Chapter 5: The Bash
(Disclaimer! I own nothing of Korra or Lemonade Mouth!)
I was watching TV and the doorbell rang.
I opened it to see Korra.
"Oh Korra hi," I said, "What's up?"
"Well, I figured I should come by and work on some new song ideas with you."
"Oh ok well come on in," I said letting her in.
My grandmother poured us some lemonade.
"So you're one of Korra's friends," she said.
"Well yeah I guess so," Korra said.
"She was just messing around about the friend thing," I said, "She's met a lot of my friends."
Korra opened up her laptop.
"Kai actually sent me this little rap," said Korra.
She sung it.
"I'm sure we can fit it somewhere in the song," she said.
"But what's with the title?" I asked, "Determinate?"
"I came up with it," Korra said, "Like put on your game face or get determined and all that."
A cat walked by.
"So cute," said Korra.
"It was my mom's before she died," I said, "Its the only thing I have left of her."
Korra got out her guitar.
"I think I have something that'll work with this," I said.
Korra played the chords and I started to sing.
Trying hard to fight these tears
I'm crazy worried
Messin' with my head this fear
I'm so sorry
Korra and Asami: You know you gotta get it out
I can't take it
That's what being friends is about
"Wow," Korra said, "Those are some crazy good lyrics."
"Thanks," I said blushing.
Meanwhile Principal Tenzin was going through some documents.
"Hmm, maybe I should give out some of the money to the music club," he said, "They do have good members, and it looks like Korra is on the start of something good."
"NONSENSE!" Shouted someone.
It was Vice Principal Raiko.
"Give out some of the money we worked for almost a decade to make for that gymnasium, just to give it to that music club?!" He asked, "With all due respect sir, I strongly disagree. This gymnasium is more important than funding for some silly little music club."
"Vice Principal Raiko," said Tenzin, "I…."
"Zhu Li can find a way to keep music alive, but I will not have her leeching off your money," said Raiko, "I will not allow it!"
"Vice Principal Raiko, I seriously doubt that…." Said Tenzin.
"I'm well aware of the ways of how we can earn more money for the school and keep it alive," said Vice Principal Raiko.
He looked at an old soda machine.
"However in order to make more money I think I have a solution," he said.
We were heading to the music room.
"This is it guys, our last rehearsal before the big gig!" Said Korra, "Can you believe it?"
"I can't believe the bash is tomorrow night," Opal said.
"Me either," said Kai, "Its gonna be awesome!"
I was a little nervous.
"Sami, you ok?" Asked Korra.
"I'm fine," I said lying.
"I think I know what we all need to calm us down," said Korra, "Mountain Dew!"
We went to the soda machine and saw a sign.
"Scheduled for removal."
Korra took it to the secretary's office.
"What the hell is this?!" Korra asked, "Why is our soda machine being removed from the basement?"
"There's a soda machine down there?" Asked the secretary.
"For now," Korra said, "And I'd like to know why in the name of fuck its being removed!"
"Um ma'am, pardon my friend," Kai said, "We were just wondering if it was gonna be repaired or replaced or if something's wrong."
"Well I'm sure its just a mixup," said the secretary.
"See?" Asked Kai.
"Looks like it was supposed to be removed years ago," said the secretary, "Looks like its just in time, cause it'll earn more money for the gymnasium."
"…Are you fucking kidding me?" Korra asked.
"Well I don't like your tone young lady," she said.
Korra and Kai left.
"I ain't giving that thing up without a fight," Korra said, "Its not just a machine its more than that!"
Raiko was walking by them.
"Enjoying the day kids?" He asked.
"Yes," said Korra holding back her anger.
Kai headed back home.
"Hey buddy you're home early," said his dad.
"Practice ended early," said Kai.
He noticed a lot of boxes around.
"What's all this?" He asked.
"Its my girlfriend's stuff," said his dad, "Well I can't really say girlfriend anymore….."
"Dad what's going on?" Kai asked.
"….Son I know this isn't gonna be easy for you and you miss your mom," said his dad, "But Amy makes me happy and….. we're getting married."
Hearing those words shattered Kai inside.
He walked out.
It was the day of the Bash.
Kuvira was taking a drink.
"It sure would suck if that band doesn't get to play," she said.
"They're just getting warmed up and everything," said Tenzin, "It'll be great for everyone."
Korra and the others were looking for me.
"Sami, where are you?" Asked Bolin, "We're on in 10 minutes!"
"In here," I said.
I was hiding in the bathroom.
I was very nervous.
"Nervous?" Asked Korra.
I nodded.
"Asami we rehearsed these songs a million times," said Korra, "You don't need to be scared!"
Kai handed her a mountain dew and she handed it to me.
I took it.
"I'm ready," I said.
We went up to the stage.
"Nice costumes!" Said Kuvira, "Oh wait you're not wearing any!"
"Knock it off," Mako said.
Kai started playing the piano.
I went up to the microphone.
Determinate:
Asami: Trying hard to fight these tears
I'm crazy worried
Messing with my head this fear
I'm so sorry
You know you gotta get it out
I can't take it
That's what being friends about
I, I want to cry
I can't deny
Tonight I wanna up and hide
And get inside
It isn't right
I gotta live in my life
I know I, I know I
I know I gotta do it
I know I, I know I
I know I gotta do it
Gotta turn the world into your dance floor
Determinate, determinate
Push until you can't and then demand more
Determinate, determinate
You and me together, we can make it better
Gotta turn the world into your dance floor
Determinate, determinate
People were starting to get into the groove of the song. Mako was smiling at us.
"They're pretty good," said Tenzin.
Zhu Li smiled knowing the work we were doing.
