Adopted (Book 1) *EDITING*

Chapter 29: Pure Talent.

"Alright alright everyone if you could all please quiet down." Mr Rexus said into the cheap school microphone. "Ok we have parents here, we have students here, we have our three judges. Are we all ready for the 2015 Talent show?!" He said raising his other hand up as people let out a cheer. Things worked out perfectly schedulewise. We go on right after the drum battle so we only need to carry out the keyboard. We are all set. I glance out from side stage and look around. The whole schools here along with a lot of parents and staff. My school had just under a thousand students, I can see why some the the girls back here are freaking out. I look back at the schedule which was posted high in the wall. We're the 5th group to go, I'm pretty excited.

Most of the school knows me for my dad and my place in the band. Probably only half of them have heard me sing. Of course I sing at the concerts all the time but not all of them are a fan of panic. I walk over to the wall where Karen and Charlie are standing. I stand against it with them and watch the people buzz around. I look over at my friends and laugh a little. Their holding instruments while I'm holding a mic. I look back at the buzzing people and find Dan speed walking our way. Once he makes it over, he speaks up.

"We are all set." He said with a smile. "We've got amps ready on rollers and the keyboard all good to go. Now we just have to wait our turn." He said, leaning against the wall next to me. I look out onto the stage. Mr Rexus was still talking.

"Now without further delay, I present to you our first act. Ladies, why don't you come out. I watch as four girls walk out in jazz dance shoes and matching fancy uniforms. I'm guessing that their gonna dance. Yep they are. Their dancing to the song Gold by Imagine Dragons. Their really good, I can't do any of that stuff. I can barely do a high kick. Bro what the hell, what is this weird jumpy spinny kicky backbend. Ok I'm just gonna step away from the possessed girls. I stand and watch the people buzz around, then I noticed something. All the girls are wearing fancy clothes and dresses. I look down at my outfit. I guess combat boots, black ripped skinny jeans, a red 30 seconds to mars shirt, a leather jacket, and black eye makeup isn't a fancy outfit.

I turn my mic over in my hands. It's funny how a piece of metal can cost so much. I smile at it and look at the end, two red lights were glowing at the end. That means all I have to do is walk on stage and it will work. I look out on stage, there is a new group. If I'm correct, these guys are singing. Yep I was right. Not to me rude but they clearly didn't warm up first. Having a dad who is a singer, you get to know the inside of all of it. I politely watch them, they would be a lot better if they practiced. I watch them sing to song I don't know. At the end, they were pretty good. I watched them walk off stage smiling, a few people gave them high fives before they went out the door leading back to the seats. I stand with my friends. I then though how now would be the perfect time to  go over our stage plan. We all circle up and I start talking. The drum battle was about to happen on the stage.

"Alright now for our next act, why don't you guys come out and introduced your selfs." Mr Rexus said, smiling at us. We all walk out at the same time, my mic in one hand as I push out the keyboard. I walk to the front of the stage while everyone is getting ready. Dans rolling out the amps, Charlie and Karen are hooking up their instruments to the amps and making sure the settings are right. I speak into my mic.

"Hello everyone. While their getting ready I thought I would introduce us." I said smiling. "My name is Sydney. This is Charlie," I said pointing at him ask he adjusted his mic so it was mouth level. "That's Karen." I said pointing at her as she did the same as Charlie. "And that is Dan." I said pointing back at the drums. He waved at the audience with his drumstick. "We ready?" I said, not into my mic. They all nodded, I walk over to my keyboard. "We are going to be performing Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen." I said, putting my mic on the stand. The audience let out a wave of reactions. I check my setting on the keyboard before looking at Karen and Charlie who both nod. I then start the song.

"Is this the real life, is this just fantasy. Caught in a landslide, no escape from reality." I sang, Charlie and Karen harmonizing. This sounds way better then I was expecting. I look around the large audience in the dark room. I find Brendon, Spencer, Dallon, Kenny, and Zack all sitting. Brendon and Zack are recording. I try not to laugh and continue to sing. "Mama, just killed a man. Put a gun against his head, pulled my trigger now he's dead. Mama, life had just begun but now I've gone and thrown it all away. Mama, ohhh. Didn't mean to make you cry, if I'm not back again this time tomorrow carry on carry as if nothing really matters." I sang. I look around the audience, we were getting good reactions. The judges seemed to like it too.

•TIME SKIP TO GUITAR SOLO•

"I don't wanna die! I sometimes wish I'd never been born at all!" I sang passionately, squeezing my eyes shut. Those words were Charlie's signal for the guitar solo, I open my eyes and watch. He's fingers ran across the frets like a runner on a track. He watches his hands intensely as he plays the solo. It's amazing how he learned the whole song in just one day. I then look at the guitar, Blue. Brendon never lets anyone use Blue, he barely lets me. Why is he letting Charlie? I brush it off and start pressing the piano keys again. This next part is my favorite.

•Time skip to the fun part bc it's 2 am and I want to sleep•

"I hit the keys repetitively before grabbing my mic off the stand and walking to the front of the stage. As I walk, I bob my head to the guitar and smile at Charlie. As the song got closer to the singing part, I started to create some stage presence. I put one foot up on one of then small amps and pulled my mic to my mouth.

"So you think you can stone me and spit in my eye." I said, putting my spare hand on my knee and leaning forward. When Charlie strummed hard, I push off the amp and whip my head back. "So you think you can love me and leave me to die!" I sing with a smirk. "Ohhhhh baby, can't do this to me baby, just gotta get out, just gotta get right out of here." I sang, jumping around the stage before walking back to the keyboard and putting my mic back on the stand. I look around the audience, watching their surprised faces as I press down on the keys again. As I start to sing again, i look at Brendon. He looks so proud of me. I smile back at him, he's still recording along with Zack. He smiles back. I continue the song.

"Nothing really matters... Nothing really matters.... To meeeee. Any way the wind blows." I sang, closing the song. After I finished the note, we got a huge standing ovation. I walk over to Charlie and Karen who were hugging and I joined in, so did Dan. We all pulled away and waved goodbye to the audience. Once we got backstage we started putting our stuff away. Karen and Charlie carefully put the instruments back in their cases and picked them up. We all head for the backstage door.