Ok, Chapter 48. The longest and most filled out so far. And also the love story of the series. Hence the Valentine's Day update. If nobody know's the sonng, search it on Wikipedia. But it's what's called a Power Ballards and, at 12 minutes long, gives me the right song for the chapter. And welcome to the first chapter I've written to have Steven and the band performing.
And on the song singing:
Bold and Italic: Steven
Italics: Emily.
Anyway, enjoy!
Chapter 48 I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)
One Week Later – Steven's POV
"Professor Smith" I called. A week had pasted since the protest meet and the Silurian crisis. And things were starting to get back to normal. I'd invested in a new phone to replace my old one that I'd almost destroyed that Sunday three weeks ago. Well, an iPhone really. I'd made amends with Scott, Cheryl and the rest of the guys. And mum as well. But things with Emily were still not good. She was still in York. She was still upset. According to an email mum had got off her cousin Katie, she was sleeping and eating again. But I already had an idea to save our relationship. That was why I was up so early this Saturday morning. Trying to get a room in the university's media department building for a special band rehearsal over the week. All the guys were on reading week this week, and we had originally planned for a battle of the bands between us and Big Luke's band on Friday night. Now though, I was planning something else. Something that mum, Clyde, Rani, Luke and Lily were going to help me with as well as the band.
The man I was chasing after turned. "Steven Smith" Professor Smith said. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"Professor" I said. "I know it's Saturday morning, and you want to get home. But could I enquiry if there is a room free this week in the Music department for a band rehearsal?" I asked.
"Indeed" Professor Smith said. "There is. But could I enquiry what reason you want to rehearse with your band. I thought this Friday's live music at the Student Union was your band versus that of 'The East Croydon Experience'? Surely you do not need to rehearse for that?"
"That's not happening now" I said. "Me and my girlfriend have had some relationship troubles, and I'm planning to try and use a new song to sort things out."
"And that requires rehearses then?" Professor Smith asked.
"Yes sir" I said. "Both bands working together, plus a few of my brother's friends are coming to help as well."
"Right" the Professor said, reaching into his pocket and handing me a set of keys. "Room MM9 is free all week. Use it anytime you want. But remember to hand the keys back to Michelle in the Media Office on Friday."
"Thanks Sir" I said, quickly putting the keys in my jacket pocket. The weather had quickly taken a turn for the worse. In the last two weeks, the temperature had dropped to be just above freezing during the day and about ten degrees below freezing on a night. The forecast for the week had mentioned the possibility of snow at some point in the next week. A few years ago, I would have been sceptical but after the double cold snaps last year, I was preparing for the worse. Me and Luke had found some old sheets at the boat house after we went to assist UNIT in their investigations (And to show then the hole they needed to sort out) which we're using to cover our car windows. Mum came up during the week with extra blankets and the like. And yesterday, I went out and got a couple of spades and shoves to help clear the snow when we get it. "I make sure we leave the room as we found it." I said, before heading back to my dorm. I entered the corridor to find Lisa emerging from her room, still dressed in her pyjamas. "Morning" I said, cheerfully.
"Urgh" Lisa said. "Why are you so cheerful this morning?"
"Because" I said, smiling. "Despite the cold, and the forecast of snow, everything is going my way again."
"You got the room then?" I turned to see Luke pop his head round the dorm door. "So, it's on."
"Yes" I said, pulling the keys from my pocket. "Room MM9. And we've got it all week. Anytime we want. So, yes. The plan's off the ground" I put the keys back in my pocket. "Have Clyde, Rani and Lily managed to get time off school or not?" I asked.
"Not until Thursday" Luke said. "Mum's going to bring them up on her way to York."
"At least mum's going to try and get Em to talk" I said. "Now then, Scott and the guys are arriving about 1. Cheryl, Hannah and Jade are coming with them. Lisa, what time's your Luke arriving?"
"He's getting the train at half 12" she yawned. "And Dan, Craig, Paul and the girls are arriving about 2-ish" She yawned again. "I wish you'd tell me this plan of yours."
"I'll tell you all about it later" I said. "Meeting in the kitchen once everyone gets here."
"Right" Lisa yawned. "Now if you don't mind, I'm using the bathroom." And with that, she headed down the side corridor alongside my room. I turned back to Luke. He was already dressed, with a thick jacket on. It was at that moment I realised how cold it was in the corridor. And I was wearing a thick cardigan as well as a fleece and my coat. "God, has the boiler packed up or something?"
"The corridor radiators haven't been switched on" Luke said. "I've just had a word with our dorm advisor about getting them switched out."
"Right" I said, heading to my door and unlocking it. "Come on, get in" I nodded into the room. Luke followed me inside, and I shut the door before heading over to the radiator and turning it on and up.
