Chapter 3: Musical Chemistry
Korra was walking around with those words inside her head.
"You deserve to be heard," said the voice.
She then looked at the flyer for the upcoming contest, "Rising Champion."
"Maybe we should try this," she said.
I was on my way home to my grandmother.
"Gran?" I asked.
"Hi sweetie," she said giving me a hug, "How was your day?"
"So far so good," I said, "I've met some new friends at a club I joined."
"Well good for you," Grandma said, "You really should get out the house more often."
I noticed my cat hasn't eaten much.
"Aww you gotta eat some more little guy," I said.
Kai was walking by when he saw his dad and girlfriend bringing out an old air glider.
"Why not give it a spin son?" Asked his dad.
"I'm not much of a glider," said Kai.
"Since when?" Asked his dad.
"I think he's had a long day and wants to rest," said Amy.
"Yeah, that's it," said Kai.
Opal was at home practicing her scales and such on the violin.
"Hey Opal!" Said her older brother Bataar Jr, "Something came in the mail for you."
"What is it?" She asked.
"They just said to give it to you," said Jr.
Opal opened it.
It was an electric bass guitar.
A note was attached to it.
"I know you don't think you're worthy of something like this, but chances like these only come once in a lifetime. Try this instrument out and see what you think. -Korra."
Bolin was at home on the drums helping Mako practice.
"You're getting better and better every time," said Mako, "And you haven't played in a while."
"I guess I just got into it more," said Bolin, "How are things with Earthquake?"
"Let's just say that the front woman Kuvira is being a bit bitchy," said Mako, "But I don't let it bother me."
"I heard they were entering for Rising Champion," said Bolin.
"You should too," said Mako, "You just gotta find some good members and write some good shit."
"About that…." Said Bolin.
Korra was eating dinner with her parents.
She was kind of annoyed because her father wasn't paying attention to what she had to say or how she felt about certain things.
She secretly had headphones on listening to her music.
That's her thing.
I was sitting on the bed and got a message from Korra.
"Let's meet somewhere and discuss this band thing.:
Everyone else got the same text.
We were at a diner.
"Korra, I'm not saying I'm against this band thing," said Opal, "But Rising Champion? I don't think we're experienced enough for this kind of thing."
"I know that," said Korra, "Which is why in order to help us gain experience, I also signed us up for the Halloween Bash."
"You what?" I asked.
"How did you manage to pull that off?!" Asked Kai.
"Well, its amazing what a principal would agree to if he thinks you're putting your energy into something…. productive," said Korra.
"Goofing off in a club doesn't exactly make a band," I said.
"I've performed in bands before and fortunately I've got enough talent for everybody," said Korra, "We can practice and find someone to write our music."
"I'm pretty good at that," said Kai.
"See?" Asked Korra, "He's on board."
"Sami can write our lyrics," said Kai.
"Me?" I asked.
"That one you did the other day was pretty good," said Bolin.
"There's still a flaw," said Opal, "Earthquake is playing the bash."
"And we're opening for them," said Korra as she high fived Kai.
"Are you sure about this?" I asked.
"I don't know about you, but I don't wanna be some random face in the yearbook that no one gives a damn about," said Korra, "We have a right to be heard."
"I'm in," I said.
"Me too," said Opal, "But I want to apologize in advance in case my bass playing sounds like crap."
"That's what practices are here for," said Korra.
People assume we were a natural fit from the start.
Not exactly.
No band is without struggles, but no struggles are too great.
Practice didn't exactly go as we planned.
"Not quite there," said Korra, "But Opal you're doing surprisingly well on the bass."
"Well it is the same as the upright," said Opal, "Its just lighter."
"Exactly," said Korra.
"It might be me," said Kai, "But I'm not sure the hardcore thing is working for this song."
"Hold on," said Bolin, "I kinda like it but…."
"Wait," said Korra, "Let's listen to what Kai wants to say."
"Ok," said Kai, "But I think I'll explain better through music."
He started playing the piano.
Bolin started to come in.
I went to the microphone.
Somebody
Asami: Can you see me?
'Cause I'm right here
Can you listen?
'Cause I've been trying to make you notice
What it would mean to me
To feel like somebody
We've been on our way to nowhere
Tryin' so hard to get there
And I say, oh
We're gonna let it show
We're gonna just let go of everything
Holding back our dreams
And try to make it come alive
Come on let it shine so they can see
We were meant to be
Somebody (somebody)
Somebody, yeah (somebody)
Somehow
Someday
Someway
Somebody
I'm so tired
Of being invisible
But I feel it, yeah
Like a fire below the surface
Trying to set me free
Burnin' inside of me
'Cause we're standing on the edge now
It's a long way down
But I say
Oh, we're gonna let it show
We're gonna just let go of everything
Holding back our dreams
And try to make it come alive
Come on let it shine so they can see
We were meant to be
Somebody (somebody)
Somebody, yeah (somebody)
Zhu Li was listening to us perform and was amazed at how good we sounded.
Somehow
Someday
Someway
Somebody
We will walk out of this darkness
Feel the spotlight glowing like a yellow sun
Oh oh oh oh oh
Korra and Asami: And when we fall we fall together
Till we get back up and we will rise as one, oh, oh ,oh
Korra: Oh, we're gonna let it show
We're gonna just let go of everything
Holding back our dreams
And try to make it come alive
Come on let it shine so they can see
We were meant to be
Somebody (somebody)
Somebody, yeah (somebody)
Somehow
Someday
Someway
Somebody
Somebody
Ooh ohh oh
We finished on a good note.
"Asami did you really write that?" Asked Korra.
"Yeah I did," I said, "Did you like it?"
"I loved it!" Korra said hugging me.
"Um…. Could you put me down?" I asked.
Later Bolin approached Opal.
"Say Opal, are you free tonight?" Asked Bolin.
"Yea I am," said Opal, "Why?"
"Well I'm seeing my brother perform and I was wondering if you'd like to tag along," said Bolin closing his eyes.
"Yeah why not," said Opal.
"I'm sorry d-did you just say yes?" Asked Opal.
"Yes I did," said Opal handing him a piece of paper with her address, "Meet me here at 6:30 alright?"
She walked away.
Korra gave him a high five.
"My man," Korra said.