Hi everyone! Before you read on, I just wanted to thank everyone for the support, whether you read it, or you reviewed, favourited or followed. I read every single review, and I am seriously touched by some of your sweet words, so thank you.
now before you read (I'm sorry please bear with me) visit my profile for the music to play during this chapter. The first song to play with be indicated with a (#) while the second will be indicated with a (*) . So go to my profile, open up the links for Chapter 8 (Part 2) and play the music accordingly during the scene!
Now this is the last part of the finals, before the story starts to go uphill, so enjoy!
~X~
Lucy, 8.19p.m
The blood was rushing through my head. My heart was pounding, and my vision was sort of turning white at the corners. I was frozen, my mouth gaping like a fish.
I couldn't believe it. All four of them, in flesh, blood and glory. The moment was so surreal, I couldn't help but wonder if I was in a dream. But everything felt real. The sound of the next band performing. People walking around backstage. Stacks of equipment being moved around while we were in the midst of it. the black walls and the dusty floor. Natsu's salmon pink hair which looked even more vibrant in real life.
The glowing sensation after having performed on stage was quickly being replaced by awe and shock, not even surprise. The blood rushed to my face, and I'm sure I looked as red as a ripe watermelon.
Natsu chuckled, and that kind of snapped me to my senses. I must be really obvious.
"Um, hi. I mean- hello. Err thanks," I murmured, suddenly wanting to smack myself. I sounded like a huge idiot. Way to go Lucy. Now he thinks you're some hardcore fan and fanzone you. Even though I kind of am.
Sting spoke up. "Like honestly speaking, you girls are something. Really good," he said, casting a sidelong glance at Erza. Erza raised an eyebrow, clearly not in a blundering mess like me considering the fact she wasn't a megafan of Electric. Sting's attempt of making her flustered was clearly not working.
Natsu grinned in approval at Sting's sentence. "I saw the first audition of you guys, and I already knew you guys would make it far!"
He watched our first audition?! How?
He seemed ecstatic, almost like...a child. I had always imagined Natsu Dragneel to be suave, cool-headed. That smirk that could melt hearts and weaken knees. Stoic even. Clearly publicity had played him up alot, because the way he talked was vey different from how I had always viewed him.
"You were there?" Juvia spoke up, saving me from making a fool out of myself.
"Yeah, we were recording, and the rest of the guys were..." he trailed off, rolling his eyes.
"Pouring soap into the coffee machine. Don't act like you haven't done that before flame-brain," Gray spoke up. That earned a few laughs from us. I had forgotten about the two raven heads, Gray and Rogue. Bass and Drums of Electric.
A voice interrupted us. "Guys! You're up next! Go and get ready already, and stop flirting with every girl you see for once!"
I turned around, to see a petite girl, with cropped, baby blue hair. She wore nothing but a pair of dark jeans and a loose shirt, but she looked pretty. She looked around our age, but from the way she spoke she sounded so much older.
"I don't flirt with girls!" yelled Natsu, too which the the four rolled their eyes.
"Cmon Natsu, let's go," Sting said dragging Natsu away.
"It was nice meeting you guys!" Sting yelled at us, the rest repeating the same thing, before turning away and walking to their team.
We didn't speak for awhile, until Ultear broke the silence. "Wow."
I burst out. "We did not just meet Electric, did we?"
Wendy burst out laughing. "You should have seen your face Lucy, you were so red and Natsu was laughing at you! Juvia was still trying to keep her cool," Wendy said, giggling.
Everyone chuckled, as I felt my face flushing again. "Stop it," I huffed.
"But well, you got one tick off your bucket list, right?" Erza said.
"No way, that was on her bucket list?" Ultear exclaimed.
"Duh."
"Cmon guys, stop it!" I whined, raising my drumsticks to attack them. Before I could do anything, the crowd outside started to scream. Chants filled the audience. "Electric...Electric...ELECTRIC!"
