*Mia's P.O.V*

"Who's that?!"

The auditorium echoes-no more laughter. I am about to look up when Anna comes for me.

"Hey, we have to go." She tugs me back outside. We approach Zio's minivan, where everyone acts like I have resurrected.

"Oh, Mia, thank goodness!" Dalia tugs me to the boot. "I can't carry all this stuff."

"Where are the others?"

"I'll show you," Anna interjects, hurling two duffel bags. Dalia and I carry the rest of our stuff and tail her past several corridors and eyes. Soon, we approach a dressing room and meet the others in a frenzy.

"Kat!" Kean yells, doing her smoky makeup. "The tweezers are here!"

Kat runs for it after taking the bags off Anna. Harry also relieves me of my load.

"Charlie's not there," I mention, "warn him to return my book when you see him."

Our lead singer nods amusedly, but Leslie summons him on an errand. I arrange everyone's costumes on the racks. There are five red suits with eerie cutouts. However, Kean, Harry, and I have vests made of leather belts. I hope I don't sweat too much in mine.

After some time, we hear other schools arriving. Some bands sneak peeks at us, so Leslie shuts the door.

When she unlocks it and goes out, Harry discreetly lets Josh in to ask, "How many schools have arrived?"

"Like forty-something, I guess," Josh replies.

Kean stops her vocal warm-up. "Crap."

"Shouldn't we go see them?" Dalia squeaks, trying on her Bratz doll heels.

"Girl, Leslie doesn't want us to and for good reason."

"So, we should just sit here?"

Kat nods at the cutie like it's a no-brainer. "Anyway, how about our mates? Are they in the audience?"

"We're not in uniforms, so... we've kinda mixed with the public schoolers."

Kean groans, "So, you can't find people for us?"

"Urr," he retorts.

Harry slaps his back in gratitude while I request, "Hey, um, can you try and get my aunt somewhere nice to sit? I came with her; remember her car?"

"Oh!" Josh exclaims before assuring, "Ok, ok... I can do that."

"Thanks." I hope he doesn't freak out again like when he first saw her. He thought he was watching a ghost.

Kean buds in. "And a Noah. Darkskin, dreadlocks, probably in a green sweatshirt ... and is in the fifth or fourth row on the second floor -"

"OK!" Josh escapes.

When there's another knock on the door, Harry leaves the room this time. Dalia mumbles that it must be a girlfriend, but we hear male giggles. He reappears and beckons me over to the door. As I come out, he waves his friend goodbye.

"Hey you -"

"Charlie!" I forget to vex. He mimics my grin, and I almost gush about how much taller he's grown in two weeks - he's even taller than me - but then I remember. "My Nancy Drew!"

"Please, it's not yours."

"If I don't see it in the library Monday -"

"You'll what?" The humoured glint in his eyes is unwavering.

He has sass now, huh? We'll see. "I'll take all your favourite books."

"Wow, you can carry a library?"

"Wha ... Who are you?!" I gasp. He gives me a 'you started this,' look, to which I roll my eyes.

He leans on the wall, folding his arms smugly. "Wow. Your eye colour really pops out when you're angry."

"Really?" I flush.

"Yeah. I should piss you off more."

Great. Now, I'm a tomato. "Charlie - don't change the subject!"

"How about this." He proposes. "I'll return the book if you do your best today."

"As in, win?"

"Someone insinuated that you're scary a few minutes ago," he says.

My face displays: Huh?!

"And I suspect you can be when you're passionate about something. You're passionate about this, right?"

"Of course."

"Good."

"So, you ... want me to scare you?" I whisper.

He steps back, and I chortle. "Dude, what a pep talk."

"No, this is a deal. A truce even," he mutters.

I hesitate to reply because his demeanour is confusing - the way he switches in and out of confidence in a flash. "Ok, truce."

There's a pause. I news to break it.

"I like your sweater, by the way."

"Really?" His grin blasts. I nod, and he says, "It's really comfy, and the material is so soft -"

"Yea -" I touch his shoulder. He blinks. "Want to try it on?"

"Urm- sure."

He takes it off. Putting it on, I stutter, "Yeah, feels nice, like-like you said. I'd have to remove it when the performance - urm - "

"You can return it after... whenever."

"What if I don't want to return it?"