Luke sat himself down on the end of my bed as I took my coat and fleece off. "So, are you going to tell me the plan?" He asked.
"Might as well" I said. "Though, I think we need to do this bit with mum present as well" I added, sitting down at my desk and switching my laptop on. As soon as it had loaded up, I clicked on the web-chat button and clicked on Mr Smith. Soon, the static cleared to reveal mum and Lily sat on the steps that divided the attic in two. "Hey Mum, Lily" I said.
"Hi Mum, Lily" Luke called from his position on the edge of the bed.
"Hey boys" Lily called. From the way she was dressed, I could tell that either it was as cold in Ealing as it was here, or the old boiler had packed up again.
"Hello Luke, Steven" Mum said. "I didn't expect you two to be up yet."
I smiled. "Mum, I've been up since half 6" I said. "Sorting everything out for my plan."
"And are we ever going to find out what this plan is?" Lily teased. "We need to know before we get involved."
"Well, you three are going to be the only ones" I said. "Listen very carefully; I will say this only once. The plan is simple. Me, the band and Big Luke's band are going to combined and perform a song me and Em did at karaoke last year. And Lily. You, Rani, Lisa and the rest of the girls are going to be backing singers. And I'm going to let Clyde have a go with a guitar."
Mum looked at me. "Right. And I guess my part in this plan is getting Emily there?" She said.
"Got it in one" I said. "You're going up Thursday, aren't you?"
"Yes" Mum said smiling. "But another question. What's Luke's role in all this?"
I looked over at Luke. "Luke is going to be the one who gets Em onstage" I said. "And then, he's going to help us give the Nightmare Man a taste of his own medicine."
"I hope you know what you're doing" Mum said.
"We do" Luke said. "If I'm right in thinking what Steven's thinking?"
"That we use the Dream Child?" I said. Luke nodded. "Then we're on the same wave length."
"Just as long as you're careful" Mum said.
"Mum" I said. "We'll be fine. And if you're really that concerned, you can watch over us when we do it."
"Fine" Mum said. "Anyway, what's the weather like up there?"
"Freezing" Luke said. "They're predicting snow before the end of the week."
"And it doesn't help that our dorm corridors are freezing as well" I said. "The radiators aren't on."
Suddenly my door opened and Lisa popped her head round. "Steven, Luke" She said before noticing. "Oh, right sorry."
"No, it's alright" I said. "Lisa, you remember my mum."
"Hello Lisa" mum called.
"Sarah Jane" Lisa moved into the room. "Long time no see. You don't look a day older than the last time I saw you."
"Oh" Mum said with surprise. I wonder if mum's youthful looks are something to do with travelling with the Doctor in the Tardis. According to Jo's stories, which me and Luke secretly recorded, the Doctor was in exile for the majority of the time she was his companion. Maybe that's why she looked, as the Doctor put it, 'like she'd been baked' when her and mum were about the same age more or less. "And the last time I saw you, you had your hair in pigtails."
"I've matured" Lisa said, looking past mum. "I guess that this cousin of yours you've been telling me about."
"Yes" I said. "That's Lily. Lily, this is Lisa."
"Hey" Lily said. "Well, we'll be meeting properly on Thursday."
"What?" Lisa asked me.
"Lily's coming to help us" I said. "Along with Clyde and Rani. Luke's mates. Kim and Preeti's siblings."
"Right" Lisa said. "Anyway, the radiators are working in the hallways again. Oh, and Luke's on his way now."
"Right" I said. "Well, you'll have to sit tight" I smiled. "You'll find out about the plan tonight."
"Fine" Lisa said as she left the room.
"Right" I said as the door closed. "Now then, the plan's clear."
"Yeah" Lily said. "Except you haven't told us the song."
I smiled. "That bit of the plan is what you've all got to wait for."
Mum looked at me. "Well, we'll let you two get sorted."
"Yeah" I said. "By the way, how cold is it down there?"
"Really freezing" Lily said. "And it doesn't help that there's no heating in the attic."
"What, Mr Smith not venting the heat?" I joked.
"My fan system is working at full capacity" Mr Smith said. "However, the temperature is too cold for the warm air to have any effect."
"Anyway" Mum said. "Haven't you two got work to do?"
"Yes" I said. "But it's reading week. And I've only got two 5000 words essays to do."
"And I've already started mine" Luke said with a smile.
Mum chuckled. "I know you will" she smiled. "Anyway, we need to go. We've got a potential Rutan invasion fleet approaching and you know what could be following that."
"Go save the world" I joked, as I learnt forward and ended the call.
Later
"When are you going to tell us then?" Scott asked. It was 5pm. Everyone else in the building were getting ready to go. Me, Lisa, Luke and Sanjay, well, we were getting dinner ready in mine and Lisa's kitchen. The whole gang was here. And they were now just waiting to hear my master plan to sort things out between me and Em.
