Just Sing and Dream
A/N: I'm so sorry for not updating anything in weeks! Getting back to college is a nightmare, and this month has three weddings planned back to back for me! And don't get me started on trying to figure out a routine now that I'm in college again. I gotta figure out something to get everything in balance, otherwise this semester is gonna suck big time.
Anyway, you guys are not here to listen to me rant about my problems. You're here for the long-awaited Chapter 3 of "Just Sing and Dream". Well, finally here it is! Along with a special surprise in the author's note at the end for the readers on Wattpad. For you guys, you'll have to go to my YouTube channel to see it.
Now, let's get on with it! Roll it!
Chapter 3
Shows and Impressions
The next couple of weeks quickly passed, and the big night had finally arrived. The stadium was packed, and the cheers of the audience can be heard even from outside. Fans from all the tri-state area were super excited for the concert to begin.
Over in the VIP box, Harper and Rosie were in their seats, waiting for the show to start. Well, Poppy was supposed to be with them, but she said that she was going to meet up with them in a few minutes, after Branch's opening number. That only meant one thing, she was going to be singing with him for the first song.
Harper was wearing a pale blue summer dress with beige and white strappy sandals, her hair pulled up into a braided bun. Rosie was in a wheelchair because she was getting weaker, but she was still dressed for the occasion. She wore a black dress with sea green flowers on the skirt and black flats, her hair pulled up into a similar bun as her granddaughter's.
As they were waiting for the concert to start, Harper noticed two women leaving the VIP area, going down to the ground level of the stadium. One of them looked a little too….punk for her taste, judging by the clothing and heavy smokey makeup. The other one, much taller than the first, seemed to have an opposing air around her, but she wore a professional pantsuit along with a hat to cover her head and dark sunglasses over her eyes. Harper wasn't sure about why they were leaving so soon, but she had a feeling that they spelled trouble.
Down at the lower levels, the punk woman grumbled as she put on a black hoodie over her head, hiding her bright red dyed mohawk. Her hazel eyes rolled in annoyance as she turned to face her manager. "Remind me again why I let you convince me to come here?" She asked the taller woman beside her. "To a stupid, annoying pop concert?"
"You said that you wanted to challenge your old rival, which I learned will be a guest singer at this concert." The woman said, lowering her dark glasses down a little. "Well, perhaps you can find something here that can either be something to exploit her, or something more like….a prize?"
The punk woman scoffed. "There's nothing of hers that I would want." She said with disdain.
The taller woman just smirked, bringing her glasses back up. "We will see." She said cryptically.
Just then, the stadium got a little darker, and the crowd started cheering when they realized that the concert was about to begin. "How good is this new sickening pop star anyway?" The punk woman asked her manager.
"Speaking from a professional perspective, he's quite good." The taller woman answered, resisting the urge to almost growl, which made her punky client raise a confused, smokey brow at her. "Has a lot of potential."
Then, on the dark stage, someone started to beatbox while music started to play. Spotlights were flashing in rhythm with the song, revealing a band, a trio of backup singers near the end of the stage, and a lone man in the center of it all, everyone almost too small to see because he was so close to the back. He was moving his free arm around into various positions in tandem with the beat, sometimes even having a hip cocked out to the side sassily. However, neither him or anyone else on the stage could be seen very well, even with all of the flashing spotlights.
Branch: Don't be so quick to
Walk away.
I wanna rock your body,
Please stay.
You don't have to admit you
Wanna play.
I wanna rock your body
'Til the break of day.
Then, the man abruptly turned about face, his face still mostly concealed in the shadows, and started to sing as the cheers somewhat got a little louder. Right when the first verse started to play, the spotlights lit up the entire stage, revealing everyone that was on it. The backup singers sang along with the main star before he got to the bridge, stepping further out until he was almost at the edge of the stage.
Got time, but I don't mind.
Just wanna rock you, girl.
Branch: I'll have whatever you have.
Come on, let's give it a whirl.
Branch: See, I've been watchin' you,
And I like the way you move.
So go 'head, girl, just do.
That a**-shakin' thing you do.
Branch was wearing a simple gray shirt under a dark gray, casual dressy jacket, black leather pants and matching dress shoes. In his hand, he held a microphone as he walked along the edge of the stage, his other hand brushing and greeting fans' eager hands.
Branch: So you grab your girls
And you grab a couple more,
And you all can meet me
In the middle of the floor.
Said the air is thick,
It's smellin' right;
So you pass to the left,
Then you sail to the right.
The punk woman looked up at the now illuminated stage and saw the handsome man dancing and singing on stage. Immediately, her eyes widened and then, it was like all she could see was him. His dark blue colored hair, his somewhat prominent muscles shown by the form of his clothes, his bright smile that just oozes kindness and happiness. While she found stuff like that very sappy, she had to admit that he makes all that sickening sweet stuff very much attractive.
Don't be so quick to
Walk away. (Come on, dance with me.)
I wanna rock your body,
Please stay. (Come on now, dance with me.)
You don't have to admit you
Wanna play. (Come on, just dance with me.)
Just let me rock you
'Til the break of day. (Now let me hear you say-)
Just then, Poppy came out from the left side of the stage, just as Branch pointed over in her direction. She was wearing a purple sleeveless, knee-length dress with a blue jean mini vest on top and fancy beige ankle boots. Around her wrists were light blue bracelets, and around her neck was a simple pearl collar necklace. Her hot pink hair was let down simply but beautifully.
