My new Machinima skit has been released onto Youtube! Look up Skylox: Forever Budder - A Minecraft Machinima on the interwebs or go directly to my YT channel. Whatever you wanna do is fine with me! Leave a comment if you can!

Many exciting things have happened within the past few days. When I mean days, I talking about yesterday. Noah retweeted me on Twitter, AcidicBlitz favorited one of my tweets, and GhostGaming is now following me. Yeah... No big deal... c;

The first POV of this chapter is dramatic and intense while the second is sweet and emotional. I prefer the second to be honest just cause of the way it's written. But I wrote this... I can have favorites! Don't judge me!

Anyways, enjoy!

Ray POV

Two days after the funeral, I sat on the comfiest couch in the Piano Room, listening to the music for one of my duets with David. The demo version including our own voices blasted through the headphones sitting on top of my head. I hummed along to the lyrics, confirming I had memorized every note. Dan was practicing his lines with David out in the hallway; Scott, on the other hand, unpredictable. He was one place at one time, the next another. Plus, he'd often flirted with me even though I told him specific details about my relationship with Mitch several times.

"Mrs. Hughes!"

I jumped at the sound of a female voice I'd gotten to know so well those few months. Glancing up, I spotted Amy, the stage manager and close friend, standing next to someone awfully familiar… someone whose face I hated to see again. No, it wasn't Ashley or Allison. It looked to be Anna Malcolm. The super diva.

Anna's eyes and lips were cascaded in heavy coats of make-up, a bit too much in my opinion. She wore her same black leather jacket and black combat boots. Nothing different than I'd already seen. As I examined Anna's wardrobe choices, I paused the music, placing my headphones around my neck, "May I ask why she is here?"

Amy nodded, occasionally glancing down at a paper. She always carried around a wooden clipboard, obviously for her job, but for some reason, Amy couldn't seem to get her eyes off of it. Almost as if she didn't want me to get mad at her... "Ms. Malcolm was the only person who knew the script well enough to perform in less than a month. I hope that's alright with you, Ray."

"Uh…" I truly couldn't answer that comment without raging like a complete idiot. That wouldn't have looked good for my reputation going into the production.

"Well," Amy interrupted, pressing her finger against the earplug seated inside of her ear. The earplug tells the stage manager directions from the directors and producers. "I must be off… there's a blocking situation with Scott that I have to deal with." She hurried out of the room. Anna took her place, not daring to enter the Piano Room, but sly enough to grin when I gave her a dirty look.

"My best friend just passed away… and now I'm expecting the producers to add you in last second casted as my rival…?"

"I'm sorry for your little loss, dearie, but as always…" Anna gave me a wink, knowing I was upset of her arrival, "the show must go on."

Thirty minutes later, Anna and I stood on opposite wings of the stage, ready for a rehearsal of the song. Anna somehow learned the choreography and music within that little time, but I didn't really care. It meant more time to prove worth in my talent rather than a stuck-up personality. I wore a silk flowing gown, similar to the one I wore at Clara's funeral, but the color of snow. Peering across the stage, I spotted Anna's punk rock outfit and funky popstar hair-do. Hands grabbed at my hair as they fixed the light curls. Amy slid a microphone on my ear and taped it onto my cheek. Once finished, she motioned a thumbs-up and left my side.

The lights dimmed and everything went black.

The crew hastily pushed out two separate platforms with wheels on the bottom of each, allowing the dancers to push the lead performers around the stage.

Trying to find my way, I climbed the steps to the top of my personalized platform. Anna did the same on the second, which used to be Clara's. The Diva's platform seemed much more dramatically designed for her flamboyant character, while mine had a delicate touch, similar to the persona of Nina, my character's alter ego.

Two spotlights lit up two faces: mine and Anna's.

The track for our diva-off begun playing as I felt the first push of my platform.

"I'm not sorry.

I'm not sorry, sorry."

My sweaty hands gripped around the plastic fencing of the platform. I went through the dances in my mind… I had practiced these so many times with Clara… but now I had a real super diva to deal with.

"Walkin' through the club I felt your shadow on the wall.

Think I'm catching up, think we got a date with destiny.

I bet your shadow'd rather follow me, mmm-hmm…

Dancin' through the night, you feel me breathin' down your neck.

Taught me how to fight, guess I learned a trick or two or three.

I keep them hidden up my sleeve, I hate to break it to you."

My head constantly had to spin around to keep my eye on Anna, who rolled her eyes. The dancers weren't fast at spinning, it was to keep us from getting sick.

"I'm not sorry, sorry.

For the person I've become.

Not sorry, sorry.

I don't live under your thumb.

It's time to stay the same.

You can't take the best of me.

Hate to break it, hate to break you, hate to break it to you.

I'm not sorry.

I'm not sorry, sorry."

My co-star's platform spun around closer to mine. When she performed, I couldn't tell that she had ever auditioned for Amanda. Anna was a true Diva.

"Talkin' in your sleep, I heard you're livin' in a dream.

Go wake up in your castle, my throne is not your destiny.

You'll never take this crown from me, I hate to break it to you."

From the way she moved, I honestly thought I could have a real competition against Anna. I had to admit, that girl had talent, but she was no match for me.

"I'm not sorry, sorry.

For the person I've become.

Not sorry, sorry.

I don't live under your thumb.

It's time to stay the same.

You can't take the best of me.

Hate to break it, hate to break you, hate to break it to you.

I'm not sorry."

The dance members stopped moving the platforms, allowing Anna and I to hurry down the steps onto the floor. We stood still for a few moments while singing to cool off from spinning so much.

"I'm not sorry, sorry."

