Our Foundations from Decay

Gerards POV 43

A jittering feeling tensed up inside me like a spastic on meth. It was a feeling that I knew could be drained by a puff of nicotine, yet there was no time. The show was beginning as stage management asked the first band to wait backstage. All the other bands sat in the frontrow, waiting their turn to be called on.

Me, Frank, Ray, and Mikey sat in the very first row, exactly in that order. Our eyes watched as the lights inevitably dawned, the principal making a grand appearance on centre stage, a halo of brightness surrounding him as he stood under the spotlight.

"Alright, Belleville High. Welcome to The Battle of the Bands! This new school tradition will occur every two years so knock it out of the park or you'll only be able to re-apply in two years' time. We have many bands performing today, so can you please give a round of applause to the first band on stage, One Direction!"

The crowd went wild as the popular boys treaded onto the stage. Cheering erupted throughout the auditorium like a riptide of forgotten souls begging to be freed.

"Thank you very much, everyone. The song we're performing is called What Makes You Beautiful" spoke Harry with that annoyingly charming British accent.

A bunch of 'aws' emerged from every girl in their seat, even Kristy I think, causing Mikey to grit his teeth and send a petty glare to the boys on stage. Someone's jealous, I laughed to myself.

As the crowd settled down, the boys began. Drums paced them as they started the first line.

"You're insecure, don't know what for"

By the time the band reached their last line, Frank was snoozing away, drooling on my shoulder.

"Frank, c'mon, it's over. Wake the hell up" I whispered to him as I shook the boy.

What if we get called backstage? We need to be completely on guard for when we're on.

God, I wish I smoked that cigarette when I had the chance. I could almost smell the burning weed around me, its bitter taste frolicking on my tongue. Maybe I should get nicotine patches. It won't be the same, though.

"Huh?" Mumbled my boyfriend from next to me, "Who's on now?"

"Up next", the principal's theatrical voice showered over us as if he heard Frank, "Is Placebo!"

I watched as the timid boy scuffled up to the stage with his crew behind him.

"Uhm, hi. I'm Brian Molko and we are Placebo. This song is called 'Scared Of Girls'"

Good luck, Molko.

Brian's band was one of the few I was excited to hear; he's an intriguing and introspective boy, and I believed that his band would be one of the few that would actually sound good, like they'd be worth something.

The electric guitar ripped through the atmosphere as their song began.

"His guitar skills are amazing" Frank whispered in awe of Placebo's guitarist.

"Yeah, but not better than you" I grinned as Frank's loving face smiled back at me.

"Got a place inside it" Brian sang his last words as the crowd came to a concluding applause.

Placebo walked off the platform, the schools figurehead hastily appearing once again on the stage. "The next band coming up is The Used."

Oh God, don't tell me he's gonna sing that song he wrote about me.

My speculating bulbs followed the lanky figure as he marched onto the platform, his presence standing at the very edge, so close to me that I could feel his body heat.