What the heck is this? I don't want to be in their band, my friends would kill me for sure.
What the fudge am I doing here?
There were 3 male members in this group.
JAZ FORD. KARLEE BENZ. WILLIAM AUDI.
Not bad.
But if I get into this band, it will be the end of my life.
All the girls in our school will kill me for sure. I will lose my best friends and also my whole life will be ruined if I continue to do this but,
This will be for Heleina and Chloe.
"I just have one condition, Mr. Benz." I stopped midway before we enter the room.
" Ok? What is your condition?" He looks at me intently and made a serious face.
"I don't want anyone to know who I am. You can just leave me by the name Dylan. I will wear wigs and contacts. I will not be recognized. I don't want to be recognized."
"Hmm. Are you sure? They might eventually find out who you are." He was trying to figure me out. I can see the way he looks at me, he's like scanning me from head to toe.
" Yes. And you can't tell anybody. Not a single soul." I showed the pinky promise, waiting for him to lock it with his pinky too.
" Pinky promise!" He smiled, again.
FUDGE!!!! His smile is so angelic. I can't breathe.
"Don't smile at me like that. It's gross. Tell them to wait for me. I'll just change." He grinned. WHAT THE HECK
"Roger that!" He went inside the room to tell them what I told him.
After a few minutes, I came back with my black wig and green eyes.
"Oh, there she is." I heard Karlee said louder than usual.
"Hi!" I don't know how to change my voice. But I need to suppress the annoying feeling when I saw Jaz smile at me. His smile annoys me to the highest level.
"So, let's start. Let us hear you sing for the band. Any song, your choice"
I wasn't nervous because I'm singing in front of these guys. I'm nervous because it will be my first time doing this not being myself.
"Ready?" William said.
"Can I borrow your guitar?" Karlee handed his guitar to me and whispered. 'I didn't know you can also play the guitar'
"And I'd give up forever to touch you, 'Cause I know that you feel me somehow, You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be, And I don't wanna go home right now" As I continue to strum the guitar, I can see their faces going blank. I can also see Jaz smiling, or more like grinning but Karlee has his eyes closed. Like he is trying to feel the song same as me.
"And all I can taste is this moment, And all I can breathe is your life, When sooner or later it's over, I just don't wanna miss you tonight"
I closed my eyes, I am in the zone. I can already feel the emotions, how this song makes me show who I am.
"And I don't want the world to see me, 'Cause I don't think that they'd understand, When everything's made to be broken, I just want you to know who I am" As I opened my eyes, I saw them clapping. William was so happy he can't stop clapping too loud. Karlee was just smiling at me and showed a 'thumbs up' sign secretly. Jaz on the other hand was just rubbing his chin.
"Very nice. So...what's your name again?" He sounds arrogant as always.
"J-D...Dylan" I almost gave away my identity for a second there.
"Dylan...that's going to be the band's name. Dylan. We are the Band of Dylan" Jaz looked like he had the brightest idea.
"Ok. Dylan, it is, welcome to the band, Dylan" will said then shake hands with me.
"Starting tomorrow, both of you will submit your resume's to us, for formality. We just want to know who you are." Jaz said.
"OK." Karlee and I agreed.
"So any questions about us? We will also give our resume's to both of you. We need to know each other to make this band work. To have some adjustments, too. We need to make sure that we are not going to lose you midway during the competition."
"So how long will the competition be?" I asked hoping it won't be too long.
"Let's see, 6 months before the eliminations, 3 months before the semis, and another 3 months for the grand. So about a year or more." Will said calculating it properly in his head.
"WHAT?! THAT LONG?!" I wasn't able to suppress the shock.
"You have problems with that?" Jaz walked towards me.
"Uhm, school. I need to focus on school. I might have no time to study if the band schedule is going to be hectic" I need to think about my alibis, fast!
"Oh, no problems with that. We will be excused most of the time. The school knows about this and they want us to win so we can say that we will have the special treatment during exams and school activities." Jaz winked at me. He put his face near my face and whispered, 'you know, you look familiar like I've seen you before. Have we dated? '
YOU WISH?! But NEVER gonna happen. I don't like any of you.
"No, I don't think so. I just moved here. " I answered as calmly as possible.
"Oh, what year?" He asked. Karlee was just staring at us.
Help me out here, you dummy!
"I -- I'm a sophomore, but you won't see me, I'm invisible to everybody, you know, So--"
"What section? " He is so persistent.
" You know, Jadis Chrysler's class" His face crunched after hearing my name.
"Oh, her. Yeah, I know her. Not really know but I have seen her" He turned his back and went to get some paper then started writing something on it.
"Benz, Help me out, will you? "
"You decided on that on your own. So figure a way out of it." He is so not angelic. His serious cold tone voice returned.
After a while, Jaz handed the schedule for practice and the songs that need to be prepared for the elimination. We get to sing one song only for the elimination and for practice, we will be having gigs in school on Friday nights and Saturdays will be for the town bar. For more popularity and also, so it's easier for us to get used to performing.
I left the studio and went straight to my car, thinking what should I do and how to get out of this chaos.
"This will ruin my peaceful weekends. " I drove home, trying to make the solutions all inside my head.
