Hey guys, quick update here. There are about 4 songs in this chapter and I'm sorry if it's boring. Two of the songs are by R5 and the other two are by 5SOS. Enjoy.
Stuck In My Head: Atlas Hands by Benjamin Francis Leftwich
Review Replies:
Death-Seeker07: I now declare us best friends :D
Guest (the one who said they died after reading chapter 11): *Revives you so you could read the rest of the story*
Major Disclaimer: I don't own any of the PJO characters and I DO NOT own any of the songs used in the story.
Chapter 12: Battle Of The Bands
Percy's POV:
Apollo lied.
There weren't a lot of bands like he said there'd be. There were only about 6 bands, including us. We all stood in line, which wasn't as long as I thought it would be, to sign into the competition. I kept staring at the stage and the crowd. There were a lot of people here. More than the people that went to our gigs. I saw some of our gig fans here and some kids from our school. I shifted my weight from foot to foot. "That's a huge crowd…" I murmured to myself. Annabeth rubbed my back soothingly. "Don't worry. You got this. You've performed in front of people before." She comforted.
I sighed. "As much as I appreciate the motivation, babe, I've never performed in front of this many people." I turned away from the crowd and to Annabeth. "I mean what if I mess up and completely embarrass myself in front of everyone." She rubbed my cheek. "You always say that and you never mess up. Plus you guys have been practicing all week. There's no way you'll mess up." I raised my guitar case and pointed to it.
"I just learned how to use this right and there's bound to be a mess up." She sighed and lowered down the case for me. She put her hands on my shoulders. "Percy. Listen to me when I tell you that you guys are going to do just fine. Actually, you guys are going to do great. I've heard you guys practicing and you all sound amazing." I grinned gratefully at her.
"Thanks." She smiled and gave me a quick kiss.
After we signed in, we headed backstage. There may not have been a lot of bands but boy did they all look a lot better than us. Annabeth squeezed my hand reassuringly when one band glared at us. We took our spot on the far end of the back. Nico, Leo, and I put down our guitar cases. Beck just sat down and twirled his drumsticks in his fingers. They already had a drum set for the drummers because they felt the need to be nice and not make any bands frustrated about hauling in the drum kit one by one.
Annabeth sat next to me. She whispered encouragements in my ear as I took my guitar out of its case. In the corner of my eye, I could notice someone was walking over to us but I was too busy with my guitar to see who it was. "Hi guys, nice to see you again." I saw Nico stiffen. "Hey, Mr. Brighton." Leo and Beck greeted. I finished up with my guitar and glanced up at Apollo. "Hey, Apollo. I thought you said there were going to be a lot of bands here." He looked around. "There are. Well, there's more this year than last year." He grinned at Annabeth. "And who might you be?"
"She's Percy's Girlfriend." Nico said defensively. Apollo sucked his teeth. "Okay… Well see you on the stage. Good luck." He saluted and walked away. "Nico." I scolded him. "I told you to hold back on him." Nico scoffed. "Dude, he was making a move on your girl. All I did was help you." I dismissed him and continued getting ready. "Percy, I'm going to go get some water. You want anything?" I shook my head. "No I'm good. Thanks for asking." She nodded and got up. "You guys want anything?"
"We're good." They all said. She nodded again and said, "Okay, I'll be back." She walked off.
…
"Uh, Perce? Where's Annabeth? She left about 10 minutes ago and the competition's about to start." Leo asked. I looked up from my guitar and glanced around. She wasn't anywhere in sight. I raised an eyebrow. "I… don't know." I decided to go look for her. Just as I turned the corner, I saw Annabeth. But she wasn't alone. "Uh, look I, um, have a boyfriend so can you, uh, get away from me." She stuttered out as a guy from the band that was glaring at us when we came in kept hitting on her.
