Chapter 3
Weeks passed and finally the battle of the bands had finally arrived. "Okay," Tim began. "I did some calculations, there are three schools attending the battle of the bands. This round, Only six bands can pass. At that point, the three schools merge and they keep knocking off band members from each school until we're one each, the final three, and the winner wins a trophy and a thousand dollars for each member. The other two schools already chose their six bands, so our school is all we have left." Phoebe squirmed uncomfortably. "What's up, Pheebs?" Carlos asked. "One of the schools is where I would have gone if I was still in my old school!" Tim gave his girlfriend's hand a reassuring squeeze. "Don't worry, everything will be fine." "You three seem ready," Wanda continued, "But me, Keesha and Phoebe need to steal DA for a bit, before the band." Carlos and Ralphie nodded. "Yeah, you two can hang with me." Arnold added. "I can give you two a ride to the stadium, if you'd like." Ralphie and Carlos smiled. "Thanks, Arn." Ralphie said. Carlos nodded, then turned to wink at a passing girl, causing her to turn into jelly." "Seriously?" DA snapped. Carlos shrugged. "I can't help it if they're attracted to me." DA was about to say something else, but the bell rang, so she threw her bookbag over her shoulder and tore out of the room. "Remember, 6:00!" Ralphie called after her. The rest of the day was quite uneventful, nobody was paying attention due to the excitement of the battle of the bands, the teachers didn't bother to give them homework, knowing it wouldn't be done, (Dorothy Ann nearly had a meltdown) and there wasn't even alot of work done. When the final bell rang, the students ran out of the school and home to get ready. Carlos and Ralphie, after calling their families and explaining, went to Arnold's house. "So, you guys need to get there by 6:00?" Arnold asked. "Yeah." Ralphie answered. "DA is off having some girl time with Keesha, Wanda and Phoebe." When the three got to the Pearlstein's, Mrs. Pearlstein ordered a pizza for Carlos and Ralphie, and calls were made to the Tennellis and the Ramons for Ralphie's drums and Carlos' guitar. The three guys spent the next hour held up in Arnold's room, stuffing their faces. "By the way," Arnold remarked, "what are you three doing for your style?" "Style?" "Yeah, when I took Wanda to a concert for our anniversary, I noticed the band had it's own style. So, what are you guys doing for your style?" Carlos shrugged. "Never thought of it. I mean, we have the Everyman, the school's sex-machine and the smartest girl on earth..." "Aww, I didn't know you thought I was that hot." Ralphie joked. "Don't flatter yourself." Carlos warned. "I guess we'd be wearing our own style." Arnold was about to say something else, but his dad came in. "Guys? It's 5:49. You should probably go now if we want to be on time." The three boys scrambled downstairs, threw the drums and guitar in Arnold's van and drove to the school. When they got there, it was 5:55, and the girls were already there, but Carlos and Ralphie couldn't see Dorothy Ann. "Hey, guys." Wanda called, running over to them and kissing Arnold on the cheek. "Where's DA?" Carlos asked. Wanda's eyes got a mischievous look to them. "Oh, she's just... Finishing up." The second she finished, Dorothy Ann, or at least her twin, popped up next to them. "Hi guys. Glad to see you made it." She smiled. Carlos and Ralphie stood, jaw dropped. DA was wearing a purple tank top, purple mini-skirt, fishnet leggings and arm gloves, leather boots and her long blonde hair was teased into two pigtails and smudged with purple hair chalk. And her face had the right amount of make-up on to give her a rockstar look. "Oh," DA blushed, tugging on her skirt. "I told Wanda I didn't want so much purple." The guys shook their heads as if clearing water from their ears. "No, no." Ralphie said. "Well, we should go get ready." After the three of them set up Ralphie's drums and tuned Carlos' guitar, it was time. The first four acts were mediocre at best: two Madonna songs, a Justin Beiber and a Weird Al Yankovich. The next four sucked. It was just scratching and squealing. Then the ninth band came up. "Hello, everybody." A girl with long legs, a big chest and long, bouncy hair squeaked. "We're Carlos' Girls. Hit it!" While they broke into a, rather interesting cover of Divynal's 'I touch myself', DA turned to Carlos. "Carlos' Girls?" She asked, exasperated. Carlos nervously laughed. "I... Umm... Kinda slept with all three of them... simultaneously." "You