This is real. I can't turn back now.
The next day was worse, I went to school late, so I wasn't able to attend the first period, I stayed in the library for some peace and saw Jaz in there.
I walked as fast I could but I think he saw me and followed me in the shelves of books for music and arts.
"Hmmm, it's funny I don't see you with your friends and you weren't able to give their presents for today? So you and your friends argued over me? Are you fall-----"
I need to cut his arrogance and butt in.
"NO. I will NEVER fall for someone vain like you. Plus, I and my friends are not your business, stay away from them if you don't want me to kick your lazy ass out of this library." Firm and straight to the point.
"Fiesty! I really like that about you. But you will fall on my knees someday, and you will understand who you're talking to. You know, somehow you look like our vocalist."
"Oh really" DUMMY, IT'S ME! "So who is the unfortunate one?"
"DYLAN. She seems nice, a lot more opposite of you are" He smiled like he's on a high.
"Yeah, I can see what you mean."
"I like her green eyes." He suddenly said out of the blue.
"Oh, you like her eyes. Why is that?" I got interested. It's the first time I've heard that Jaz Ford liked something in particular.
"It looks so peaceful. Calming. Like yours actually but, yours like the sea, cold and deep."
Interesting.
" Oh, ok." I ignored him and went looking for the book I need. he stood there for quite some time.
He left without saying anything. Like the conversation just ended.
At least I found out something very useful for my friends. HE LIKES GREEN EYES, or maybe green in particular. It's calming for him.
After the classes ended, I went straight to the washroom to change for band practice.
This is tiring.
I saw Chloe and Heleina.
"Hey," I said to both of them.
"hey," they said in unison.
I felt that they didn't expect my presence so I turned to one of the cubicles to change.
They must not know about this yet. Not until I finish this band mission.
"Jadis? Can we talk?" Heleina said.
"Yeah sure" I was inside the cubicle, so I went out to talk to them.
" We're sorry."
I was surprised to hear them say it. I wasn't expecting them to be the first ones to apologize.
"Oh, don't worry about it, it's fine. I don't really take it seriously cause I know you both don't mean it. I just got surprised to hear it from you, guys." I need to finish this cause they will be calling me already. The Dylan.
"Thanks for understanding us, Jade, We missed you!" They both hugged me tightly. I am late now.
"I missed you both also. But I really need to go, I have something to do, you know, some work" alibi. alibi. faster
" Oh, where? "
"Somewhere...you go on ahead first. We'll talk later ok? I'll go by your house later Heleina ok? "
Then they went out of the washroom and I immediately put on my wig and contacts.
Hassle. Haste. Hustle.
I arrived at the studio 15 minutes after the call time.
All eyes are looking at me.
"Sorry. I know I'm late. I know I'm not supposed to be but I just run into something."
"Get the mic. Start" Jaz was very strict. He is serious during practice.
I can't hear a small joke coming out of their mouths. There's serious playing and they act all professional. Well except for me, I failed and croaked on my singing.
Sessions over.
"Ok, wrap it up. This weekend, we have a gig at my friend's bar. Be there before 9 pm. Never be late"
Ok. He was talking about me.
" Got it." We answered the same thing.
"Oh, Dylan, hand over your resume."
SHOOT. I forgot about it.
" I-forgot. Can I give it to you some other time?"
"Yeah, sure, whatever"
He seemed pissed off. He was about to leave when,
"Jaz, wait up. Drive me home" William said.
"I can't, you can have my car though. I am going to see someone." he has a very serious tone.
" Oh, the J-girl again? Are you into this girl already? But you said that she doesn't like seeing you." William teased.
"Exactly! I need to tease that girl so I can feel better." Jaz grinned.
Is he talking about me? What the hell. He treats me like his laughing toy. I am not going to be his entertainment.
I immediately changed in the washroom and went to my car.
HE IS THERE STANDING BESIDE MY CAR!!!!!!!!!
Be casual. Nothing happened awhile ago in the band. You are Jadis now and you can hate this guy.
"Move away from my car." Good job! Scary again Jadis, be more fierce.
"Woah! There you are. What took you so long? are you having a date with the librarian?"
"Mrs. Adams is a woman, a lady, a female librarian. What are you implying? That I am a lesbian?"
He gets into my nerves this easily and he seems to be having so much fun while I'm burning with anger.
" OOOPPPPS, I didn't say that, you did. I'm just saying that I miss you. You know, that feisty attitude of yours. It's so inviting. I'm wanting more" He made it sound sexual, naughty, and annoying.
How do I get back at you, you bastard?
I put my stuff inside the car, removed my jacket, showing some of my skin. I let my hair down, my curls bouncing smoothly over my shoulders. I traced my hand over his shoulder up to his neck. he froze, I felt his muscle stiffen.
"Do you want to know what a lesbian looks like without the clothes, how she tastes, and how she sounds like when you're in here? "
Slap!
"You deserve that. And more of that coming from me. Stay away, you jerk. "
"Ouch! That hurts. Are you bipolar? " He was holding his cheeks. I didn't hold back in slapping him.
"Yes. I am bipolar. So fuck off"