"Come on. He doesn't have to know. You know what they say, 'What they don't know, won't hurt them'." She tried to pass by him with a water bottle in her hand but he didn't let her pass. He had her pushed up against the wall. "Hey!" I pushed the guy off her but only enough to make him stumbled away. "What the hell are you doing? She said to get away from her!" I pulled Annabeth towards me. He rubbed his jaw. "And who are you?"
"I'm her boyfriend." He chuckled lowly. "Not for long." He whispered to himself. I stepped forward. "What was that?" I asked angrily. Annabeth pulled on my arm. "Percy, he's not worth it. Let's just head back. The competition is about to start." She whispered in my ear. I backed away whilst giving him a glare. "Don't ever come near her again, you hear me?" I threatened. We walked back to our spot. "Hey, where were you two? Did you decided to take a detour or something?" Leo wiggled his eyebrows. I tried my best to stay in a good mood so it didn't ruin our performance. I smirked. "Maybe." I said. Leo wolf-whistled while Beck laughed. Nico was his phone, face-timing Thalia, who was still in the Bahamas.
I sat down in my original spot and Annabeth sat next to me. "He didn't do anything to you, did he?" She shook her head. "Gods no." I kissed her cheek. "Good."
The crowd cheered as Apollo stepped onto stage. His voice rang around the whole backstage. "Hello everyone! Thank you all for coming! Today, we have bands from all around the city performing against each other for 10,000 dollars!" The crowd cheered again. "Now, here's how this competition works. There are only two rounds since we don't have many bands but it is still plenty of fun to watch. The first round are covers. The band has to cover a song basically. Then second round, they have to perform a song they wrote on their own." Apollo went on about random stuff before he actually called on the first band. We were going on last.
Some of the bands were pretty good. Apollo announced the band before us. Unfortunately, that was the band with that guy who hit on Annabeth. "Here is… Supernatural Drift!"
What the hell is a 'supernatural drift'?
The band got up from their spot and ran onto stage, except for that guy. He turned to us before he left. "You know, originally I was going to dedicate this song to my, now, ex-girlfriend but since she's not with me anymore, I have to dedicate it to someone else."
"Trevor, come on man!" One of his band mates called him. He glanced at his friend before looking back at us, well back at Annabeth. He nodded towards her. "This is for you." He backed away and went onto stage before I could say anything. "Who was that?" Nico grumbled. "Some guy who keeps hitting on me." Annabeth answered. We all got up and went to see them perform. The crowd started yelling and girls started screaming as they started to play.
(Let's Not Be Alone by R5)
Outside of the party where it's gettin too loud
It feels like we're the only ones alone in the crowd
Chat college and politics in time that we spend
You look back and you say you think you lost all your friends
And I'm hoping that it's all my fault
Yea, I'm hoping that it's all my fault
Hey, let's not be alone tonight!
Hey, let's not be alone tonight!
(You don't have to be alone)
No it don't, no it don't mean love
But it might, but it might be love
Hey, let's not be alone tonight!
(You don't have be alone)
Not wrong if you come on strong, cuz life is too short
I like how we get along like snow and New York
Everyone cheered louder when he mentioned New York.
All good if you change your mind, you know where I stand
Look back and I say to you I lost all my friends
And I know you know it's all your fault
Yeah, I know you know it's all your fault
Hey, let's not be alone tonight!
Hey, let's not be alone tonight!
(You don't have to be alone)
No it don't, no it don't mean love
But it might, but it might be love
Hey, let's not be alone tonight!
(You don't have to be alone)
The music got lower and softer for a second. Trevor turned to us and sang to Annabeth from where he stood.
And I know it's gotta be my fault
Yea, I know it's gotta be my fault
La la la la la
La la la la la
Yeah
La la la la la
La la la la la
Yeah
(La la la la la
La la la la la)
Trevor put his hand on his chest as he sang louder to Annabeth.
And we might never feel the same
I'm just glad that you came
Am I right or is it all in my head?
Like
He turned back to the audience.
Hey, let's not be alone tonight!
