I'm finally back! It's taken me a while but I finally busted out this chapter. I hope you guys like it!
To bhut – I'm glad you liked the chapter!
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Bang Bang by Jessie J, Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj
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"Why are we stuck with tour duty?" Jason Cross grumbled as he and his fellow 'rookies' walked around to the front of the Emerald Studios main building.
"Apparently, we need to work our way to the harder jobs." Theodore Wallis answered as they waited for the buses to pull up.
"We all worked in the army and served for this country. We have shouldn't need to prove ourselves."
"Maybe we do." Hallie Thompson quietly argued as the buses finally came in.
On the bus, Naomi and Mickey were bouncing in their seats.
"This is going to be so much fun!" Mickey squealed as she looked at the building. "Do you think that we'll meet any celebrities?"
"I hope so!" Massi, Mickey and Naomi's friend, declared as she jumped from the seat behind the best friends. She held up a camera. "Maybe I can get a picture of them."
"Or an autograph." Naomi squealed as she held up her autograph book.
Tony scoffed from the seat across from them. "You guys, they're just regular people."
The tweens turned to him. "People like Mikey Moss and Layla aren't regular." Naomi countered.
"Well, maybe not but it's nothing to freak out about."
Naomi raised a brow. "So if we saw Gideon Watkins in there…"
Tony quickly sat up in his chair. "You think he's in there?!" Then he caught Naomi's smirk. "Oh shut up."
"Okay kids." Coulson called as he stood up at the front of the bus. He, May, Lincoln and Mack were acting as chaperones for the trip. "Let's head out."
"Here we go." Massi squealed as she and the girls got off the bus. Tony and his friends followed in pursuit.
"Welcome to Emerald Studios." Jason greeted after all of the buses emptied. "I'm Jason, this is Theo and Hallie." He introduced as he pointed to his colleagues. "We will be acting as your tour guides today. If you have questions, please hesitate to ask us."
Theo bumped his shoulder. "He means don't be afraid to ask questions. Now, as you go into you will have to go through a full body scanner…"
"Why?" May interrupted.
"It's just a precaution." Hallie spoke up. "We are working on becoming a no-weapon, paparazzi free studio. We like to make sure that the stars have a calm environment to work in." She turned to the kids. "Now, you are allowed to bring cameras in, but if you see any of your favorite stars, please be mindful of their privacy."
"Let's begin." Theo started. "Emerald Studios was started in 2015…"
In the main building, the front lobby was a buzz with activity. Security guards prepping scanner for the kids, employees coming in for a new work day and the receptionist at the front desk, answering calls.
"Emerald Studios, please hold. Emerald Studios, please hold. Emerald Studios, thank you for holding, how may I direct your call? They are currently out of town, can I take a message?" Oscar, the receptionist, asked as he pulled out tablet. As he took the message, JJ came up to his large, glass front desk, jumped up on it and laid face down on it. Oscar snickered as he looked at her. "I'll be sure to tell them. Thank you for calling." He hung up the phone and looked at the teen with a smirk on his face. "What's wrong?"
"I don't want to go to school." JJ mumbled into the table.
"Well too bad, kid. You only got 10 minutes before the year begins."
JJ sat up and looked at him. "You're not helping."
"Not supposed to."
"But, we don't want to." Ana whined as she went to jump up and sit next to JJ. "Summer can't before over."
"Well, if you want summer weather, you can just walk outside." Oscar said as he pointed towards the front door.
Ana stuck her tongue out at him. "I mean, the activities. No more summer parties, beach days or long vacays!"
JJ raised her eyebrow. "You do remember that there is a beach behind the building right?"
"Not the point. I just want one more hurrah before the year begins." Ana turned to JJ. "And I know how we can do it."
JJ looked at the face her best friend was making. "Absolutely not."
"Oh come on. You know you want to."
"Want to what?" Scott asked as he, Mitch, Austin and Donte came over.
