The Music Within Me (Johnny X Natalia)

Chapter 5

At the time, Miss Crawly was sobbing away in Buster's office.

"For the last time, Ms. Crawly, we're not going to fire you!" Buster tries to explain, his irritation high. "Now would you pull yourself together and please blow that nose of yours?!" She did so until Buster stopped her.

"No, no, no. Not in here, blow it outside," Buster says in a extravagant voice, leading Ms. Crawly out.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Moon," Miss Crawly apologized as she went into her office.

"Buster, what do you expect? She's like 200 years old," Eddie pointed out, looking at the flyer.

"E-Eddie, please, look. If your folks could just loan me the money until--" Buster requested.

"$100,000? Buster, come on," Eddie interrupted, he knew that his parents would never let Buster borrow that much money just because of the prize change.

"Hoo! I gotta think. I've gotta think. I've gotta think. I've got to come up with a solution..." Buster mumbled to himself.

"Look, maybe it's time to stop thinking and it's time to just move on. I mean, this theater of yours, you could get some decent money for it and... I don't know, maybe we could do something together," Eddie suggested.

"Like what?!" Buster breaks, frantically running his hands through his hair and messing it up so he looked absolutely crazy. "Sit around playing video games?!" He lets out a small shriek with a his face looked panicked.

"Uh, it's a bucket?" Eddie answered.

"Yes, and do you know why I have this bucket?" Buster continued.

"'Cause the roof is leaking?" Eddie guessed.

"No, that's the bucket for the leak," Buster answered, pointing to the other bucket that was full of water, then approached the first bucket as he explained, "I have this one because...he walks over to the bucket, picking it up. "It belonged to my father. Every day for thirty years, he worked his butt off washing cars with his two hands just so I could buy this place. Every day, Eddie. Just for me."

"Wow. Sounds like a great dad." Eddie nods before sighing, leaning back on the chair. "So... How do you guys wanna handle this?" Eddie asked.

The intercom beeps, making me jump as Ms. Crawly's voice comes through. "Oh, Mr. Moon, I got Judith from the bank holding on line two again,"

Eddie looks over at us as Buster sighs, placing his bucket back on the shelf and responded, "Well, there's only one thing I can do."

Buster throws the doors to the building open, making the group look at him. "Okay, everybody! Listen up!" Buster firmly says as I follow next to him as he walks through the aisle, Eddie behind him. "We gotta send you all home. Right now."

Everyone was really confused. Why were they being sent home? Johnny and Nat shared looks of confusion and worry.

"Yep. 'Cause, like my dad used to say, 'Get a good night's sleep and do a great day's work!' Eddie groaned faceplanting and everyone smiled of relief and excitement, "That's right. Rehearsals begin first thing tomorrow morning. And if you want to become stars and win 100 grand, then you better be ready to work harder than you've ever worked in your lives. So, get some sleep and dream big dreams!," Buster announced.

Everyone cheered and once they got ready, then the red panda group came back and started performing their number again.

"Miss Crawly!" Buster called. Nat smiled as the others just laughed with Johnny and her younger twins behind her.

"Okay, come on. That's enough now. Come on, off the stage. Please," Miss Crawly shooed the red pandas away.

Once everyone was away, Eddie questioned to Buster, "Dream big dreams?"

"I know, it's good, right?" Buster asked.

"What about the 100 grand?" Eddie wondered in a panic.

"Don't you worry, Eddie. There's got to be a way to get it," Buster assured.

"What? Buster, no, listen to me! This show is not gonna save your theater. You're at rock bottom, pal," Eddie pointed out.

"Yep, and you know what's great about hitting rock bottom, Eddie? There's only one way left to go, and that's up," Buster exclaimed, pulling a lever.

He was sent flying toward the ceiling as Eddie started to worry about his friend. What was he getting himself into?

As everyone was outside, Johnny suddenly asked, "Can I walk you home?"

"Oh...I don't want to be a bother; we don't live that far form here." Nat explained with a light smile.

"It no problem at all," Johnny said and shrugged as he lets her lead the way as the Abby and Arthur held their sister's hands.

There was a silence for a moment "So, how'd you start singing?" Johnny brings up after a little bit of silence as they walked.

"It was at a studio when my mom took me, since my dad and my older brother and sister were at work, and I got into a fight with a kid back first grade for bullying me and so had to go with my mom. I was singing in one of the rehearsal rooms, and when my mom and her boss heard me singing, she wanted me to share my passion. I've been singing ever since, what about you?" she asked.

Johnny thinks for a moment as if he were going to say something, but suddenly stopped himself. "Working with my dad, when he steps out for bit, I begin to hum a song which lead to singing... I stopped once he comes back in."

"How come?" she ask

"He doesn't approve, he thinks singing is for chumps and weaklings." Nat looked at him, Johnny was already looking at the floor of the sidewalk.

"That sucks man, if he knew that you had an amazing voice, I'm sure he'd be supportive," Nat replied.

Johnny smiles a bit, "I wish."

"So, you did say you work with your dad, what do you do?" she asked.

Johnny again hesitated, there was a pause moment of that question as if he were keeping something..." Cars and stuff," Johnny muttered out quickly.

Before they even know it, they were now in front of Nat's house, "Alright you two get ready for bed, and I'll be right there to read you a story." She said, as the twins went up to the stairs to the door and enter the house sleepily "Um well this us," Nat looked over at and smiled at the three familiar cars line at the sidewalk. Nat knew that her parents and her older siblings was home from work.

"Thanks for the walk home, Johnny."

"No problem, I'll see you tomorrow?"

Nat giggled and nodded, "Yeah, see you tomorrow."

Johnny flashed a charming smile and then walked off. Nat cheered to herself and walked inside her house, she then felt something in her pocket and took out a small piece of paper.

Hey Nat, can't wait to see you again tomorrow! Here's my number if you want to call or text me xxx-xxx-xxx

-Johnny

Nat's face was red as she smiled as she went to her little brother and sisters shared room, and seeing already sleeping she went to her room and laid on her bed with the same smile on her face.

___________________________________________________________________________

A/N: Wow! Nat and Johnny already forming a good friendship, and Nat might starting having a crush on him and Buster has to figure out how to get $100,000 before the contest. Will he be able to do so? See you in the next chapter!