"Not sorry.

I hate to break it to you."

Anna and I led the dancers in a simple routine that I had rehearsed many times alongside Clara. Right arm over left arm. Foot here… foot there… I had to remember my dance...

"I'm not sorry, sorry."

"For the person I've become."

"I'm not sorry, sorry."

"I don't live under your thumb."

"It's time to stay the same.

You can't take the best of me."

"Hate to break it."

At this point, Anna looked like she wanted to push me off of the stage because of jealousy. Or that's what I thought.

"Hate to break you."

"Hate to break it to you."

"I'm not sorry, sorry."

Simultaneously, Anna sang out her line. "Yeah."

"I'm not sorry, sorry."

At the same time, Anna sang as well. "I'm not, I'm not."

"It's time to stay the same.

You can't take the best of me."

I led the finale with Anna's reprising.

"Hate to break it."

"Hate to break you."

Both of us finished off the song.

"Hate to break it to you.

I'm not sorry."

The spotlights shut off again, leaving me on a pitch black stage.

Preston POV

My sister had talent. Pure raw talent. I didn't know how she was able to book the lead role in a musical and not screw up! I would never be able to do that!

For me, Minecraft was different. You could be yourself. You didn't have to pretend to be someone that you're not to make other people happy. I supposed that's what I liked so much about Rouge. She made me see the true potential. But every time someone asked me about her, I denied my crush. I needed the right time to tell her that I liked her. But when?

I invited Rouge to Clara's funeral, but she declined the invitation. So, I thought of another idea. Invite her to Ray's dress rehearsal for the musical.

Arriving at the theater first, as a gentleman always does, I stood outside waiting for Rouge to pull up in her car. When those dreaded twenty minutes of silence passed, I feared that she had left me alone yet again. I entered the theater only to find Rouge sitting in the middle of the front room, watching the crew of Hit List pull out their set for the actors.

On first instinct, I took the seat next to her, remaining silent for a few moments before speaking up. "Hi."

Rouge flinched at my voice, and turned her head to face me. She gave a light smile. "Hey."

A few more seconds passed before another sentence rolled out of my mouth. "You came."

"Um… yeah…" Rouge sharply looked on at the crew's work, "I guess."

"Is there a reason why you came?"

Her violet eyes dared to meet mine. "Can I tell you a secret, Preston?"

"Okay…"

"I've never felt this close to a person… ever."

I chuckled, trying to ignore an emotion that I hadn't felt for a long time. "Oh, really?"

"Yeah. I haven't even told Lia that. We've been friends for eight years…" Rouge paused and bit her lip, finally glancing away. "And she hasn't mentioned anything about our friendship since. Lia hooks me up with different guys… I don't know why… she's super overprotective… of me that is."

"Then why does she tease you?"

"I don't know. Lately she's been acting crazy… and that's why I've stayed away…"

"Is that why you've been with me? Just to get away from her?"

Rouge turned towards me, worried about my comment. She opened her mouth slightly and gently placed her hand on mine. "No. That's not why. If I only wanted to leave Lia, you wouldn't have been that person."

At that point, I could barely hear my own voice. "Then why do you bother spending time with me? I'm not worth it."

"That's not true."

My train of thought lost track, and I glanced up into Rouge's scarlet eyes. Dang, that emotion was returning… the one I felt when I met Sara at school… she smiled and winked towards me… the first date we spent under the stars chewing bubble gum and laughing about gossip… the kiss was magical… nothing I had ever experienced before… I thought Sara and I were soul mates… But all things don't work out the way you want them to.

"Preston?" Rouge's question made me jump, "Are you okay?"

I nodded, "I'm fine… but you never answered my question. Why do you hang out with me?"

"When you first called me, I was unsure of having Lia set me up with another guy… since the last ten were losers. They treated me like crap…" Rouge sighed. It seemed as if you had been through a lot that I hadn't known about. "But when I talked to you more… I felt like I could actually be myself around you… not some fake that Lia told everyone about…"

I grumbled, not happy with this new emotion. "What's the point of this?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

I shook my head, causing Rouge to bow her head. When I saw her pretty face looking so down and depressed, I released my hand from hers, placed my finger against her chin, lifted up her head, leaned in, and kissed her on the lips. She wasn't wearing Sara's fruity lip-gloss… we would never chew bubble gum under the stars… or gossip about school… our first kiss wouldn't be my first time… but Rouge was natural. She only wanted to be herself, but hadn't been given the chance… Well, I gave her that chance.

"Preston…" Rouge whispered, "Can I ask why you kissed me?"

I smiled, taking her hand in mine. "Because… because Rouge… I'm in love with you. I have to admit… I had a little crush on Lia… but when I figured out she was only playing me and my friend Tyler for information… I lost all interest… The first time I heard the voice of her best friend though… I couldn't forget that voice."

"Do you wanna go on a date with me?" Rouge perked up, grinning from ear to ear. Her true personality definitely shined through during that moment.

"Yeah. But don't you dare call me a cactus!"

Rouge burst out laughing, "I don't know what that means, but I'm gonna have to learn your Youtube lingo before we get serious."

Serious? She was planning on getting serious with me?! I had hit the jackpot! A natural, down-to-earth girl who I liked, liked me back, and actually wanted to be with me for who I really was. Even Sara wouldn't go that far. I didn't even think she truly loved me. Now I had found someone who I could be Preston Anderson with, and her name was Rouge Blackburn.

Thanks for reading! This chapter was simpler to write than most of the others lately. I'm not sure why. Maybe it's just that I'm in an excited mood right now. Or maybe I've just had too much chocolate...