The days flashed by until it was time for us to appear near the targets. All of us were in constant contact and planned to attend the auditions. There was no confirmation that we would pass onto the rounds because only a select few knew of our reason for being at this college so we had to work to make sure that we could pass.
I was the first of our team to appear. I looked around the auditorium. The music building was quite large due to the well known music program. The rows of seats were filling with both band members and onlookers. Moving towards the registration, I noticed a few familiar faces within the crowd. The Farrah team along with Lake and Karla were conversing with a few other all female bands. Luke and Rowan were dodging through the crowds with their arms full of drinks and snacks. Luke had a bag of jellybeans sticking out from his pocket. North and Silas' towering frames were seen near the back while Sean and Rin were conversing with all Asian team.
"Hey," the boy sitting behind the registration table smiled brightly. His skin was tan, making his sparkling white teeth sparkle. Brown eyes looked at me up and down. His hair was a sandy brown which was mused slightly. "Signing up?"
I smirked, lifting an eyebrow up. "What gave me away?"
He chuckled at my sarcasm. "Sorry. It's just I've never seen someone so beautiful."
"I know right," a voice spoke before an arm wrapped around my shoulders. The scent of the familiar pineapple and woodsy cologne made me relax into the body next to me. "My girlfriend is beautiful."
The boy's smile turned strained as he forced himself to keep smiling. His eyes turned sharp as he looked at the arm that was currently around me. "Ah. Already taken." His eyes barely looked at Rowan before looking back at me. "Lucky guy."
After a tense moment, he became cheerful. "Well, name's Lark. I guess you guys are wanting to register. Take this and write down your band name, band members, and student id. After that, just bring it back and I'll give you your numbers."
I grabbed the paper before Ryker guided me to where the others were. Kota and Victor were looking down at their phones. Our equipment were piled near their feet. As we moved towards them, Ryker smiled. "I might have to stay close to you."
I rolled my eyes. "Me? Don't you see the girls looking at you?"
And I wasn't wrong. He had handsome features and charming and warm expression that made women's eyes drawn towards them. In fact, every single one of us Academy agents were drawing people's attention.
He looked at me with a teasing smile. "Jealous?"
"Of course not," I said before moving away towards Kota and Victor. When they noticed me, smiles came to their faces, making my heart beat faster. After close to four years, they reappeared and were around me and my team for another year. In that year they were near me, my heart told me that no matter how much I try to deny my feelings or want to change my feelings, I would always love them more than friends.
After we signed the paper, I waved the others away to get our instruments ready as I turned in the paper. The guy behind the table smiled as I came closer. When I reached him, he looked behind me and became happier that Ryker was not behind me. His eyes looked down the paper I gave him. His brown eyes met mine with interest. "Your name is Sang?" At my nod, he smiled. "Nice. The Arcadians? That's interesting. Anyway your number is 18."
After he gave me the numbers to put on our clothes, he spoke. "Are you a junior?"
I nodded. "I recently transferred from a community college."
He nodded as if he found this interesting. "I'm glad that you transferred here. There are a lot of opportunities to get to know others in the music major."
I smiled politely. "Thanks. I better get back to my band."
Before he could speak anymore, I walked away to find my team. Finding them in the second fifth row, I sat next to Ryker, leaning my head on his shoulder. He chuckled. "Tired?"
I nodded. "Yeah, didn't have enough sleep."
Victor who was sitting on my other side glanced at me. "Why?"
"A nightmare," I stated simply. Kota and Victor were silent. Ever since they were back, they knew that I still had nightmares. At least my nightmares weren't about Volto or my stepmother, but sometimes they were worse. The nine also knew that it wasn't their job to console me after a nightmare. They hoped that they would be able to soon, but not until I was ready.
I don't know how much time passed until the host tapped on a microphone. I looked up, noticing a peppy girl on stage. She was like a puppy on sugar overdose, slightly reminding me of Luke. "Welcome to the band auditions for Band Fest. I'm Tori, the president of the student music committee. I want to welcome the judges who are alumni from this very college. Music Professor Wilfred Edwards, Producer for the well known band, Adonis, Brandon Gilheart, and member of the band Here You Are, Min Yoongi."
Applause echoed as the three judges appeared on stage. Wilfred Edwards was a known opera singer on Broadway when he decided to retire to teach music. Brandon Gilheart was a producer for the rising pop-electric band Adonis, and Min Yoongi is a member of the famous k-pop band Here You Are that was taking America by storm.
As the applause died out, Tori continued to speak. "We have a total of 25 bands competing for the award. The bands will perform before the judges, and only ten will pass on. After that, the ten remaining bands will come back another day to perform once again. They will narrow it down to six bands, and those bands will go perform at a concert on campus. The winner will be voted on by the puclic. The award for the first place winner consists of $1000, a song with the band Adonis, and a music video with Here You Are. So, with that, good luck!"
She looked at her phone. "First up is Six Kings."
Six people climbed onto stage. I bit my lip at the band. I could already tell that they were at a disadvantage as soon as they began to play. They were a bit off with their beat, and the voices were okay but a bit bland. After they finished, scattered applause was heard. The equipment was quickly exchanged, and Tori reappeared. "Next is the Celestials."
Murmurs rose as the Farrah Team, Lake, and Karla climbed onto the stage. Their looks attracted everyone's attention. Unlike some all female teams, they were dressed in less-revealing clothes but still were able to look sexy at the same time. Catcalls came from several of the boys. After the first audition with a mediocre band, they thought that they wouldn't be that good either. A smirk came to my face. How wrong they were.
Wendy began with the keyboard, and the others began with the drum, bass, and guitar. Vivian and Kayla stepped towards the microphones. When Vivian started to speak, eyes rounded. Girls' eyes flashed with jealousy at their looks, vocals, and music. Guys' eyes rounded with shock and lust.
Talkin' in my sleep at night, makin' myself crazy
Out of my mind, out of my mind
Wrote it down and read it out, hopin' it would save me
Too many times, too many times
My love, he makes me feel like nobody else, nobody else
But my love, he doesn't love me, so I tell myself, I tell myself
One: Don't pick up the phone
You know he's only callin' 'cause he's drunk and alone
Two: Don't let him in
You'll have to kick him out again
Three: Don't be his friend
You know you're gonna wake up in his bed in the morning
And if you're under him, you ain't gettin' over him
I got new rules, I count 'em
I got new rules, I count 'em
I got new rules, I count 'em
I keep pushin' forwards, but he keeps pullin' me backwards
Nowhere to turn, no way, nowhere to turn, no
Now I'm standin' back from it, I finally see the pattern
I never learn, (I never learn)
But my love (my love), he doesn't love me
So I tell myself, I tell myself
I do, I do, I do
One: Don't pick up the phone
You know he's only callin' 'cause he's drunk and alone
Two: Don't let him in
You'll have to kick him out again
Three: Don't be his friend
You know you're gonna wake up in his bed in the morning
And if you're under him, you ain't gettin' over him
I got new rules, I count 'em
I got new rules, I count 'em
I got new rules, I count 'em
Yeah, aah, ah ooh
Out again, ah oh
Oh oh
I got new rules, I count 'em
I got new rules, I count 'em
I got new rules, I count 'em
I got new rules, I count 'em
I got new rules, I count 'em
Yeah, ah, ah ooh, out again
As they finished, Ryker laughed. "Now that's a competition."