I just wanted you to know!
I think about you every night.
When I fall asleep
You are in my dreams!
Just like in a movie!
The one you want to see
With a happy ending!
~We Are So Last Year- Hawthorne Heights
"I can't clean this whole place." Amu muttered to herself as she began sweeping up paper scraps that the girls had been to busy to pick up themselves. She had been working for a good hour before the teacher split expecting the room to be spotless when she came in the morning.
She hung her jacket on the chair she sat at earlier. She remembered Rima, and how she wanted to be her friend. Amu wasn't sure how to feel about that, but for now she decided not to put much thought into the idea. After a few minutes the hall lights went out as a sign the staff had gone home. Amu made the assumption she was alone, and decided to take a risk.
A dream she had just months ago, vanished in a flash and seemed like a stupid childhood longing. She told herself that she would never let that longing keep her away from reality. Just asking if their was a choir was just a foolish attempt to relive what she had lost. She vowed to never sing again, not where people could hear her anyway.
She stored away her once treasured possessions, leaving her life away from music and focused on the real world. Although, she knew completely getting rid of music was close to impossible, especially for her. To fill the void, she would sing in the shower or alone in her room. No one else heard her, ever! That was her rule, that was what she decided was best.
She cleared her throat nervously and started singing a song she was familiar with:
I just can't understand the ways
Of all the men and their mistakes
You give them all your heart
And then they rip it all away
As she was singing she continued working with a little more energy, even if the song was lacking it. She was just excited to sing. She hadn't sung in a long time, with the exception of the shower of course.
You told me how much you loved me
And how our love was meant to be
And I believed in you
I thought that you would set me free
Ikuto just stood where he was, stunned. He was just thinking how it was impossible to find a singer, and he could hear her. She had one of the most beautiful voices he had ever heard, and not just in comparison to the auditions but CDs, bands, everything, it was brilliant. This girl's voice was angelic with deep passion. She felt whatever she was singing.
You should've just told me the truth
That I wasn't the girl for you
Still, I didn't have a clue
So my heart depended on you, whoa
.
Although I'll say I hate you now
Though I'll shout and curse you out
I'll always have love for you
Because I am a girl
Ikuto was in captivated by this girl's voice. It was beautiful and he felt the lyrics in her words, and the music in harmony of her voice. He could recognize the notes she was singing clearly. He wanted to hear her with actual music, and he realized he was still standing still. Thus, he started running around trying to find this voice.
Been told a man will leave you cold
Get sick of you and bored
I know that it's no lie
I gave my all, still I just cry
.
Never again will I be fooled
To give my all when nothing's true
I won't be played again
But I will fall in love again
Ikuto could hear the voice getting louder, sharper, clearer. It was even better when he could be closer. Listening, he noticed a room that still had a light on. He approached the room silently walking. The door was open, but he didn't dare look inside until he was sure that who he was looking for was there. Then he heard the song continue.
You should've just told me the truth
That I wasn't the girl for you
Still, I didn't have a clue
So my heart depended on you, whoa
.
Although I'll say I hate you now
Though I'll shout and curse you out
I'll always have love for you
Because I am a girl
.
You told me how much you loved me
And how our love was meant to be
And I believed in you
I thought that you would set me free
He glanced inside and got a surprise as to who the singer was. The new girl he had seen earlier. Then, he thought that she was strange. She stood out from the crowd, but that's what he was looking for. She was cleaning the art room, looking the same as earlier, except for a little perspiration and a white t-shirt instead of a jacket. He risked leaning against the doorway with a smile on his face as he listened to her sing, as she had her back turned to him, unaware she wasn't alone.
You should've just told me the truth
That I wasn't the girl for you
Still, I didn't have a clue
So my heart depended on you, whoa
.
Although I'll say I hate you now
Though I'll shout and curse you out
I'll always have love for you
Because I am a girl
.
You should've just told me the truth
That I wasn't the girl for-
Amu turned around in her sweep and seeing someone in the the doorway she let out a scream and tripped backwards.
"You alright?" Amu heard the person in the doorway ask trying to hold back a laugh, unsuccessfully. Offended Amu stood up quickly and brushed herself off and continued sweeping, ignoring him. "Oh, so that's how it is?"
