Battle of the Bands

It's showtime

MITCHEL’S POV

“Okay, someone just suggested we watch some What About Tonight videos,” Maeve said to the camera. “SO you guys should link us to your favourites.”

They watched our Payphone cover and were pretty impressed, only making fun of us a little bit. But then, someone obviously linked them to our ‘Beautiful soul’ cover. They were going ‘aw’ for a while, until it got to a certain chorus and we all groaned, knowing what was coming.

“Oh my god! Look at those dance moves!” Maeve started laughing so much that she fell off the bed and out of sight.

“That is just precious, oh my god!” Georgia tried to hold in her laughter, biting her lip. “Wow, why weren’t we treated to any of that in person? I’m disappointed now.”

“Should we say something?” Brock asked.

“No, I have a better idea,” Luke grinned mischievously, pulling out his phone. He dialled Maeve’s number and waited for her to answer. On the screen we could see her lean over and grab it, mouthing ‘it’s Luke’ to the other girls and putting it on loudspeaker before saying hello. “Hey babe, what’s going on?”

“Nothing much,” she said, biting back a smile. “Just chilling at home, what about you guys?”

“Yeah about the same,” he said casually. “Hey just wondering, have any of you guys seen my grey hoodie? I can’t find it anywhere.” She looked down at the grey jumper she was wearing and laughed, covering it up with a cough.

“Um I’m not sure,” she said, trying to sound casual. “I might have thrown it in my bag by mistake, I’ll check later for you and let you know.”

“Alright, cool,” Luke nodded and smirked at us. “Well if you’ve got it, you definitely shouldn’t wear it with those grey striped pyjama pants, because that’s just a huge fashion no, right?”

“Yeah definitely – wait, what?” we all burst into laughter as she looked down at her pants and blushed. “Oh my god, are you serious guys?”

“Our dance moves are great thank you very much!” Christian said defensively.

“So cringey,” Taylah laughed, shaking her head. “Who agrees with us?” Soon enough, plenty of comments popped up, some agreeing with the girls and some disagreeing.

“Does anyone have any questions for the boys while they’re here?” Georgia addressed the camera again. “Here’s one, Katie wants to know if, in a life or death situation, you boys would date any of us?” She smirked wickedly and we all looked to each other, suddenly awkward.

“And the consequences if we don’t?” Brock asked.

“The world ends,” Maeve said simply.

“Well I guess to save the world, we’d have to wouldn’t we?” I laughed. “We could have worse options.”

“Aw Mitchy,” Taylah said. “That’s probably the nicest thing you’ve ever said to us, which is kind of sad when you think about it.”

“Boys, it’s 11:30 and I’m waking you up early tomorrow,” Annie called from downstairs as she was leaving. “If any of you complain about being tired, I will not be held responsible for my actions.”

“And that’s our cue to leave,” Luke said to the girls. “Night losers.”

“Goodnight boys,” they chorused, perfectly synchronised. We hung up and shut the computer before splitting off into our own rooms.

True to her word, Annie showed up at eight o’clock the next morning, bursting into all of our rooms to wake us up. We dragged ourselves downstairs, yawning and still stumbling into our clothes. She handed out breakfast she’d brought and gave us ten minutes to eat before ushering us into her car.

We met Logan and the girls in the city. The festival was down behind Fed Square, stretching over that whole area. The stage was set up, that was where we all met up. The girls looked as tired as we felt. I sat on the edge of the stage beside Taylah and she leant against me with her eyes closed.

“Alright, you guys have a little while before you have to perform,” Logan explained. “So you’re free to do whatever you want.”

“Just be back by twelve,” Annie added. “And don’t get into any trouble.”

“I want a slurpee,” I announced and they all like at me like I was crazy.

“Mitchel, it’s not even 10 o’clock,” Taylah pointed out with a yawn.

“I’ll piggy back you,” I offered and she shrugged. I pulled her up onto my back and took off for Fed Square.

There weren’t a lot of people out this early, but it was slowly filling up as people arrived on trains and trams. We filed into 7-11 and Taylah slid off my back in front of the slurpee machine.

We paid and left with our drinks, sitting on the steps in the square. Georgia curled up on the stone step with her head in Christian’s lap. We were just chilling, slowly waking up and filling the time with idle chitchat.

“Um excuse me?” I looked up to a timid voice, seeing a couple of girls, probably about 13 or there abouts. “We were just wondering if we could get some pictures? We’re massive tonighters.”

“It’d be our pleasure babe,” I stood up and the boys did the same. Taylah took the girl’s camera and we all stood together to pose and make stupid faces.

“Thank you guys so much!” The girls grinned and hugged us. “We can’t wait to see you perform.”

“We can’t wait for you to see us perform,” Christian said cheekily and they giggled and ran off in the direction of the stage.

“Oh my god What About Tonight!” Maeve and Georgia squealed, jumping up and down holding hands. “Can we like totally get a picture?”

“And your autograph?” Taylah added in a girly voice.

“Don’t be jealous ladies,” Tyrone rolled his eyes, putting a hand on his hip, turning on his heel and strutting away, leaving the rest of us to follow him back across the square, far enough away to pretend we had no idea who he was.

“You’re back early,” Annie looked up as we approached and we all shrugged. “Good, extra practice time.”

“Let’s do this.”