"They're performing now!" I exclaimed. We rushed to the side of the stage, where we could see the side of the stage. The emcee looked slightly overwhelmed by the crowd.
He tapped to the side of his ear, before breaking out in a grin, in what looked a little life relief.
"The wait is over! Welcoming chart-topping artists of punk rock scene, ELECTRIC!" he yelled, before disappearing to the side of the stage. The drum set and the amps were all on the stage, but where were they?
The crowd looked confused as well, but I started to notice that a portion of the stage floor was sinking down, before rising up again. A fist was thrust upwards from the rising stage, and the crowd started screaming and roaring.
"Hi there, PROJECT SUPERSTAR!" I heard Natsu's voice on the speakers, before their figures were fully visible on the stage. They ran to their respective posts, before Rogue started up on the cymbals and the rest started up on their guitars.
(#)
Natsu started singing:
Sunshine, there ain't a thing that you can do that's gonna ruin my night.
(But, there's just something about)
This dizzy dreamer and her bleeding little blue boy.
Licking your fingers like you're done and,
You've decided there is so much more than me (ohhh)
And baby, honestly it's harder breathing next to you, I shake.
I brought a gun and as the preacher tried to stop me.
Hold my heart it's beating for you anyway.
Gray started to scream, raw and unyielding, while Natsu continued:
What if I can't forget you?
I'll burn your name into my throat.
I'll be the fire that'll catch you.
What's so good about picking up the pieces?
None of the colors ever light up anymore in this hole.
Nobody prays for the heartless.
Nobody gives another penny for the selfish.
You're learning how to taste what you kill now.
Don't mind me, I'm just reaching for your necklace.
Talking to my mom about this little girl from Texas.
What if I can't forget you?
I'll burn your name into my throat.
I'll be the fire that'll catch you.
What's so good about picking up the pieces?
None of the colors ever light up anymore in this hole.
Just give her back to me.
You know I can't afford the medicine that feeds what I need.
So, baby, what if I can't forget you?
(What if I can't forget you?)
Collide invisible lips like a shadow on the wall,
And just throw, oh no.
You can't just throw me away.
Watching them perform had me awestruck. Sure I had seen so many videos of their live performances, but seeing them perform in real life...it was amazing. They controlled the crowd so well, that when Natsu pointed the microphone at the crowd they continued singing in perfect time, without missing a beat. The crowd pumped their fists in the air, the music filling them, as they swayed along.
It was everything I ever wanted Crush to be. We could not even come close to them.
As I looked to the side, the rest of my band were equally as moved. I could see Erza face morph into something that looked alot like determination.
As Natsu sang, he looked in our direction, his eyes making contact with mine. I was frozen, as I stared at his piercing black eyes. He smirked, the gleam in his eyes twinkling, before turning back to the crowd. My heart thumped. The haunting tune of 'Caraphernalia' soon ended, before the crowd roared. My band cheered too, but my eyes were rooted to my shoes, which were shifting over each other.
Electric took a bow before running off the stage, in our direction. The blue haired appeared to our side, yelling something at them I couldn't comprehend. It looked like they were in a rush. As they brushed past us with brief goodbyes, I felt Natsu stop beside me, before leaning down to my ear.
"I'll be seeing you soon then," his throaty voice whispered in my ears, making the hairs on the nape of my neck tingle. He then walked off in the direction of the waiting band.
I stood still, my limbs frozen cold but my warm heart and face beating.
Ultear, 8.25p.m
As Natsu bent down to tell Lucy something before leaving, her face turned red again, but a different expression on her face. I smirked, turning to Erza.
"Looks like they'll be hitting it off soon."
Erza laughed. "Good for Lucy."
I smiled turning around to walk back to the dressing room. However, I saw a ever- familiar figure leaning against a pillar, staring straight in our direction, his eyes smouldering. Jellal. He better not fuck things up tonight, after the stunt he had pulled earlier.
