I don't own How to Rock in any shape or form. All rights go to Nickelodeon.
I want to show gratitude to my commentators and followers. It's truthfully an astonishing sensation to catch so much feedback. I was so inspired, and quickly got to work.
I hope I did not fail you all.
Rated T for a reason. You've been warned.
So, enjoy:
A bit of a filler but you know… they've gotta be written so…
How to Rock a Tomboy
Stevie can't control her feelings around Justin Cole. Her minor crush is altering to a swift passion. But when Zander notices Stevie's affection to Justin, he'll do everything it takes to keep her safe. But what if Justin is harming Stevie and asserting her against her morals? Will Stevie finally get a grasp of reality and stop living in denial? Or will she push Gravity 5 away to be with the one she's strictly adored?
Chapter 2: Secret message
It pained him to watch her. She was gaping at him yet again, imagining about his tall figure, gnawing on her lip when the unexpected hormones scattered through her build, smiling to herself when thinking of his speech.
Zander hated it.
He loathed exactly how abundant she treasured him. Despised the quantity of attention he remained receiving. He detested that Justin Cole was thieving Stevie, one of his utmost best friends, away from him and all he could prepare to do was to watch.
Zander huffed and dropped his pencil. He didn't recognize any of the chemistry questions mocking his failure. The test was a major effect to his grade, and deteriorating it would mean a fail for the semester. But for some strange reason, his mind couldn't focus on the equation he was supposed to recognize but couldn't, it was focused on Stevie Baskara.
How she'd snap at him when he said the incorrect thing at the mistaken time. Or how she'd talk gravely about the perfs' peppiness and just how abundant she loathed them.
Or about her eyes allaying up when the music instigates.
Or the way her hair is draped up on tremendously blistering days in their band room and she's too pooped to do anything but sleep.
About how her fingers plucked the dull strings on the bass.
About how her lips would mouth Kacey's lyrics because she's in her zone.
About how beautiful she looked.
How to Rock
The lunch table hadn't been duller. It appeared as if everybody was having a dreadful diurnal, even the perfs. The horrendous Friday couldn't finish slower, and was worse? Bobby had been bragging about his party all day, and all of the teenagers could anticipate was being Saturday night's immense gathering.
It was so sluggish and exhausting, that Nelson had yet to yap about how he unlocked the "sacred sapphire blade with sharp blade beaks" and Kevin hadn't complained about the lunch ladies solid macaroni shells, with the frigid cheese applied sloppily yet.
Stevie clutched her tray and sat beside Nelson. For her, it felt as if she had been dragging one hundred pound bricks knotted at her ankles and if not her the week, gradually getting leisurelier. She instantly hunched in her seat and rested her eyes closed for a moment, sensing her head fall towards Nelson's shoulder. He didn't mind much. He, along with the rest of Gravity 5, knew Stevie as being a physical person.
If it weren't her tilting her head on one's shoulder because she's weary, she's sensing grief and misery, or she's simply blissful, it's her resting her hand on one's limb for no physical reason. If it hadn't been dropping her legs over one's own because the coffee table was too sore on her swollen ankles, it was her arranging her head in one's lap for the cushion was whichever too lenient, or way to firm.
They didn't mind. It was one of the possessions they treasured about her, and accepted about.
Kevin lets out a sigh. His elbow currently props his head up, and it felt as if his whole body was relying on his elbow. His eyes, much like Stevie's, had begun to fall. In which he let out a groan and complained:
"Ugggghh," he growls. "Can't this day end already?"
Nelson, whose books had been scattered across the table, drops his pencil from extra studying before a major test the next period. "So… so tired," says Nelson. His eye twitches, and decently, he's too drained to flip his hair back and out of his eyes.
Stevie opens her eyes and leans off of Nelson, looking him in the eye. "Nelson… I think you should rest for a moment-" but she cuts herself short when Nelson's eyes drop and he slams his head against the cafeteria table. She fears if he was injured at first, but when she hears him snoring, she knows too well he's out of it.
"I just want to go home…" Kevin groans and whines. "You know, I have five classes with Bobby. And every single one of them he's been boasting about this party." He groans, "I wanna go so badly."
It's rather annoying, but Stevie's too drained and fatigued to snap a threat that his speech 'stretches her migraine, and she was about to split out his teeth if he didn't hush up.'
"So then-" Kacey halts her dialogue and peeks at Gravity 5. Stevie doesn't trouble herself to gaze behind her, because she caught Kacey gossip once she was down the hall, and Stevie was demanding to get a bit of shut eye at lunch. And she didn't need to turn about to distinguish Kacey had been communicating with Zander. One, had been she could scent his cologne a mile gone, and two, who else would Kacey Simon talk to besides them?
