Two weeks went by without much happening. That is, until the group of friends realized it was mid-April, and the 'Farewell Grads Night' was Friday night. They met two times after school during the week to make sure their song was perfect. The rest of the week was spent rehearsing their individual acts. Beck decided he would perform a short goodbye monologue, Cat wanted to show off her tap dancing, Robbie and Rex planned to do a comedy act, Jade, Tori, and Andre all decided to do solos. All of these performances were in addition to their new rendition of 'Make It Shine' that Helen allowed to be the last performance of the night. The six seniors were honored to be closing the show. For years, that spot has been open to only the finest performers, so it meant a lot to each of them that Helen respected them so much.
"So do you guys think we're ready for tonight?" Tori asked a little nervously. They had almost forgotten about the event completely, until Sikowitz had reminded them about auditions a week ago.
"I think we'll be fine." Beck replied calmly.
"Yeah, Robbie got his guitar part down, and Cat finally hit that last note perfectly. I think we got this." Andre added.
They all continued to eat their lunch while they watched Sinjin, Burf, and others set up the stage. It was a bittersweet moment for all of them just like the last few months had been. On one hand, they were always excited to perform, but on the other, it was sad to think this would be the last time they would be performing in their high school. No matter how different each of their personalities was, and no matter their likes or dislikes, they all had one thing in common—they loved Hollywood Arts. This last show would most likely be the final event to happen to them before graduation in just six weeks. Jade thought about how close the day she would receive her diploma was, and she really couldn't believe that it was really weeks away. It seemed like just last month it was the beginning of the second semester, and she and Beck were barely applying to college. Now, they were going to Cancun, moving into their dorms that were ridiculously close, and starting college all beginning with their graduation.
"Hey guys!" Sinjin greeted as he and Burf walked up to the table.
"What!?" Jade snapped as the rest of the table greeted kindly. Nothing out of the usual for her.
"We're just asking all the performers if they want to come to our soundcheck right after school." Sinjin explained his presence.
"What do you guys think?" Tori asked, looking back at her friends.
No one responded, but their looks were a good enough answer for her. She had just been slightly doubtful of how ready they actually were, so she gave Sinjin an answer.
"We'll be there." Tori announced.
"Fine. Be here as soon as the last bell rings." Sinjin instructed. He wanted to make sure that everyone had time to rehearse and still get ready for the show later that evening.
"We'll be there." Andre agreed.
"Okay, see you then." Sinjin said, beginning to walk away from the table.
"Bye Robbie." Burf waved as he walked away with Sinjin.
…
"Alright, the show is about to start. Is everyone ready?" Sinjin called from the end of the sea of students prepared to perform.
Even though most of the students had come to the soundcheck earlier, it was chaotic backstage, but that's just how everyone liked it. The frantic noise of everyone getting in last minute practice behind the curtain that was set up in the largest part of the Asphalt Café was what every single one of the seniors would miss about their insane school.
"Where are Robbie and Rex? You guys are up after the acrobatic routine." Sinjin announced.
The performers behind the stage were quieted by the sound of Helen giving a short speech to open the show. Once she was done, everyone's adrenalin had taken over, and they were all ready to show the crowd what they had prepared. Robbie finished getting himself and Rex ready just before their act was announced. They went on stage and Rex's verbal abuse to Robbie caused everyone in the audience to burst into laughter. Even their friends backstage got a good chuckle out of the act, even though they knew it wasn't completely an act. In fact, Rex had completely ruined what Robbie had planned, but if it made everyone laugh, he was happy to be harassed on stage.
A few more acts fell between each friend. Andre was the second of the group to go up, and as usual, he blew everyone away with his musical and vocal abilities. After a couple more performers, it was Cat's turn. She had been practicing her tap dancing for a while now, and she did a very good job at it. Beck's monologue followed just a few acts after Cat. He was a great actor, and after the way he delivered the monologue, the audience was left wanting more. Of course, his good looks helped, but he was just great at what he did. It was a goodbye monologue he had found online. After practicing it nonstop for the past week, he was able to deliver it with such emotion and power, that some people in the audience even shed a tear. Most of the seniors—whether they were performing or not—had chills all throughout their bodies during and after Beck spoke. Once he was done with his act, he took a seat with Cat, Robbie, and Andre in the audience to watch Tori and Jade's solos before they all had to get back on the stage and close the show.
