The Bet

By: Fox Almasy

Ch. 4

Let the Show Begin

Fox: Well here we go another chapter

Kojisa: That's right and I have been working very hard on it

Fox: Hey I'm the one who wrote it how about a little recognition!

Kojisa: (Cowers in the corner) So sorry uh yeah of course!

Fox: Just read the disclaimer

Kojisa: Fox owns nothing although she wishes she owned it all, but she doesn't. Even if we did say she owned something you couldn't sue because she is flat broke. If you opened her wallet lil' moths would fly out of it yep yep. Now on with the chappy!

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The smell of cigarettes and alcohol hung thickly in the air and noise filtered into the backstage where the four band members of Devilzcrow prepared for the big night. Although none of them said it, they were all feeling the effects of their anxious nerves. Brad leaned his guitar against the wall and walked toward the side stage to peer out over the crowed from behind the curtain. He had to admit he was really surprised to see such a big crowed show up to watched a band never heard of before. This was going to either make them or break them. If the night went well they could have a chance of being signed on with the record company for good.

Brad looked one last time before turning to walk back. He stopped suddenly and looked out toward the center of the crowed. Right there with her friends was Naomi.

"You gotta be kidding me!"

"What's up Brad?" Brad glanced over toward Jack as he stared over Brad's shoulder.

"Naomi's here! I can't let her see me."

"Why not?"

"It'd mess up everything I told her."

"Well you better figure out something. We have to go through with this you know that." Brad gritted his teeth and turned away from the stage and walked back toward his guitar.

"What's the matter Brad?" Brad glanced and Bit and shoved his fists in his pockets.

"Naomi's here…if she sees me it might mess everything up."

"What are you gonna do?" Brad shrugged and sat down on the stool that was against the wall.

"Put this on." Brad looked up as Benji stood and tossed a black sweatshirt to him. "Just put your hair back an put the hood up. Then when you're on stage make sure you don't face directly at her." Brad stood and grinned.

"Well Benji, I gotta give you credit. You're smarter than you look."

"Gee thanks." He responded, his voice coated with sarcasm. Brad quickly pulled the sweatshirt over his head and pulled the hood up as the host began introducing them.

"Now everyone put your hands together for a new band known as Devilzcrow!" they were all surprised at the applause that arose from the crowd. No one had even heard of them and yet thousands came here to listen to them. Brad felt his stomach clench as the curtain rose and the thousands of eyes were now on them. Then out of habit they began to play the songs they had been practicing for weeks now.

"I will dedicate
And sacrifice my everything for just a second's worth
Of how my story's ending
And I wish I could know if the directions that I take
And all the choices that I make won't end up all for nothing
Show me what it's for
Make me understand it
I've been crawling in the dark looking for the answer
Is there something more than what I've been handed?
I've been crawling in the dark looking for the answer…" a full hour they had played. Everyone seemed to be enjoying it and not one person had gotten up and left. So when the final note was played they were all pleased with the performance. The band sat back stage, lost in their own thoughts as a comedian now took the stage and was entertaining the crowed with his wit.

Brad pushed away from the wall and pulled the sweatshirt over his head and tossed it back to Benji.

"Hey thanks a lot for letting me use it." Benji shrugged and threw it toward his bag that was set next to the exit.

"No biggy." Brad nodded and headed for the door that led into the club.

"Where you going?" Brad glanced back at Jack and grinned.

"To see Naomi. Cause I'm gonna make you both pay up soon." Bit frowned at Brad.

"You're not really going to make me pay are you?"

"Yeah I am. You made the bet so you gotta go through with it just like Jack." Bit kicked at the ground and mumbled something to himself.

"Dammed to hell." He then turned and walked outside.

"I'll see you back at the dorm Jack."

"Fine whatever."

Brad shut the door behind him and looked out over the crowed for where Naomi was sitting. He spotted her leaning over to whisper to whichever friend it was that was sitting next to her. Kris was it? He stepped through the crowed till he was behind Naomi then leaned down next to her so she could hear him.

"Hey Naomi." She jumped slightly and turned to look at him and smiled.

"Brad what're you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing."

"Oh we all decided to come see this new band. We've heard a lot about them. What about you?"

"Oh same thing . . . what did you think of the band?"

"They were really good. I'm impressed because I heard they were just a bunch of college students."

"Yeah that seems to be the rumor flying around." Brad looked up as someone cleared their throat and found her friends staring at him. He made an attempt to be friendly and smiled. " . . . Hello ladies." Naomi glanced over her shoulder and glared then kicked the nearest one who just happened to be Kris.

"Knock it off." She threatened between clenched teeth. Turning back to Brad she motioned to the chair next to her. "Why don't you sit with us. Unless you've gotta be somewhere."

"No not until later." he pulled the chair out and sat down and glanced toward the comedian on stage.

"Didn't you say your room mate was in a band?" Brad turned toward her and nodded.

"Yeah, but they're not really doing anything."

"Oh that's too bad."

"I guess but they don't really mind though." Brad looked up as Kris and the other two stood up from the table.

"We're going to the bar to see Leon and get something to drink you want anything Naomi?" she shook her head and held up the bottle of water that was sitting in front of her. They shrugged and turned to head for the bar.

"Not much of a drinker?" Naomi smiled and took a sip of water.

"Oh I drink plenty. It's just that I was nominated to be the DD and they just like to give me a hard time."

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Kris pulled out a stool from the bar and sat down followed by Kelly and Leena. Leon spotted them and walked over and smiled.

"Hey long time no see. What can I get you?"