(You don't have to be alone)
Hey, let's not be alone tonight!
(You don't have to be alone)
Hey, no it don't, no it don't mean love
But it might, but it might be love
Hey, let's not be alone tonight!
(You don't have to be alone)
Hey, you don't have to be alone tonight
Hey, you don't have to be alone tonight
Not it don't, no it don't mean love
But it might, but it might be love
Hey, let's not be alone tonight!
The crowd clapped and applauded loudly. "Yeah!" Trevor yelled as they came backstage. He smirked at Annabeth in which I glared at him. Apollo introduced us as we gathered up our guitars. Annabeth whispered her last words of encouragement into my ear before we left. "And here are… The Demigods!"
We began to walk onto stage.
"Hey, guys!" Annabeth called over the crowd. We all looked at her. She smirked.
"Kick some ass for me."
I winked and walked up to the mic. I looked for my mom and the girls in the crowd. I found them in the back. Rachel, Calypso, and Silena stood on top of a picnic table and my mom stood next to them on the ground. I waved at them. They waved back at me. Everyone quieted down and waited for us to begin.
Beck and I started the song.
(American Idiot covered by 5 Seconds Of Summer)
(P) = Percy (B) = Beck (N) = Nico (L) = Leo (A) = All
(N) Don't wanna be an American idiot
Everyone went crazy when they recognized the song.
Don't want a nation under the new mania
And can you hear the sound of hysteria?
The subliminal mind f- America
(P) Welcome to a new kind of tension
All across the alienation
Where everything isn't meant to be okay
Television dreams of tomorrow
We're not the ones who're meant to follow
For that's enough to argue
People started dancing a bit.
(N) Well, maybe I'm the f- America
I'm not a part of a redneck agenda
Now everybody do the propaganda
And sing along to the age of paranoia
(B) You lookin' at me?!
(L) Welcome to a new kind of tension
All across the alienation
Where everything isn't meant to be okay
Television dreams of tomorrow
We're not the ones who're meant to follow
For that's enough to argue
We had a long instrumental break. We had mini solos. First it was Nico's solo. Then Becks.
(B) Perce!
Then me. I had practiced plenty of times and I was getting the hang of it. I was half way done with the solo when I realized I didn't have to worry about messing up. I had this in the bag. I gave Annabeth a big grin, silently telling her that I got the hang of it. She laughed in excitement and clapped her hands together. Leo joined me later on in the solo.
(A) Don't want to be an American Idiot
One nation controlled by the media
Information age of hysteria
(L) It's calling out to idiot America
(N & P) Welcome to the new kind of tension
All across the alienation
Where everything isn't meant to be okay
(B) I'm not f- okay!
(N & P) Television dreams of tomorrow
We're not the ones who're meant to follow
For that's enough to argue
(N) C'mon
We finished up the song and the crowd erupted in loud cheers, ten times louder than the ones for Supernatural Drift. I looked over at the judges. Two of the judges grinned and nodded at us before writing something down onto their clipboards. Apollo was clapping for us. I waved at him a little and walked off the stage with the rest of the guys. Good thing the other bands were good sports.
"Wow that was great!"
"Awesome!"
"You were fantastic!"
Annabeth ran up to me and gave me a big hug. "I'm so proud of you! You guys were amazing!" I hugged her back although I was sweaty.
We rested up for a while, waiting for the results on round two. Supernatural Drift was glaring at us while we waited but I didn't care. I was too happy. Annabeth hugged my arm and rested her head on my arm. Trevor played with his fingers and pursed his lips while looking over at us two. I tried my best to ignore him but that was hard to do when he was staring at me. "You watched it? Where?"
"Rachel was recording it on her phone and she sent it to me. You guys were really good." Nico smiled at his phone. He must've been face timing Thalia again. "I heard only two bands make it into round two." Leo's voice overlapped Nico's. "I think we'll get in." Beck said positively.
