The Big Dance
Chapter Two
The disclaimer I the same as last chapter, only I'm adding ShadowX, who belongs to Atomic Evil, and Alexia, who I own. And I own Nicholas as well, who can't drum for beans...
Goddammit Shadow...what was that for? Oh sure, having my head go through the floor in school was just what I wanted...I hope both Kai AND Jayln get you to dance with them...that would be awesome...but then who would I go with? This is complicated...if only they had a band playing...I could be singer or guitarist or something...
Vinny's thoughts as he struggles to free his head from the floor...
Gahlik was feeling happy-go-lucky. The girl of his dreams was actually going to the dance with him! He was so excited; he failed to notice the fact that he was being silently followed. It turns out it was Alexia, and she wanted to go to the dance with Gahlik. She silently darted from tree to tree, bush to bush, and rooftop to rooftop to follow Gahlik. At one point, as she jumped onto a rooftop, she saw Rouge and Knuckles through a window in the building across the street. They were hugging each other, and were smiling. Alexia quickly moved on as to not disturb their privacy.
"Yes, I'm free!" Vinny exclaimed as he tore his head from the floor. He had cuts all along his neck, but he didn't mind. A black hedgehog with a red streak through his stomach, and another one through his hair, was standing over him.
"Are you alright?" he said, laughing. Vinny nodded as he looked at the hedgehog.
"Okay...I couldn't help but overhear your conversation, and since you seem like the type of person who can't get a date...how about you join the band?" he said. Vinny looked at him with interest.
"What's your name, and are you in the band?" Vinny asked. The hedgehog shook his head.
"My name's ShadowX by the way. The band's got an opening for both a singer and a guitarist, by the way." ShadowX said. Vinny shook hands with ShadowX.
"Where can I sign up?" Vinny asked. ShadowX pointed to the main office, and Vinny dashed inside. Vinny saw a notice that had written on it 'Needed, Guitarist and Singer for Band to play at Dance.' in big letters. Underneath, it had a list for people to sign, but no one did. Vinny eagerly signed his name, and wrote 'Guitarist AND Singer' next to it. A young, black and red fox entered the room, and gasped.
"Vinny, you're signing up to be the singer...and the guitarist? I'm the keyboarder...ist...thing!" Nicholas exclaimed, waving his two tails up and down in excitement.
"When do we meet?" Vinny asked. Nicholas, instead of answering, grabbed Vinny's arm and started pulling him into the gymnasium. Inside, instruments were all set up, and Vinny was shell-shocked when he saw who was on the drums. The keyboard set was empty, a guitar was set up next to a microphone, but the drummer was excellent. She hit every note perfectly, and Vinny's jaw hit the ground.
"No way..." Vinny said, and the drummer looked up, and dropped the drumsticks.
Shadow...
"Hi Jayln...where'd Kai just run off to?" Shadow asked. Kai had just grabbed a pair of percussion things, and left. Jayln shrugged.
"Well, at least I'm not pressured anymore...anyway, Shadow, want to go to the dance with me?" Jayln asked calmly. Shadow looked in surprise. All the other girls he turned down were shaking at the knees, scared, but Jayln was perfectly calm. She wasn't even sweating.
"Well, since I went with Kai last year, I suppose it'd only be fair...I was planning on asking you for the same reason, so I guess...sure, I'll go to the dance with you." Shadow replied calmly. Jayln lost whatever control she had, and hugged Shadow lightly, for a first. Shadow looked at Jayln and slightly smiled. Tikal looked on from the tree above Shadow, and felt her heart snapped in two.
Shell-shocked Vinny and perfectly calm Nicholas...
"Kai, you're the drummer?" Vinny exclaimed. Kai nodded before picking up her drumsticks. Vinny put the strap on the guitar and placed it on his shoulder. He put the microphone near his face, but not too close.
"Hey, Kai? Do we even have any music?" Vinny asked. Both Nicholas and Kai shook their heads. Vinny came up with an idea, a small light bulb appearing over his head, and he ran into the office again. Kai sweatdropped as they heard loud banging coming from the office. Vinny ran back into the room holding nine sheets of music.
"Here, I think this song should suffice..." Vinny said, as he gave three sheets to Kai, and three to Nicholas. Kai sweatdropped.