"Diablo please." Responded Kris as she fished in her bag for her card.

"Magerita for me Leon." Answered Kelly.

"Me to bro." Leon nodded and turned to retrieve the requested drinks. He passed them their orders then leaned on the counter.
"Where's Naomi?" Kris frowned and nodded toward their seats.

"She's with this guy she met the other day. Supposedly he some rich kid whose parents race thoroughbreds. He's going to get her in trouble with her boyfriend. John won't be happy." Leon looked up to see whom this guy was. He caught sight of him and frowned.

"Are you sure that's him?" Kris nodded and cocked a brow.

"Yeah Why?"

"That's one of the guitarists that just performed in that band." Leena looked back to Brad then at Leon.

"You sure?"

"Pretty sure. When they first got here they were talking to the bartender whose shift is right before mine and I'm pretty sure that's the guitarist. He's from South Carolina or something." Kris took a drink and scowled.

"I knew he was bad news!"

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"Well I gotta get going so I'll see ya later Naomi."

"Alright." Brad pushed his seat back and began making his way toward the exit. Just as he was about to push the door open Kelly stopped him. She was glaring at him and had her arms crossed in front of her.

"Can I help you with something?"

"Listen don't play innocent with me! I know what you're doing and I suggest you stop now!" Brad was confused and slightly worried. What was she talking about?

"What do you mean?"

"You told Naomi that you were from Kentucky, and that your parents race thoroughbreds. I know that's not true. So whatever you think you're going to get from Naomi, just stop it now." Brad could feel his anger rising.

"What makes you think I'm trying to get anything from her."

"Because that's how you people are-"

"What do you mean by that?"

"Never mind! I won't tell Naomi, but I suggest you break it off with her and avoid her, because she's too good for you. So stop coming around!" and with that she stepped around him and walked away, but not before flashing him a dirty look over her shoulder before disappearing into the crowed.

Brad clenched his fists and slammed the door open and let it bang shut. He walked silently down the street toward the college campus. He moved passed people with out apologizing and by the time he had reached the dorm his temper had not dwindled.

He kicked the door shut and sat down on his bed and glared at the TV.

"What's wrong with you?"

" . . . Nothing."

"What she tell you to beat it?"

"No but her friends sure did." Jack laughed to himself and peered at Brad from the corner of his eyes.

"You still sure you're going to win?"

"That's not the point Jack! If you would have heard that Kris chick you would have been mad to!" Jack Leaned back on his bed and closed his eyes.

"Well it must have been bad to get you riled up like this."

"If only you knew." Jack yawned then cleared his throat.

"Well I suppose it's going to be even harder for you to win. Looks like I'll be keeping my money after all." Brad kicked off his shoes and laid back and faced the wall.

"Yeah keep telling yourself that."

"Mmhmm good night . . ." Brad mumbled an incoherent reply and reached out to shut the light off.

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Naomi held her phone in her hand as she watched her TV. She didn't even know what she was watching, because she was having a silent war with herself on whether she should call Brad or not. She didn't know why but she seemed drawn to him. When he was around all her cares seemed to melt away.

She stared down at the phone and the numbers seemed to reach out to her, beckoning her to dial his phone number. She glanced quickly at the clock then back at the phone. It was barely 10 he would be up right? She moved her thumb to press the first number and jumped suddenly as the phone ring. She fumbled with the electronic device then pressed 'Talk' and put it to her ear.

"Hello?"

"Hey!" she frowned at the voice on the other end.

"Who's this?"

"It's John! You know your boyfriend." Naomi's spirits fell slightly and she was surprised at her own honesty.

"Oh hey how are you?"

"God I let you go off to college and this is the thanks I get?" Naomi squeezed the receiver and glared. These were the comments that got them into arguments just like it was going to do now.

"Excuse me? Let me go? You didn't have a say on whether I was going or not!" She could hear the anger already in his voice and waited for him to start shouting.

"You take things too seriously! Why do you always gotta say stupid shit like that?"

"You're the one who says the stupid things. You know I'm not going to let you get away with a comment like that!"

"I didn't call to fight with you!"

"Well then watch what you say God dammit! You bring it upon yourself!"

"You now what forget it I was just calling to say that I wasn't going to be able to make it to Hawaii for Thanksgiving OK!"

"Why? We made these plans a long time ago? You always back out!"

"I have plans with my parents alright! Quit being stupid!" Naomi clenched her teeth and brought the receiver away from her ear and stared at it.

"I am not being stupid!" she yelled and then pressed 'Off' before chucking it across the room to hit the wall. She then mentally slapped herself and stood to retrieve it again. The back was falling off a little, but no serious damage had been done, but she was too mad to even think about calling anyone. Instead she laid down on her bed and soon fell asleep.

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Fox: Well there you go another chappy…well as usual hope you enjoy and please R & R hmm . . . I'm really happy right now yep yep. It was a good night. I got to see my Chou in a Fashion show! He's so handsome too bad yall don't know him he's gorgeous…anyway Kojisa anything to add?

Kojisa: ya! We enjoyed all the nice reviews so special thanx to

SecretpersonShadowLiger- Here's another update and I'll try to get another soon! Just bare with me

Inuko-sama – Glad you like it and don't worry hopefully I'll have answers very soon and thanx for telling me the spellings, but I'm so use to typing Kris instead of Chris I might just leave it with a K. Hope it don't bug ya too much lol

An1me3cH1Ck411- Brad is just getting more problems lol, but problems make a story interesting! Lol

Kojisa: well that's all and don't forget to review!

Fox: See ya! Ciao -Fox