"And here we are with our results!" Apollo yelled over the loud audience. Everyone quieted down and we all, including the other bands, got up to see who made it in. Apollo was agonizingly slow when he open the golden envelope. He held the mic with one hand and the results with the other. He glanced at the envelope and then back to the waiting audience.
"After a unanimous vote, the first ones into the second and last round is… The Demigods!"
He called us over. We ran onto stage. "Woohoo!" We all yelled. Annabeth cheered louder than everyone else. My mom was now standing on top of the table with the other girls and they were clapping very loudly. We stood on one side of Apollo and settled down to hear the second band.
"And the second band to make it was… Supernatural Drift!" They all came onto stage and didn't cheer at all. They didn't even look happy. I guess they didn't want to come in second. Apollo clapped my back then Trevor's and said, "Congratulations you guys! You can head back now to get ready for your next performance." We went back. Supernatural Drift stayed quiet the whole time. I picked Annabeth up and twirled her around. After we had a little celebration, we waited yet again.
They gave us 10 minutes to prepare for the song. We went over the lyrics and who be singing what. Annabeth stayed close to me as we continued to prepare. Apollo came onto stage and began to introduce Supernatural Drift. They looked prepared for performing but the truth was, they weren't. They didn't practice throughout the whole 10 minutes. All they did was talk whilst we actually got ready. But who knows? Maybe they'll still do well.
Everyone got into their positions and the rest of us went to see them perform.
(Heart Made Up On You by R5)
Got my heart made up on you
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
You said what you said
When words are knives it's hard not to forget
But something in my head wouldn't reset
Can't give up on us yet
No whoa (No whoa)
Your love was so real
It pulled me in just like a magnetic field
I'd let you go but something's taking the wheel
Yeah, it's taking the wheel
Oh oh
My mind says no you're no good for me
You're no good
But my heart's made up on you
My body can't take what you give to me
What you give
Got my heart made up on you
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Got my heart made up on you
I should be making a break
Up all night thinking I'm planning my escape
But this insomnia ain't goin' away
And now I'm back at your place
Oh no
My mind says no you're no good for me
You're no good
But my heart's made up on you
My body can't take what you give to me
What you give
Got my heart made up on you
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Got my heart made up on you.
Trevor took his mic off the stand and came close to where we were standing. Of course, he was singing to Annabeth.
Look what you did
What you did
What you're doing to me
You got me searching for words like a silent movie
I can't breathe
I can't see
It's so out of control
But baby honestly my hands are up I'm letting go
(Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go)
Got my heart made up on you
He went back.
My mind says no you're no good for me
You're no good
But my heart's made up on you
My body can't take what you give to me
What you give
Got my heart made up on you
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
(My mind, says no)
Got my heart made up on you
Up on you
Up on you
(Yeah)
There wasn't as much applause for them like the first time but it was still loud. They walked off stage without a word. Apollo clapped his hands as he jogged onto stage. "Alright! Give it up one more time for Supernatural Drift everybody!" He waited for the crowd to quiet down before he started to introduce us. Annabeth kissed my cheek. "You got this, okay?" She nudged her nose into my neck. I smiled and got ready to run on stage.
"The Demigods!" We ran onto stage and got ready. I'd say we got this in the bag but I don't want jinx us. I started off the song with my guitar.
(She Looks So Perfect by 5 Seconds Of Summer)
(P) = Percy (N) = Nico (L) = Leo (B) = Beck (A) = All
(A) Hey, hey
Hey, hey
Hey, hey
Hey, hey
Hey, hey
Hey, hey
Hey, hey
Hey, hey
(P) Simmer down, simmer down
They say we're too young now to amount
To anything else
But look around
We work too damn hard for this just to
Give it up now
If you don't swim, you'll drown
But don't move, honey
(A) You look so perfect standing there
In my American Apparel underwear
And I know now, that I'm so down
Your lipstick stain is a work of art
I got your name tattooed in an arrow heart
And I know now, that I'm so down (Hey!)