"Say a proper goodbye to summer. Or sing."
"Oh, you go girl." Mitch cheered just as the SHIELD field trip started to come through the doors.
"No." JJ insisted. "I'm not that good."
"Not that good!" Her friends accused.
"Are you kidding me?" Austin questioned. "You're amazing."
"Yah. Do you or do you not remember that high note you pulled at the Beach Blowout?" Ana asked. "Girl, stop playing and just sing. Oscar."
Oscar pulled out a microphone and handed it to Ana, who gave it to JJ. JJ glared at them. "I hate all of you."
"Love you too, bae." Donte smiled.
JJ jumped down from the desk, glancing at the SHIELD students for a moment before turning back to her friends. "What song?"
"Leave it to me." Scott smirked as he pulled a laptop out of his bag and connected to the ES Speaker System. "Summer's gonna go out with a bang."
"OH!" The other five friends whooped, which drew the attention of the security guards and the visitors.
"What are they doing over there?" Mack thought out loud.
JJ walked to the front of the desk and struck a pose. "She got a body like an hour glass
But I can give it to you all the time
She got a booty like a Cadillac
But I can send you into overdrive (oh)
(You've been waiting for that...
Step on up swing your bat)
See anybody could be bad to you," She started walking forward before striking another pose.
"You need a good girl to blow your mind, yeah
"Bang bang into the room (I know ya want it)" As JJ sang, the boys started dancing it out behind her. JJ started dancing with them.
"Bang bang all over you (I'll let ya have it)
Wait a minute lemme take you there (ah)
Wait a minute till ya (ah)
Bang bang there goes your heart (I know ya want it)
Back, back seat of my car (I'll let ya have it)
Wait a minute lemme take you there (ah)
Wait a minute till ya (ah)" As she sang, Oscar handed a mic to Ana, who stood up on the desk.
"She might've let you hold her hand in school
But I'm a show you how to graduate" Ana sang as Donte and Scott helped her off the desk. She started walking to where JJ was.
"No, I don't need to hear you talk the talk
Just come and show me what your momma gave (oh, yeah)
(Okay you've got a very big shhh,
Mouth but don't say a thing)
See anybody could be good to you,
You need a bad girl to blow your mind"
"Bang bang into the room (I know ya want it)" The best friends sang in unison. As they id so some of the other Emerald Elite dancers, started to dance along.
"Bang bang all over you (I'll let ya have it)
Wait a minute lemme take you there (ah)
Wait a minute till ya (ah)
Bang bang there goes your heart (I know ya want it)
Back, back seat of my car (I'll let ya have it)
Wait a minute lemme take you there (ah)
Wait a minute till ya (ah)"
"You know what, girls?" Ana and JJ looked back to see Idalia, one of the Emerald Elite dancers walking towards them.
"Let me show you how to do." The girls stepped as she took the floor.
"It's Myx Moscato
It's friends in the bottle
It's Iddy full throttle
It's all, all" As she rapped, the minis started dancing behind her.
Swimming in the grotto
We winning in the lotto
We dipping in the pot of blue pho-to
Kidding so good
This drippin' on wood
Get a ride in the engine that could go
Batman Robin it bang, bang, cocking it
Queen Iddy dominate, prominate
It's me, JJ, and Ani
If they test me they sorry
Riders umph like Harley
Then pull off in this Ferrari
If he hangin' we bangin'
Phone rangin', he slangin'
It ain't karaoke night but get the mic 'cause I'm singing (uh)
B to da' A to da' N to da' G to da' uh (baby)
B to da' A to da' N to da' G to da' hey" As Idalia finished, JJ jumped up on one of the security tables, where Coulson and May happened to be standing, watching in amazement.
"See anybody could be good to you,
You need a bad girl to blow your mind (your mind)"
"Bang bang into the room (I know ya want it)" JJ jumped off the table and she sang the high note, which caused the dancers to applaud in excitement before she came over.