I turned to Erza. "Jellal's still here, leaning against that pillar. Stay close with us, I don't want him to pull any shit again," I said, my eyes narrowing.
Erza eyes diverted to the blue-haired boy's direction, before turning to mine again.
"Thanks for the heads up Ul, I know," she said, her face twisting into a sad face, the one of someone who was broken. I felt sorry that she had to go through this, even though months ago, we were clawing at each other for that boy.
Now that I think about it, the old me was so immature. I acted like a bitch, to everyone. My own transformation shocked me now. I had changed, for the better. I was surrounded by great friends, a band, everything I could ever wish for.
I was happy. Than I had ever been before.
My thoughts were interrupted by an approaching assistant.
"Crush, the commercial break will be over in two minutes. It will be soon time for the judgement."
My blood started rushing faster. I glanced over at the rest, who all had uneasy faces, even Erza. She assistant explained the procedure to us, before rushing away.
We all faced each other, no words exchanged between us, because we knew what each of us were thinking. This was it. It was either make or break for us. One decision that could change us, and everything that would come our way.
We were soon called out, and we went to the stage, greeted by a huge round of cheers, screams and applause. We stood at the end of the row, made up of the three final groups. The judges gave their respective comments for every group, before coming up to the stage.
"In third place...we have..." My heart beat wildly, my fists clenching.
"Next To The Doom!" the judges announced, and as the crowd yelled, as the group came forward to accept their award and prize, before retreating behind.
I nearly cried in relief, but the next moment was fast approaching. This was it. I was aware of Wendy taking hold of my hand. The entire group was holding each other's hands. I clenched my fists, squeezing my eyes shut. The pressure was squeezing me, inside and out.
"In second place...is..."
The crowd was screaming in anticipation, as I felt the first tear leak out from my eyes.
This is it. The moment that will change me, change us.
Even the judges were nervous, as I heard their uneasy chuckle and falter in their voice.
"Second place goes to..."
Oh my god.
"...Infinity!"
(*)
My eyes flickered open. Time seemed to stop. Everything was moving slowly. Wendy had released my hand. Lucy was on her knees, her face in her hands. Juvia and Erza were locked into an embrace, Juvia's shoulders were shaking. I could roughly make out the next words over the roar of the audience, who were on their toes.
"Crush has won Project Superstar!"
I could feel arms embracing me, multiple people trying to hug me, but I couldn't make out who. I could feel the tears roll down my cheeks, as I let out a shout of joy as the news sank in.
We won.
Once we had gotten over he shock, we walked over to where the judges were standing in the middle of the stage. They hugged us, before Erza was handed a trophy to hold and the rest of us, a giant piece of paper, with the L.A skyline on it.
"Crush will be heading to Los Angeles, California, to train and particpate in the World Final of Project Superstar, and that if they win that, will score a recording deal with Fairy Tail Records and $500,000 in prizes!"
This was unreal. Everything was a blur, the roar of the audience, the tears in everyone's eyes, the stream of congratulations from the particpants, the cameras rolling in from all directions to zoom in on us. We were the centre of it all. We had done it. We had made the first major leg of our journey.
Lucy, 11.47p.m
After the show, we were ushered backstage where everyone congratulated us. Everyone was so excited, and I heard that they were taking us to an after-party at a bar downtown, even though we were underage to even enter one.
However, I requested to be taken home. I had something to finish, something I had left hanging for too long.
My family.
As much as the victory had turned my life around, they had to know. I couldn't keep running any longer. Besides, we were to leave for L.A tomorrow, how on earth could I just pack up my bags and leave overnight without a word?
The taxi stopped at the front of my house. I nearly did not want to get out, before the driver told me to "pass him the cash and hurry up". I paid, and took a step outside, mustering all the courage I could gather. This was going to be difficult. I walked to my porch, trying the door. It was unlocked. I opened the door to find my baby sister playing near the stairs. She let out a squeal as she saw me, and I heard the flicker of the TV being turned off.