Stevie hears Kacey huff, and only assumes she'll try and cheer them up. She was right.
"… What are you doing?" she asks, sitting beside Kevin. Her tray lay in front of her. A bright indigo juice bottle was filled to the top, with firm macaroni noodles and bitter cheese, and with, what looked like, a bruised apple, all relaxed luckily on her plate.
Zander had an identical platter, with a pear in its place of an apple and off brand crackers. His ukulele case is in his grasp, and keeps it close by when he sits.
Kevin peers his eyes open for a moment to look at Kacey, "sleeping…" he says bluntly, and matter- of- factly.
She glares at him, her eyes narrowing. "I can see that, Kevin…" she sighs, "come one guys. Tomorrow's the day. The day when Nelson learns to grow some courage and ask Grace to dance. Or, when Kevin flirts with that hot girl in a purple tank top. Zander probably making out with Shelby Cotton, and Stevie gawking at Justin Cole." she says as if trying to persuade us to be thrilled and chipper. "And when I finally go out with Drew…" she looks off into the distance, deep in thought. No one moved. She huffs and raises a brow, "come on, you're telling me you aren't excited at all?"
Kevin sits up, half awake, half asleep. He yawns out, "Oh we're excited," he pauses, waiting up until his yawn momentarily passes by, concluding his speech, "Too excited…."
Kacey looks at Kevin, who grunts, and takes once glance at Nelson and turns to Stevie. "Then… why so miserable?"
Stevie rubs her eyes, cursing herself in her head that she messes up her eye makeup. Kacey shakes her head at Stevie's search for a mirror in her bag, indicating nothing was wrong with her makeup. Stevie finally sighs and answers with:
"Because these dorks just want the day to end already and go to Bobby's party." Stevie grabs her fork, and begins pushing the noodles to one side of her bowl. Then towards the other side, repeating this process.
Kacey sighs dramatically, making Stevie glare up at her with a half- hearted smirk, before glancing back down at her wasteful food. "Are you sure you don't want me do your makeup?" she asks, altering the topic too rapidly. "I could pick out your eyeshadow…"
Stevie says modestly, "Kacey I would rather stick my head in a beehive." Her sarcasm sneaking up and slapping Kacey in the face sluggishly.
Kacey sulks, "Stevie, you know what your problem is?" she asks, inquisitively.
Stevie, a bit insulted and affronted, releases her fork and scowls up, "yes, Kacie. I do," she says irritably. Her broadmindedness and tolerance is absent, she's drowsy, and all she wants is to go home and take a three hour bubble bath with her music blocking out her uncertainties.
Kacey, however, doesn't heed and dialogues anyway, "You're afraid of Justin liking you…"
Stevie blinks.
"Afraid?" she chuckles callously.
Kacey nods, "that's right. And you know, know that I think about it, you're afraid to let anybody like you." Kacey answers, a bit harsher.
"Me? You're judging me?" Stevie chuckles and chunks her fork down into her bowl, "you know, we've been nothing but nice to you. We accepted you as a band, and as friends. And what, you come by and start telling us how to live, trying to change ourselves to make you look good?"
"I'm just trying to help. You could have said something if you didn't want it." Kacey scowls.
Zander pipes up for the first time, "Guys, calm down. It's Friday, tomorrow we'll be refreshed and we can go to Bobby's party like friends," he explains.
Kevin sits up, "yeah let's not fight. Especially on a Friday," Kevin drops his shoulders from tensing up, and accidently bumping into Nelson, awakening him.
"What? What happened?" He asks, dazedly.
"Nothing, Nelson." Kevin clarifies. "Go back to sleep…"
"Mhmm," he stifles, trembling his eyes bolted while smashing his face back onto the desk, snoring a bit.
"Well he's out of it," Kevin declares.
Kacey beams, nodding. "You're right guys," she sighs, "Stevie I'm sorry."
Stevie blinks, reasons it over, and rolls her eyes. "Fine… I'm sorry too."
"That's the spirit," Zander speaks.
Stevie waits an instant before speaking, "And… I guess you could pick my shoes," Stevie instantly, however, qualms her verdict when Kacey squeals. "But only shoes…" she points at her vigilantly.
Kacey nods, "Swear!"
Stevie grins and rests her cranium back on her elbow, concentrating on the macaroni and mingling them together. Maybe this day hadn't turned out so miserable after all?
How to Rock
The band room's scorching. The heat wave bowled in, and is presently boiling the five members of Gravity 5.
Kacey left to grab a water bottle from the vending machine, complaining about the maintenance at the school on her way out.
Zander robbed a breather outdoors, and was presently seducing a flirt with a girl that observed nobody comparable Kacey or Stevie. She was Goth; her eyeliner sketched her dazzling hazel eyes, but couldn't mask her ugly personality.