"Vinny, this is 'Live and Learn'. Don't you have this on your iPod?" Kai asked. Vinny nodded.
"We can use the iPod to help make sure we've got all the notes down, and whatnot." Vinny said. Nicholas and Kai exchanged glances that clearly said they were weirded out.
"Right...both of you can pick out your own song...and then we'll all choose about three together or so. Does that sound okay?" Vinny asked. Kai nodded, and Nicholas hesitantly nodded.
"For now, let's practice 'Live and Learn'. Are you ready? One, two, one two three four!" Vinny exclaimed. Music blared from the gymnasium, and for the most part, it was pretty accurate. The only mess-ups were when Nicholas's finger slipped a few times, Vinny's voice cracked once or twice, and Kai...well, she didn't make any that anyone could notice. After a few runs through, Jayln walked in, and immediately dropped her books. Vinny and Kai stopped abruptly and gulped. Nicholas stopped a few measures later. Jayln looked like she was hit over the head with a club.
"No way...you guys are the band? I wanted to know where you were, Kai, so I could tell you something...I heard music, so I just assumed Vinny's iPod's volume was really high...again. But you're actually the BAND?" Jayln exclaimed. Kai and Vinny exchanged mortified glances. Nicholas gulped.
"Yes...what's the good news?" Nicholas said as an attempt to change the subject. Jayln smiled.
"I'm going to the dance with Shadow!" Jayln exclaimed happily. Vinny's jaw hit the floor, Nicholas stood there, a surprised and confused expression on his face. Kai had a confused expression on her face.
"How drunk did you have to get Shadow to make him agree?" Vinny asked. Jayln glared at Vinny.
"Because he went with Kai last year, he's going with me this year! And, by the way he said it, I think he actually likes me!" Jayln exclaimed. Kai's right eye twitched, and Vinny gulped.
"Jayln, I think you said the wrong thing...something tells me Kai's about to go berserk...last time she did, her eyes turned all different colors, and whatnot...she was also pretty scary, too (see Dark meets Light, Kai's story, for details)" Vinny said. Kai grabbed Vinny's arm, and started marching out of the room.
"Fine! Vinny and I will have more fun dancing anyway!" Kai exclaimed as she left the room.
"Nicholas, can you please drop off the guitar at my house, and my music as well, not to mention clear up? I would, but I don't think I'll be able to help...sorry..." Vinny exclaimed, his voice fading.
"Smooth, Jayln. Smooth." Nicholas said as he started packing up the equipment, and put the music in separate piles to send to their respective owners. Nicholas took Kai's and Vinny's music, the guitar, and the keyboards, struggling over its weight, and turned back to Jayln.
"You better hope that Kai calms down and you become friends, because I don't want to think of what Vinny'll have to go through...ouch." Nicholas said, before walking out of the room. Jayln sighed, and looked down.
"What have I done?" Jayln said, upset.
Vinny and Kai...
"Grrrr! Why'd she have to say that Shadow liked her and not me?" Kai exclaimed. She let go of Vinny, who stopped to look around. This was the first time he was in her house, let alone bedroom. There were pictures of Shadow from different occasions plastered all along the walls, always perfect pictures, with nobody else in them. Her sheets were pure white, and it scared him.
"Kai...what exactly are we going to do?" Vinny asked. Kai sighed, before realizing what she said.
"Oh no...I said I was going to dance with you..." Kai said, obviously terrified. Vinny took that as an insult.
"Am I really that bad that you don't want to dance with me? Or is it that you just don't want me to embarrass you?" Vinny asked, slightly upset.
"No, I meant that I can't dance." Kai replied. Vinny's eyes widened in surprise, then he closed them, remembering this was Kai he was talking to.
"Look, I just know I may very well regret this, but...how about after every time our band gets together, I teach you how to dance? That does include today, of course..." Vinny said, almost mumbled. Kai thought about this for a second.
"Sure, I guess I don't want to embarrass you or something by not being able to dance..." Kai said. Vinny stood up, and, hoping he wouldn't make a fool of himself seeing as he couldn't dance, tried to remember what Shadow had forced him to watch on the Dance Network for spring break.
Nicholas...