The punk woman saw her musical rival step out onto the stage with a sunny smile, and she barely resisted the urge to gag. She was still an annoying, bubble-gum baby girl, not even woman, even from the last time she saw her. But what really infuriated her was that she was looking at the attractive man, and main star of the concert, with such a sappy, loving look as she started to sing along with him.
Poppy: Talk to me, boy.
Branch: No disrespect,
I don't mean no harm.
Poppy: Talk to me, boy.
Branch: I can't wait
To have you in my arms.
Poppy: Talk to me, boy.
Branch: Hurry up
'Cause you're takin' too long.
Poppy: Talk to me, boy.
Branch: Bet I'll have you naked
By the end of this song!
As they continued to sing and dance circles around each other, the punk woman in the crowd could literally feel herself turn both red and green at the same time. Red for anger because of Poppy acting so sickeningly sweet like the good little pop star queen she is. And green for envy because that woman, out of all people, had to have already made her claim on that smoking hot boy already.
So what did you come here for? (Poppy: I came to dance with you.)
You don't wanna hit the floor. (Came to romance with you.)
Been searchin' for love for evermore. (And I'll take a chance-)
Both: If love is here on the floor! (Branch: Girl.)
As the music went instrumental and slightly more calm for a minute, and the two disgustingly sweet pair of turtledoves briefly held hands before the man, Branch Hawthorne (the punk woman had just recalled his name but had never seen a whole lot of pictures of since he was pretty elusive to track down), went around Poppy and held her close to him, her back against his chest and his free hand on her hip. The punk woman gritted her teeth and felt her fists clench tightly, wanting to rip out someone's hair at the gross romantic scene.
Seriously?! She has managed to score someone like him, too?! That little Miss Perfect always gets everything she wants with a stupid smile and a stupid song. Like she's some sort of princess from a pointless fairytale. The punk woman thought bitterly as she crossed her arms, glaring hatefully at her rival and her apparent boyfriend, both of them looking so sickeningly in love with each other, as if they were each other's so-called "true love".
But then, a little smirk appeared on her face. Well, this little pink pop star goody-two-shoes is going to get a huge dose of reality soon enough. No one ever gets everything they want. And I want everything that she has had a hold on. Especially her spot on the music charts and that sexy boy toy of hers.
Just then, the music picked up back at its usual loud, energetic volume as Branch started to sing again, letting go of Poppy. When he finished singing the chorus, Poppy joined back in her song and dance routine with her boyfriend. Both of them were entranced by each other, as if they were the only ones they could see, like the crowd didn't exist for a moment.
Branch: Don't be so quick to
Walk away. (Dance with me.)
I wanna rock your body,
Please stay. (Dance with me.)
You don't have to admit you
Wanna play. (Dance with me.)
Just let me rock you,
'Til the break of day. (Dance with me.)
Poppy: Talk to me, boy.
Branch: No disrespect,
I don't mean no harm.
Poppy: Talk to me, boy.
Branch: I can't wait
To have you in my arms.
Poppy: Talk to me, boy.
Branch: Hurry up
'Cause you're takin' too long.
Poppy: Talk to me, boy.
Branch: Bet I'll have you naked
By the end of this song! Ho!
As the music continued on for a little while longer after the two of them had finished singing, Branch briefly addressed the giant crowd of fans that had gathered in the stadium. "Los Angeles!" He shouted out while raising his fist in the air in elation, making the audience cheer even louder when he called out to them. "How are we doing tonight?"
The crowd just cheered as loud as they could in response to his question, making him smile widely. Branch then took Poppy's hand and led her in a little dance before the music ended in a grand finale, and they did a finishing pose, with Poppy in a slight dip with Branch's free arm around her waist.
The crowd cheered for their finale as Branch let Poppy back up on her feet and just held up their entwined hands. "Thank you!" Branch said to the audience, who were cheering even louder for their show of affection. "And give out a big thank you to the City of Angels' very own real-life angel herself, Poppy Summers!"
The crowd cheered for the pink-haired pop star while she blushed prettily at her boyfriend's sweet words. But back in the audience, the punk woman who had set her sights on Branch, gritted her teeth and gave a low audible growl, her reddish-brown eyes narrowed.
Not for long, Popsqueak. The woman thought with disdain. Soon, everything you have, everything you love, will be taken away from you. And I'll reign supreme.
The woman next to her just smirked at her reaction of Poppy and Branch acting so sweet on stage. She slightly lowered her dark sunglasses to reveal familiar dark and sinister eyes. Everything was going according to her plan. Soon, both Poppy and Branch will get what it is coming to them, for everything they've done to her.
A/N: I think you guys can take a guess on who those two are. And while the first woman does want to destroy Poppy's career and take Branch for herself, remember this. Anyone can feel lust for anything and anyone. Plus, I only included her lusting for Branch as part of the story. Anyone with eyes in their world can admit that he is easy on the eyes.
For you readers here, you'll need to check on my YouTube channel for that surprise I was talking about. The link is on my profile if you want to check it out.
I hoped you guys enjoyed this chapter, which was long overdue. Please leave a review about what you think, and remember to stay healthy.
Got to fly! ;)