The faint hum of Hartley's voice filled the study hall, weaving through the quiet chatter and tapping keyboards.
♪ Won't lie, don't try... ♪
Y/N's eyes flicked up from her notebook, brows furrowed.
"Wait." She blinked, then sighed. "Hartley, you've been singing the same song in study hall for three days straight. What is this? Some form of slow torture?"
Hartley shrugged sheepishly, still swaying slightly to the rhythm only he could hear.
"Sorry. The band at the Round-Up Cantina is holding auditions for a new lead singer. I'm gonna try out. Just wanna make sure I have all the lyrics right."
Amy, sitting nearby with arms crossed, rolled her eyes. "Well, maybe I can help you out. I know all the words by heart because you've been singing them nonstop for three days. Honestly, it's haunting my dreams."
Hartley's smile was hopeful. "I've always wanted to perform in front of an audience. Until now, I've only sung for my grandma—and she usually shouts, 'Move! I'm trying to watch TV!' So the Round-Up seems like the perfect place to start. Oh, and the band gets free tacos after every show."
Y/N couldn't help but smirk. "The Round-Up only has two stars online, so that might not be the perk you're hoping for."
Hartley grinned and pulled out a crumpled sheet of paper. "Can I run my audition song by you? See what you think?"
Y/N shrugged, closing her notebook. "Sure. What else am I gonna do in study hall? Study?"
Hartley cleared his throat, and a soft instrumental began as he sang:
♪ I wanna wake up, take the good with all the bad ♪
♪ I wanna run right, left, cry never looking back ♪
♪ What good is day without the night? ♪
♪ What good is dark without the light? ♪
♪ Just like a sunrise the best part's gonna be ♪
♪ Somewhere in-between ♪
Y/N's eyes sparkled as the last note lingered.
"Wow, Hartley. You're amazing."
"Really?" Hartley looked both proud and a little embarrassed.
"Yeah." Y/N nodded.
The school bell rang, jolting the room back to life.
Amy leaned forward, grinning. "You know, trying out for a band sounds fun. I never told you, but back in Centropolis, I was the lead singer of my own villain band."
Hartley's eyes widened. "No way!"
Amy smirked. "We didn't last long though. Our drummer broke up."
Y/N blinked. "You mean the band broke up?"
Amy shook her head with a grin. "Nope. Our drummer. Onyx turned him into stone. He shattered into tiny pieces."
Hartley chuckled nervously, trying to picture it.
Just then, the door creaked open and in sauntered Gem, with that signature sly smirk and sharp eyes that seemed to scan the room for weakness.
"Hey, Hartley. New girl." Her voice was sugary sweet but carried a sharp edge.
Y/N and Amy exchanged wary looks.
Gem's gaze locked on Amy. "My name's Gem."
Amy squared her shoulders. "I've been here for months. Funny how time flies when you don't really care."
Gem turned back to Hartley with a fake smile. "I heard you're trying out for the Round-Up band."
Hartley nodded, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face.
YOU ARE READING
𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐌𝐄𝐋𝐎𝐍 𝐒𝐔𝐆𝐀𝐑, COLBY MADDEN
FanfictionY/N's heart skipped as she spotted Colby across the crowded hallway-just like old times, reckless and untamed. "Didn't think I'd see you here again," Colby said with a crooked smile, the past hanging heavy between them. After years apart, Y/N never...