Hey, hey
Hey, hey
Hey, hey
Hey, hey
(L) Let's get out, let's get out
'Cause this deadbeat town's only here to keep us down
While I was out, I found myself alone just thinking
(P & L) If I showed up with a plane ticket
And a shiny diamond ring with your name on it
Would you wanna run away too?
'Cause all I really want is you
(A) You look so perfect standing there
In my American Apparel underwear
And I know now, that I'm so down
I made a mixtape straight out of '94
I've got your ripped skinny jeans lying on the floor
And I know now, that I'm so down
Hey, hey
Hey, hey
Hey, hey
Hey, hey
Hey, hey
(N) You look so perfect standing there
In my American Apparel underwear
And I know now, that I'm so down
(P) Your lipstick stain is a work of art
I got your name tattooed in an arrow heart
And I know now, that I'm so down (Hey!)
(A) Hey, hey
Hey, hey
Hey, hey
Hey, hey
You look so perfect standing there
In my American Apparel underwear
And I know now, that I'm so down (Hey)
Your lipstick stain is a work of art (Hey, hey)
I got your name tattooed in an arrow heart (Hey, hey)
And I know now, that I'm so down (Hey, hey)
I breathed heavily as we finished the song. The crowd was going crazy with excitement and I'm pretty sure one of my eardrums burst. All in all, it was extremely loud.
…
"I'm so proud of you all. You guys were wonderful. I don't like that you said the word 'Damn' but-"
"Mom!" I complained. She chuckled and waved her hand. "Oh, I'm only kidding."
I dipped my French fry into my ketchup and popped it into my mouth. Everyone admired our 1st place trophy from afar. I can't say I'm not guilty about beating Supernatural Drift because I was. Although Trevor caused Annabeth and I problems, he was only human. Plus after the competition, he apologized for everything and congratulated us so I guess he wasn't completely a bad guy. Annabeth grabbed a French fry and chatted away with Rachel. They had become friends which is something I had found weird but I was glad I didn't have to worry about them clawing each other's eyes out at any moment.
After dinner, we all went to the fireworks show at the park for New Year's. I know they had it at midnight but they are replaying the show before the day ends for anyone who missed it.
I laid out a red flannel blanket that my mom had brought and laid it onto the grass. Annabeth and I laid down on top of it. She laid onto her side and rest her head on my bicep. I wrapped my left arm around her shoulders, which is the side she was laying down on, and she put her arm around my torso. I stared up at the sky, waiting for the fireworks to start.
"You know, you're basically rich…" Annabeth started off. "Yeah?" I glanced down at her. "And now people are going to think I'm a gold digger or something…" I laughed but then I realized she wasn't joking. I cleared my throat awkwardly to cover up the laugh. "Oh… um they aren't going to do that…" I kinda figured they probably would. "They know we love each other. No one's going to do that. And if they try to, I won't let them." I reassured.
She let out a little sigh and cuddled with me. The countdown for the fireworks started. Everything seemed to go mega slow. Annabeth looked up at me, her eyes shining in the moonlight. People in the background jumped for joy and counted down from 10. "10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1!" Ear-splitting whistles were heard as the firework flew into the sky, it detonated and brilliant colors expanded throughout the sky. Everyone yelled out "Happy New Year!" And laughed in excitement while they looked at the fireworks. I wasn't looking at the fireworks though. I was looking at something far much better than colorful sparks in the sky. Something so beautiful. Something so eye catching. Something… one of a kind. What was I looking at, you may ask? Well, if you must know.
I was looking at Annabeth.
:/ Sorry if it sucks but I had to get this chapter out of the way before the real drama starts. That's right… It's cliffhanging time.
Turns out there will be 21 chapters in this story so we're about 8 chapters left. *Frowns* I'm going to miss this story but you know what, I'll be making other stories that will be as equally great… I hope.
Anyway, bye!
R&R
