Battle of the Bands - Sanders Sides

Chapter Ten

Remus ran out of the backstage door, going through the school's hallways before quietly bursting into the cafeteria. He eagerly looked around, catching the eyes of many people who had bullied him in the past.

At their table in the back, Remus could see Janus and Virgil half-heartedly attempting to eat. He could tell they were nervous. He understood. In all honesty, Remus never thought their first performance would ever happen. But here he was, and he had never felt better.

Pushing through the crowd, he ignored people's negative comments and slurs directed at him and made his way to his friends. When he sat down in the one empty chair, they gazed upon him hopefully.

"So, how did the prank go?" Janus hissed. Remus wasn't entirely sure how to break news to his friends that he pretty much did nothing to their competitors, but he also wasn't so sure it was a bad thing either.

"I-I didn't do it," Remus admitted.

"The hell? Why not?"

"I was...uh, w-worried that we'd be kicked out of the competition if we had been caught pranking another team's band," he replied, thinking quickly.

"Wow. Uh, smart thinking, Remus," Virgil hummed.

"That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me, emo!" Remus squealed. With hardly any food in their stomachs, the boys walked out of the cafeteria early to head backstage to prepare.

As they did, the auditorium began to fill up and the live stream began to start, the music teacher walked up on stage to give her opening regards. "Welcome, students to the first-ever Battle of the Bands competition! Pull out your phones and go to our website to vote for all the bands you see on stage today! If your favorite band wins, you'll be happy to know that they'll be playing at your prom!"

The crowd cheered queue Remy's band to take the stage. Patton and Remy grabbed their guitars around their shoulders while Emile grabbed his tambourine and Logan went behind his keyboard. Everyone went crazy, bringing Emile, Patton, and Remy's egos up, the boys could just tell.

However, Logan looked unimpressed. As if he just wanted to play and get off the stage. Remus sighed, wishing he could help him in some way. From what he had learned earlier, it almost sounded like Logan had been forced into the band. It almost broke Remus' heart a bit.

Remy stepped up to the microphone before riffing on his guitar to begin the song. As soon as they started, Remus, Janus, and Virgil started to understand why they were so popular. They were actually pretty good together. They had musical chemistry together, and it showed.

The boys began to sweat as their song ended. Virgil's hands had begun to quiver as Janus wrapped his own hands around them. "T-That was pretty good," he trembled.

"But we're even better, love. Maybe we haven't been playing together as long as they have, but that means nothing! This school has heard their stuff time and time again, surely they're wanting a change!" Janus assured him.

"And we will be that change," Remus huffed. Remy and his group came backstage, basking in the love their classmates were showering upon them.

"Was that enough to scare you brats away yet?" Remy taunted.

Before Remus could respond, Logan lightly pushed on Remy's chest, providing clearance between the two bands. "Leave it, Remy," he commanded. The nerd turned to Remus, looking him dead in the eyes, "Break a leg, you guys." With that, he dragged Remy away with Patton and Emile following closely behind.

The mustached drummer couldn't explain it, but he felt a blast of confidence rush over him. A red hue hit his cheeks. He gripped his drumsticks tighter, causing both of his friends to gaze upon him. "Let's blow the roof of this place," he said.

As the trio made their appearance on the stage, the audience went silent. It sent shocking chills up their spines as all they could hear was the occasional cough. Virgil crowded behind his keyboard while Janus wrapped his guitar around him.

Remus sat behind his drums, adjusting the little seat he had sat upon. The adrenaline in his system was flowing like a hose with water. He quickly cleared his throat before banging his drumsticks together.

Virgil's legs were shaking like leaves in a tree. He was having a hard time keeping his fingers balanced against the correct keys he needed. He looked out into the crowd, not being able to see anything with the bright lights in his face, but that didn't stop him from knowing that someone was there. He shut his eyes and started to press down the keys.

Janus took a deep breath, placing his hands carefully on his guitar strings. He pressed his lips up against the microphone, closing his eyes before inhaling to start the song.

"When I was a young boy
My father took me into the city
To see a marching band!
He said, "Son, when you grow up
Would you be the savior of the broken
The beaten, and the damned?"

He said, "Will you defeat them
Your demons and all the non-believers?
The plans that they have made?

Because one day, I'll leave you
A phantom to lead you in the summer
To join the black parade!"

By this time, the entire audience was on their feet, screaming happily to the music they were playing. The boys could feel their confidence rise exponentially. They all exchanged looks before giving it everything they had from beginning to the end of the song.

~.0.~

Remus, Janus, and Virgil eagerly waited backstage for the final band to finish so the voting could begin. They were all still slightly shaking from the rush that was performing. Even though they couldn't explain why they were so ready to do it again.

As the final band came off stage, the music teacher went out onto the stage while students could be seen taking their phones out. The music teacher had her laptop with her, watching the voting count rise.

Remy and his band were all at the edge of the curtains. Except for Logan, who was silently in the corner. Remus wanted to go over to him and do something, but he got distracted as the microphone squeaked to life.

"Thank you, students, for voting! And thank you, band members, for playing us some wonderful music! While I'm sure it was a difficult choice on who to vote for. However, one must go. The results will be posted later today, so make sure to check in with the school's website later!"

Of course, everyone backstage immediately went nuts. The stakes were high and the energy was too. Now all the boys had to do was wait. And that would be a painful wait, they just knew it.