On My Mind
4: Rocking Out

He had to admit, Liam wasn't that bad. Jamming on the guitar, nearly screaming the lyrics into the microphone at some points—but everything was catchy. He could see the guy being a great musician when he was older—but only if he had a band. After he had finished his performance, a loud applause broke out among the crowd. Liam stepped down from the stage, unplugging his guitar from the amp. As he went to replace his guitar in its case, Ms. So came out on the stage with her large smile on.

"A hearty round of applause for Liam and his entertaining songs!" She said with her bright and energetic voice. After the noise died down, she began her introduction for Kouga. "And now, for our second competitor, Kouga Lee!" A less enthusiastic clapping sounded as Kouga stepped forward plugging his own guitar into the amp.

He could feel his nerves twitching as he straightened up, still not finding the song he needed to play. He stepped up to the microphone and stared out at the expecting faces of the school. He gulped as discreetly as he could, but couldn't help the feeling of dread if they booed him off the stage. His eyes roamed the crowd, searching for some sign to begin, but he found nothing.

"Hurry up and play already!" Someone yelled, the male voice booming through the cafeteria. He ignored the voice as his cobalt eyes landed of the auburn beauty. His fingers found the chords and soon a melody began flowing through the cafeteria—slow but with a touch of zazz.

This vacation's useless
These white pills aren't kind
I've given a lot of thought on this 13-hour drive
I miss the grinding concrete where we sat past 8 or 9
And slowly finished laughing in the glow of our headlights

I've given a lot of thought to the nights we use to have
The days have come and gone
Our lives went by so fast
I faintly remember breathing on your bedroom floor
Where I laid and told you, but you swear you loved me more

The whole crowd's attention was focused on Kouga—including Ayame. But as he sang the song, his voice creeping up louder and more confident, he kept his eyes glued to his goddess.

Do you care if I don't know what to say
Will you sleep tonight or will you think of me
Will I shake this off, pretend its all okay
That there's someone out there who feels just like me
There is

Those notes you wrote me
I've kept them all
I've given a lot of thought of how to write you back this fall
With every single letter in every single word
There will be a hidden message about a boy that loves a girl

Ayame was in awe. His voice was still as smooth as it had ever been, and his eyes were enticing. She'd never admit it, but the way he sang made her feel like he was singing to her. And that thought alone made her knees weak. She didn't dare break the gaze, for she might just lose herself completely.

Do you care if I don't know what to say
Will you sleep tonight or will you think of me
Will I shake this off, pretend its all okay
That there's someone out there who feels just like me
There is

As the mild bridge came up, he stepped back from the microphone and looked down at his guitar, making sure that he was hitting the right notes. His instrument echoed through the room, creating a concert sound that made him feel on top of the world. It was short, and he returned to the mic, his eyes returning to their rightful place in her glowing eyes.

Do you care if I don't know what to say?
Will you sleep tonight or will you think of me
Will I shake this off, pretend its all okay
That there's someone out there who feels just like me

Do you care if I don't know what to say?
Will you sleep tonight or will you think of me
Will I shake this off, pretend its all okay
That there's someone out there who feels just like me

He took a deep breath before speaking the last words to the song, allowing his final chords to die out with the vibrations.

There is

At first it was silence, everyone not aware of what to do. He began to feel regret of singing such a song, but soon he heard the light applause that was joined by more of it. He sighed in relief, letting a goofy grin plaster his face. His face began burning with embarrassment at all the applause that was centered his way. It was the first time that someone, save for Ayame, had heard him play. And somewhere inside, his stomach began to squirm. This wasn't as bad as he made it out to be.

But as the applause broke apart, he realized that he still had yet another song to top it. His confidence was set, and he decided to play a song that he had just recently finished. It wasn't much like his others, but it felt good to wail on the guitar. He turned up the volume, hoping that he could pull it off without the bass. He smirked at the crowed before breaking out into a low bass-like sound. He took a deep breath before he began to hammer on the guitar, letting the noise full out assault the crows. The noise echoed off the walls, and a satisfied gaze from most of the room, apart from the adults cringing from the loud noise.

