed it and stood up with Sakura's arm around her. Syaoran and Hotaka were guarding a dusty Tatsuya on the ground. He groaned as he tried to stand up.
"Are you okay?" Katsumi spoke softly, and Tomoyo was agape. What was Katsumi doing here? What's Eriol doing here?
"Tomoyo!" Eriol grabbed her sides and shook her slightly, "You- what the hell?"
"I-" Tomoyo croaked weakly, but Eriol had his teeth clenched and a vein popping out from his forehead. A bead of sweat trickled down his cheek. And Tomoyo felt her nostrils flaring with the need to cry.
"You can't do this kind of stuff! It's dangerous!" He yelled, harshly gripping her shoulders, but she was so in shock, she didn't feel the pain, "Don't ever do that, again! You hear me!"
"Eriol-" Katsumi tried to reason.
"No! It's dangerous!" he shook her, "Never again!"
Tomoyo found the palm of her hand over her mouth and numbly, she cried. She sobbed, and she didn't care who it was that was patting her shoulder now that Eriol had released her. She just hated crying, in front of anybody, but it didn't matter. She just didn't want to feel this way again. She didn't want Eriol yelling at her. She didn't want him feeling this way.
"Look, I-" Eriol stuttered and in between her blurry vision, she could make out Syaoran gripping his shoulder and shaking his head. She rubbed her eyes and craned her neck to find Miki staring at her with empathy and patting her back. Tomoyo hated it. Miki was the one in danger, but things took a turn and now she was the one that was crying. But in her vulnerability, Tomoyo found herself quickly warming up to her.
"I-" Eriol started again, and Tomoyo shakily held her chin up high, not caring if he saw her crying or not, everybody was, anyways, "I-" he sighed and bent his head down. Finally, he firmly held his gaze, "I get that you wanna give the guy a good beating, but you need to know your limits," he continued softly and stretched his arms out, "But sky's the limit, if you wanna give me a good beating."
He was good. But it didn't fool Chiharu, "Great!" she stepped forward with fists clenched, "I'll start first!" but Yamazaki held her back by her shoulders.
"We should do this another time," Sakura patted Tomoyo's arm.
"Yeah, the situation here doesn't look too good." Syaoran stuffed his hands in his pockets while looking at the mess. A gang of girls surrounded Tomoyo, Hotaka was trying to steady a groaning Tatsuya on his feet, and Eriol was in the middle of it all. Just like he always seemed to be in Tomoyo's life.