Hey, thanks for those who reviewed, favorited, and followed this story. :) Here is chapter eight.
CHAPTER EIGHT
"You don't have to tag along, you know," Gina mutters. She, Ryder, Marley, Jake, and Unique are walking along the rows of seats in the auditorium, trying to find the best spot to see the stage.
"I wanted to," Ryder says coolly. "Won't be right for you to be alone here with a stranger you just met, will it?"
"But you don't have to ask the entire crew to join you," she whispers, glancing at Marley, Jake, and Unique.
"Just for precautions," Ryder mumbles.
"Gina! Welcome!" Nick suddenly appears onstage. "I saw your performance today, and you blew my mind. You were indescribable. And, you got me inspired."
As if on cue, around a dozen other Dalton Academy students walk onto the stage. They form a neat formation around Nick, with Sebastian and the blonde-haired Warbler, Jeff, on either side of Nick. Sebastian has a mischievous grin on his face, and he winks at Gina. She shudders; he needs to stop doing that. It feels like getting winked at by the devil.
"This one's for you, Gina Halim." Nick says, and nods at his friends.
The group breaks into an a capella. At least three of the Warblers are beatboxing, while the others are harmonizing the melody. Then, Nick takes center stage and sings the solo.
Didn't they say that I would make a mistake
Didn't they say you were gonna be trouble
People told me you were too much to take
I could see it, I didn't wanna know
The Warblers harmonize the song so well that Gina sometimes forgets that they're doing it a capella. Throughout the performance, though, Gina's eyes are fixed on Nick alone. He does a little dance, simple movements with his hands and some easy steps, but he makes them look good. He has a certain… charm coming off him. He has his own charisma, his own vibe that captures Gina's attention.
You'll be there, when I needed somebody
You'll be there, the only one could help me
I had a picture of you in my mind, never knew it could be so wrong
Why it take me so long just to find?
The friend that was there all along
Nick keeps on gesturing his movements towards Gina throughout the song. Gina watches the whole thing with an amused expression on her face. She isn't smiling, but the edges of her lips are curled upwards into a sneer.
Ryder, he keeps an eye on Nick, frowning, scoffing every time he turns to point at Gina. Sometimes he glances over at Gina to check her expression. He doesn't look too happy on what he sees.
Jake and Unique seem to enjoy the song, not really caring what is going on, but Marley thinks differently. She keeps sneaking glances at Gina, also trying to check on her expression. Then, slowly, her eyes wander to Ryder. He looks unhappy. He has his eyes narrowed now, hands folded tightly in front of his chest. Those big, muscular, yet gentle arms…
Marley shakes herself off the delusion. She focuses back on the Warblers, trying to keep her racing heart at rest.
I had a picture of you in my mind, never knew it could be so wrong
Why it take me so long just to find?
The friend that was there all along
The song ends, and the Warblers neatly returned to their formation. They have their hands folded in front of them, and all of them are beaming with pride, even Sebastian. Performing onstage just gives them pure joy.
Nick, though, doesn't stop there. He jumps down from the stage and walks to where Gina is standing. Marley, Jake, and Unique part to make way for him. Ryder, who is standing on Gina's left, puts a hand on Gina's shoulder defensively, but Gina shakes it off.
"So," Nick says, still slightly panting from all the singing and dancing, "Friday, six o'clock, Breadstix? What do you say?"
Gina is silent for a moment. Ryder feels heat coming off him. He wishes Gina would just say no. Say no, so that this scumbag would leave her alone. Ryder doesn't trust Nick. He's not sure why, but he just doesn't, and he has this impulse to keep Gina as far away from Nick as possible.
"First off, that song doesn't even make any sense because you just met me today," Gina says, unsmiling. "Horrible choice of song if you were expecting to seduce a girl into going to a lame date with you. It's like one of those cheap soap operas where people can just fall in love in a day and live happily ever after. Second of all, Boyzone? It's really cheesy. Can't you pick something a little more modern? Bruno Mars is a thousand times more romantic than Boyzone."
Nick stares at her, confused and impressed at the same time. "So…"
"So you need to make some extra effort to impress me on Breadstix later, mister Ronan-Keating-wanna-be," Gina says, and lets out a tiny smile. "Friday. Six o'clock. Don't be late."
Nick grins triumphantly. "I won't. See you there, then."
Gina pushes him away with a laugh.
Behind her, Ryder puts on a sour face, one Marley regards with a thoughtful look.
What do you think of Nick serenading Gina? Isn't he the sweetest?
NB: The song is Picture of You by Boyzone. It is one of the earliest songs I memorized when I was a kid. I do not think of this song, or Boyzone, as cheesy. Gina does.