"You'll just have to wait until dinner's ready" I said, opening the oven door to put the butter-base chickens in, and get the pudding trays out. "Then I'll tell you."
"Awe, come on Ste" Tommy moaned. "We've been waiting for days already. When are you going to tell us?"
"You've been waiting three days" I said. "Surely you can wait another hour or so."
"Can't you just tell us now?" Lisa asked as she finished chopping the potatoes. "Rather than waiting for dinner."
"No" I said. "I want to explain with everyone sat down round the table. That way I know everyone is listening."
"But everyone will be listening" Luke said as he entered the kitchen. "We all do want to help."
"Exactly" Cheryl said, getting up off Scott's knee and coming over to me. "None of this is your fault."
I smiled. "I know that. Well, it is partly. If you guys hadn't found out about the aliens, then Em wouldn't have been there that night and wouldn't have been caught in the Nightmare Man's web."
"Nobody knows if that would be right" Alex said. "Who knows who far the Nightmare Man would have got if you guys hadn't stopped him?"
"True" Luke said. "But everything will be fine. Just tell them already."
I smiled. "They'll just have to wait."
One Hour Later
"Right" I said, as I got the chickens and puddings out of the oven. "Just give me a minute or two."
"Come on Ste" Tommy said. "Tell us already."
"Just wait" I said, getting everything into dishes and started putting them on the table. Once that was all done, I sat down. "Now then, listen very carefully; I will say this only once. The plan is simple. Both 'Steven and the Explorers' and 'The East Croydon Experience' are going to combined and perform a song me and Em did at karaoke last year. And girls. You lot, Rani and Lily are going to be backing singers. And I'm going to let Clyde have a go with my guitar. Meanwhile, my mum is going to try and get through to Em. And then Luke and Sanjay are going to be working the floor at the performance. And then Luke is going to be the one who gets Em onto the stage for the final bit."
"Ok" Big Luke said. "And what exactly is the song?"
I smiled. "Meat Loaf's 'I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)'."
Oxford, 5 days Later
I woke that morning surprising early. Even earlier than on Saturday. I looked at the clock on my iPod. 5.30am. I couldn't believe it. I hadn't even got to bed until 1. But I knew why I was awake. My nerves and fears were setting in. What if mum can't get Em to open up? What if me and the guys absolutely make an almighty cock-up tomorrow night? What if Em won't get up on stage at the end of our duet? What if nothing goes right? What then? What then?
Bannerman Road – Sarah Jane's POV
"Lily!" I shouted up the stairs. I'd already had Steven on the phone 5 times, asking what time I would be dropping Lily, Clyde and Rani off on my way to York. And that was before 7. From what he said, he had been up since half 5. I was half expecting him to ring again.
"I'm coming!" Lily shouted as she appeared at the top of the stairs, hauling her suitcase along the floor. "Could you give me a hand?"
"Blimey" I said, heading up the stairs. "You're only going for four days. How much do you need to take?"
"Well" She said, smiled. "I need to choose which dress I'm going to wear tomorrow night. And I need the girls to help me."
"Oi" I said. "And have you forgotten that I only have a small car. I've got my suitcase, your suitcase, Rani's suitcase and Clyde's bags to get in."
"We could always get the train" Lily teased. "Or you could leave me the keys and you could go on the train up to York."
"Oi" I said. "I'm not letting you take my car. Have you forgotten that you already have three points on your licence? And you haven't even passed your test yet. Blimey, you're worst than Steven."
"Sarah Jane!" Lily sighed. "Nobody's worse than Steven when it comes to driving."
"Really" I said. "He hasn't got any points on his licence. And the only thing we judge him on is a near-collision with a lorry on the way to Danemouth."
"Ok" a voice behind me said. "I thought it was only families than had rows." I turned to see Clyde stood there, two backpacks and a sports bag packed and waiting. "We all ready yet Sarah Jane?"
"Nearly" I said. "Could you give us a hand?"
"Sure" Clyde said, dropping his bags and bounding up the stairs to give us a hand to pull the suitcase down the stairs. "God Lil, what've you got in there?"
"Every one of her dresses" I said. "I hope you've got something smart in there for tomorrow night."
"Nah" Clyde said. "Besides, Ste's sorting something out for all of us guys. All the girls have to do is wear a dress. Most of the girls are buying new thought, to match the guys' outfits."
"You mean like Cheryl, Emily, Jade and Hannah do everytime the band play" I said. "And I bet Lisa and her mates do the same."
"True" Clyde said. "What's taking Rani so long?"
"Well" I said. "Let's get the car loaded up and park up outside Rani's."
"Right" Clyde said, grabbing his bags as well as Lily's suitcase. "Don't want you putting your back out Sarah Jane" He teased. "Otherwise Luke or Ste would have to come and get us."
