Believable (r.a.l.)

Chapter Thirty

Riker's POV

One week later we've got the song down. We know it so well, we can sing it backwards. That's how much we practiced it. We were also rehearsing the school play. It was a nonstop routine. Shakespeare then John Newman. Shakespeare then John Newman. By the end of the day I was so exhausted. I was so tired I haven't had any trouble sleeping like I did the week before. Right when my head was laid down on my pillow, I was out like a light.

Play rehearsals were full of awkward conversations and uncomfortable moments. And this is all because Justine is the lead while I am too.

Rocky was disappointed to find that he didn't get the lead with Justine. He came up to me the day the roles were posted, warning me to stay away from his girl. Can you believe that? She was my girl first. And plus, I didn't choose to be a better actor than him. But anyways, I punched him in the gut and walked away, too angry at his words to say anything back. Liane witnessed the whole thing. Of course she didn't turn me in to the principal because I'm her best friend. Rocky tried to get me in trouble though. The principal did nothing at all because he is so ignorant and is so horrible at his job. (He doesn't even notice the more frequent violence between all the jocks.)

I didn't really know why Rocky was so protective before. So I looked farther into the story of A Midsummer Night's Dream since I didn't know too much about it. I found that there were kissing scenes between Lysander and Hermia. I can see how he wasn't too stoked about the two of us being the lead roles.

And really, that is the true reason on why it was so awkward between Justine and I during rehearsals. We have to act like we love each other. But that is sort of impossible since we have such a bad history when we were really together. Justine won't do the kissing scenes at all. The director has gotten so frustrated with us that she threatened to give the parts to some other pair. Then she thought better of it. We don't have that long of time to practice the show before performing it in front of an actual audience. So she told us to get our act together and do it correctly, get rid of the tension that was so visible.

Compared to those rehearsals, band rehearsals went by pretty well. Since it was just the band and I playing our instruments, there were no problems. We got our work done and the new cover sounds great. Now all we have to do is perform it in front of our fans, hoping that they'll love it too. And we'll find out soon since the show starts in an hour.

We have just finished the meet and greets and are sitting around in the dressing room. Rydel sits in front of the mirror, fixing up her makeup before the show. Ellington walks around aimlessly, patting a rythm on his legs and bobbing his head back and forth. I sit in a chair at the table, my head resting in my palms. Ross is sitting at the end of the couch, getting as far away from Rocky as he can. This is only because Rocky is sitting at the other end with Justine on his lap. Obviously they are having fun sucking each others faces off right now. I understand why Ross is so disgusted.

Ugh. I can't take it anymore.

"Would you guys just get a room?" I finally snap.

Their faces separate and turn towards me, their expressions showing astonishment. I am surprised by my words too; I don't want them naked in bed together. I'd rather it be me that is kissing her. But instead of taking back what I said, I chuckle at their reaction and put my face back in my hands, wishing this hour would go by faster.

If Liane was here, she wouldn't have let what I said pass. She would've made me apologize even if she were really disgusted too and thinking the same thing. But she isn't here because of stupid student council. But she's there for a good reason, finding out if the Sadie Hawkins dance is a go.

Eventually the hour passes by and R5 is walking out onto a stage in front of hundreds of people waiting to hear their favorite band sing.

Soon enough, the crowd calms a little and I start to softly play the strings on my base as we all start the song.

"Know I've done wrong, left your heart tone, its like the devils doom. Took ya so long, let all the fools go, just like angel in you," I sing. "Now I'm risen up from the ground, risen up to you. Feeling all the strength I've found, there's nothing I can do."

Ross starts on this own guitar as we come up to the chorus. Meanwhile, the crowd screams our names and those who already know the song, sing along.

"I need to know now, know now. Can you love me again? I need to know now, know now. Can you love me again? I need to know now, know now. Can you love me again? I need to know now, know now. Can't you love me again?" Ross sings passionately as we hold the beat with our drums, keyboard and guitars.

Rocky breaks out into a string of sick chords on his instrument as there's a pause in the lyrics. I get ready to sing again.

"Something fearable, a stony lure your soul; that's the demons doom. He rule the worst of me, destroy your everything, bring out the angels in you."

"Now I'm risen up from the ground, risen up to you, Feelin all the strength I've found, there's nothing I can do," Ross takes the rest of the second verse from me before continuing to the chorus again.

"I need to know now, know now. Can you love me again? I need to know now, know now. Can you love me again? Love me again, oh love me again. Love me again!"

Then the three of us jam on our guitars before Ross and I begin to sing the last verse together. "Woah. Told you when you can do this again, do this again, oh lord. Told you when you can do this again, do this again, oh lord."

Rydel plays a riff on her keyboard, showing off her own skills before Ross continues onto the chorus one last time.

"I need to know now, know now. Can you-Can you love me again? I need to know now, know now. Can you love me again? I need to know now, know now. Can you-Can you love me again? Love me again... Oh can you love me again? Woah! Love me again."

Rocky, Ross and I finish the song off, playing in sync with Ratliff's drums. The crowd goes wild, screaming for more songs. And so we must.

That leads to Rydel's song. All the people in the audience were happy to hear that Rydel would be singing her song since she rarely sings the lead. They sing in common as us boys play the music for her to sing along to.

Eventually the concert ends after playing the rest of the EP, Always (they made me do it), and another cover that we've done before. After we do our bow we run off the stage, leaving the screaming girls (and boys) behind. All of us guys are soaked with sweat, Rydel not so much. Breathing hard from lack of oxygen and cool air, I move down the hallway back to the dressing room, my band mates following.

"You guys did amazing," Justine compliments as we all walk in. Somehow, she got back here before us and was already sitting on the couch.

"Give me a hug," Rocky says to Justine, opening his arms wide as he walks over to her.

"No! You're all sweaty!" She screams, running away.

I roll my eyes, not in the mood for hearing them mess around. I take big gulps from a fresh water bottle as Rocky chases her around, laughing and the others watching.

She may be happy with Rocky now, but soon enough I will win her back with what I've got planned for her.

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A/N Song credits: Love Me Again originally by John Newman, cover by R5. I hope you all like this lame filler chapter.

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Happy reading! -Bethany

F.E.E.L.G.O.O.D. Yes I feel good. SING IT WITH ME! My heart's lonely without you. My eyes only see you and me. Stupid! Thinking about you. It's hard. Hard. 'Cause you make me feel gooood!