Hold On --- Luke Patterson

Part 9 - A hobbit forever

Julie smiled awkwardly as the crowd's whispers flew around the gymnasium. I honestly didn't know what to do, although I desperately wanted to help my friend.

A guy ran up the stage (I assumed he was the one to put the spotlights on) and voiced everyone's scepticism. "Hey, where did the rest of the band go?"

"Wait, were those holograms?" Unbeknownst to her, Kayla gave the singer an easy way out.

Julie looked to me, the doubt visibly seeping off her features. I nodded encouragingly, silently telling her to go along with the idea the purple-wigged girl had brought into our minds.

"Yes! Yes, they were holograms!" Julie chuckles lightly and I internally cringed, imagining myself in her position. Awkward. Incredibly awkward.

The girl on stage continued with her nervous rant. "I plugged it into the ceiling projector before the show." She pointed at the ceiling as she explained. "I'd explain it, but it involves algorithms and science stuff."

I shot her a sarcastic thumbs up after her gaze flickered over to me. She responded with a desperate look, telling me to help her. I just shrugged. She would probably be better off as long as I didn't become the centre of attention.

After a few torturous seconds, the teens had apparently decided that her answer was believable enough and they slowly started clapping. The noise kept getting louder and louder, whoops joining the confused laughter.

Julie and I both beamed at the outcome, until, all of a sudden, Reggie jumped on stage, wiggling his butt in front of the crowd. After some time, he decided he had had enough and jumped back off the stage, joining his bandmates once more at the other side of the gymnasium.

Luke looked slightly weirded out as he gazed at his friend, but nowhere near surprised, and Alex, well, Alex looked disgusted and disappointed as he shook his head, mumbling something under his breath.

"Okay, people, show's over. Let's get back to class, please." The principal urged everyone to leave, the students turning around, still mumbling to their friends.

Carrie and Kayla stayed behind a little longer. "What was that? "Were those holograms?"" Carrie, who I would definitely compare to a flamingo at this point, mockingly mimicked her friend.

Reggie came up behind the two, trying, and of course failing, to introduce himself to Kayla. The girls continued their discussion as they slowly made their way out of the gym. The ghost, however, refused to give up already. I giggled as he struggled to keep up, going through the same door.

Julie sighed and sat down on the edge of the stage as she saw Mrs. Harrison approaching.

"Mrs. Harrison, I am so sorry for not asking for permission. I just wanted to show you I belong here." The girl quickly apologised, looking at the ground.

Julie didn't notice it, but from where I was standing, I could see on the teacher's face that she was far from mad at the girl in front of her.

Her grin dropped soon afterwards. "As amazing as that was, your spot's already been filled by another student."

I gasped in response to her words, quickly slamming a hand on my mouth. The two women turned around, Mrs. Harrison with an annoyed expression, while Julie chuckled slightly, but the sadness was visibly stronger than her joy at my antics.

I raised my hands in defense, before attempting to rid myself of the embarrassment by clearing my throat. The noise came out as more of a choke, only adding to my amazing performance.

The teacher turned back around, before spotting something behind Julie and nodding towards us. Both our gazes moved to find a freshman named Wyatt, carrying an instrument bag that was twice his size. The three of us cowered back slightly at the sound the wheels of the bag made as he pulled them across the steps leading off the podium.