I am back again!
As of now, this story will be updated every week until school ends. My last day is May 29th, so that gives me... what? Two weeks? Three? Don't remember. However, until then there will be one chapter a week due to finals and homework. After school ends though, I will finish writing Dreams, and begin to write Legend Part 2 and Kingdoms Lost. And the collab with Ninja is still happening! No worries! Collabs are just harder in general. I've had that experience *cough cough* You know.
This chapter includes a song that had no lyrics on the internet. Anywhere. So, I listened to the song myself on Youtueb multiple times and typed every single word that I heard. If you find the song on Youtube (The Guide to Success Eric William Morris), it should match up perfectly. Or very, very similar.
I realize a lot of these chapters have long songs in them. Don't get angry at me for adding those in. There's no more songs until Chapter 28, which is a while away.
As a very simple chapter, I thought I would make up for the chaos of Chapter 22 and replace that anger for Scott with ANOTHER anger for Scott!
Mitch POV
What made me so angry about that night was that Ray was violated by someone she barely knew. One thing I absolutely hated: seeing her upset and devastated. I had to put a stop to this Hit List madness, and I knew exactly how.
The next day after the incident, I remembered Ray mentioned that Scott rehearsed privately on certain days, including that day. I drove as fast as I could to the theater, and barged inside, infuriated. Upon entering the theater itself, I laid eyes upon flamboyant Scott Teich, decked out in a bright neon blue suit. Gel slicked back his usually spiky hair, looking to be professional-like. However, I figured that Scott would never be professional after his previous actions.
A piano sat in the middle of the stage, and no crew or cast members besides for the man himself were in sight. Noticing this as my chance to confront him, I stormed beside his position at the piano.
The German pop star sat the edge of the seat, playing away at the keys as if he knew what he was doing. His eyes remained on the keys as he spoke, "Bajan, I see that you've arrived." He didn't even have the nerve to talk to me as a real adult and call me by my name!
My cheeks lit up like fireworks when he clicked the keys, creating a tune that seemed strangely familiar to me. "You have no right to barge into my wife's personal life and toy with her emotions!"
Scott chuckled and shook his head, pausing the music. "But Bajan, this isn't Canada anymore... We live in a democratic country called the United States." I couldn't believe it! I lived in the US since 9th grade and he believed I didn't even know my own country!
I gaped my mouth and screamed, attempting to get a clear point across. "I don't care! In America, we have the right of freedom."
"Alright, Bajan. No harm will be done if you leave and I remain victorious."
"That can't be done..."
"How old are you? 17?"
I growled under my breath. "Twenty two."
"How are you married to your high school sweetheart? You know those marriages don't last."
"I love her..."
"Do you? Do you really?"
"Yes, I am."
"Let me sing you… a little tune a friend of mine wrote especially for my character. Well, Laurel was forced to write it because I told her to."
Scott took his place at the piano once more, placing his fingers on specific keys. He chuckled before standing up, taking center stage, pushing me downstage towards the edge, and snapping his index and thumbs fingers on his right hand together. The stage turned black, a heavy white spotlight shining down on both of us. Pre-recorded music begun playing in the background. Scott sang when he knew it was his cue. He stared at me the entire time, as if he were singing directly to me, which seemed true.
"I love that you are loyal
Love that you got passion
Love that you take noble stands
Kid really I do
Really I do
But loyal isn't business
Passion isn't prudent
You're not allowed to make demands
Kid really it's true
Kid I'm telling you"
Again with calling me a child! I had a wife and career to maintain! Not to mention the insanity with having three groups of enemies!
"You're much too young to know better
You're getting yourself in a mess
So before I send your death letter
I'll recite you the guide to success
Free of charge
Here's the guide to success."
He sighed, glancing his head to the floor and looking back up to me afterwards, shining more confident than before.
"Never say what you really feel
Why make a choice when it's safer just to make a deal?