"Do you want something?" Amu asked facing him annoyed. She couldn't help analyzing him. She'd never seen a boy look anything like him before. He had thick dark blue hair that made an interesting style. Amu was tempted to reach up and touch it, but restrained herself. His eyes were some kind of midnight blue color that amazed her. His smile was more of a smirk at the moment as they stared each other down.
Ikuto looked at her closer this time in a reasonable distance. After all, a singer has to have a good voice and attract people to listen to the music. She had pink hair in a messy pony tail after the long school day. Her shirt showed off her milky white skin that was hidden with the jacket. Her eyes were attractive, with a bright hazel color that seemed to follow a unique swirl pattern in her eyes. She was perfect.
"Yeah," he finally answered after their stare down, "Want to join a band?" Amu was surprised by the question. She tried to hide it, but it was pointless. Join a band? That was both random and stupid to her!
"Sorry, not interested." she answered plainly before going back to her sweeping.
"Who's not interested in joining a band?" he asked moving in front of her.
"Me. Now, go away." she answered before hitting him with her broom, which appeared to have no effect on him.
"I think I can take you." he commented as Amu stared at him in confusion.
"What?"
"Either you come with me by choice, or I'll just take you by force." he answered simply, appearing to be amused with himself.
"You can't take me by force. If I don't want to join your stupid band then I don't have t-!" she didn't even finish her statement before she was thrown over his shoulder and walking out the door. "Put me down!" she commanded struggling from his grasp.
"Are you going to come quietly?"
"I'm not going to come at all! Put me down!"
"No."
"Damn it! I'm going to murder you!"
"With that broom that worked so well earlier?" he asked amused by the girl's continuous struggle. She hardly weighed anything, but she acted vicious.
"You!" was all she got out before they walked into what appeared to be an auditorium.
"Hey Ikuto! I thought you said you'd be back in a- Uh. What's with the girl on your shoulder?" Kukai asked first outraged by the fact they already packed up the microphone set up and he still hadn't returned, then, just plain confusion.
"This is our next audition." he announced before throwing her on the stage.
"I didn't agree to that!" Amu complained standing up from the stage and yelling at her kidnapper.
"Well, as long as you're here, why not?" he asked as she glared at him, while the other band members just looked confused.
"We already put up the microphone!" Tadase complained after spending ten minutes trying to figure out what wire goes in what box, he wasn't going to set it back up for another failing audition.
"She won't need it, she's loud enough." Ikuto said simply sitting in the front row in front of a table he had been for the past auditions.
"But!" Tadase started to complain
"One more won't hurt," Nagihiko encouraged and sat down next to Ikuto.
"I wouldn't be so sure of that," Kukai complained before taking his seat along with Tadase right after.
"I'm not doing this." Amu said as she started to walk off.
"You got endurance? Because, if you get off I'll just put you back on. I don't get bored easily. We could be here all night." Ikuto threatened causing Amu to stop. She released a sigh. She had to finish cleaning the art room, and make dinner for Ami when she got home. Sorry Mom.
"Fine, what do I sing?" Amu asked getting back to where she was before.
"Just sing where you left off." Ikuto encouraged as the others were preparing themselves for the worst.
Amu took a deep breath and closed her eyes to avoid seeing their faces.
You took advantage of my willingness
To do anything for love
Now I'm the only one in pain
Will you please take it all away
.
Never thought being born a girl
How I can love you and be burned
And now I will build a wall
To never get torn again
.
Although I'll say I hate you now
Though I'll shout and curse you out
I'll always have love for you
Because I am a girl
There wasn't much of the song left, but she stopped at the end. She opened her eyes and was surprised by their faces. Ikuto was smiling with satisfaction, and the other three were staring at her in surprise, gaping at her voice. They've never heard anything like her voice before in their lives.
"Wow." Tadase managed to get out barely as the others stayed quiet, still staring.
"So, what's the verdict?" Ikuto amused by their reactions.
"Yes! This is perfect! She's perfect!" Kukai was yelling appearing on the stage beside Amu. She nearly jumped out of her skin as Kukai started shaking her excitedly. "I could kiss you!"
"Huh?" she asked confused by his enthusiasm.
"Finally!" Tadase exclaimed some how appearing on Amu's other side, "The positions filled! No more torture!"
"Can you play any instruments?" Nagihiko asked pushing in front of Tadase.
