The Sing-Off
"Is everything ready, Andre?" Beck asked his friend. They were behind stage waiting for their turn to perform in the Sing-Off. Beck felt a little nervous. Singing was not his best side and he didn't like being average. He knew why he was nervous, but Andre was looking a bit worried too.
"Yeah, it's ready. It's not my first time you know." Andre responded in irritated tone he definitely looked fidgety.
"Then why are you looking displeased." Beck pressed on. Andre made a frustrated face before replying.
"It's because we are going on stage after Cat." He looked a bit embarrassed by the confession.
"So what?" Beck still didn't understand why this could be the source of Andre's frustration. After all, they loved Cat with all her eccentricities. Andre looked at his a bit pensive before replying.
"After Little Red has showed up her voice, you and Tori wouldn't sound as special as you should." He said cautiously, looking for the other's reaction.
"Oh, come on, Tori can take Cat on." Beck waved off the other's concerns with a smile. Andre fought off a smile, put his hand on the other's shoulder and with a serious expression said.
"Tori can, on a good day. You on the other hand…" he finished his sentence with a meaningful look.
"So now I can't sing eh." Beck replied in a mock affront. Well, mostly mock affront. He knew that he was not the greatest singer but it was still a bit hurtful for the ego when someone else confirms it.
"Not as good as them." Andre added trying to soften the blow a little.
"What do you propose?" Beck asked.
"We'll switch places with Cat." Andre replied simply. But Beck was not that easily satisfied.
"Will she agree?" Beck's skepticism was not unfounded. When it comes to her singing Cat could be a bit peculiar.
"She will when I tell her there is a pony in the yard." Andre said with a devilish grin.
"You are a bad, bad man Andre Harris." Beck shook his head with disappointment, but secretly amused.
"I am only when my music is at stake." His friend replied defensively. Andre felt that it wasn't his fault that the easiest way to get something from Cat was by manipulating her. He left Beck to prepare while he was looking for Cat. Soon after red velvet blur emitting exited squeals whooshed past him. Before he could whether or not to tell her the truth he was distracted by the arrival of Tori. She was already prepared to go on stage; her hair and makeup were done and she was wearing a simple but elegant dress appropriate for their love duet. She made a twirl for his admiring gaze, but before he could take her in his arms Andre showed up and motioned them to hurry.
"Am I late?" Tori asked checking her pear-phone for the time.
"No you are right on time, Tori. We'll be a bit earlier on stage." Andre explained.
"Yes, I saw Cat squealing something about ponies. Did you lie to her?" Tori looked at him curiously.
"I had to. Otherwise the effect of the song would have been diminished." Andre explained defensively. Tori looked at him and chuckled, shaking her finger.
"It might cost you. She still has that photo from the evening of the sleepover." She warned him. Andre blanched visibly but stood firm. Beck followed the exchange between the two friends with amusement.
"It's a risk I'll have to take." He said with a bit of a tremble in his voice. He should have destroyed that picture by now, but getting his hands on Cat's phone proved more difficult than he thought. That's what you get for spending an evening with Cat and Tori without male back up. The previous number finished and they received a signal to get ready.
"Okay, it's time." The trio headed to the stage and got to their places behind the curtain. Beck felt his palms getting sweaty and his heartbeat quickening. It was strange for him to have a stage fright. When he was in a play or even a musical he never had a problem, but every time he had to sing he got nervous. The curtain lifted and he and Tori faced the audience. He saw Andre's grandma cowering behind one of the seats glancing in every direction. He saw his and Tori's mother sitting away from one another on the first row. So imagining the audience naked was out of the question. Andre began playing the first notes of the song and Beck turned to face Tori. She smiled reassuringly to him. The anxiety melted away, the audience faded, even the melody got quieter. There were only him and Tori. She was singing to him and he was singing to her. They were the only people in the world at the moment. He could see the feelings of the characters in the song reflected in her eyes and he was sure she could do the same. Even though Andre had written the song for another girl, he could recognize the feelings in it as his own. Every time when Tori walked in the room he couldn't help but smile. Every time he hugged her he didn't want to ever let her go. Every time he kissed her he didn't want to ever stop. He knew that such sappy feelings were not befitting a cool unflappable guy like him but he couldn't help it. And he didn't care; he loved the way she made him feel. Finally the song ended and he was taken out of his reverie by the deafening sound of the applause. He took a deep breath, took Tori's hand into his and turned to face the cheering audience. Many were on their feet. That was one of the main things a performer lived for, the audience's approval. It felt exhilarating.
Then he saw some movement near the exit. It was Jade. She quickly wiped away a tear, got up and left the auditorium. For a moment he felt bad, but that feeling was swept away by the excitement of the moment and the joy of the people around him. On their way off the stage they saw Cat. She had returned in time to see most of the song and didn't seem upset by Andre's trick. His secret was safe for now.