Soccer practice
The water polo team
Some track and field on the football green
Go to the locker room and do some weight training
It would be real hot to join the army
"Xellos, turn that off," Zelgadis cursed. Why did they have to take his car to Explosion Array? Not that he minded being pressed up against Lina, but that music was getting on his nerves.
"Okay," Xellos grinned, "How about this then?" A female Japanese voice blasted over the speakers, followed by a steady, pounding rhythm; Probably another of Xellos' anime anthems.
"'Kiss in the Dark'," Lina inquired, "From Utena, right?"
"You are correct, Miss Lina," Xellos chuckled, "Well, it's good to see that at least one of you has good taste."
"Lina, don't tell me you watch anime too?" Zelgadis raised his eyebrows. She couldn't possibly, no more than maybe a couple of curious moments watching the stuff Xellos had. Zelgadis sighed before Lina answered; he knew what the answer to this was going to be.
"Of course I watch it," Lina laughed, "And you should too. I think you'd like all the gloomy, angsty bishi boys." She gently pulled on his sleeve, the pull of the fabric against her fingers adding an odd comfort to her mind. He looked good tonight, and if all went well they might get a record deal. Milgasia and a Dragon Valley representative were going to be there tonight. She felt a nervous lump in her chest, "Zel, how do I look?"
Zelgadis sighed, "For the fourteenth time Lina, you look like a million bucks for tonight. The rep and Milgasia will be impressed." Though he sounded calm, Zelgadis felt like his heart was going to jump out of his throat. Everything felt tight, and he felt like he was going to snap like a rubber band.
"The both of you chill out," Xellos warned, "I'm not that nervous."
"Of course you're not," Zelgadis retorted, "You're jacked up on anti-depressants. It's not a wonder you seem to be flying to Explosion Array."
"Better to fly than be dragged," Xellos chimed back, "Hey, which songs are we doing again, and it what order?"
Lina sighed, "We're opening with 'Guardian', following with a couple of the filler songs; we've got 'By the Sword', 'Brass Demon', and 'Burst Rondo', and we finish off the whole thing with 'Dragon Slave' and our newest piece."
"Ragna?" Xellos asked, "Did we finish that one?"
"Yeah, two nights ago. That's why we're practicing it again tonight before we go on." She looked to Zelgadis, "Don't worry, everything is going to work out fine."
Zelgadis nodded, "That record deal is as good as ours." He looked to Lina, and felt his pulse quicken again, the heat rising in his face. She was beautiful tonight, and if the record company didn't see it, he knew that he would. He could see a future with her, though he wasn't sure how he saw it.
Lina smirked, "This is going to be the first night of the rest of our lives," she laughed, "No pressure guys."
Everyone laughed, and Zelgadis sighed as the air felt easier to breathe. This was going to be an incredible evening.
"...let us walk as one, hand in hand, along the path of destruction: Ragna Blade!" the band finished in the practice room. The air was stirring with nervous energy, and Jiras was shaking, "Oh, can't seem to slow down."
"Okay everyone, deep breath," Xellos said, motioning up with his arms and back down. When everyone stared blankly at him, he only shrugged, "I guess I'll be the only relaxed one onstage tonight."
"Xellos, you could be cronfronted with the source of creation and be calm," Lina commented, "So you don't count. Are we ready guys?"
"Banzai!" Jiras cried, then blushed.
Zelgadis laughed, "Alright Lord of Nightmares, on three."
"One..."
"Two..."
"Three!"
"Banzai!" the band yelled, grabbed their instruments, and headed to the wings, Lina planting a kiss on Zelgadis' cheek.
"Good luck," she winked. Outside he could the buzz of the audience, and the DJ came on over the loud speaker.
"Ladies and gentlemen, due to your bitching and nagging, we've taken your request into consideration. And we decided, after a long and arduous democratic process, to invite a close personal friend of ours back.
"With no further delay, Explosion Array is proud to bring you LOORD OOOF NIGHTMARRES!"
The crowd exploded with enthusiasm as the band gathered onstage and hooked up their equipment. Lina grabbed her mic and smiled, "Good evening Atlas City. Tonight we're doing a special concert in a dedication."
Zelgadis was confused; dedication, to what?
"First, to our secondary vocalist Xellos: thanks for sticking with us. I would've killed you otherwise."
Xellos shrugged and grinned, "Isn't that always the way?" Laughter erupted from the crowd as Lina pulled the mic free from its stand.
"And secondly, to our secondary lead Zelgadis: you've given us something amazing, and no matter what happens, we won't forget it." Her eyes were soft and smiling, and Zelgadis was forced to swallow.
Zelgadis only smiled for several moments, then turned to the audience, "Thanks to everyone; the band, the club owners and you out there tonight...now who wants to hear some music?" The crowd erupted with cheers, and Zelgadis grinned to the band, striking the opening chord to "Guardian". The band fell into place, and the whole club shook with the crowd and music.
Following with "By the Sword" and a surprisingly popular "Brass Demon", the band carried into a familiar and delightful reception of "Burst Rondo".
"Are you sure they don't see us?"
"Of course not. Shut up and do your part."
The figures waited on the sides, preparing to spring their trap.
The crowd's applause died down slowly, while Lina was trying to talk to them.
"Okay folks, we're almost done here tonight. We'll leave you guys with a new song, but first, our most popular song right now, get ready for..."
"Stop the concert!" screamed Martina as she and Valgarv charged out on stage, a small black duffle bag in hand.
"Hey, that's mine!" Jiras growled.
"People of Explosion Array, Lord of Nightmares isn't what you think they are," Valgarv pulled two bags from the duffle, one with white powder and the other with a green herb, "Look, and see what these punks are really about!"
Silence overtook the club, and everything seemed to freeze for a moment before Xellos spoke.
"People of Explosion Array, meet the lead singer of Dark Star, a rival band from our school. Apparently he thinks he can shake us with this kind of immaturity. What is in those bags anyway?"
"Marijuana and cocaine," Martina squealed, "You should all be arrested."
A flash of movement, and Jiras had snatched the bag of powder from them. He opened it, dabbed a finger in it, tasted it and the dumped it onto the stage, "Nothing more than baking flour.
"He's right," someone from the crowd noted as he reached onto the stage and did the same.
The crowd began to laugh, and Martina wheeled on them, "But, these are really drugs, and they really are using them!" The crowd's laughter doubled, and Martina started to cry.
Snarling, Valgarv brought a swift kick to the side of Jiras' head, sending him sprawling, "Little traitor dipshit. Think you're hot shit now?" He looked up and saw the band in motion, Xellos, Zelgadis and Lina with homicidal eyes, Zangulus running to Jiras, and Vrumugun moving to the microphone.
"We are experiencing technical difficulties right now, please be patient."
"Valgarv, why are they glaring at us?"
"Shut up and run," Valgarv told her, and the two of them dashed for the exit.
"After them," Lina spat, "This is unforgivable!"
Vrumugun watched them disappear backstage, "Ladies and gentlemen, we will be returning shortly. In the meantime, don't go anywhere, and I'm sure the DJ will provide proper musical substitution." With his stoic tone and flat deliverance, most didn't move in curiousity; was this a publicity stunt?