It's bugging me, grating me
And twisting me around
Yeah, I'm endlessly caving in
And turning inside out

'Cause I want it now
I want it now
Give me your heart and your soul
And I'm not breaking out
I'm breaking out
Last chance to lose control

A few people began to bob their heads to the heavy music, the electric guitar giving the whole thing emphasis. His voice echoed back at him, and it felt so right. He imagined the song better with a band, but that image kept on wavering with the feeling of just being there.

It's holding me, morphing me
And forcing me to strive
To be endlessly cold within
And dreaming I'm alive

'Cause I want it now
I want it now
Give me your heart and your soul
And I'm not breaking out
I'm breaking out
Last chance to lose control

He stepped rather far back from the microphone and bent down over his guitar as he began the solo. The higher notes sent the crowd into an uproar and slowly he began to bob his head with every few notes. The vibrations of the guitar went right through his fingers, switching on each fret as his adrenaline grew higher and higher. His eyes closed as the end came, the climax of the song and the solo, letting that last chord vibrate out before going back into the chorus.

And I want you now
I want you now
I'll feel my heart implode
And I'm breaking out
Escaping now
Felling my faith erode

If anything, this song had a larger impact on everyone than the one before. He wiped his forehead, the lingering sweat smeared across his head. A few strands of hair stuck to his skin, and he knew he smelt bad. He gave a light smirk to the crowd before turning around and following the same pattern that Liam did. He could see the boy out of the corner of his eye looking almost dumbstruck by his performance. He shrugged it off as he heard the petit woman make her way back into the stage.

"I must say that was a very nerve-wracking performance—for all of us. Another round of applause for out two contestants!" She said happily, turning to the two and ushering them over. Liam trudged over with his regular cocky face on and Kouga slowly followed. "Now's the time where we'll vote and then you can choose your favorite!"

She waved her hand over to Liam and a loud applause broke out for him. After a few seconds, she quieted everyone down and then pointed over to Kouga. The applause was about the same, but he wasn't so sure. He kept his eyes glued to the ground where he missed his angel pouring her heart into her applause for him.

"This is a tight one. All right, give it up to Liam again!" The applause was more forced this time, and neither were sure if this was going to end on merely this. "Now give it up for Kouga!" The applause broke out again, and Mrs. So was left to debate it herself.

"I think that it goes to Mr. Goushou takes it home!" She said enthusiastically, as another round of applause broke out. Liam moved towards the microphone, a set expression on his face.

"You're all stupid." He said bluntly, but made a move to say more. "I suppose I'm all right, but did you hear this guy play that solo? I don't think anyone else could've taken that thing all the way to Pluto and back without missing a note. He's the next Eddie Van Halen! Me, I'm nothing but living in this dude's shadow!"

"What the hell are you doing?" A male shouted from the crowd of seniors.

"I'm telling you that you have shit for brains you wank!" He yelled, but quickly apologized as he saw the look the authorities were giving him. "I'm asking Kouga if he'd like to split the performance time. If he decline's, then hell, you'll be without either of us."

He turned towards Kouga who had a shocked expression on his face. "So what'll it be dude?"

Kouga stood there, acting as stupid as he could possibly get. His jaw was barely hanging as he took in what the guy was spewing from his mouth. A part of him was excitedly dancing, but the other half was turning it down. He was split in half and didn't know that the hell to do.

"I uh…" He said stupidly. "I…suppose so…" His voice was barely audible, but nonetheless, Liam heard him.

"Wicked! We'll be seeing you suckers at prom! Get ready for you to blow away Grads!" And with that, he galloped off the stage and jumped into a rather awkward embrace. It was quick, but the man was still all jumpy.

"Dude, you've got to teach me that piece!"