"Jeez, how much does this weigh? I just hope that I can carry this all the way to Vinny's house...I think I'll collapse before I get there..." Nicholas wheezed as he struggled to walk. ShadowX appeared in front of him, and caused Nicholas to stumble.
"Hey Nicholas, let me help." ShadowX said as he picked up the guitar and the keyboard with ease.
"Oh, I'm ShadowX, Vinny's friend. It's thanks to me he found out about the band." ShadowX said as the two of them walked towards the house that was standing in the distance.
"Looks like I owe you for two, then. Vinny's house is that far one. Ironically, I live a few blocks away from it." Nicholas said. The two of them walked in silence as they slowly progressed to the house.
"Who're you taking to the dance, Nicholas?" ShadowX asked. Nicholas answered without even thinking.
"I can't dance, I'm in the band. But, I'm sure Vinny and Kai'll find a way around that. Here, we leave the guitar and these three sheets here, on the table." Nicholas said as they entered Vinny's house. ShadowX placed the guitar carefully on the table between two couches in the living room. Nicholas then placed the music on top of it, and they exited the room.
"I wonder...why'd Kai get so mad at Jayln?" ShadowX asked. Nicholas looked at ShadowX weirdly.
"How do you know about that? I didn't see you anywhere around there, and besides, students aren't supposed to know about the band yet..." Nicholas said. ShadowX laughed.
"Are you kidding? Kai nearly ran me over! I overheard the whole argument because I was following Jayln because I thought she might lead me to the restroom..." ShadowX laughed.
"Ooooookay...look, Kai and Jayln are obsessed with Shadow. When Jayln said, 'It sounded like Shadow liked me!' Kai thought Shadow liked Kai and not her. Understand? Good, because I don't." Nicholas said as ShadowX nodded.
"Here, we can drop this off right here..." Nicholas said, pointing to the floor right inside his doorway. ShadowX placed it on the floor carefully, before putting the music down. Nicholas nodded, and ShadowX grinned.
"Okay, last but not least is the drum set, which goes in Kai's house...I wonder where she is, anyway..." Nicholas said. ShadowX shrugged, and the two of them made their way to Kai's house.
Kai and Vinny...
"I don't think I've ever seen someone learn that well before!" Vinny exclaimed. Kai had already learned many different kinds of dancing, and was unsure of which she would use at the dance.
"I think we're done for today. See you later, Kai!" Vinny exclaimed. Kai smiled, and lunged forward and hugged him.
"Thanks for doing this, Vinny." Kai said. Vinny smiled slightly, and the doorknob started rattling. The door swung open, and Nicholas and ShadowX walked in. Kai quickly let go of Vinny and stepped back, but Nicholas saw it.
"Kai...Vinny...you have ten seconds to explain what that was about..." Nicholas said in a weird, protective voice.
Alexia...
It was almost nighttime, the sun was setting, and Alexia was brokenhearted. Alexia had seen Gahlik give Amy flowers. Alexia felt tears pouring from her eyes, running down her face, and the light 'pitter patter' they made on the ground. She saw a blue hedgehog with a black jean jacket, and black shades covering his eyes walk towards Amy, flowers in his hand.
"This should be good..." Alexia said, before watching intently everything that was about to aspire.
"Hey, Amy, want to go to the... Amy, why are you holding flowers? Wait a second...Gahlik, you didn't! Consider yourself in Shadow's gang now, chump! That's it, it's go time!" Sonic exclaimed, sounding like one of the bullies from the 1960's or 70's. Alexia raised her left eyebrow in confusion.
"What...the...hell...did...I...do?" Gahlik asked, fending off ferocious kicks from Sonic. Sonic glared, and his attack intensified thirty-fold.
"YOU ASKED AMY TO THE DANCE AFTER I SPECIFICALLY TOLD YOU NOT TO SO I COULD, DAMMIT!" Sonic exclaimed angrily. Gahlik's eyes widened as he remembered Shadow's words.
'If you ask Amy, then Sonic'll kill you! That's what Shadow said!' Gahlik remembered with a start. Gahlik ducked just in time as Sonic kicked at his head.
"Why are you so obsessed with her? You used to run away from her!" Gahlik exclaimed, jumping and spinning to dodge quick, ground based sliding kicks.