I don't know where the thought to say this comes from, but he considers my statement.

"Well, what if I keep stealing your favourites?"

"Charlie, don't you dare -"

"Goodwill, Mia," he utters before walking off. He meets Noah on his way, and they exchange pleasantries.

Afterwards, Noah struts fast, and assumes a spot beside me only to sigh. "I see it now."

"Huh?"

"That dude would be on top of you."

"HUH?!" I cover Noah's mouth. At least now I can remember Charlie has 'baby mama' as I kick the door open."Kean, your boo is here!"

"BOO!"

"BABY!" He squeals back. I free him so he rushes to kiss her. Everyone cringes. Kat lectures the air, and Dalia laments about not receiving visitors. The room turns rowdy. No one notices Zio's presence until he commands, "Ok, boys, out. Harry, I'll get you a nice place."

Males leave. We start changing. As I help Kean buckle the belts, the others finish in time to detect announcements amid the cacophony hitting our ears.

"They're saying all bands should move to the green room or ... huh?" Dalia grimaces.

"Let's wait for Leslie." Kat breezes.

"Wait for who?" The tensed woman materialises, barging in. "Would y'all hurry and get your behinds out of here!"

She doesn't need to say it twice. At lightning speed, we tail her, eschewing stares. About seven bands are already seated, anxiously chomping refreshments and doing touch-ups. Leslie gets us a couch next to a female group in garish overalls.

"Where's Harry?" Kat frowns. Our eyes roam around until we see him. He jogs towards us, and the girls ogle his freshly gelled hair.

Kean shakes her head at them."What will they do when you start singing?"

He shrugs.

More bands troop in, warming the temperature. Zoe and Leslie sit with other school instructors in the lounge. Dalia sleeps on Kat's lap while we singers remind ourselves of our lyrics. Anna is nowhere in sight.

The fifty-eighth band barges in when a bellow echoes, "ARE YOU READY?!!!!"

"Girl, it's starting. Wake up!"

"Mm?" Dalia pouts. "It's not gonna be our turn till ... hmm."

Kat huffs yet shields her ears from the resonating applause. Two workers beckon a band of headmasked dudes. They fix their microphones and escort them out, much to everyone's alarm.

I gulp. We hear a drum roll.

"Dal, it'll be fine," Kat whispers to her. Harry and Kean focus on the projected screen floating above everyone. It says Spencer High is the twentieth performance.

"Dalia, hey." I hold her hand only to grimace. "She's hyperventilating."

"I'll handle it." Kat gradually hoists her. Leslie catches up as they stagger through crowds and furniture. Zio doesn't let us follow them. "Hey, she'll be fine, ok?"

I nod more to myself than our voice coach. Harry gives a tight-lipped smile, albeit with his clenched fist. We worry throughout four performances before Kat returns with a flushed Dalia.

"You good?" Kean asks immediately, and they sit. She hums an affirmative. I turn to Katherine, but she masks her concern fast.

At this point, everyone else is on their feet, roaring at a pianist playing with his toes.

"And how am I supposed to compete with that?!"

"What are you talking about?" Harry gags. Dalia rolls her eyes, but a smile creeps up her face.

Soon, he tries to persuade us to dance, although Kat threatens to annihilate him if he pulls her into another salsa. Dalia becomes calm enough to laugh at their bickering while Kean converses with a girl from another school.

I'm dozing until we hear, "... After the break, the twentieth band will come on stage..."

Instantly, Leslie yells something, and we all rise like pins on the couch. The same workers summon us for our mics. I clutch Dalia's palm again. It's quivering less. Now, we are all holding hands, walking past some sound and lighting systems to the backstage.

The noise gets louder. I flinch.

Dalia gives me a 'Why? Should I be terrified again?' look.

Kat chuckles, "The audience is... pretty sizeable. It's whatever, though, right?"

"Ya, " I titter.

"Yep." Kean cracks her knuckles.

"I'm gonna die."

"No, you're gonna be the best pianist they've ever witnessed," Harry hugs her, then quirks, "Group hug!"

"Congrats, your fantasies have come true." Kat joins in last.

I have never been happier in the embrace of so many people. Even for a group of five, our emotions are like a thousand. I tear up.

Kean pulls out, yabbing, "No way, I'm letting you guys mess up my makeup. NO CRYING!"

