Chapter Eleven

Chemistry? Hell No.


"You ready, my lady?" Brecc asked once I'd entered the room again.

"I keep waiting for the day when you'll quit asking me that considering I'm always ready."

"I don't wanna catch you by surprise," he said, shrugging.

"I don't get surprised, Brecc. You've tried countless times and failed just as many."

"You never get surprised?" a voice whispered in my ear, causing the hair on the back of my neck to stand on end.

Grinding my teeth, I took a step away from Rider and all but spat out, "Let's get this over with."

"Ah, see that's the chemistry I want to see out there!" Brecc exclaimed, rolling his eyes at us. "I certainly hope you two rehearsed your duets together like Khriste asked you to. It'd be a real damn shame if our two stars are the ones who make this show go to hell." And with that he and the others went to take their places out on the stage.

I was just about to feel bad, for I had indeed not practiced with Rider, and I had never planned to because I didn't want to sing with him in the first place. But then Rider turned to face me with an almost hurt look on his face, and I didn't feel bad at all. In fact, I felt almost smug.

"Why do I get the feeling you hate me?" And just like that my smug feeling turned to irritation. The dickhead needed to disappear, or better yet die.

"Why do I get the feeling you're a relentless asshole? Oh wait, that's not a feeling! It's a fucking fact."

"Ouch, we're getting mouthier and mouthier." He tsked his tongue. "That's not very ladylike, Princess—"

"Don't call me that," I growled.

"Why not?" he asked innocently. "It's cute."

"I'm not cute."

"Ah well I'm sure some would—"

"—our very own birthday girl, Sozo Brocheveska!" I heard Adrian's voice ring out, cutting Rider off. Now, more than ever, I really adored that voice of his.

"In case you couldn't tell, that's our cue. So don't screw this up," I hissed at him before making my way towards the stage. But just before we stepped into view Rider grabbed my hand, causing me to freeze.

"Make sure while we're out on that stage that you at least pretend like you tolerate me, yeah Princess? And maybe next time we'll get together and practice, so I can know every move you're going to make."

I ripped my hand out of his grasp, casting him a withering look. "That will never happen, and I can promise you that, asshat." He grinned at me as he stepped by me onto the stage. Jaw clenched, I counted to ten before I followed him, putting on what I hoped was a convincing smile of my own.

"Wow! We've got quite the turnout tonight!" I said enthusiastically as soon as Adrian charmed my voice, glancing around the all-but bursting Great Hall. "But who am I kidding? You're all here for some jackass whose birthday happens to be today, aren't you?" Laughter erupted as Sirius leapt up onto the makeshift stage and stood across from me.

"Funny, Sozo," he said after James cast the Sonorus charm on him, "I wouldn't have pegged you as the type to be so down on yourself." He turned to the crowd and said in an admonishing tone, "You'd think after seventeen years that this girl would learn to love herself, but alas that is never the case with her."

I punched him lightly in the arm. "You're hopeless, Black."

"And you love me for it, Brochevska!" He threw an arm around my shoulders, bringing me close to him. "Who wants to help me serenade this beauty for a change tonight?" Applause and cheers rose up from the crowd.

I beamed and wrapped my arm around his waist. "OR how about everyone helps me wish this moron a happy birthday?" Adrian then began to put out a beat and Brecc, Khriste, and the rest of the band followed suit as they entire room erupted in the happy birthday song. It was beautifully awful and by the time it was over neither Sirius or I could erase the smiles off our faces.

Sirius kissed the top of my head and winked at me before he hopped off the stage back into the front row, taking his place by James, Remus, Peter, and Lily and her friends.

"Thank you everyone for the crowd participation! You guys have my heart!" I laughed as I gave Adrian another signal—this one to start the show.

The room went dark as they began to make their magic. A single light appeared, shining on me when I began to sing. Somehow, for some reason unbeknownst to me, almost all my doubts I had about being on stage, sharing what I loved to do most with him, disappeared as I (as always) was swept away by the music of this slower tune.

"Fri-day, I'm dreaming a mile a minute 'bout some-body, this feeling I wanna go with it

"'Cause there's no way, we're hiding away from this tonight…oh, this tonight

"Can tell you want me by the way I see you starin'

"'Cross the room, babe, no shame in the game, just cut the shit

"Be hon-est, yeah, you know what you gotta do tonight, do tonight."