"Bang bang all over you (I'll let ya have it)
Wait a minute lemme take you there (ah)
Wait a minute till ya (ah)
Bang bang there goes your heart (I know ya want it)
Back, back seat of my car (I'll let ya have it)
Wait a minute lemme take you there (ah)
Wait a minute till ya (ah)
Bang bang into the room (I know ya want it)
Bang bang all over you (I'll let ya have it)" Idalia came over and started dancing next to the girls.
"Yo, I said bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang
Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang"
JJ stood out front before finishing it up. "Bang bang there goes your heart (I know ya want it)
Back, back seat of my car (I'll let ya have it)
Wait a minute lemme take you there (ah)
Wait a minute till ya (ah)"
The whole front lobby, including the trip from SHIELD, burst out in applause.
JJ blushed a bit before Ana came and bumped before the two took a bow. They returned the mics to Oscar.
"That's my girls." Idalia squealed as she came over to hug them. "Y'all looked fierce out there."
"Well, we learned from the best." Ana smiled.
"That you did. I got a meeting, but I'll see you girls later." Idalia walked towards one of the main elevators.
"Told you could sing."
JJ blushed again, brushing a piece of hair out of her face. "I guess you're right."
"You know I'm right."
"She is." The girls looked to old black man walking towards them. "You really should consider adding singing practice to your curriculum."
JJ shrugged. "I'll think about it Mr. M."
"Speaking of curriculum." He looked at all of the minis. "It's time for school."
"RUN!" JJ screamed as she and her friends scattered across the lobby, which caused the guards to chase after them. The guys were immediately caught by the guards.
"Take them to the schoolroom." Mr. Moss ordered.
"Yes sir." The guards chuckled as they walked holding the guys over their shoulders.
"LET ME GO!" Ana screamed as Jason carried her over to her adopted father. Jason dropped her in front of him. "Daddy!"
"Sorry, sweetie. But you knew that school was coming."
"But, I don't want it." She whined as she stomped her feet on the ground.
"Esperanza Juanita Moss! Act your age and go to the classroom!" Mr. Moss ordered as he point to the hallway.
"Fine." She turned and walked towards the hallway where the classroom was.
Mr. Moss rubbed his hand over his face. "Kids. Now that's all the kids except…"
"Mine." Elijah turned to see Grant walking towards him with JJ over his shoulder, banging at his back, as Hallie and Theo walked behind him, huffing in exhaustion.
"How did you catch her?" Hallie asked as she caught her breath as Grant put his daughter down with her back facing his front. "She's super fast."
"I've been chasing after her for 15 years. You get used to it." Grant looked down at his pride and joy. "Isn't that right, munckin?" JJ just glared up at her father. "Don't be such a sour puss." Grant bent down and kissed her forehead. When that didn't make her smile, Grant smirked. "You mad at me?" Grant tickled her chin, which made her try and suppress a smile. "Are ya?" He tickled her belly, which made her smile fully. "Are ya? Are ya?" He tickled her all over, which made her burst out in laughter, trying to squirm away from him.
"Stop it." JJ giggled. "Stop it."
"The tickle monster never stops!" Grant playfully grumbled as he picked her up and kissed all over her face, while still tickling her. JJ laughed as her father threw her around his back and started spinning her around. "I'll take her to the room."
"Thank you." Elijah chuckled as the father-daughter duo walked away, before following them.
"You know seeing him with his daughter," Theo started "actually makes you feel like he's a human being."
"Sure, until training starts." Jason huffed as the trio walked back to the tour group.
"He's tough huh?" Coulson asked.
"Yah, but he means well." Hallie relented. "JT only wants us to be at our best." Hallie looked to make sure all of the kids were in. "Okay, so let's move on with the tour."
"Are we going to see any of the places where the musicians work?" One of the students, Georgie, asked.
"We'll get there once we reach Performance Plaza, but first we're starting with Business Boulevard." Theo introduced.
"Business Boulevard?" May rose an eyebrow at the name.
"Each section of the compound has it's own name, the business section is no excuse. So let's move on."
The rookies started to lead the students while the chaperones lagged behind. "This place is stupid." Lincoln grumbled.
"Stupid because of the atmosphere or stupid because this is where your competition for Skye works?" Mack prodded.
"Just remember…" Coulson interrupted. "We are here for the kids. Let's not ruin this for them." He turned to Lincoln. "Okay?"
"Whatever." He mumbled as they continued walking behind the kids.
"And here is Songbird Square. This is where the shops are on the compound." Hallie introduced as they walked into the center a few hours later. "They sell things from food to souvenirs to high-end fashion. So this is where we are going to be stopping for lunch. So enjoy yourselves." And with that, the trio walked away and the chaperones went to the front of the crowd.
"Okay kids!" May called out. "You have 45 minutes to shop then we got to get this show on the road."
The kids spread out to the various shops in the square, most of them heading towards the "Silk Magnolia", the major lunch place on the compound.
Ashlyn and her cronies were the first ones in line. "I need three caramel Frappuccinos with shaved coconuts and three pumps of truffle syrup."
The server behind the counter gave her a confused look. "What?"
One of her cronies, Lily Poland, stepped in front of her and spoke slowly. "Three. Caramel… Frappuccinos… Muy rapido por favors."
The brunette slight glared at her. "We don't serve those here." She snapped with her think Italian accent.
"Why not?"
"Because it's not real Italian food." An older Italian woman cried as she came out the back covered in flour. "I only serve real Italian food."
"And it's the best Italian food around." JJ remarked as she walked into the shop and around the counter. "Ciao Natalina. Ciao Aurelia."
"Ciao Jenny." The older woman greeted. "Your special drinks and food are in the back."
"And that's why you're the best Aurelia." Jenny went into the back to get her food.
"Excuse me." Said Ashlyn. "I'm waiting."
"I know." Natalina smirked. "I'll serve you when you order off the menu."
"Why does she get special food?" Ashlyn sneered as Jenny walked out with a bag of food and a tray of six drinks.
"Because I order real Italian food. Not some cheap LA knockoff."
"This is true." Aurelia smiled. "Now, order off the menu or you buy somewhere else."
"Hmph." Ashlyn turned and walked out of the shops, her cronies following behind her.
JJ chuckled as she went over to where she left Allie and her skateboard. She grabbed Allie's leash and placed it around her wrist. "Let's go girl."
Allie barked and started walking away. JJ followed her on her board when she heard someone call her name in the distance. It was Naomi and Mickey, waving frantically at her. "Hi girls. I gotta go study, but I'll talk to you later. Okay?"
"Kay!" They yelled in response.
JJ smiled and continued skating away. It took about 5 minutes before she reached the lounge where she and her friends hung out between lessons. In it was a hammock, bean bag chairs, and a whole bunch of games. "Lunch is served." Said Jenny as she placed the food on a nearby table.
"Nice!" Her friends ran over to the table and immediately grabbed their drinks and food. They sat around the room as Scott plugged in his laptop so they could watch the most recent episode of their favorite show, Shadow.
As the theme song played, Ana glanced over and saw the sour look on her best friend's face. "What's wrong, Jay?"
Scott paused as they all looked over at her. "The SHIELD group is here taking a tour. It's only a matter of time til they learn about the auditions." This year, Emerald Studios decided to expand the Mini Elite's program into a after school program for kids in the area. They could take classes in dance, filmmaking, singing, the works. The six of them would be helping teach and demonstrate for the class. If given the chance, JJ knew that Ashlyn would jump at it. "I don't want to see that bitch on a daily basis."
"Hey, maybe she won't get in." said Austin.
"Unlikely. I hate to admit but Ashlyn is good at dancing. Really good."
"But, not as good as you." Mitch insisted. "It doesn't matter if she gets in or not. There is nothing that the girl can do that you can't do better."
"Besides," Donte interrupted. "This is your turf. Nobody is gonna come in here and try to take that away from you without a fight. And you are not going in alone. She comes for one of us, she comes at all of us. No doubt about that."
JJ smiled. "Thanks guys. But still, I almost wish they wouldn't do the program. But, regardless, I think Naomi and Mickey would be good picks."
"The girls from the festival?" said Ana. "True, they definitely have the vibe that we want for the studio. That Ashlyn lacks entirely."
"Very true. We'll just have to see what happens."
Later that evening, most of the SHIELD kids had left, only the adults, the team's kids and their friends remained.
"We got a lot of practicing to do." Said Mickey as the kids sat down to complete their applications at the front desk.
"You can say that again." Naomi agreed. "Every kid in the county is probably auditioning for this. We need to get on their level."
"You two are already on their level." Said Ray as she put down her application. "You girls just need to show them that you are."
"You kids, ready to go?" Coulson asked as he and the other adults came over.
"Yup." Said Cody. "We just need to wait for Tony. He went to the bathroom." Just then, they heard sounds coming from their left. They saw Donte and Scott coming down the hall. "Hey!" He called out to them.
The boys came over. "What's up?" asked Scott.
"You guys got any advice on how to get in the program?"
Donte shrugged. "Not really. Honestly, just be yourself. The main thing Mr. M wants here is people who genuinely care about others, skills or no skills."
"Then why is Ward here?" Lincoln mumbled. "Speak of the devil."
Grant came over to the boys. "You guys ready to go?"
"Yup."
"They're going home with you?" asked Mack.
Grant nodded. "All five of them usually stay with me when their parents are out of town." He looked down at the boys and squinted. "Wait a second, where's the kid that actually belongs to me?"
"Dance studio." They answered.
"Ugh." Grant turned around and headed towards the dance department. "You two, stay out of trouble. I'll be back in a minute."
"Hey, we don't get in trouble!" Donte countered.
"That is a lie and you know it!" Grant yelled back. "And Scott's in charge."
"Yes!" said Scott.
"But I'm older!"
"But I'm more mature!"
Near the dance studio, Tony was wandering around the building when he heard an upbeat melody coming from a nearby studio.
He looked into the studio to see none other than JJ, dancing along to the beat. He snuck up to the studio window, not that she noticed. She was too lost in the melody. From what he could tell, she dancing a fusion of ballet and hip-hop, in pointe shoes no less. The way she elongated her body, turned with such grace, it was enough to make any guy swoon at the sight. He didn't want to admit to his cousin but he did find the dancer very attractive. You'd have to be blind not to be.
Not soon after he started watching, the music stopped and she walked over to her bag.
She had just taken off her shoes when he came into the room. "Nice moves." Said Tony.
JJ looked up at him and smiled at him before pulling on a t-shirt. "Thanks."
"You learn all that here?"
"Yup. The people are this place are amazing."
"You think there's a possibility I can get in?" He smirked.
JJ smirked back as she stood up and faced him. "I don't know it depends on what you do."
"I dabble in special effects?"
"Dabble?"
"JJ?" The teens turned around to see Grant standing in the other doorway. "You ready to go? If we don't get a move on, the boys will get to choose dinner."
"I'm good, dad." She turned back to get her bag. She looked at Tony. "See you around."
"Yah, see ya." He smiled as he watched JJ walk out of the room with her father. "Yup, I'm doomed."
I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. More is to come soon and don't forget to message me if you want to have an OC.
My recommendation for this chapter is Pinterest. If you guys have never been on Pinterest, you need to try it. You find a whole lot of good tips for everything on there. I've made like 15 boards of there with ideas! If you're gonna check it out, leave the word "PIN" in a review!
Til next time, don't forget to follow, favorite and review!
Thanks for reading!
~JuicyJams AKA Ivey