Kevin had complained about his bladder issue, and went to release it immediately. Almost stumbling on his drum set on his way out.
Leaving Stevie and Nelson unaccompanied in the searing band room.
Stevie sat on the sofa. Her hair tied up in a messy bun, currently falling down slowly, one hair strand at a time, while tuning her bass. Her legs idly were rested on the coffee table, knocking a pair of novels, music sheets, one of Kevin's chip bags and one of Zander's mirrors.
Nelson sighs and sits alongside her, nonetheless not excessively adjacent to touch, "here."
Stevie glanced her gaze towards Nelson, and grabs a notebook from his fingertips. She furs her brows, "what's this?" she asks, flipping the page open. The notebook was waning sapphire, and had crumpled sheets inside.
"I found it in the lunchroom," she shrugs, flipping his hair. "I opened it and saw your name so…" he trails off, nodding towards the spiral in her hand.
Stevie reads the first line of the journal, her eyes wide. "Nelson… this isn't mine." She looks up at him, and soon realizes how close they really were. His shoulder had touched hers. He hadn't destined to be so nearby to her, it had just occurred that way and found himself scooting closer towards her when giving her the spiral.
"Huh?" He asks, looking down towards it. She guises left from his face and glares back down at it.
"Nelson, why would I call myself," she looks down closely .Her face inches from the paper, as if the handwriting hadn't been legible, yet it had been, "a 'beautiful, incredible, girl?'" she asks.
Nelson flickers and stares over Stevie's shoulder from the locating on the loveseat. "That's weird… Maybe it has a name, or something?"
Stevie nods, flipping the pages. "Right…" It must have…
But the single name that was cited was Stevie Baskara…
'Stevie Baskara is lovely. She just can't see it. Stevie Baskara is talented, she's just masked with insecurity. Stevie Baskera is the one for me; she just doesn't notice me with him around.'
Nelson elevations his brows at the writing, "looks like you got a secret admirer, Stevie." He nods, "first Justin now this, you're on a roll, my friend." He nudges her with his elbow in her rib cage flippantly, his smirk toothy and enormous. His spirited appearance comprising nothing but friskiness and liveliness, but she perceived over it and receipted it lightly.
Stevie flips the sheet and remains reading, mumbling a dejected, "Yeah…" beneath her inhalation that was scarcely perceptible. "Sure am."
'I love her.'
'She hates me.'
'She's perfect.'
'I'm so nervous around her.'
Stevie's mind is running. Justin…? It couldn't be his… Stevie closes the spiral and positions it in her carrier, consecutively running her palm over her hair humbly thinking.
"Wait, what are you doing?" Nelson asks.
She looks at him, "keeping it."
He blinks, "it's not yours."
"I don't know whose it is, Nelson. And by reading this, apparently they don't want me to know…" Stevie looks down at her fingers, they're unstable yet again.
"Stevie, you should talk to Kacey, or at least ask her. She's good at figuring out who likes who and frankly, the only guy I know that likes you is Justin…" he says bluntly
Stevie gives him a rigid scowl, "thanks Nelson," she says sarcastically.
"Well, we like you. Y-you're nonchalant… Yeah… b-but I'm not good with…" he clears his throat apprehensively, "seeing who likes… others?" He tries, as if asking her instead of telling him.
Stevie groans and thrusts herself off the couch, "Nelson, don't tell anyone about this. It's between you and me got it?" Stevie lurks, aiming at him intimidating,
Nelson stands, flipping his hair from his face, "swear."
She stretches him a sincere grin. He surely was a true friend. "Thank you…"
"Onnnnn one condition…" he peeps, as if vigilantly she'd say no and smash him upside his head.
Stevie sighs. "So close…" she murmurs, shaking her head. She puts her hands on her hips, irritably waiting on his circumstance, "alright what is it Nelson?" asks Stevie.
"You have to ask Grace to… to dance with me tomorrow…" he says timidly. And for a instant, Stevie finds it… charming.
Stevie frowns. Because Nelson's a unique dude, she can't fib. He's one of the most underrated individuals in Gravity 5, alongside Kevin. He's not that 'one kid who ran away from his own farts' or the 'kid who plays way too much video games.' He wasn't classified under being 'Gravity 5's weird genius keyboard entertainer with the extensive hair' or 'Kacey Simon's bizarre friend'. He was Nelson Baxter: a sci- fi loving, tech- savvy, socially awkward, gamer who just so happens to be in Gravity 5, play piano, and has geek friends that alliance with him.
"Nelson, I think she'll be more impressed if you did it…" Stevie says candidly, because even though Nelson can express deprive of apprehension or anxiety about the ladies when it comes to Gravity 5, when he actually voices to one, his language becomes knotted and his emotions starts pounding before his eyes.