"Preach, girl!" Kat claps.

"Spencer High is fucking winning this!"

"Langua-" I wipe my eyes. "Yes, we're gonna win."

Harry salutes Zio as he and Leslie appear behind us. They give a three-second pep talk, after which the curtain opens.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, COMING ONTO THE STAGE TO PERFORM THEIR ORIGINAL SONG... SPENCER HIIIGH!!!"

My legs start moving. I see light. I think I'll go deaf. I don't even know who is saying what.

A manly hand tugs me. Following Kean's lead, I halt somewhere and wear a guitar handle over my shoulder. The stage is too large. She stands on the other side of Harry, and - honestly, everyone looks angelic.

Or is it a sign of blindness? Can they take the spotlight off us for a second? Who are these people staring at us anyway?! What the fuck am I doing?!

Realising how hectic finding anyone in the audience is, I turn to Harry.

"Ready?!"

"Duh! Kat?!" His neck twists backwards. Our drummer glimpses Dalia. They nod.

A beat. A melody. My fingers hover over the strings of my guitar. I feel their tremor.

"C'mon, Harry!" Kean's strumming harmonises with mine.

The boy smirks at us before he starts with a sweet tone.

"My name was a sunshine;
Two thousand and something, you said I owned your heart.

Totally, we had to vibe, but there's always one thing; what was bothering your mind?

Nice car, nice house, but your kid is such a prick; that really brings your sundown
Or was it ..."

The more he sings, the more cheers erupt. I shake my head, amused by Kean's face.

Someone should warn the girls on my left to stop screaming before Kat yeets her drumsticks at them.

Zio must be so proud. I don't know about his parents, but a little girl is waving with all her might. The young mother also resembles him. Beside her is Josh and my aunt, Joe.

She bobs, impressed. I grin. We reach the chorus, and then Harry controls the room by dropping his voice to a rasp. He segues into a verse, and my mouth moves.

I sing like Dad on my birthdays. His tradition was to bombard silence with a concert of pans and his voice. I couldn't get annoyed; he focused on giving me a run for my pocket money.

Why do I sound like him? I can't fathom an explanation. I can't stop. My eyes close.

When I open them, Nancy Drew is in the air. My voice reverberates louder through the auditorium. Charlie is all the way at the mezzanine; he is waving with the book.

I know. My part of the deal is done.

I go low for my guitar to take over. My hands will fall off- no, Kean will continue... She's continuing. I catch my breath for a second. I've scared me. I need to chill. They'll think I'm mad.

At the bridge, we start with Harry until the high notes. I nod at her, and we pause. He is too busy taking off his suit to notice. The judges stand.

We're done.

Forget the outro. No one is listening again. Once off the stage, we beeline for the dressing room to gulp water-

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaAaaaA-"

"KEAN!" I jolt.

"Na, AAaaAaA-"

"Leslie will come. shush!" Kat reprimands her.

"Harry, HARRY, HARRY!" Dalia yanks out a book. "I brought you this for keeping phone numbers!"

He holds his chest. "You guys are sweet."

"Dude, we should get you another book," I deadpan.

The others agree. He dramatically lies on the floor, inciting us to tease him more.

By the moment Leslie pokes her head in, no one is awake. She lets us be for who knows how long, then taps our shoulders.

"Well done," she says, smiling, "All of you did so so so well. In fact, you're already winners in my eyes."

Kat rubs her eyes. "Wait, is it over?"

"Almost. You should go sit with other bands." She replies. Tension floods through me. How she's looking at us alone shows that it's time.

We arrange the room before following her back to our couch. Now, the girls in overalls aren't the only ones staring. I try not to squirm. Dalia breathes in like she did on stage. Kat and Kean take refreshments while Harry gets pats from strangers.

As I eat to calm my nerves, the host appears on the screen amidst applause. He makes some shoutouts, praises the sponsors, and gets straight to business right from the fifth position.

When he mentions the school, shouts burst from the back of the room. Everyone claps, only for another band to start jumping too. Fourth place down. Three to go.

"We'll be third," Dalia presumes.

We aren't. The first band in headmasks join the jubilation.

I tense. "Don't make predictions."