Tori's solo was a nice upbeat song that she had heard on the radio a few times and decided she wanted to sing it. After getting the crowd up on their feet to dance with her, she finished the song, and everyone cheered. Even if she hadn't been at Hollywood Arts as long as the rest of her friends, she still felt a strong connection to it, and she was still sad to be leaving in just a few short weeks. After a couple more acts, Jade was the last to perform her solo. She chose to sing 'Father and Son' by Cat Stevens. It was slower than any other song that was performed before her, but it was beautiful and her voice was just perfect for it. Beck watched her sing it as she sat on a stool in the middle of the stage. He could not have been more proud to call her his girlfriend at that moment. Once she was done hitting the last note so effortlessly perfect, she received a standing ovation from the audience.
Cat, Beck, Tori, Robbie, and Andre all stood back up and headed backstage to prepare for their big number. They congratulated Jade on her remarkable performance and then began to get ready for their act together.
"Where's Beck?" Jade asked, a little panicked that her boyfriend was nowhere to be found, and they were just a few acts away from when they had to go on.
"I thought he was with you." Andre responded, confused.
"I went to check my makeup in the bathroom with Cat." Jade sassed.
"I swear I saw him walk inside the main hall behind you though." Andre replied.
"He's probably still in there." Robbie thought out loud.
"I'll go get him." Tori announced with a sigh.
When she walked inside the main hall, she saw Beck turn the corner towards her.
"There you are! We're on soon." Tori exclaimed.
"Sorry, I went to the bathroom, and I want to put my monologue in my locker. I printed it out so I could practice before I went on, and I obviously don't need it anymore." Beck explained as he walked to his locker.
"You did a really great job performing that, by the way." Tori complemented.
"Thanks. Your song was really well done, too." Beck admitted with a small smile as he stood back up from his squatting position at his locker.
They stood face-to-face for a short moment. Nothing happened, but they exchanged smiles until Tori spoke up.
"Hey, Beck…I have something to tell you…" Tori Began.
"You guys better get out here. We're next!" Cat squealed, interrupting Tori.
"We'll be right there!" Tori yelled back.
"We should get going. Can we finish this conversation up later?" Beck asked, feeling bad that whatever Tori had to say would have to be put off for a later time.
Tori agreed, and then she and Beck walked quickly back to their friends behind the curtain.
"And now, ladies and gentlemen, please help me welcome the closing performance of the evening with a round of applause, they are some of our most talented seniors, and we will all miss them next year." Helen announced.
The audience obeyed and clapped loudly as Jade, Cat, Beck, Andre, Tori, and Robbie took their places on the stage. As soon as Sinjin saw the cue, he began the music.
Every single one of their parts was perfectly blended together. All the worries they had before were completely forgotten as they sang their newly mixed version of a song they all knew too well. Andre's music was incredible when combined with Robbie's guitar skill. Beck's deep voice harmonized flawlessly with Jade's naturally deeper tone. Cat's ability to hit notes higher than anyone else was the perfect way to end the song after Tori sang as well.
When the song came to an end, the crowd went wild for the six teenagers' performance. As they stood in a line, they took each other's hands and bowed. In that moment, the fact that this song was the last they would ever sing at their beloved high school, and maybe even together, hit them hard. Although they tried not to show it, each of them was fighting hard to hold back tears of happiness, pride, and even sadness.
Author's Note: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I wish so badly that I could get the cast together to make the version of 'Make It Shine' I had in mind for you all to hear. Just imagine the most perfect song ever lol! Fun fact: 'Father and Son' was NOT the song I had originally picked for Jade to sing, but I listened to Liz's cover of the song(found on her YouTube channel) and it was stuck in my head, so I couldn't resist! As always, please review and enjoy the KCAs tonight(: