The Fading Oddities of Nate Smith (A NateWantsToBattle Fanfiction) --COMPLETE--

Chapter Fifteen

--PART TWO--

{Don't play the music in the media till Nate starts playing c:}

"Woo hoo! That was great!"

"Good job, Tess!"

"You messed up one of your li-"

"Oh my God, shut up, Micha!"

Everyone is thrilled to see how well Tess and the Drama Club had rehearsed their play. Seeing how smoothly it went, anyone can tell that they're skilled at what they do. Tess makes a wonderful Belle; I'm glad she was chosen to play the part.

Nate, the rest of the Photo Club and I are practically flying out of our seats with a standing ovation. I can hear Micha point out how it looks like we're overreacting, but everyone is too busy laughing when Carson cleverly replies that "this is Drama Club, after all."

"Hey, guys!" Tess cries out from the stage as the rest of the club disbands, "Come on up here! We can hang out onstage for a bit before we go out."

The group and I exchange looks before nodding and standing up from our seats, walking single-file down the aisle and up the stairs to the stage (except for Damian and Gen, who are racing to see who can jump over the chairs and onto the stage floor the fastest). Tess is busy pulling up chairs in a circle and motioning for us to take a seat, and we all obey once we're all onstage.

"So," she says in a chipper tone as everyone settles into their chairs, "the Drama Club and I have come to a decision that we need someone to play some music during the Intermission. Nobody in the group's all that musical, so I was wondering if any of you guys would like to have a say in this."

Carson, Damian, and the rest of the guys instantly shake their heads frantically. "Not me!" they cry almost simultaneously, and everybody laughs a bit at their reaction. Carson can't sing to save his life, but none of us are too sure about Damian; he's always denied every request for him to sing for us. As for Leo and the others...I think I'll save that for another time.

Tess shrugs with a chuckle. "Okay then...ladies, what about you?"

"I have really bad stage fright," Aphrodite replies sheepishly, "I think I'd freeze up so badly that I'd have to be carried off by someone else!"

Gen and Micha shake their heads with similar-looking pouty faces, and Oracle doesn't say a word. That leaves me and Nate, who everyone turns their heads to.

I hesitate for a second before saying, "U-Uh, yeah, I guess...I mean, I've never really sung for anyone before, so..."

The whole group nearly explodes with encouraging words before I can even finish my sentence. Everyone has big smiles on their faces as they cascade endless amounts of requests for me to sing for them. I can feel my hands raise up as I chuckle nervously, instantly regretting my decision to say anything.

"Hahah...w-well, h-hold on, maybe we ca-"

"I'll sing."

Everyone instantly goes silent when they hear Nate speak up. Surprised glances are traded among the group as an awkward silence follows, Nate looking unfazed by the sudden change in atmosphere.

Tess is the first to break the silence. "Oh...kay..." she says quietly.

"Do you guys have a guitar around here?" Nate replies, leaning forward in his seat and looking around.

She blinks before standing up and pointing backstage, "Yeah...I'll go get it."

With that, my dorm mate dashes off behind the side curtains, and within a couple minutes she returns, holding a guitar case in her hands. "It's old," she says as she hands the case to Nate, "so sorry if it's a bit out of tune."