He flushes, and Stevie regrets having the discussion. "I can't…"
She smiles at him despondently, a vision infrequent to Nelson, "sure I will…" she says.
He expressions up at her skeptically, "really?"
"Swear," she copies him, grinning. "Bye Nelson, I'll text you later." Stevie deliberately departures the gangs area, short of waiting on Kevin from his bathroom break, Kacey from her water needs, and Zander from his flirtatious actions.
After stuffing her bass prudently, Stevie headed to her car, just entering her hallway while Nelson's grin had been burned in the back of Stevie's head when she had almost cascades onto Zander.
His torso crashes against her own, and she's tumbling back slightly. Gradually misplacing her balance.
"Whoa, there," he places his hands on either side of her arms, equipped and read to clasp her if she would have toppled backwards. "Slow down flash," he gives her a toothy smirk and winks, "what's the rush?" He drops his hands, stabbing them in his back pocket hastily.
Stevie sighs, "just want to go home…" she says frankly, but not too gloomily. Just a 'eh, I'm okay' type of comeback once there's nothing ample to answer with, and you're all out of fresh options.
"No one's stoppin' you," he receipts a stage to his left, while Stevie walks past him. Nodding her thanks at him. She's just about outside when his voice stops her. "Wait Stevie," she shots to face him. "A-are you really going with… Justin. T-to the party, on Saterday."
His appearance expressed to Stevie he was envious. Since when did Stevie pre- judge? Is liking Justin Cole spiraling me into an compulsive, excessively concerned freak? Stevie fears. She sighs, because with the thoughts comparable to theses can pressure her out as it wasn't her. This wasn't Stevie Baskara.
But he was Zander, he's never been jealous in a day of his life. 'I wonder how that feels...' She thinks. But observing back over him, all she perceives is uneasiness. As if Justin was to offended her, or damage her in some way.
Stevie blinks at him.
"Yeah I guess so. Why?" she questions, truly fascinated.
He gives a visibly insincere, feeble grin, "no reason. I'll see you there."
She nods, still hesitant his bluff, "goodnight Zander."
"Goodnight Stevie."
I apologize for the lack of fluff. It has to build up to it, yeah?
(I apologize if I misspelled any names)
Special thanks to callmecourt for the exquisite review. It's justly gratifying to hear that from you, so I thank you. However I disagree. The talent on this archive alone is overwhelming, and if anyone has written or had helped write a story on here, you're genius and I bow to you!
To: Toolazytosignin, thank you, my first reviewer. I appreciate the criticism, and did look over it again. Ta ta, and thank you!
Catherine: Thank you so much! I will try to add a bit of Stevie and Zander fluff here and there, but it will possibly progress through the story. Thank you so much for the review.
To LunarEclipse22428: for succumbing my story on your favorite list, thank you so much, it's inspiring to know you read it, and like it. Here's the update. I'm sorry, updates might not be so rapid for I have testing all week, and am studying so hard right now. Thank you so much, again!
Zevieshipper: Thank you, anon! It's so inspiring to know you like it. Zevie will "kick in" sooner or later. Thank you for being so patient and thank you for the comment.
MakingItShine: you reviewed both my, How to Rock story, and my Victorious story, so I double thank you! (Thank you!) Thank you for the favorite, I hope I won't let you down with this. Giggles, Zevie's coming, and, OMG! *hides behind desk*
Some girl lazy to log in: Thank you! I'll update as fast as I can, thank you for reading it! And thank you for taking the time to review, it truly inspires me.
Pr3ttyjas: Thank you for following my story! I'm so appreciative for it!
You've got a friend in me: Thank you! I'm so glad to have your comment. You're Zevie stories are so cute, and I'm truly inspired. Thank you for adding my story on your favorites list, as well.
Wolfgangninja2: Thank you for adding my story to your favorite list. I'm so cheerful you're relishing it so far!
Lafalot22: Thank you! It's fun to write. And I will continue to write no matter what, you have my word. Thank you for adding my story on your favorites, as well!
SimplyOC- Anonymous: for adding my story on your favorites list, I thank you! It's wonderful to know you're reading and liking it!
XxMockingjay'sliveineveryoneXx: Thank you for following my story, and myself! EEPP! And for the review! I hope you love this one too?
Thank you to everyone who read it and reviewed!
Next chapter won't be up until later. Maybe later today, maybe tomorrow, or maybe next week. *shrugs* who knows? Most likely before Friday, I'm going to a Rangers game on Friday, Sectional leader tryout on Saturday, and my dad's house on Sunday… Testing all week… yea… fun…
Oh boy…