Asami: Hate to feel this way
And waste a day
I gotta get myself on stage
I shouldn't wait or be afraid
The chips will fall where they may
I know I, I know I
I know I gotta do it
I know I, I know I
I know I gotta do it
Gotta turn the world into your dance floor
Determinate, determinate
Push until you can't and then demand more
Determinate, determinate
You and me together, we can make it better
Gotta turn the world into your dance floor
Determinate, determinate
Kai took the microphone
Kai: It's Kai and I'm heaven-sent
Use it like a veteran
Renegade, lemonade, music is my medicine
Go ahead and try to name a band we ain't better than
Reason why the whole world's picking us instead of them
People need a breather cause they're feeling the adrenaline
Stop! Now hurry up and let us in, knock
'Cause we're coming to your house and
People keep on smiling with lemons in their mouth
I'm the real deal, you know how I feel
Why they in it for the mil I'm just in it for the thrill
Get down now I ain't playin' around put your feet up on the ground
And just make that sound like
There were girls cheering his name.
Asami: Gotta turn the world into your dance floor
Determinate, determinate
Push until you can't and then demand more
Determinate, determinate
You and me together, we can make it better
Gotta turn the world into your dance floor
Determinate, determinate
Come on and, come on and
Come on and get it going
Come on and, come on and
Come on and get it going
On the dance floor
On the dance floor
Dance floor
Determinate
We were greeted with a big round of applause.
"Looks like we got some competition," Mako said with a smile.
"They're not that good," said Kuvira.
"They're amazing," said a groupie.
"Shut up," said an Earthquake fan.
"And now a few words from our guitarist, Korra," I said.
Korra took the microphone.
"And now I'd like to talk about… soda!"
Kai and Bolin passed out bottles of mountain dew to the crowd.
"As you all may have heard, our soda machine from the basement is scheduled for removal," Korra said, "In order to help pay for some gymnasium."
Vice Principal Raiko was angered by this.
"Its like this school is treating others like they matter less than others, or like saying funding for a gym is more important than funding for a music program!"
People started to boo.
Raiko turned to Zhu Li and Varrick.
"Did you know about this?" He asked.
"More important than a newspaper or anyone of us!" Said Korra.
People cheered.
"We all deserve to be treated like we matter, "Because ladies and gentlemen, WE DO MATTER!"
Bolin counted down and we played our next song.
Here we Go (Be Heard)
Band: Be heard, be strong, be proud
Korra: I wanna make some noise
Band: Stand up, come on, be loud
Korra: We're gonna raise our voice
Band: Come on, come on, come on
Korra: You gotta hear me now
You gotta hear me now
You gotta hear me now
Hey now
We no longer wait around
My team stronger like weights now
Keeps on growing
Our muscle keeps on showing
Kai: We came here to make a change
We came here to rearrange
We came here cause we believe
We came here cause we achieve, yeah
Korra: While I've got the microphone
Make sure how I feel is known
All for one we got the zone
How I feel to each his own
Kai: All my people treat em right
We reserve the right to fight
For what we want, for what we need
To the front we shall proceed
Asami: Here we come and we're ready to
Go, go, go, go, go
Better run cause we don't take
No, no, no
Come on
Band: Be heard, be strong, be proud
Korra: I wanna make some noise
Band: Stand up, come on, be loud
Korra: We're gonna raise our voice
Band: Come on, come on, come on
Korra: You gotta hear me now
You gotta hear me now
You gotta hear me now
Everyone even Principal Tenzin was jamming to our music.
Asami: We're motivated (motivated)
We're aggravated (aggravated)
We're dedicated
So now you better play fair
Korra: Determination (and) willpower
(Oh come on) with consideration
We will devour
Bolin: We're on our own
But we are one
So on lend a shoulder we'll fight until
We see the sun
Korra: It's just a matter of time
Before you see our way
We fight with all our lives
We do this everyday
Asami: Here we come and we're ready to
Go, go, go, go, go
Better run cause we don't take
No, no, no
So come on
Crowd: Be heard, be strong, be proud
Korra: I wanna make some noise
Crowd: Stand up, come on, be loud
Korra: We're gonna raise our voice
Crowd: Come on, come on, come on
Korra: You gotta hear me now
You gotta hear me now
You gotta hear me now
Crowd: Be heard, be strong, be proud
Korra: I wanna make some noise
Crowd: Stand up, come on, be loud
Korra: We're gonna raise our voice
Crowd: Come on, come on, come on
Korra: You gotta hear me now
You gotta hear me now
You gotta hear me now
Yeah
I said we're tired of this
We're going to stand up
For what we believe in
We might be on our own
But we are one
Everybody ready
Come on
Let's go
Raiko tried to get us to stop.
"Korra stop this right now!" He said, "Kai what are you doing!?"
He stared at Opal.
"Opal I will call your father!" He shouted, "You all listen to me now!"
Korra took off her flannel and showed off her shirt.
Crowd: Be heard, be strong, be proud
Korra: I wanna make some noise
Crowd: Stand up, come on, be loud
Korra: We're gonna raise our voice
Crowd: Come on, come on, come on
Korra: You gotta hear me now
You gotta hear me now
You gotta hear me now
We were on the verge of a revolution. Nothing could stop us. Or….. so I thought.
Crowd: Be heard, be strong, be proud
Korra: I wanna make some noise
Crowd: Stand up, come on, be loud
Korra: We're gonna raise our voice
Crowd: Come on, come on, come on
Korra: You gotta hear me now
You gotta hear me now
You gotta hear me now
Raiko found the light switch and shut us down.
The crowd whined because the concert was shut down.