"Less of the cheek" I teased. "Otherwise you can get the train to Oxford." Clyde shut up and carried the suitcase and his bags outside and put them into the open boot. I climbed into the driver's seat and waited for Clyde and Lily to get into the car (After the evitable fight over who got the front seat for the short drive to Rani's as she would have the front seat up to Oxford) and drove out of the drive and onto Bannerman Road and packed up in front of Haresh's car outside Rani's house. Lily jumped out of the front seat and into the back, while I got out and headed for the front door. I rang the bell and waited.
I didn't have to wait long as Gita flung the door open. "Oh Sarah my darling" She said smiling. "Rani's nearly ready."
"Sarah Jane" I muttered under my breath. "I hope you don't mind her helping with all this."
"Not at all" Gita said. I heard a grumbling from the kitchen. "Shut up Haresh" Gita called before turning back to me. "If Steven needs help, then the more the merrier."
Haresh appeared from the kitchen. "But he didn't need to do it during term time."
"Pipe down Haresh" Gita said. "Anything to help. Our Preeti's already there isn't she?"
"Yes" I said. "Steven's got all his mates from both here and from were we used to live helping out."
"How does he have his old friends' information?" Haresh asked. "According to his school records, he's been at Park Vale since Year 7."
"One of his flatmate is our old neighbour" I said. "She's one of his old friends."
Just then Rani appeared behind her parents. "Oh, hey Sarah Jane" she said. She too only had only her school bag and a small suitcase. But she also had a sleeping bag tucked under her arm. "Are we all ready to go?"
"Yes" I said. "Just put your things in the boot" I handed her the keys. "And then I'll drive you up to Oxford. And then I'll be off up to York."
"Why York?" Haresh asked.
"That's where Emily is" Rani said. "Her cousin's at uni there. That's where Emily ended up after she ran away."
"How do you know that?" Gita asked. "The Police haven't even released any details about her disappearance yet."
I quickly came up with a cover. "Her cousin emailed me a few weeks ago. Just after this all kicked off" I said, hoping that neither Gita nor Haresh would see through my lie. "She asked for our help sorting things out."
"Right" Gita said. "Preeti was always saying that Emily and her cousin, Katie isn't it?" I nodded. "I'm right. Preeti was always saying that Emily and Katie were more like sisters than cousins."
"They are" I said. "That's the reason she wants me to help. Talk some sense into Emily. Now," I said, pushing Rani towards the car "we really need to be getting off. I don't want Steven ringing again." I hurried Rani to the car, put her bags into the boot and got in before driving off. I needed to get to Oxford quickly. Or I'd have Steven ringing again.
Oxford, One Hour Later – Steven's POV
"God Steven, how did you get up so early this morning?" Lisa yawned. Everyone was yawning. I'd got them up at half 7 so that we were all up and ready to meet mum, Clyde, Rani and Lily. I needed everyone about to explain the plan to Clyde and Rani. Well, that was the plan anyway. Half of them were still half asleep. Even Luke, who is normally very bright on a morning, was still quite sleepy-looking. Eventhough we had all had early nights the night before. Though I don't know why I was so chripped.
"No idea" I said. "I didn't get to sleep until 1. I don't even know how I'm chirpy after 4 hours sleep." Just then, mum's little green car pulled into the car park. As they parked up, I ran over to help them get the bags out of the "Hey mum" I said as mum got out of the car. She smiled and walked round to the boot, opening it to reveal one large suitcase, two long sports bags and three backpacks as well as mum's small suitcase. "God guys" I said as Rani, Clyde and Lily climbed out of the car. "You're only here for two days."
"The suitcase is Lil Ste" Clyde said, earning him a hit from Lily. "Ok, Ow!"
"Well don't be annoying" Lily said. "Hey Steven" She said. "These are all my dresses. I need help choosing one to wear tomorrow night."
"Oh" I said. "So, you don't want a new one buying? You know, it is my money that's paying for it."
"Erm, your inheritance from Aunt Lavinia" Mum said. "Which should be going on your educational stuff, not buying other peoples clothes 'Wiley Neely'."
"One time" I said. "It's only going to be one time" I turned to Clyde and Rani. "Well, for the last time. Listen very carefully; I will say this only once. The plan is that we are going to perform a song me and Em did at Karaoke tomorrow night. Clyde, if you're carful, you're playing my guitar..."
"Wait" Clyde said. "What are you going to be playing?"
"I'm not playing anything" I said "I'm singing. Anyway, Rani you're going to be working with the other girls as back-up singers. And then, hopefully, Luke will be able to get Em up on stage for the duet bit of the song."
"Oh, that song" Lily said smiling. "'Anything for Love', awe Steven you big romantic."
"Well, I would do anything for Em" I said. "Even face the Nightmare Man again."