Kat nods, beginning a lecture on how that only increases our nervousness. Harry shushes us. Two school names are left on an enveloped card. Everyone groans as the host opens it and calls for silence.

"And now in second place -"

"Spencer High-"

Kat glares at Dalia. "I'll yeet you back to yesterday if you don't shut up!"

The cutie pouts apologetically. I laugh. "Dudes, you're annoying people around."

"Girl, we're not dudes -"

"Well, you're not ladies either -" Harry starts, only for Kean to hit his head.

"OH MY GOODNESS!" A scream erupts somewhere. My breath hitches. Kat stands. Then Dalia. Then all of us. We turn to the screen. We see red and grey.

"HELLLOOOOO!" Zio runs up to us. Leslie appears too, and in a blink, Kean, Dal, and Kat start.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!"

Harry clasps his hands over his forehead and marches who knows where. I'm speechless. Leslie and Zio's exhilarated voices fill space. Everything is a blur.

Kean lifts me off the ground when I register what's happening.

We won? We won. That's an alliteration. No, actually, we won. HUH?!

"We won?"

"YES!" She squeezes tighter, and I snap, "Oh-OOoOH! SHIT!"

More hands enfold me, and we topple onto the couch. I can't believe it. Dalia's muffled yelps mingle with our squeals. Leslie has to remind us to get back on the stage before we rise to our feet. Tailing our runner-ups, we meet a calm Harry already backstage.

"Thank you all, really," he utters. The curtains part. I can't believe it. We hold hands again and run towards the spotlight.

*

*Charlie's P.O.V*

Before the host announces that they have won, I finish the book. She gave her best. I won't even bother trying to describe it... but it's all I needed from her.

I smile as Harry steps onto the stage, followed by his bandmates. Applause erupts like thunder. I can even hear the cheers through my earmuffs. I smile, the thrill of the moment electrifying.

I have never seen Mia so stunned. She looks at the audience and does her best to act cool. Harry, on the other hand, basks in the spotlight. I'm not surprised.

They all bow, and the students sitting around a confident music teacher chant. I think that's Miss Morrell ... meaning they're all from our school. Caleb jumps beside me, and I crack up.

Spencer High Schoolers are so loud. In this case, though, I'm not perturbed. It's nice watching them jubilate.

The band receives a large cardboard with many zeros scribbled on it. Confetti flies all over. Caleb shouts that we should head downstairs, and I take my stuff. When we reach the ground floor, a crowd swallows us. The fifth and fourth bands are already here. We have to squeeze through a nightmare of sweaty bodies to get to our colleagues. I see Anna among those holding placards, but before she catches me, we hear, "NO AUTOGRAPHS! WAIT, TILL MONDAY!"

"Harry, you legend!" Caleb flails his arms. He spots him, then pushes people away, only to knock my breath out.

"HEY -" I squeak. He tightens his arms around me. "Thank you, thank you, thank-"

"You're killing me, mate!"

This is when he releases me to buddy-shake Caleb in a false, composed mien.

"Cool, right?"

"Uh-huh." His friend looks so confused. I shake my head. More students flood into the hallway, and I fear for Harry, considering those touching him by heart.

"So, you're a star now."

"Urr, no, he has always been a star," I correct Caleb.

The rest of the band reveal themselves with a trophy above their heads. Mia bounces down some steps, still aghast. I refocus on my friend, and he grins.

"Now, we have to get you to your meeting. I think I saw Halima -"

"Hey, it's your time to celebrate. I'll find her myself," I assure him. His brows crease, but I pat him on the back.

I am reversing through the crowd when I hear a shriek I know all too well. "CHARLIE! AAH!"

"AAH, Congratulations -" My breath is knocked out as her our bodies clash. I spin her around as she holds on to my shoulders, squealing. When reason prompts me to put her down, she chortles, "Were you running away?!"

I shake my head. "I'm trying to survive a stampede."

Before she can respond to that, said stampede starts. The programme has ended. All doors are open, pouring out humans like it's a plague. Some students have snatched Harry, throwing him like he's a paperweight. I gasp.

Realising her turn is near, she raps, "Charlie, thank you so much, and I hope you do well with your baby and - Yes, I got an A - no, A plus in my recent chem test! Can you imagine?! Ya, so thank you, and yes, no I'm not giving you your jumper -"

"What baby?" I interrupt, but then her band's drummer tugs her.

