"I'm Dez!" Dez exclaims.
"And I'm Trish!"
"And we're gonna reenact a scene from...!" Dez starts.
"... one of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies!" Trish finishes.
That may be one of the scariest things I've ever seen in my entire life. Dez and Trish each brandish the unsheathe their plastic swords and pretend to fight with each other for about five minutes. About halfway through, I start laughing. It isn't long after that Dez and Trish also start laughing. They keep fighting, but it's less intimidating with smiles on their faces.
When they finally finish, they actually have to crawl off the stage. They'd fallen to the ground, clutching their stomachs with laughter. They were laughing too hard to even stand up. I don't think anyone else understood the humor, besides the three of us. Maybe even Austin, if he's watching from backstage.
Ashley announces two more performers before it's finally Austin's turn. "And now we have Austin Moon performing two self-written songs with Zack Smith, Steve Johnson, and Alexandria Cook!"
Alex quickly runs out and says into the microphone, "It's Alex! Alex, not Alexandria. Never call me Alexandria or you die." Ashley looks afraid. "You get a warning this time," Alex says to her and she goes to sit down at the drums that were just wheeled out. Steve and Zack walk out as well, Zack carrying a keyboard and a keyboard stand and Steve carrying a bass guitar. Austin walks out last, carrying a red electric guitar.
Wait, I thought Austin was the only one whose name was written on the sign-up sheet. He must've asked if he could add a few more people.
Wait another minute, did Ashley just say two self-written songs? I only wrote him one though! She must've gotten it wrong on accident. Yeah, that must be it.
Austin walks up to the microphone, his guitar on his back for now. "Um, before we start, I have a confession to make. I didn't write this first song." First song. That means there is, in fact, two songs. But who wrote the second? "My amazing fiancée," he says with ease, "Ally Dawson, wrote it. The second song, though... I did write. And I wrote it for her. Because... well, because I love her." My breath catches in my throat and I think I'm going to be sick. Austin's eyes scan the auditorium and finally rest on mine. "This first song is called Back to Life." I feel myself trembling as Austin starts the first song.
There's a drum line in my heart beat
I know exactly what it's from...
They're turnin' off the street lamps
They say the day is almost done
There's a ringing in my ears now
I remember how it was...
The feeling we had last night
And it won't stop now because...
Everybody says, "Hey,
No!
We don't wanna see this day
Go!"
If I ever had my say so...
We could make this go all night
Night
Night
'Cause if the party is dead...
We can bring it back to life!
Yeah, we can make it through the night
If you listen to the words that I say
'Cause if the party is dead...
All we need is candlelight...
And a little bit of dynamite!
Everybody will get out of our way
I got a song stuck in my head...
I know exactly why it's there
There's a noise outside my bedroom...
And I don't even care
If I ever said, "Go...
Home!"
Everybody here would say, "Heck...
No!"
All we gotta do is just let...
Go
We can make it through the night...
'Cause if the party is dead...
We can bring it back to life!
Yeah, we can make it through the night
If you listen to the words that I say...
'Cause if the party is dead...
All we need is candlelight...
And a little bit of dynamite!
Everybody will get out of our way!
We can bring it back to life!
Yeah, we can bring it back to life!
'Cause I'm never gonna get these drums outta my head
And I'm never gonna get some sleep inside of my bed
And I'm sorry if "Goodnight" is something I've ever said
Said
Said
Said...
'Cause if the party is dead...
We can bring it back to life!
Yeah, we can make it through the night
If you listen to the words that I say...
'Cause if the party is dead...
All we need is candlelight...
And a little bit of dynamite...
Everybody will get out of our way!
We can bring it back to life!
Yeah, we can bring it back to life!
The song ends and Austin speaks again. "This next song is called Love Like Woe." Austin takes a deep breath as they start this next song. Then he finds me again, smiles slightly, and starts singing.
I'm thinkin', baby, you and I are...
Undeniable
But I'm findin' our love's...
Unreliable
I'm givin' all the goods to make you stay
Or am I just a roadblock in your way?
'Cause you're a pretty little windstorm...
O-On the boulevard
Something like a sunset
Oh, you're a shooting star
And I might drive myself insane
If those lips aren't speakin' my name!
'Cause I got some intuition
Or maybe I'm superstitious
But I think you're a pretty sweet pill that I'm swallowin' down
To counter this addiction
You got me on a mission
Tell me, darling, can I get a break somehow...
Could I...
Say no?
She's got a love like woe
Whoa, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Whoa, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh
I kinda feel like it don't make sense
Because you're bringin' me in
And now you're kickin' me out again
Love so strong...
And you've moved on
Now I'm hung up in suspense...
Because you're bringin' me in
And now you're kickin' me out again
It's like a hurricane
Speed train
She's a moving car
Catch her in the fast lane
Oh, I gotta know
Can I keep up with her pace?
Kick it into gear when I see that face
You can take up all my time 'cause
You're the only one
That can make a storm cloud break
Pullin' up the sun
Can I get caught in your rays?