"What?" Clyde said. "Man, how in the world...?"
"We're going to use the Dream Child" Luke said as he appeared at my side, looking a bit more alert than before. "He's a Vishklar just like the Nightmare Man. But he lives in our minds, and lives of the good dreams. He's in all of us."
"Even you?" Rani asked. Luke nodded. "Have you still been dreaming since you got here?"
"Yes" I said. "But right now, that's not important. What is important is mum getting to York today" I turned to mum. "Katie ran me ten minutes ago. She's got a lecture at 1, so if you get there before then you can speak to Em straight away. If you don't, then Katie said for you to meet her at the uni reception at 3."
"Right" Mum said, lifting Clyde and Rani's bags out of the car. I gave her a hand getting Lily's giant suitcase out. "Now, I can be off."
"You do know the way, don't you?" I asked, uncertainty creeping into my voice.
Mum pulled something out of her handbag. "I do now" She said. "Remember the Berserker crisis?"
"How can we forget" I said. "I was just glad that pendent is long gone."
"Well" Mum said, waving the thing in her hands. "Remember this?"
Suddenly, it dawned on me. It was Carla's Sat-Nav. Alan has, with the help of me and Luke, reprogrammed it with UNIT's mobile phone tracker, which had enabled us to track Clyde and his dad during the crisis. Afterwards, we'd borrowed it a couple of times, and then Clyde bought Carla a new one last Christmas and we kept the old one. Mum only really uses it if one of us goes missing during our alien investigations. Though, that was normally Luke. Seriously, he's an alien-kidnapping magnet. The Slitheen have done it twice, Mrs Wormwood twice and even then Rutan Host and Sontarans have done it twice before. "Oh, right" I said. "You do have Em's phone number, don't you?"
"I've got Katie's" Mum said. "Well, the number for the flat. And no need to use Emily's. She apparently hasn't left the flat since she got there."
"Ok" I said. "Right, get off" Mum smiled and got back into the car. I grabbed Lily's suitcase, while Rani and Clyde grabbed their bags as mum pulled away. "Right, you three are in Luke's room. Go drop your bags. We're going shopping."
York – Emily's POV
I sat in the spare room in Katie's flat, still trying to get my head around everything. The Nightmare Man had made me rethink. Were me and Steven really soul mates? Or were we just a teenager romance? A knock came on the door. "Emily" It was Katie. "Emily, talk to me. Please?" I stayed quiet. "Emily!"
"Let me try" I heard another voice. It was Sarah Jane. What was she doing here? "Emily, please. Let me in." I stayed right where I was. "Emily, either let me in or I'll get in some way. Either way, I'm coming in." I stayed where I was. Then, I saw a red light shine though the lock. I then realised what she meant. The door opened to reveal Sarah Jane and Katie. "Oh Emily" Sarah Jane said. I guess she had seen something similar. Was Steven...? No. I must not think anything about how he's feeling. This isn't about him.
"Are you ok with me going?" Katie asked. "Only I've got my lecture to go to."
Sarah Jane smiled. I couldn't help be feel reassured. "Of course" She said. Katie nodded, and left the room. As the front door closed, Sarah Jane turned to me. "Right, are you going to talk?"
"Did Steven ask you to come?" I asked.
"No" She said. "He knows I'm here. But it wasn't his idea. So, can you talk to me?"
"I don't know what to say anymore" I said. "I'm just confused."
"You're really messed up?" Sarah Jane asked. I started crying. "Hey, why not just talk about it?"
"I can't" I said. "I know it's stupid. But everything's messed up. I've just been mopping around here for the last three weeks."
"Steven's been doing the same" Sarah Jane said. "Spent the two weeks after you disappeared locked in his room at uni, refusing to talk to anyone." It was then I realised that my torment was also Steven's. He was taking it as hard as I was. "And now, are you ready?"
"What for?" I asked.
"Well," Sarah Jane said. "Steven has a surprise for you. If you want, tomorrow I can drive you down to Oxford."
"Isn't the band playing at the Oxford SU tomorrow night?" I asked.
Sarah Jane nodded. "They were planning a battle between them and Croydon Luke's band. But there's going to be something a lot different. Something a lot different. For you."
"Well then" I said. "No point letting their efforts got to waste. I'm going. And this better be amazing!"
The Next Night – Steven's POV
"Mum's just text me. They're on their way" Luke said reading his phone. It was just over three and a half hours before the show was about to start. "Should be here about half an hour before the concert is supposed to start."
"Right" I said, sliding Scott's amp onto the small stage. "Blimey I forgot how small the stage is in here."
"And yet we preformed here six weeks ago" Scott said, as he brought his drum-kit onto the stage.
"But this time there's two bands performing together" I said. "And we've got me just on the mic. And the girls as well. The stage is going to be packed. And that's before we get Em up."