"You- WE'LL TALK LATER!" She yells, diffusing into the crowd. Although confused, I'm not about to risk getting trampled; I head in the opposite direction.

I'll have to take another route back into the auditorium. I halt at a point.

Have I gotten lost? No... No, the left corridor must be the right way. I move again, only to bump into someone.

"Oh, sorry- Charlie?!"

"Anna." I step back.

Her jaw drops. I shuffle awkwardly. It's been a while since we last spoke, and our interaction didn't end on a pleasant note. I don't know what to say.

"Urr..." She stares at me. I try an apologetic smile, and she looks down at her phone.

"Urr, it's ... it's good that you're here." The screen lights her face, and she starts typing. I want to tell her I don't have time now, but she shoves her phone in my hand.

"See."

"See what?"

"The article." She taps the screen before it dims. I read the headline. I look at her. She nods. I skim through words upon words...

Then I return her phone. "Why are you showing me this?"

Her eyes dilate. "Why?!" She gasps, "Why?! Are you serious?!"

I nod.

"Charlie, you have to go back to the UK. Or else -"

"What?"

"Oh, you got be kidding me," she scoffs. I shrug, making her exclaim, "If this guy loses his case, Sil can get a retrial."

I don't get carried away. I think.

"... It's not guaranteed, and my presence will only complicate things."

"Exactly!" Her angst heightens.

I grimace. "You're not making sense."

"No, Charlie, I'm making perfect sense! She -" Her voice croaks. Her colour pales, and I realise what's on her mind.

"Please mind your business, Anna."

"She can't get out-"

"Anna-"

"Silver can't get out!"

"ANNA!"

"She's poison -"

"I'm serious, Anna!"

"So am I! Look what she did to you -"

"You don't know what you're talking about."

"I was her best friend, so actually, I know her too!"

"Wha- wha-WHAT?!" I get whiplash. My echo is chilling. She breathes shakily. I feel like slapping her. This is bad.

"Mind your own business. Please!" I walk away.

"I know why she tried to kill herself!"

"Anna, please -"

"And I'm pretty sure you know too -"

"ANNA, PLEASE!"

"Where are you going to anyway? Casting?"

I halt. Turn. Breathe. Speak. "Anna. Please, please, please, pleeease, stop meddling in my affairs. I'm...begging you, for your own safety."

"I'm not afraid of Sil," she bites back.

I won't even respond to that. I flee.

*
*

Eventually, I'm outside. I prance around the parking lot for air.

I feel dizzy. I squat. I look up at the burning sky. When my head drops, I catch a glimpse of him.

My heart stops. This is too much. This needs to end.

I get up. His gaze doesn't waver. My legs stagger a bit, but I don't care. I don't care. I see trees and people and birds and books, and I don't care. I need to end all of it.

I knock on his car window. He unlocks the door. Inside is cold. I won't look at his scar.

Everything happens so fast. He doesn't say a word. He doesn't provoke me like Anna. He drives and drives and drives and parks and loads a revolver.

"Aren't you gonna talk?" he grunts.

I shake my head.

He gets out of the car, and I follow. We are nowhere if nowhere is a lonely cabin. He breaks the padlock with one swift hit and makes way for me to enter.

The first thing I see is hay. Then, a bony man on the hay. He's not moving.

"Get a chair for the both of you." Leo's dad grabs a bucket.

I scan the dark, muddy area till I see wooden stools near cow dung. I hurl them to the centre, and he orders, "Sit."

I oblige. Leo's father walks over to the hay and boots him. The man coughs blood, startled. "Go to the other chair."

"...No," he spits. He looks Caucasian, albeit the dirt all over his face. I look away.

"Fine then." Leo's dad points the gun at him. I jolt, and he aims at me instead.

"Get up."

"So now... you kill kids, huh," the man rasps. "First Mordecai -"

"Up!"

"No."

I flinch again. A click resonates.

"Boy, I'm sorry... but ....just say your last words," the man turns to me. He stares into my soul, and I gulp.

He coughs more blood. I know what to say. "Don't tell Leo you killed me."

There's a gunshot.
_______________________________________

Don't forget to comment and vote. There will be a prequel to clarify Charlie's story... maybe.