The Music Freaks: Episode 10

Chapter 22 ~ Final Practices

A/N ~ EPISODE 11 is finally coming out, FUCK YES! That's all :)

Jake, along with the rest of the music club went on with their day and lessons. It was hard to just sit still, knowing that in a couple of hours, they would be performing! When Jake sat down for his 2nd lesson, he saw his teacher, Miss Jones, smiling at him before saying to the whole class: "So, class. As you probably know, today is the competition! And our school will be represented by the Music club, including our very own, Jake Sterling, who will be singing!" Everyone turned to look at Jake, causing him to feel embarrassed and look down. He was really excited, but being called out like that, it made him feel slightly queasy. But he realised he would be performing in front of a LOT more people during the competition, so he sucked it up, looked back up and smiled. "Nice one, Sterling." A voice said from behind, Jake turning around to see Liam and Henry, Jake had forgotten they sat there. Plus, they'd been really quite, which was unusual for those two. "Can't wait to see you perform, Jakey." Henry said, smiling. Jake shared a small smile back. "Thanks." He said before turning back around and focusing on the rest of the lesson. Well, as much as he could focus while also knowing the competition was happening later on that day.

After the lesson, Jake was walking down the hallway, seeing Lia. "Oh, hey Lia." Jake said. "Hi, Jake." Lia said, smiling at Jake. "You coming to the competition tonight?" Jake asked, sharing the smile back. Lia nodded in response, saying: "Yeah, I can't wait to see you perform." Jake smiled, glad Lia was coming to see him and the club perform. Well, she was most likely only coming to see him perform, but still, it was nice. "That's nice. Well, I'll see you then." Jake said, waving at Lia as he walked away, her waving back. After the rest of the lessons, when lunch began, Jake rushed to the music room, not actually having lunch because he was too excited and wanted to begin to practice immediately. Once he arrived, he saw everyone else there, meaning they most likely skipped lunch too because of how excited they were as well. "Oh, Jake! You excited?" Sean asked. "Obviously." Jake said. "Well, we need to practice! Practice really good and hard, we can't fail!" Milly said. "We'll be fine." Jake responded. "Don't be too cocky." Zander told Jake.

They all got in their places and began practicing again, but this felt like more than a practice. Probably because it was their penultimate practice, so it felt really special. But it also made Jake feel nervous, even though they weren't performing in front of anyone yet. Once they were done practicing, they did it again and again and again, until the bell went off. "Alright. Remember, our final practice is after school." Hailey said. "We'll be there." Luke said. "And after, we need to go to the hall and backstage to get ready. You all have your outfits, right?" Hailey added. "Yeah." They all responded. "Nice. This is gonna go well, I can feel it." Hailey said. "Of course it's gonna go well, there's no way we can lose!" Jake said. "How many times do I have to tell ya'll, stop jinxing it!" Zander yelled. "Alright, alright!" Jake said, laughing slightly. Jake was the first to leave the room, getting ready for his next lesson, and also feeling his stomach rumble. "Shit." He said, remembering he didn't eat anything. Suddenly, a protein bar hit him in the head, landing in his hands. "Huh-?" He looked up and saw Hailey smiling at him. "Oh, thanks!" Jake said, smiling back at her as he ate the protein bar. "You gotta remember to eat." Hailey told him. "Yeah. But, you didn't eat anything either, did you?" Jake asked. "Oh...uh, yeah. Your right." Hailey said, sighing. "Don't worry, it's fine. I can get us something to eat before the competition, alright?" Jake said, Hailey smiling. "That's sweet of you, Jake." Hailey replied, kissing Jake's cheek and causing him to blush. "Cya later!" She said as he walked away.

Jake was feeling fantastic, completely forgetting that later on, he would have to break up with Hailey because of what Micheal told him. So, he went to his next lesson, just feeling like he was on Cloud 9. That was until he saw who was in is next lesson, motherfucking Zoe. And she sat right next to him! He had forgotten since it hadn't been a problem until now because before Tuesday they were on good terms. Well, as good as terms as they could be on. Zoe looked up, seeing Jake, and scowling at him, seeming to have forgotten as well. Jake didn't want to sit down, but when the teacher came in, he told him to sit down. So, without a choice, he reluctantly sat down, moving his chair far away from Zoe while still being at the table though. For half the lesson, it was just silence between them, which was great, neither wanted to talk to each other. But suddenly, Zoe broke the silence. "I hope you freeze up on stage, just like your pathetic Hailey did back in Middle School." She said, which obviously set Jake off. Now, if this was the Jake from the previous week, he would've punched Zoe in the face like he did to Drew. But if he did that, he would probably not be allowed to participate in the competition. So, he bawled his fists, took a deep breath and sighed. "Shut the fuck up, Zoe." Jake said, going back to his work.