Stay away from what causes or stir or offense
Keep your heart silent
Don't dispute
And if it turns violent make sure you know who to shoot
And eventually every relationship ends
So throw out your baby then murder your friends."
Who did this guy think I was? Someone who would go behind their friends backs and turn on them like a liar… like Scott?! Did he believe I was some random person from off the street with no possible idea of how the real world worked? Like I hadn't gone through hardship and pain?!
"And I think you need to think about what you're doing with your life
And I think you need to think about why everybody's gonna hate you
And I think you need to think about all these choices that you've made
Because you've gone too far
And done too much
And nobody's gonna touch you
No
Nobody's gonna touch you
Ever again."
I growled as Scott continued his song. As he became more and more cocky, my anger burst like a balloon in a dark wine red sky. He noticed I held my fist back from punching his face out. Although calm, Scott played with my fear like a game, spinning it in circles. He laughed hysterically.
"So you're winging your attack fist
And now you're on the black list
So tell me buddy was it worth it
Does it feel as good
As you thought it would?"
I lowered my fist as Scott pushed my chest backwards, causing me to tumble back but catch myself on the heels of my shoes. He laughed yet again at my clumsiness. I had never felt so violated by anyone.
"Well go play in your sandbox
You and your little posse
We've got a bigger box to fill
With people who will
Kill."
I gasped at the thought of Team Crafted being only kids who play in sandboxes. Scott had no right to call us immature and selfish! At that moment, I finally understood exactly his reference. Draco. The only person who would kill on purpose and not care about doing it. At least Ashley had resistance before shooting her gun. Draco would've easily slit Ray's throat on the tour bus.
"So go and shout all about us
How we're cold and old and unfair."
He mocked my commentary by swinging an imaginary Betty the axe. I gave him a disgusted look.
"Cause we may not know what we're doing
But we're each of us
A millionaire
So really kid we don't really care
And we've got some wisdom to share."
Scott placed his hand on my shoulder, massaging it in the process. He looked away for a split second, figuring out this was the right time to pull away my shoulder.
"Exploit everybody who helped you
Put all your faith in swine
Kiss some ass
It'll pass
And you'll be fine
Young man
Exploit everybody who helped you
Put all your faith in swine
Kiss some ass
It'll pass
And you'll be fine
Young man."
His own mockery grew rapidly as he came closer to my location, not caring at all about manners and personal space. Must have been this way around Ray. I couldn't even imagine. His lips curled into a smile, obviously excited at my fearful actions. I continued backing up from my previous spots to a new one each time he drew closer.
"Exploit everybody who helped you
Put all your faith in swine
Kiss some ass
It'll pass
And you'll be fine
Young man
Fine
Young man
Fine
Young man."
There was that moment when I gave up on running away. I had to stand for my beliefs! But Scott stood in my face at this point, almost spitting his words into my eyes.
"Never say what you really feel
Why make a choice when it's safer just to make a deal?
Stay away from what causes or stir or offense
Keep your heart silent
Don't dispute
And if it turns violent make sure you know who to shoot
And eventually every relationship ends
So slice all your b**** and then murder your friends
Ignore all your feelings and murder your friends
And don't be a baby
And don't make a fuss
And hopefully one day
You won't murder us!"
My mouth hung wide open, surprised at the accuracy of the song to my situation. "You'll never get away with this."
He chuckled, slowly backing out of the spotlight, leaving me alone. "Oh, but I already have."
I created the same burning hatred as before, even more after his explanation-in-a-song.
The spotlight dimmed as the last thing I managed to see was the devilish grin appearing on Scott's face. He was definitely up to something more planned with Draco than just stealing away Ray's innocence. I realized the tour bus was only part of their master plan. Whatever the master plan happened to be, I was afraid. The first time I had ever been scared like that. My thoughts swirled with theories about Scott's alliance with Draco. However, amidst the chaos, I focused on two thing: making sure Ray was happy and safe… only after resolving my own safety first.