All the students found it hard to believe, but the last day of school was here. And, to celebrate the closing of another year, was the second annual JMA Music Night. Among the rest of the students was our familiar group, deciding who was going to sing, and how they were going to spend the night. A group of tables was pressed against the wall of the room, giving Joy an idea.
"Come on!" Joy yelled as an upbeat song started. She jumped on one of the tables, a huge grin on her face.
"Are you crazy?" Moon asked.
"Definitely." Joy confirmed. She threw her talons up. "Is no one going to dance with me?"
"Well, I'm in!" Kelp announced, climbing up.
"...Why not." Air admitted, climbing up as well. Nightflyer, Qibli, Seashell, and Moon followed. They danced on the tables as the music played, Winter glaring at them from the ground.
"Come on Winnie, it's the last night!" Joy insisted. He scowled.
"Please Winter?" Air asked.
"No." he declared firmly. Moon held out a talon to him.
"Winter," she began. "Dance with me?" He hesitated, glancing back and forth to Moon's outstretched talon and the door.
"One song." he said finally, taking Moon's talon. They cheered as he climbed up.
While they danced on the tabletops most of the night, they still found time to sing, of course. Joy bounced eagerly on stage, pulling Kelp behind her for a duet. Winter groaned as they went on.
"Three camels says they sing a love song," Qibli bet.
"No way. They're gonna sing some stupid pop song." Winter countered. Qibli held out a talon and they shook. Qibli smirked as the song began and Joy started to sing.
"The day we met,
Frozen I held my breath
Right from the start
I knew that I'd found a home for my heart
Beats fast.
Colors and promises
How to be brave?
How can I love when I'm afraid to fall
But watching you stand alone?
All of my doubt
Suddenly goes away somehow"
Winter swore under his breath and Qibli started to laugh, knowing he'd won. Up one stage, Kelp and Joy sand in perfect harmony.
"One step closer,"
Then it went back to Joy, flipping back and forth between the two of them.
"I have died every day waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more"
"Time stands still,
Beauty in all she is"
"I will be brave
I will not let anything take away
What's standing in front of me
Every breath
Every hour has come to this
One step closer
I have died every day waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
I'll love you for a thousand more
One step closer
One step closer
I have died every day waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
I will love you a thousand years"
Cheers went up, and Kelp smiled shyly at the crowd. Joy grinned as they bolted from the stage. Nightflyer scowled.
"How the hell am I supposed to follow that?" he demanded.
"You'll find a way," Air insisted as he walked on stage.
Nightflyer walked up cautiously and began to sing.
"I wanna follow where she goes
I think about her and she knows it
I wanna let her take control
'Cause every time that she gets close, yeah
She pulls me in enough to keep me guessing, mmm
And maybe I should stop and start confessing
Confessing, yeah
Oh, I've been shaking
I love it when you go crazy
You take all my inhibitions
Baby, there's nothing holdin' me back
You take me places that tear up my reputation
Manipulate my decisions
Baby, there's nothing holdin' me back
There's nothing holdin' me back
There's nothing holdin' me back
She says that she's never afraid
Just picture everybody naked
She really doesn't like to wait
Not really into hesitation
Pulls me in enough to keep me guessing, whoa
And maybe I should stop and start confessing
Confessing, yeah"
Suddenly Nightflyer jumped off the stage and onto the ground, beginning to dance with Air.
"Oh, I've been shaking
I love it when you go crazy
You take all my inhibitions
Baby, there's nothing holdin' me back
You take me places that tear up my reputation
Manipulate my decisions
Baby, there's nothing holdin' me back
There's nothing holdin' me back
'Cause if we lost our minds
And we took it way too far
I know we'd be alright,
Know we would be alright
If you were by my side
And we stumbled in the dark
I know we'd be alright,
I know we would be alright
'Cause if we lost our minds
And we took it way too far
I know we'd be alright,
I know we would be alright
If you were by my side
And we stumbled in the dark
I know we'd be alright,
We would be alright
Oh, I've been shaking
I love it when you go crazy
You take all my inhibitions
Baby, there's nothing holdin' me back
You take me places that tear up my reputation
Manipulate my decisions
Baby, there's nothing holdin' me back
There's nothing holdin' me back
I feel so free
When you're with me,
Baby"
At the last line in the song, Nightflyer let go of Air and spread his arms, falling backwards into the crowd.
"Baby, there's nothing holdin' me back"
The crowd caught him and shoved him upright again as the music cut out. Shouts flooded the room, cheering for Nightflyer as he ran off. As the night came to a close, one last singer approached the stage. Joy and Air froze in surprise at the sight of him.
Rainkeeper wasn't sure what he'd been thinking when he had signed up to sing, but there was no going back now. With a deep breath, he started to sing.
"My best friend gave me the best advice
He said each day's a gift and not a given right
Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind
And try to take the path less traveled by
That first step you take is the longest stride
If today was your last day
And tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past
Donate every dime you have?
If today was your last day
Against the grain should be a way of life
What's worth the prize is always worth the fight
Every second counts 'cause there's no second try
So live like you'll never live it twice
Don't take the free ride in your own life
If today was your last day
And tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past
Donate every dime you have?
Would you call old friends you never see?
Reminisce old memories
Would you forgive your enemies?
Would you find that one you're dreamin' of?
Swear up and down to Moons above
That you finally fall in love
If today was your last day
If today was your last day
Would you make your mark by mending a broken heart?
You know it's never too late to shoot for the stars
Regardless of who you are
So do whatever it takes
'Cause you can't rewind a moment in this life
Let nothin' stand in your way
Cause the hands of time are never on your side
If today was your last day
And tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past
Donate every dime you have?
Would you call old friends you never see?
Reminisce old memories
Would you forgive your enemies?
Would you find that one you're dreamin' of?
Swear up and down to Moons above
That you finally fall in love
If today was your last day"
Joy yelled with the crowd as the song ended. Rainkeeper blushed and ran from the stage, leaving it open for one of the teachers to announce that it was time for everyone to head back to their sleeping caves. As all the students headed down the hall, Kelp grabbed ahold of Joy's arm.
"Come with me," he insisted. Joy grinned and followed him away from the school.
Kelp lead her down a narrow hallway, far away from the school, and even far from Stonemover's cave.
"Kelp, where are we going?" she asked. He smiled.
"It's a surprise." he replied excitedly. Her curiosity grew as they kept walking. "Close your eyes," Kelp teased as the reached the end of another hallway. Joy eyed him, but obliged. Even though her eyes were shut, Kelp still snuck up behind her and wrapped his talons over her eyes, just in case. "No peeking," he warned, leading her into a cave. "Aaaaand, open your eyes!" he announced a few moments later.
Joy opened her eyes and gasped. They were in a huge cave with a lake in it. A small waterfall ran through one of the walls, and the whole area was open to the sky.
"Wow," she whispered, looking around. They were standing on a solid floor that was smooth to the touch, perfect for dancing. Large, comfortable looking rocks lined part of the lake's edge, and the water was crystal clear. Kelp was grinning as he took in her awed expression.
"Like it? The Seawings haven't found this one yet, so I figured it could be our place. A secret spot just for the two of us." he explained. Joy turned to face him, a wide smile on her face.
"I LOVE it!" she exclaimed, rushing over to kiss him. Kelp lifted her off her feet and spun around.
"So, what do you want to do first?" he asked. Joy grinned slyly.
"Well," she began. "I've always wondered what it would be like to kiss underwater..."