Zoe smirked, seeing she got under his skin. "Actually, even if you don't, I don't care. I just can't wait to watch Hailey get stage fright again and run off, crying." She said, causing Jake to become even more pissed. "Don't you dare mention her stage fright you prick." Jake said, his fists shaking with anger. "Or what? What are you gonna do about it?" Zoe asked. "Keep talking, and you'll find out." Jake responded. "Nah, you won't do anything. Y'know, I can't believe Drew's in love with a pathetic person like you. Even after you beat him up, three times." Zoe said. This didn't set Jake off too much, but still made him feel angry. He didn't love Drew back, hell, he wasn't friends with him at the moment. But, still, a very small part of him still slightly cared for Drew. Plus, if he had to pick between Zoe and Drew, he'd obviously pick Drew any day of the week. "Your the pathetic one, Zoe. You used him just for money, and in the end, you were left with nothing. So do everyone a favour, and shut the fuck up." Jake said, going back to his work. Zoe rolled her eyes, both of them going back to silence. After the rest of the lessons, when school ended, Jake immediately began running to the music room, only stopping when he heard someone yell after him: "Jake!"

Jake stopped in his tracks, turning around and seeing Daisy, which caused him to smile. "Hey, Daisy!" Jake said. "Hey. I can't wait to watch you and the club perform!" Daisy said, smiling, her words causing Jake to smile more. "I'm glad. Can't believe we'll be performing in less than a hour. You on your way to the hall?" Jake asked. "Mhm! Just quickly grabbing something to eat. I'll see you soon, Jake!" Daisy said, smiling as she walked away. Jake smiled back, as he continued running to the music room. When he got there, he saw everyone but Hailey. "Huh, where's Hailey?" Jake asked. "She said she was getting something from her locker." Luke responded, Jake wanting to see her so he nodded and left the room, walking to Hailey's locker and saw her leaning against it, breathing heavily. "Hailey, are you alright?" Jake asked, Hailey looking up. "H-Huh? O-Oh...y-yeah..." Hailey responded, looking down. Jake walked closer, seeing tear marks on her cheeks. "Were you crying-?" Jake began to ask before Hailey wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his shoulder. "Oh-!" Jake said, looking down at her as he wrapped his arms around her in response. "I- I found out how many people were gonna be there...it...- it made me panic..." Hailey explained, Jake holding her closer. "Shit, uh, Hailey." Jake began. If she was this worried about finding out how many people there were, he couldn't imagine how bad it would be when she actually saw everyone.

"Hailey, listen. You don't have to worry. Yeah, it's a lot of people. But, you've got me, and Zander, and Luke, and Milly and Sean. You don't need to worry. If you get too scared." Jake continued, taking Hailey's hand. "You can squeeze my hand, okay?" He finished, Hailey looking up at him, still looking panicked, but a small smile was growing on her face as she squeezed Jake's hand. "T-Thanks, Jake..." Hailey said. All of a sudden, Jake picked up Hailey, carrying her bridal style. "But, we gotta practice first!" Jake said, smiling as he began walking while holding Hailey. "J-Jake-! W-Warn me next time." Hailey said, smiling, giggling softly. When they arrived, Jake put Hailey down just before they walked in, once they did, Milly smiled. "Yes, okay, let's practice!" Milly said. "What'd you get Hailey?" Zander asked. "Ah, it was nothing. Just needed to check something." Hailey said. "Okay, if you say so. Let's just practice now." Zander said. After they all got in their positions, they began practicing, it feeling even more special than the previous one because this was their final practice! It was crazy! Jake remembered when Hailey messaged him, and how his practices were before Drew confessed everything to her. He wondered what this would be like if Drew never did say, remembering that he would be getting kicked out after. He was just glad they were finally past all of that.

After practicing as much as they could, they all looked at each other with faces of excitement. It was time! Well, it wasn't for another 30 minutes, but it was time to get backstage now. "Well, let's do this." Jake said, leaving the room and beginning to walk to the hall with the rest of the club following him. They all felt excitement flowing through them. It was finally time. Hailey, Zander and Luke remembered when they started the club, Hailey remembered when she recommended the competition to everyone else and Jake remembered when he first sang in front of Hailey and the rest of the club. How far they'd come since that fateful day, what would Jake have done if Daisy never heard him singing? Who knows. But he certainly would not be here with the club right now, that's for sure. So, Jake was glad Daisy caught him, really glad. At this moment, he remembered that day in Middle School when she gave him his music book back...she was always so nice. Even though he didn't have a crush on her anymore, Jake was still glad he knew Daisy. Ever since they say, she was always there for him, and he couldn't be happier about it.