"I was an idiot back then! I never knew how much I loved Amy until this year!" Sonic exclaimed angrily, before jumping up into the air as well. Everything seemed to stop, and Gahlik and Sonic turned exactly 360 degrees. Time continued again, and Sonic scissor-kicked Gahlik in the chest.
"You always were an idiot! Besides, haven't you noticed Amy's stopped chasing you, and that she seems to keep her distance?" Gahlik exclaimed, picking himself up from the ground. Sonic, angered by this, lunged towards Gahlik, a ferocious fire of hatred in his eyes. Amy jumped between them to intervene.
"Sonic, Gahlik, stop!" Amy exclaimed, arms extended. Sonic let a kick fly, and he couldn't stop it.
"Amy, DUCK!" Gahlik exclaimed, but it was too late. She was nailed in the side of the head, and fell to the ground, unconscious.
"No, Amy!" Sonic exclaimed. He fell to his knees, and covered his face in his hands. Gahlik picked her up, and carried her bridal-fashion.
"I dunno about you, but I'm bringing Amy to my house to help her. I guess you can come if you want, Sonic." Gahlik said, sighing. Sonic nodded, and the two of them walked towards Gahlik's house in silence.
Tikal...
"No...no...no! I cannot accept this! No matter what happens, I must make Shadow mine! But how...the only way I can think of his making Jayln look so bad, Shadow has to dump her...but how? I got it!" Tikal exclaimed, before putting her evil plan to work. She started sketching out her order of operations, and then set up the plan.
"She'll never know what hit her...hehehe..." Tikal said, grinning rather creepily.
Jayln...
Jayln had managed to put herself together, and was thinking on how to make up with Kai. She was walking through the darkness, the only light coming from the moon's shining white surface. Jayln walked, and something caught her by the ankle. She felt herself be pulled up by her ankle, and she disappeared into the tree. Espio, who was walking by at the time, although he only showed calmness and anger, his eyes showed pure surprise. He thought he heard two people fighting, and saw Jayln drop down from the tree.
"Are you alright?" Espio asked, confused as to what the hell just happened. Jayln smiled at him.
"I'm alright, thanks for worrying though!" Jayln exclaimed, and hugged Espio, Jayln left, and Espio stood, dumbfounded.
'What...the hell...happened?' Espio thought to himself, still standing stiff as a board. Jayln was walking down the street. Once she stepped into total darkness, she grinned.
'That was easier then I thought! I bet Shadow's going to love me, Tikal, since I bound up Jayln and hide her in the tree! Disguised as her using the Master Emerald's power, he'll never know the difference!' Tikal, disguised as Jayln, thought.
Who's left...Shadow!
"What's taking Jayln so long? She promised that we'd meet here in the park not long after nightfall...she better not be waiting until the moon gets closer so it'll be more 'romantical' or whatnot..." Shadow thought out loud to himself. He looked at the giant clock that was placed towards the edge of the park. '10:24' the clock read. Shadow sighed.
"What could Jayln possibly be doing? Knowing her, and the way Tikal's been acting, who knows what's going to happen...watch, Tikal's probably going to take over Jayln's body or something...yeah, that'd be a laugh..." Shadow said to no one in particular. He looked around, and felt an unpleasantly cold wind blow by. Shadow shivered.
"Wow...half past ten already...so much for meeting soon after nightfall...looks like she ditched...I think she's probably just really excited or something...later, person who's stalking me from behind the bush." Shadow said, waving to the bush. He walked away, and a young boy stepped out from behind the bush.
"Man he's good...that gives me a...0 'not found' rating..." the boy said, before walking into the clock and passing out.
Here ends Chapter Two, filled with surprises, music, more surprises, and Tikal's feelings, as well as Alexia's, revealed. Wow, I think I managed to kill all of the suspense in this chapter...except for what's happening between Nicholas, Kai, Vinny, and ShadowX...and then what Tikal's doing...I need more in the next chapter...woah, this was 7 Microsoft Word pages long...I'm on a roll! Later!
Pyro Hedgehog4ever (Gahlik was right...the 4ever sounds weird...but hey, it's all that's left of 'ShadTikal4ever', my old name, so it stays!)