A/N: Merry Christmas! An update! I've wanted to write but then I would get distracted and start doing something else and there are just no excuses. I'm really sorry. So here's the next chapter and literally just like send me a review if I don't post again and be like "hey you should please update" and I'll be motivated to do it. :p
Disclaimer: I do not own Lemonade Mouth or any of the characters. If I did, Rayella would be on like Donkey Kong.
Imagine a freshly renovated auditorium, full of chattering students. Some were familiar with the school's number one band, Lemonade Mouth. Others were confused, and anticipating the performance to come. The noise meshed together, annoying those that were sitting alone.
Either way, the auditorium was buzzing and people were excited.
Ray on the other hand was not. Being there, opening for the band he hated most in the world was the last thing he wanted to do, ever. He was already trying as hard as he could to keep his popularity status and now everyone at Mesa was going to think that he was inferior to those dorks.
And he couldn't even stand his ground because he was helping Stella Yamada lie to her best friend.
Honestly, Ray wasn't sure why sticking to the plan was so important to him. Maybe it's because it was so funny messing with Stella, considering she got so angry. He thinks it might be because it could possibly lead to Patty leaving him alone. That had to be it because he definitely wasn't doing it just to be nice to Stella.
He'd gone through the rest of the school day sulking, ignoring his 'friends' and not answering Scott's questions about Stella. Did the guy not understand that Ray hated his new band? The only reason Ray tolerated them lately was because him and Scott just fixed their friendship and he didn't want to fuck it up again. Honestly, Scott was the only real friend Ray had considering how fake everyone else was. It sucked but it was life, and Ray wasn't about to let people know that it actually bothered him most of the time. He was the popular guy at Mesa. If people found out he actually had feelings, they'd use it against him. That was just how high school was.
Brenigan was talking, giving the beginning of the school year speech. Ray yawned, and crossed his arms. He'd be opening in a matter of minutes, officially submitting to the Lemon Heads by letting the school think the band was superior to him.
"We're going to start this off with some music, yeah? Opening up for Lemonade Mouth," Brenigan started. Ray sighed. Really? "Ray Beech!"
The crowd cheered. Most of them already knew him. He was famous at Mesa, of course they did. The freshman all looked around, confused looks on their faces. He was about to walk out, when someone grabbed his arm. He looked to see Stella. He smirked "My day keeps getting better. What do you want?"
Stella huffed, ignoring his greeting "I need for you to sing a love song or something and dedicate it to me."
Ray stared at her for a second before laughing loudly "No way in hell. Are you high, Yamada?" That earned him a glare, but he didn't care. Did she really think he'd sing her a love song? Or sing anyone a love song for that matter.
"No I'm not, but that will seal the deal with Mo, and the rest of the school will know we're 'together'. Plus I heard Patty talking earlier, telling these girls that you're her girlfriend. You can make sure she and everyone else know that you don't belong to her."
He shook his head again "So they can all think I belong to you? No Stella."
Stella gave him her best bitch face "I'll tell Patty you said you love her."
"You wouldn't," Ray responded, his face suddenly serious. If Patty thought he said that, she'd probably start creeping into his window at night while he slept. His parents wouldn't care, if they were even home, and then he wouldn't be able to keep her crazy ass away from him.
"I would," Stella said with a happy smirk on her face. He was defeated.
"Ray," Brenigan called again. Ray sighed, grabbed his guitar, and walked out onto the stage. Stella was lucky there was one song that he liked to play that could qualify as a love song.
"I'm Ray Beech. I'm a senior here at Mesa. Um..," It was now or never. "I'm dating Stella Yamada." It tasted like vinegar coming out of his mouth. "And this song's for her." While the audience gaped at him, he played the first chords of the song.
The strands in your eyes that color them wonderful
Stop me and steal my breath
And emeralds from mountains thrust towards the sky
Never revealing their depth
He kind of hated to admit that the chords came naturally to him but they did. He wasn't a love song type of guy but he did dig this one. The audience continued to gape, still shocked at his and Stella's 'relationship'. He saw Patty glaring, with her arms crossed tightly over her chest. If he wasn't mistaken, that was the look of resignation. Well at least one good thing came from it.
And I'll be your crying shoulder,
I'll be love's suicide.
I'll be better when I'm older,
I'll be the greatest fan of your life.
He continued to sing, until he finished off the song. Some of the crowd awed and had starts in their eyes. All because of love. They were all so pathetic. Others in the crowd looked confused. Then there were the select few-those that he called his 'friends'- who looked disgusted. Well he felt disgusted so he understood how they felt. He gave a fake smile though. "So let's see Lemonade Mouth, yeah?"