I locked eyes with Rider from where he was leaning nonchalantly against Khriste's tech equipment across the stage from me. He didn't smirk or even smile, but the way his eyes shone sent chills through me, almost stunning me enough to make me speechless. I dropped my eyes from his and looked back out over the crowd.

"Just want you to make me move like it ain't a choice for you, like you got a job to do

"Just want you to raise my roof, something sensational…"

I felt Rider move close behind me as he ran is hands down the sides of my body from my shoulders to just below my hips. Even though his sudden presence slightly startled me, it wasn't at all unexpected…or unpleasant. Without permission from my brain, my body responded to his and I felt myself leaning into him as my hips began to sway to the rhythm.

"And make me ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh…

"And make me ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh…

I turned around to face him and wrapped my arms around his neck as he pulled me closer, once again locking eyes with me. We began to dance in a way that wasn't necessarily appropriate for anyone under the age of thirteen, but I'm not sure either of us cared as—I hated to admit it, but—the chemistry between us rose up and consumed us.

"No rules, from the bar to the car, let's take it back to my room, igniting the heat of the moment

"Let those sparks fuse, blowing up to the ceiling, we're burning bright…when we cut the line

"Cause you're the flame I can't do without, the fire comes in the sky falls down

"There's no way I'm gonna be fighting this tonight, this tonight

"I just want you to make me move, like it ain't a choice for you, like you got a job to do

"Just want you to raise my roof, something sensational…

"And make me ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh…

"And make me ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh…

"Baby, because you're the spark that won't go out, my heart's on fire when you're around

"And make me ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh…"

Rider spun me around and dipped me as he began to sing his part, once again letting his hands roam freely over my body.

"I don't care if it's a random person or the biggest star, out in Vegas or little bars

"Really not a difference if it's near or far

"Listen, here we are, need you, I've always wondered what was off limits

"Staring at you til I'm caught in this, back and forth like this is all tennis

"I'm all jealous, you came with someone, but we can tell that there's changes coming

"See I could tell that you're a dangerous woman

"That means you're speaking my language, come on

"Now follow me, let's go, well it worth the stealing you, it's a felony, yeah I know

"That's why they keep on telling me to let go, yeah

"But I need you and I can take you all the way and I'm able to give you something sensational

"So let's go, yeah, said I need you and I can take you all the way and I'm able

"So follow me and I can make you…"

I cut back in with my voice as he echoed me. "And make me ooh (move), ooh, ooh (yeah), ooh…

"And make me ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh…

"Baby, because you're the spark that won't go out, my heart's on fire when you're around

"And make me ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh…

"Yeah, you make me ooh…" We ended the song and our dance, nose to nose, my hands on his chest and his on my hips, with almost no space between the two of us. The crowd erupted in applause and there were several whistles and catcalls. Rider gave me a wink before he stepped away, allowing me to breathe my own air. And without another second to waste, the band picked up again as Rider began his solo.

I tried to control my slightly quick breaths as I backed over next to Khriste to get a glass of water. She, of course, was beaming from ear to ear as she placed her lips next to my year and all but yelled,

"Now that was the chemistry I've been dying to see out on that stage between you two!" All I could do was roll my eyes as I tuned in to the rest of the concert, trying to ignore the fact that my body was agreeing wholeheartedly with Khriste.


A/N: Honestly I'm sure you guys are all tired of my excuses and apologies by now, so I'll spare you. But I want to thank each and every one of you for staying with me and being so faithful to this story! :)

To those who celebrate, I hope you had a Merry Christmas! And to all the others, I hope you enjoy whatever holidays it is that you celebrate! I love you all dearly!

And also, thanks to a reviewer and some more recent research online, I found when Sirius' birthday really was. However, as you can see I didn't use that date because I didn't know. So my question to you all is this: Are you okay with me leaving it in September and just ignoring that it's wrong, or do you guys want me to cut these chapters and use them later on down the road? I'm all ears to what it is you guys would rather. I'm torn as of right now, because I hate that I screwed up.

Also I promise next chapter will be more exciting and the story will start picking up here soon.

Until next (preferably short) time,

Nike 3