"Ste, chill out" Alex said, as he and Tommy brought his amps onto the stage. "We'll manage."
"Need a hand lads" We turned to see the bar manager stood there. "Anything you need?"
I leaped at the chance. "Is there any way of making the stage larger?" I asked.
"Just move the curtain" he said. "Any reason why you need a bigger stage?"
"Both bands are performing together" Luke said. "As part of a way of Steven to sort out his love life."
"Luke!" I sighed, hitting my head with my palm. "It's just a bit of a romantic gesture. Me and my girlfriend have just had a bit of a rough patch. I just thought of giving her a surprise." And I hoped it would still be a surprise.
Three Hours Later – Emily's POV
Sarah Jane pulled up outside the Oxford Student Union. I could see all the Oxford Students streaming towards the building. I couldn't believe how many students were there. Gingerly I stepped out of the car, only to bump into Steven's flatmate Mark. "Oh sorry" I said.
"Hey" He said. "It's ok." He put his arm around me. "I heard about the problems between you and Steven. I just hope everything turns out alright." I just smiled. Did this mean Mark now knew about the aliens and stuff? Or just about me running away?
Luckily Sarah Jane interrupted. "Emily, aren't you going to introduce me?"
I looked between them. "Mark, this is Sarah Jane Smith, Steven and Luke's mum. Sarah Jane, this is Mark Cole, Steven's flatmate."
"Oh" Sarah Jane said. "Pleasure to meet you."
"And likewise" Mark said. "When Steven told me your birthday, I though...well. But you don't look a day over 45."
Sarah Jane blushed slightly. "Oh, really" She said. "Now, we really should be getting inside."
"Oh" Mark said. "You're coming as well."
"Of course" Sarah Jane said, smiling in her usual cheery way. "I never miss an opportunity to watch Steven play. And I expect his dad will be the same when he gets back from Peru."
I looked at Sarah Jane. "Wait a minute? Harry's turned up?" I asked, shocked that Steven hadn't told me the most important news in his life. "When was this?"
"Four Weeks ago" Sarah Jane said. I then realised that that must have been the reason why he had been at home then, rather than just for the Doctor's 'fake' funeral.
"Oh" was all I could say, before Sarah Jane and Mark dragged me into the club. Once inside, I gasped. The stage was set up for more than just Steven, Alex, Mark, Scott, Big Luke, Dan and Craig. There were 5 microphone stands lining each side of the stage, as well as one right in the middle at the front. There was a keyboard on what would be Steven's right. Surprisingly, I noticed Steven's guitar was sat against its amp on what would be his left. Normally the amp was placed in front of the microphone just down from the main stage. What was going on?
Luke's POV
I was stood at the bar with Sanjay, waiting for mum and Emily to enter. "How much longer before they show up?" He asked. As he spoke, Mark entered with mum and Emily.
"Right now" I said, pulling out the radio. "Meat-Steven, this is Lukey Boy. I repeat, this is Lukey Boy. Mum has just entered with target. Over."
Backstage – Steven's POV
"Meat-Steven, this is Lukey Boy. I repeat, this is Lukey Boy. Mum has just entered with target. Over." Luke's voice echoed over the radio. My heart skipped a beat. Em was here. I was too shaken to respond.
Luckily Tommy made the save. "Lukey Boy, this is the Tank Man. Message understood. Move to phase 2. Over." He turned to me. "Ste, its fine" He said. "Everything was going fine. All you need to do is go out there and sing your heart out."
"But Tommy" I said. "What if I make a mistake? What if I forget the lyrics? What if I forget my cues? I'm going to mess up, I know it."
"Steven Smith!" He said. I nearly fell back in shock. My mates have always just called me Ste. None of them, not even Em, have ever called me Steven. "You have sang in front of audience thousands of times before. You haven't messed up before."
"Yeah" I said. "But, that's going to change one day. What if that day is today?"
"What? Steven Jonathon Smith, also known as 'Mister Perfection', making a mistake onstage. There's more chance of pigs flying."
"You're right" I said, not wanting to telling him about the flying pigs from the planet Gamma5. "I'm Mr Perfection. I won't fail."
"Great" Tommy said. He turned round. "Are we all ready?"
"Ready" Scott nodded. The others did the same.
"Right" I said. I picked up my trilby and put it on my head, doing a swipe along the front. "It's Showtime!"
Emily's POV
"Luke! Sanjay!" Mark called towards the bar. I noticed Luke and Sanjay stood there. They were dressed in waistcoats, black skinny jeans and black skinny ties. Luke also had a trilby on his head. "Hey, over here." The pair picked up something off the bar and head towards us. "Hey guys" Mark added "How long before..." He was interrupted by everyone starting to clap. I turned to see the guys walking onto the stage. Well, everyone apart from Steven. And I mean everyone. Cheryl, Lily, Lisa, Rani, Preeti, Kim, Hannah, Jade, Lauren, Debbie and Lucy walked onto each side of the stage. Lily, Lisa, Preeti, Hannah and Lucy on Steven's right, Cheryl next to Scott at the rear of the stage, Rani, Kim, Jade, Lauren and Debbie on Steven's left. Clyde picked up Steven's guitar. Craig walked over to a keyboard set up on the left of Steven.
Tommy walked onto the stage. Like all the guys, he was wearing the skinny jeans, waistcoat and skinny tie combo. He stepped up to the front microphone. "Good evening ladies and gentlemen. And welcome to Oxford SU bar. Now, allow me to introduce, for the first and only time ever, the combination of 'Steven and the Explorers' and 'The East Croydon Experience'." A huge clap and cheers erupted around the building.
Suddenly Luke grabbed my hand and pulled me to the front of the room. "Luke, what in the world?" I asked.
Luke just smiled. "Listen and you'll find out."
Steven's POV
I listened as Tommy introduced the guys. Cheers erupted around the room. He walked off stage. "Show 'em hell" He said to me. I took in a deep breath and walked onto stage. I could see Luke and Em stood in the right place.
I took another deep breath. "Ladies and gentlemen, this is a song we've only been rehearsing for the last week, so it might not be perfect" A laugh erupted from the crowd. "Ok. 1, 2,3."
Suddenly, Big Luke began to play the motorcycle introduction. I held my breath. After all I had nearly 2 minutes before I started singing. Soon, Craig and the others came in with the rest of the guitars, the drums and keyboard in piano mode. As the music began to slow I began to sign:
And I would do anything for love,
I'd run right into hell and back,
I would do anything for love,
I'll never lie to you and that's a fact.
But I'll never forget the way you feel right now
- Oh no - no way - I would do anything for love,
But I won't do that; I won't do that, anything for love,
I would do anything for love; I would do anything for love,
But I won't do that, I won't do that.
The guys broke into the rock-type melody. I went over the chorus in my head to work out exactly when I was supposed to resume singing:
Some days it don't come easy,
Some days it don't come hard
Some days it don't come at all,
And these are the days that never end.
Some nights you breath fire,
Some nights your carved in ice,
Some nights you're like nothing I've ever seen before, or will again.
Maybe I'm crazy, but it's crazy and it's true,
I know you can save me; No one else can save me now but you.
As long as the planets are turning,
As long as the stars are burning,
As long as your dreams are coming true - You better believe it! –
That I would do anything for love,
And I'll be there until the final act –
I would do anything for love!
And I'll take a Vow and Seal a pact –
But I'll never forgive myself if we don't go all the way - Tonight –
I would do anything for love!
I would do anything for love,
I would do anything for love,
But I won't do that, I won't do that...
I would do anything for love,
Anything you've been dreaming of,
But I just won't do that...
I would do anything for love,
Anything you've been dreaming of,
But I just won't do that...
I would do anything for love,
Anything you've been dreaming of,
But I just won't do that...
Emily's POV
"He was really cut up about you not telling him about your nightmare" Luke whispered as Steven stopped signing for the instrumental bit. "He spent two weeks locked in his dorm. He'd barely eaten. He'd had nothing to drink. He didn't sleep. He wouldn't talk to anyone. It was only a crisis that snapped him out of it. He's doing this all for you."
As everyone bar Steven began humming on stage, I replied. "This is all for me?"
"His way of showing you that that nightmare isn't going to happen" He said. Then, he turned to me. "You need to show him you're still in love with him."
"I've always been in love with him" I said. "What does he want me to do?"
Luke winked. "Sing."
Steven's POV
As the guys stopped humming, I saw Luke had told Em exactly what I wanted her to do. She turned to see me. And for the first time in months, she smiled at me. And that gave me new determination. When it came to the moment for me to start signing again, I sang my heart out:
Some days I pray for Silence,
Some days I pray for Soul,
Some days I just pray to the God of Sex and Drums and Rock 'N' Roll.
Some nights I lose the feeling,
Some nights I lose control,
Some nights I just lose it all when I watch you dance and the thunder rolls.
Maybe I'm lonely, and that's all I'm qualified to be,
There's just one and only, the one and only promise I can keep.
As long as the wheels are turning,
As long as the fires are burning,
As long as your prayers are coming true - You better believe it - !
That I would do anything for love!
And you know it's true and that's a fact,
I would do anything for love!
And there'll never be no turning back –
But I'll never do it better than I do it with you,
So long - So long - I would do anything for love,
I would do anything for love,
I would do anything for love,
I would do anything for love,
But I won't do that, I won't do that!
I would do anything for love,
Anything you've been dreaming of,
But I just won't do that...
I would do anything for love,
Anything you've been dreaming of,
But I just won't do that...
I would do anything for love,
Anything you've been dreaming of,
But I just won't do that...
I would do anything for love,
Anything you've been dreaming of,
But I just won't do that...
I would do anything for love,
Anything you've been dreaming of,
But I just won't do that...
I would do anything for love,
Anything you've been dreaming of,
But I just won't do that...
I would do anything for love,
Anything you've been dreaming of,
But I just won't do that...
As I sang this, Luke guided Em onto stage. Cheryl left her mic to guide Em over to the mic right alongside me. I focused on my singing:
But I'll never stop dreaming of you
Everynight of my life - No Way –
I would do anything for love,
I would do anything for love,
I would do anything for love,
But I won't do that, I won't do that!
And then I nodded to Em to take it:
Will you raise me up? Will you help me down?
Will you help get me right out of this Godforsaken town?
Will you make it a little less cold?
I can do that!
I can do that!
Will you hold me sacred? Will you hold me tight?
Can you colorize my life I'm so sick of black and white?
Can you make it a little less old?
I can do that!
I can do that!
Will you make me some magic, with your own two hands?
Can you build an Emerald city with these grains of sand?
Can you give me something that I can take home?
I can do that!
I can do that!
Will you cater to every fantasy that I've got?
Will ya hose me down with holy water - if I get too hot - ?
Will you take me to places that I've never known?
I can do that!
I can do that!
After a while you'll forget everything,
It was a brief interlude, and a midsummer night's fling,
And you'll see that it's time to move on.
I won't do that!
I won't do that!
I know the territory - I've been around,
It'll all turn to dust and we'll all fall down,
And sooner or later you'll be screwing around.
I won't do that!
I won't do that!
Anything for love, I would do anything for love,
I would do anything for love,
But I won't do that, I won't do that.
As the guys wrapped up the performance, me and Em turned to look at each other. We smiled, and I couldn't help but pull her close before kissing her. Everything was alright.
Meanwhile – No One's POV
Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock...
The Nightmare Man starred up at the clock. He'd already tried to break it but it was indestructible. The sinister elderly Sarah Jane Smith had just giggled at his frustration. All she had done since those brats of hers had trapped him in there was go on-and-on about them. And teased him about the fact he was never going to get out of here. That every other child on the planet would manage to stand up to him. And the fact that there would never be another like Luke. There would never be another archetype. But the Nightmare Man was already one step ahead. But while most of Sarah Jane's teenage brats had overcome their nightmares, there was one who couldn't let go. The female who was in love with Sarah Jane's eldest brat Steven. The girl called Emily Williams. She had had the darkest fear of the lot. And he knew he could break back into the real world using her fear. And the impact it would cause on Steven Smith.
"Soon old women" he gloated. "Soon, I will be free. And all because of your son's love life."
"Oh, I don't think so" A voice said, not too similar to that of Luke Smith's. The Nightmare Man turned to see Luke standing there. Except there was a small different. He was dressed in a fully white version of the clothes he had been wearing that night. "Not this time, Nightmare Man. None of them are scared of you anymore. And neither am I."
"Ah, Luke Smith's Dream Child" The Nightmare Man gloated. "Come to trembled in fear."
"No" Another voice said. The Nightmare Man watched as two bright blue doors appeared. Out of them stepped the two brats he was delighting in the fact they were going to free him. Except they, like the Luke Smith in front of him, were wearing a fully white version of their clothes from the night he'd struck them. "Because we're not scared for you. No-one on this planet is anymore." Standing side by side, the three Dream Children linked hands. Light replaced the darkness at the far end of the diner. The batty Sarah Jane smiled, as the light consumed the diner. As the light reached the table, Sarah Jane disappeared. The light stretched towards the Nightmare Man. "This ends here."
"You can't destroy me" He said. "I'm the Nightmare Man. And you are the Dream Child. You're the ying to my yang. Without me, you are nothing."
"On the contrary" Emily's Dream Child said. "We can exist without you." The light consumed the Nightmare Man. He screamed out in pain as the light consumed him. With a flash, he disappeared.
"I will be back!" His voice echoed around the diner. "I will be back."
Steven's POV
I smiled as I felt my Dream Child return. The Nightmare Man was gone. And hopefully gone for good.
I looked at Emily. We had just pulled apart from the kiss. "I love you" I said.
"I love you too" She said. "Sorry I didn't tell you about...you know."
"It's ok" I said. "I've got so much to tell you that I forget to."
"You mean like your dad?" She asked. I looked into her eyes. "Your mum mentioned it." I smiled again. Everything was perfect for that one moment. Everything.
Three chapters in three days. But now, for the bad news. Chapter 49 will not be here until the 26th Febuary.
Please review and tell me what you think.
Cheers. The Author Formerly Known As Kuyoyo.