really need to get tested." DA snapped. "Hey, I use protection!" "I meant for mental issues." "Thank-you!" The singer concluded. "WE LOVE YOU CARLOS!" The remaining three squealed. "Up next, is Drug-X." The principal announced. "I think I'm going to be sick." Ralphie groaned. "Pull yourself together, Man." Carlos hissed. Finally, Ralphie, Carlos and DA went onstage and began performing. There was one tiny hiccup when Carlos' voice broke during the final chorus, but the audience was so riled up, no one noticed. Finally, they finished up and were cheered offstage. When they got into the audience, Wanda, Arnold, Phoebe and Keesha pulled them into a group hug, and from the sound booth, Tim gave them a thumbs up. "I'm going to get some water." Carlos called out. "Anyone want anything?" The others shook their heads. DA went back to the next performers who were singing a weird acoustic cover of MTC, and having to wrestle the mike and instruments away from the principal. Finally, the principal had no choice but to close the curtains on the band and declare disqualification. "Excuse me?" Some one asked. DA turned in surprise and saw a boy around her age. He had spiky black hair that had a blue tint to it, huge hazel eyes that were surrounded by really thick eyeliner and a well chiseled face. "I saw you perform." He said. Dorothy Ann stared blankly. Normally, guys like him, (except Carlos) didn't talk to girls like her. "I thought you were quite good." "Thank-you." DA finally managed to squeak. "My name is Judd." The boy said. "Dorothy Ann." DA said, shaking his hand. "How come I haven't seen you around, Judd?" She asked. "I go to another school. Just thought I'd check out the competition. Didn't think it would be so... Cute." DA blushed. "That's a bit forward." She said. Judd grinned. "Do you sing as well as pretty-boy?" DA nodded. "Ok, Dorothy Ann, why don't we try a duet? Outside?" "You're on!" When the two got outside, Judd turned. "This will be a singing mash-up. Ok?" DA nodded. "Good. Ladies first." DA racked her brain until she came up with an idea:
With a taste of your lips I'm on a ride
You're toxic I'm slipping under
With a taste of poison paradise
I'm addicted to you
Don't you know that you're toxic
When she finished, Judd cut her off and went off to another song.
I am a little bit of loneliness, a little bit of disregard
Handful of complaints but I can't help the fact
That everybody can see these scars
I am what I want you to want, what I want you to feel
But it's like no matter what I do, I can't convince you
To just believe this is real
So I, let go watching you turn your back like you always do
Face away and pretend that I'm not
But I'll be here cause you're all that I've got
At that point, DA sang her part. Walking over to Judd, she felt a surge of power, like a lion stalking prey.
With a taste of your lips I'm on a ride
You're toxic I'm slipping under
With a taste of poison paradise
I'm addicted to you
Don't you know that you're toxic
And I love what you do
Don't you know that you're toxic
Don't you know that you're toxic
As the two of them sang their parts, they found themselves moving closer to each other, moving like they were stalking their prey.
I am, a little bit insecure, a little unconfident
'cause you don't understand I do what I can
Sometimes I don't make sense
I am, what you never wanna say, but I've never had a doubt
It's like no matter what I do I can't convince you for once just to hear me out
So I, let go watching you turn your back like you always do
You face away and pretend that I'm not
But I'll be here cause you're all that I've got
With a taste of your lips I'm on a ride
You're toxic I'm slipping under
With a taste of poison paradise
I'm addicted to you
Don't you know that you're toxic
With a taste of your lips I'm on a ride
You're toxic I'm slipping under
With a taste of poison paradise
I'm addicted to you
Don't you know that you're toxic
While the two of them sang, and did a dance, they found themselves getting closer, until their lips were inches apart.
Intoxicate me now
With your lovin' now
I think I'm ready now I think I'm ready now
Intoxicate me now
With your lovin' now I'm ready now
..I won't be ignored
The two of them stopped and looked at each other. Somehow, they were tangled up in each other's arms, their lips only millimetres away. "Y... You were great." DA whispered, flustered. Judd responded by gently kissing her lips. DA felt her self, melt into it, slightly involuntarily. Meanwhile, a loud thud was heard as a cup hit the floor and a shocked Carlos witnessed the whole thing.