I dropped my bag on the side table, before heading to the living room, where both my parents were seated. They turned to me, before beckoning me inside. I settled down on an armchair next to the couch they were seated at. My father was staring at me, my mother's eyes not glancing at me, but at her slippers on the floor.
"You're late today, Lucy," my father said, his voice unnaturally calm.
"Yeah.." I trailed off.
"Why were you late though? Project at Erza's house took a little too long?"
"Um, you see Dad..."
He grabbed the remote from his side, and turned on the TV, and I nearly fell out of my seat. Fairy Tail TV was on. The last part of Project Superstar was on, where I could see everyone hugging us on stage, and the scene rewinded to the part where we had performed. I gaped at the television.
"...Or were you particpating in a music show we had no idea about?" he said, raising his voice.
I couldn't speak, the words wouldn't form on my mouth. My mother looked up, grabbing my father's arm.
"Jude, please-"
"No Layla!" he said, getting up and pacing the room.
He looked at me, his eyes a mixture of sadness and anger. I couldn't bear to see my father like this.
"Why did you not tell us about this Lucy? Why did you lie about all those nights you came home late? It was for this wasn't it?"
"Yes, Dad." I said, quietly.
"Why Lucy?" he repeated again. I decided to just spill everything out.
"Dad, I love music. I've told you about it so many times. I wanted to go into that industry. But you both opposed the idea. You told me 'You can't earn much', 'What will you do if you don't make it?' I had no choice but to go behind your backs!" I said, anguished.
My father looked shocked at my outburst. "But you don't understand! Do you know what happens to musicians? They go into drugs, they forget everything around themsleves, they become ruined and-"
"Stop it Dad! Do you not trust me enough to follow my own dreams? Don't dictate my life for me!" I yelled.
"I'm just telling you what is good for you!"
"No Dad, you're not! If you really knew me, if you really believed in me, you will let me go to L.A tomorrow," I said, my voice cold.
My parents stared at me, obviously indecisive. The tension in the room was so thick you couldn't even cut it with a knife.
"We can't. We can't let you go," my mother said, and my father nodded, their expressions grim.
My muscles turned rigid, coldness seeping into my bones. Without a word, I turned away, and bounded up the stairs, towards my room, slamming the door shut.
Anger coursed through my veins, as I lay on my bed, my head throbbing and anguish washing over me. I looked over to my wall, where my Electric poster was still up. Natsu's face stared down at me, his expression almost plasticky and unreal, as I remembered his face from today.
"I guess I'll be seeing you soon."
I wasn't Lucy Heartfilia, seventeen-year old school student anymore. I was a part of Crush. I would fly to L.A tomorrow. I would live my dreams.
I sat up and pulled out a duffel from underneath my bed. I opened my closet doors, gathering some clothes, my essential items and toiletries, my passport and some cash before stuffing it in my bag. I took a shower, as I was too sweaty and sticky, before changing into some new clothes. I stood in front of my Electric poster, everything ready behind me. I ripped it of the wall, rolling the glossy paper that was torn at the edges, and stuffing it under my bed.
I slept. I slept all the way until my phone started to ring. It was Erza.
"Hey, we're coming over to pick you up soon. Flight leaves in four hours."
"...Okay," I muttered, getting up.
I grabbed the duffel, and bounded down the stairs. Everyone was asleep, and I turned the lock to the front door and made my way outside.
As I walked down to the front yard, I turned around, to see my mother's face in the window of her bedroom, her blonde hair like a halo around her shoulders. I stopped, the tears threatening to fall. But she mouthed only one thing to me. "Go."
I turned away, and made my way to the glistening black car, pulling the car door open, and settling inside, where I saw the four of them lying on their seats, obviously wasted from the party. As the car pulled away, I caught one last glimpse of my home, before it vanished into the distance.
Hope you enjoyed that, and tell me what you think below!
Songs: Caraphernalia by Pierce The Veil and In The End by Black Veil Brides