The crowd cheered, and he internally rolled his eyes. Fuck these people and their taste of music.
He walked off the stage, making sure Stella could see the scowl on his face. It was her fault all of this was happening in the first place. Stupid Stella Yamada.
Lemonade Mouth went on, doing their thing. Prancing around, and singing. Sucking. Whatever, Ray was bitter and he didn't want to admit it. So he would just silently judge the Lemon Heads and Stella for somehow fucking his life up so bad.
He stood to the side of the stage with his arms crossed, watching them. Until he heard someone scoff from behind him. He glanced over his shoulder to see a guy he'd never seen before. He looked their age though, so he must've been new or something. He was watching Lemonade Mouth with a look that Ray would have given them last year. One of definite judgment and superiority.
Who did this guy think he was?
The new guy was standing with a girl, a junior that Ray vaguely recognizes. The two of them talked softly, laughing in between sentences and motioning towards the band on stage. No way. No fucking way was Ray letting this happen. Sure, he hated Lemonade Mouth but it was his job to judge them. Not this douchebags.
So Ray naturally did the first thing that came to his mind. He approached the guy. As he got closer, he heard the girl call him Dean. Well Dean you're got a dickhead.
Dean laughed and nodded "No you're right. I don't know who told these guys they have talent because they don't." Ray raised an eyebrow. Seriously? First, that wasn't even really a burn. Second, his ears must have been broken because even if Ray didn't like the Lemon Heads he could at least admit they had talent.
Dean seemed to notice Ray was there because he stopped talking, and stared at him expectantly. Ray smirked "Yeah, okay I'm going to make this brief. See that band up there? Yeah. Listen, dude, no one can make fun of Lemonade Mouth but me. Okay I've been here longer, it's been my thing longer and you're just not good at it at all. Turn around and walk away."
Dean scoffed "Really, dude? Isn't that one right there your girlfriend or something?"
"Which is just another reason for me to tell you to back off," Ray responded. Sure his popularity was slowly being taken from him, as was his freedom. But there was one thing he could still do, and that was to show how badass he was. Lemonade Mouth had nothing to do with that. That was all him.
Dean took a step forward. So did Ray. There were getting in each other's faces, and showing that they weren't going to step down. Oh yeah. This was going to be fun.
The band came off the stage, approaching Ray and his new bud Dean. Charlie, Wen and Olivia walked off to the side, wanting to be away from any fighting that might break out. Scott told Mo to go over with them and reluctantly she did. Stella walked up next to Ray, an eyebrow raised. "What's goin' on boys? Looks like our testosterone levels are a little bit high today."
"Is there a problem," Scott asked, ready to jump in to help Ray out if he needed to.
Dean rolled his eyes "Yeah there is. You guys suck and people seem to worship the ground you walk on. How does that make sense?"
Stella's smirk fell from her face, replaced with a trademark glare "Excuse me?"
Ray held his arm out in front of her to stop her from pouncing "Easy spitfire. I've got this one."
"Except you don't have anything. You're not badass and if you're hanging out with these losers you're obviously not cool either. Plus you seem to be confused since you said that only you can make-" Ray cut Dean off, throwing a punch at him. He figured he did pretty well when the cocky prick went down and his own hand throbbed a little bit.
Principle Brenigan ran backstage, with his eyes wide "What is going on right now?"
Ray shook his head, feigning shock "I don't know sir. Some kid just punched poor Dean here and ran off."
"It's true. I saw it with my own eyes," Stella said, nodding her head. Ray looked at her, smirking at her helping him. Sometimes she was cool. Even if she was an evil succubus.
The rest of the band nodded, throwing in agreements.
Brenigan nodded "Alright. Mr. Jenko, go ahead and go to the nurse." He turned his attention to Ray and Lemonade Mouth, a smile forming on his lips "Great job all of you. You did excellent." He nodded one last time before turning and walking away.
Dean got up, glared at Ray, and walking away with the junior girl in tow. Ray laughed once. What an idiot. "Well I don't know about you guys but I'm hungry."
Stella was staring at him and it was starting to creep him out. "What," Ray asked.
"You just punched that kid for making fun of us," She said, an actual smile on her lips.
Ray shrugged "Yeah well. You're my girlfriend so…"
Stella smiled wider and nodded "Yeah. Yeah you are. Let's go get food guys."
A/N: "Listen dude no one gets to make fun of lemonade mouth but me." Chris Brochu's words, not mine. :P and I took an idea from one of my reviewers to have Ray sing Stella a love song. Super sorry but over break I'm going to write a few chapters. :)