"Uh..." Amu was overwhelmed by all of them. Getting a closer look at them all, she could see why an entire art class had rallied against her. These were some of the most attractive guys she'd ever seen, and they were freaking her out at the moment.
"It doesn't matter!" Kukai answered for her, "Her voice makes up for any flaws she may have!"
"Flaws?" Amu asked confused by what he was implying.
"I found her," Ikuto commented still seated in the front row, "I get some credit."
The boys looked at each other and shared a mischievous smirk before bowing, arms stretched out while standing, chanting "We are not worthy! We are not worthy!"
"That's more like it!" Ikuto answered amused by their enthusiasm, "Let's get the instruments back out and try a few things."
"Huh?" Amu asked not sure what was going on.
"Right!" Kukai answered running to his drums, "Why don't we try hearing her with an upbeat song?"
"What a second." Amu tried to get their attention.
"Good idea." Tadase commented getting out his bass, "Maybe a variety?"
"Hey!" Amu tried again with a more stern voice.
"Yeah, mixed with something dramatic or mellow." Nagihiko suggested getting his guitar.
"HEY!" Amu yelled finally getting their attention, "I didn't agree to anything! So while I appreciate the offer, I'm going to have to refuse. Bye!" and with that she started off the stage and back to the art room, leaving the boys with a stunned expression, more surprised than hearing her sing.
She didn't even make it to the door before she was pulled back to the stage by her shirt. "You like things done the hard way, don't you?" Ikuto asked throwing her back in the middle of the stage.
"Not the hard way, no way!" she answered balling her hands into fists, "I'm not going to join your stupid band! I have better things to do!"
"Oh?" Ikuto asked with a smirk, "And what might that be?"
"None of your business!" Amu snapped back at him. He was so tall in comparison to herself, she could only look straight into his chest, so she had to look up and glare at his smirk. The way he acted was starting to piss her off.
"Come on!" she heard a whine come from Kukai from behind her, "You're the only girl in school that can actually sing!"
"So get a male singer." she answered annoyed by them all at this point.
"If the girls all suck," Tadase tried to reason with her, "Do you really expect the guys to be any better?"
"See ya!" she said, ignoring his reasoning and attempted to walk past Ikuto, only to be grabbed by the shirt and once again dragged back to the middle.
"Give us a good reason, then I'll let you leave." Ikuto bargained with her, amused by tireless escape routine.
No way in hell am I telling you the reason! Amu screamed in her head, while biting her lip to keep the words from escaping her mouth. She sighed thinking of the most logic reason why this idea was stupid, most logical for them anyways. "Do you plan on performing in front of people?"
"Well..," Ikuto pretended to think about the question, which made Amu want to punch him, "The thought never crossed my mind, but I suppose we would."
"Then there's the reason." Amu stated with a smile of satisfaction at Ikuto's confused expression.
"Huh?" she heard Kukai commented behind her, seemingly confused himself.
"I can't sing in front of crowds." Amu stated blandly, which was true. She was terrified to sing alone in a spotlight. No way in hell were they going to make her!
"We're a crowd!" she heard Kukai comment again, "You sang in front of us!"
"Because I was forced to!" she answered glaring at Ikuto as his confused expression faded into another smirk.
"So, you don't mind singing in front of crowds if you're forced to?"
"Don't twist my words!" Amu warned him poking her finger hard into his chest a few times before walking past him.
"Tell you what." Ikuto said having gotten to the door before her, blocking her only way out, "We'll give you tonight to think our offer over. Come here right after school if you want to join. Otherwise, go on with your life." with that, he pushed the door open and gestured out the door showing she was free to go.
She started to storm out the door hearing one last comment behind her, "See you tomorrow."
She stopped in her tracks, looking over her shoulder with a look of annoyance, she saw that same smirk, again. "Don't count on it!" she replied heading back to the art room, never looking back.
"Nice going Ikuto!" Tadase remarked sarcastically when Ikuto got back to the band, "She's not going to show now!"
"Don't be so sure," Ikuto answered with a mischievous smile, "I never said the choice couldn't be persuaded."
...
A/N: Angel Lilith here :P! I'm really excited about all the feedback I've gotten so far on this story! All these reviews have made me want to write more and more! Well, the song Amu is singing is this chapter is: Because I am a Girl (English Version) by Kiss. Hope you enjoyed the chapter! 8D