Can I get your lips to speak my name?
'Cause I got some intuition
Or maybe I'm superstitious
But I think you're a pretty sweet pill that I'm swallowin' down
To counter this addiction
You got me on a mission
Tell me, darling, can I get a break somehow...
Could I...
Say no?
She's got a love like woe
Girl's got a love like woe
Whoa, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Whoa, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh
I kinda feel like it don't make sense
'Cause you're bringin' me in
And now you're kickin' me out again
Love so strong
And you've moved on
Now I'm hung up in suspense
'Cause you're bringin' me in
And now you're kickin' me out again
Because we...
Only have one life...
The timing and the moment...
All seem so right
So would you say you're...
Mine?
We'll be just fine...
Would you say you're...
Mine?
We'll be just fine!
She's got a love like woe
Girl's got a love like woe
Whoa, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Whoa, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh
I kinda feel like it don't make sense
'Cause you're bringin' me in
And now you're kickin' me out again
Love so strong
And you've moved on
Now I'm hung up in suspense
'Cause you're bringin' me in
And now you're kickin' me out again
She's got a love like woe
Girl's got a love like woe
Whoa, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Whoa, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh
I kinda feel like it don't make sense
'Cause you're bringin' me in
And now you're kickin' me out again
Love so strong
And you've moved on
Now I'm hung up in suspense
'Cause you're bringin' me in
And now you're kickin' me out again
Austin's POV: (You're OMGing right now, aren't you? i see u.)
I look for Ally's face for confirmation on whether or not it was good but I don't see her. She must've run off about halfway through the song. I knew I shouldn't have sung it. Or even wrote it in the first place! I probably confused the hell out of her. First, I tell her it isn't real. Then I tell her I love her and that I wrote a song about how she sends me mixed signals as well. But I could've sworn she said, "I love you," after I got out of the car yesterday. Before she got out to call her mom. I guess I was just hearing what I wanted to.
I sigh and turn around as the whole auditorium applauds. "You guys were awesome!" I say to Alex, Steve, and Zack, trying to sound enthusiastic. "I have to go now, but I'll see you later!"
I run offstage and down the stairs into the hallway. There are a few people out here who left the talent show early, getting books from their locker and walking outside. The talent show ran a lot longer than we thought it would and the school day is almost over. Ashley told us that the bell would ring soon after the talent show was over and that we wouldn't even get to go to our last period class.
"Hey, Austin, you were great!" A couple of people in the hallway said that as I walked by them. I smiled and nodded, but didn't say anything. I just want to go home. Oh, wait, can I even go home? Ally probably went ahead without me. I don't have a car here to drive either. I'll just call my mom.
I grab my books out of my locker quickly and go ahead to the parking lot. Hold on. There's Lester's truck, the one Ally drove to school this morning. Our parents all car-pooled to work in my dad's car. That means Ally's still here. Confused, I turn around and walk back inside. After walking down two hallways that she isn't on (and even checking her last period class), I walk back down the hall that leads to the auditorium. As I walk past a supply closet, the door opens and someone grabs me, pulling me inside and closing the door.
Lips are on mine moments later. My eyes are open for only a few seconds before I close them and kiss the girl back. Kiss Ally back. She tangles her fingers in my hair and pulls my head down harder on hers. I drop my books as I wrap my arms around her waist, turning whatever space was left between us to nothing. Ally jumps up and puts her legs around my waist. I stumble back against the wall and I feel Ally smile against my lips.
My heart skips a beat. I can barely breathe. Ally breathes in, taking my breath away. She moans a little and I know the cinnamon is intoxicating her. She breathes out, pushing air down my wind pipe and into my lungs. I taste/smell strawberries and it's my turn to moan. And I realize: It's Ally's scent.
Ever since I met Ally, I've had this strange addiction to strawberries. The smell, the taste. I could never get enough. Every time I was near Ally, I smelt the strawberries and I'd pretty much kill myself, if it was what Ally desired. Because her strawberry fragrance would cloud up my brain. Thankfully, Ally would get drunk on my scent first so she'd never make me do anything. And plus, she didn't figure it out like I did.
But now I understand. My cinnamon smell gets Ally high. Ally's strawberry smell gets me high. We're one and the same. Ally's been addicted since we first met too. I remember, that morning before my family and I went to her house, I ate a three-foot stack of cinnamon-flavored pancakes.
Ally pulls away from me and catches her breath. I remember her saying once about how you can't breathe the same air for a long time or you'll die. She said that, when you breathe, you take the oxygen (or the carbon dioxide, something like that) out of the air and breathe out whatever's left. So, if you breathe in the same air, you're really just breathing in that left-over stuff and your body isn't getting what it really needs out of the air.
And here I was, thinking we'd never actually use science in real life.
Well, I'm not using science, but it helped to know that fact.
As Ally catches her breath, I kiss her neck. I'm an athlete so it's easier for me to keep my heart rate under control... Well, I can't necessarily keep my heart rate under control around Ally, but I can manage to keep my breathing steady.
"Austin," Ally says into my ear, making me shiver a bit. She keeps her fingers in my hair and leans her head back a little.
"Hm?" I say against her neck, still breathing in her strawberries.
"Your song. It was amazing," she says. "Did you really write it?"
I smile and continue to kiss her neck. It isn't every day you hear a professional songwriter tell you that a song you wrote is amazing. "Mhm," I tell her, not wanting to seem overly excited.
"Austin, stop," she says suddenly, seriously. I pull away from her and look her in the eye. "Are you sure it's real?"
"I know why you're asking that," I say. "Last time you asked, I said no. But... I didn't really mean it. I was afraid of what you might say. I had to lie and get out of there as fast as I can." I smile a little. "But now I know, Ally. I, Austin Monica Moon, do, in fact, love you. And I always will. No one can change that," I whisper.
Ally blushes and smiles as well. And I know she remembers that day where we were having our fake "I Love You" war. What she doesn't know is that I meant every single word I said. There was nothing fake about it.
"But you never told me whether you thought it was real or not," I remind her.
"I love you more than you'll ever love me," she whispers back. "Girls can do anything guys can do, but girls can just do it better." My smile gets wider and hers does too. "I was afraid too, Austin. When that person in the cafeteria asked me if I really loved you, I panicked. I mean, inside, I thought, 'Yes. I do love him.' But outside, I couldn't make myself say it. I'm sorry if I upset you. It scared me a little when you ran out of there."
"It did upset me," I tell her. "I mean, the love of my life just said she hated me. What did you expect me to do? Smile and laugh it off? But it's okay. Because we both know how the other feels now. And this is the moment where we live happily ever after, right?"
Ally giggles. "Right."
"I've been waiting my whole life for this moment." And I kiss her. The door opens and Ronnie the janitor walks in. "Do you mind?" I ask, pulling away from Ally. "We're kind of having a moment in here..."
"Sorry," he says. "Just don't get you-know-what all over my supplies. Last time that happened, I had to get brand-new supplies. And it came out of my wallet!"
"Ronnie, that's sick," I tell him. I try not to laugh. "Why would we do that now if we're getting married soon anyway? It'll be even more special after that." I smile down at Ally.
"Oh, yeah, you two are getting married," Ronnie says. "I heard about that. Congratulations. Have fun and don't mess it up. Either of you. Marriage is a wonderful thing if you play your cards right."
"Thanks for the advice, Ronnie," Ally says. "But we're gonna go now. So you don't have to worry about your supplies getting..." She just shakes her head and I set her down. I pick up my books and we leave the supply closet. We walk out to the truck and I put my guitar in the backseat. We climb inside and Ally turns the truck on.
"Ally, I have something to tell you," I say. She looks at me. "Don't hate me," I add quickly.
"I think we're past me hating you," she tells me. I nod and take my wallet out. I find the right card and, with a deep breath, I hand it to her. "What could be so... Austin Monica Moon!" she screams. "You've been making me drive you around when you've had your license since... since your sixteenth birthday?! Austin!"
"I thought you said you weren't gonna hate me!" I exclaim.
"I don't hate you!" she says. "I'm just disappointed. What was the point of making me drive you around when you had your driver's license already?"
I shrug and shrink down in my seat, not wanting her to murder me. "I dunno," I say, hating it when I sound like a small child. I do that a lot for some reason. I guess I just can't help it. I feel Ally's hand on my head as she kisses the top of it.
"It's fine," she says, "really. But you're going to be driving a lot more now."
"I don't know if I remember how to," I tell her, laughing a little. "I've been pretending I failed my test for over a year now. And I kept telling my mom that my permit expired so she would stop trying to make me drive. Plus, I'm too lazy to drive. Please don't make me do it!"
She turns her head to me, ready to tell me a hundred and one reasons why I should want to. I place my hand on the back of her neck and pull her to me, kissing her deeply, breathing out as much as possible. I pull away. Ally licks her lip and nods.
"O-Okay, you don't have to drive," she says. I laugh. Ally shifts gears and presses down on the gas. We lurch forward and almost run right into the car in front of us.
I quickly unbuckle my seat belt and run around to the driver's side of the car, opening the door. "All right, you talked me into it," I say. "Get into the passenger seat. I'm driving." She laughs and slides over to the other side of the car. And, for the first time in a little over a year, I drive. I drive home. I was a little rusty but, thankfully, I didn't crash us into a tree.
Boo! Did I scares you?! Doubt it. Anyhoodles, told you I'd update today! I'm writing this on Monday, so if I end up not updating on Tuesday, I'm gonna look really stupid... Hopefully, I get to update Tuesday. ANYHOODLES, I'm moving back home (where I have WiFi) so I'll have no excuse for not updating! I'm moving back Sunday so if I don't start having a regular thing going again, it's just because I'm terrible at keeping up with things now. But just wait. Everything will be back to normal when summer comes. :)
LoVe, KeNzIe
P.S. I'll try to update tomorrow. (Or the day after today, whatever today is)