Chapter Eight

Reference: Taylor Swift's You Belong With Me is mentioned here. I lub this song! And mentions of Twilight, Edward Cullen and Bella Swann, Lucas Till and DAVID ARCHULETA!!!


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So tell me.

How does one describe the setting where you're seated on a sofa with two of your new friends, and two girls on the sofa opposite of yours, one who was your best friend?

Awk-ward.

Both Jay and Gabriel fidgeted uncomfortably next to me; Dakota had serenely given her brother a smile with a threateningly quiet, "Jay, Kaitlyn's your guest."

When someone emphasizes their last word like that, you obviously know what's going to happen to you if you happen to defy the order hidden among the sentence. Gabriel had decided to stay as well, instead of heading down to the recording basement because, well, Dakota's smile scared him too. To be honest, I'm quite frightened myself.

Fifteen-year-old girls who look like harmless lambs are not what they always seem to be, let me tell you.

Evie broke the silence first.

"You never said you were moving here," Evie said, her tone clipped and cold. Ouch? She's not as nice as the other Evie. The school nurse, I mean. Ms. Summers. Ms. Summers is way nicer and is not as catty as this Evie is.



I shrugged indifferently. "Well, you never asked. Besides, when I told you my parents were sending me to live with my aunt somewhere, you never replied,"

"I did reply," she sniffed, throwing back some of her hair over her shoulder.

Yeah. Well, your reply wasn't that much of a reply, was it? All the e-mail said was, "Oh. Too bad. You'll miss the awesome Back-to-School BBQ party that Tanya's throwing at the beach!"

Now you tell me, is that or is that not a proper reply when a person who has been your best friend for two years tells you they're moving!?



Exactly my point.

"What are you doing with him anyway?" she asked, directing her eyes towards Jay.

Ah. Jay. Always the centre of attention. Bloody limelight hog.

"We're acquaintances," Jay put in helpfully.



"He dragged me here against my will," I said dryly.



"Who are you, by the way?" Dakota, Jay's sister, asked. "You don't look like you're from around here,"

"I suppose you know my name already, but I'm Kaitlyn Hunter," I replied, smiling a polite smile. Well, I can't be rude to a person in her own house, now can I? Sans Jay, by the way. He's a special case. "The person your delightful and dear brother molested and kidnapped,"

Okay. So I lied about the etiquette. Doesn't everyone do that?

I looked at Evie again. "Why are you here anyway?" I asked, because I really was curious, "It's not summer holidays anymore. They are way long over."


"Asher insisted on coming to look for you, since it's Friday and we have no school tomorrow," she muttered, "And he left me at some nasty little random chain restaurant to look up your address, and that's when I met Dakota, who then brought me here,"

"Asher did?" I echoed, dumbfounded.

Gabriel elbowed me lightly in the ribs. "Kaitlyn!" he whispered into my ear, "Who's Asher?"

Good question. I did say that I had friends and a best friend in Boston, but I guess I forgot to mention something else.

Something like, my other best friend?



Evie, who was the queen of gossip back at our high school, earned her title by being able to hear just about anything and transmitting anything interesting to anyone who passes by. Actually, now that I think about it, I can't believe I was ever BFFs with her. Woe is me, truly.


"Who's Asher?" she gave me a pointed look; her eyes reminded me of my homeroom teacher, "I can't believe you would just bury Asher like that. What kind of sick b-person are you?"



Sick person? I'll bet everything I have that she was gonna say sick bitch. Oops. Pardon my language.

"Says the person who chose a party over someone who was supposed to be her best friend," I muttered, standing up, "Forget it. I'm leaving,"

I stormed out of the room and mansion.


-

I felt pretty bad later, though. Leaving just like that, unannounced. I did promise the guys that I'd record with them and stuff, but I broke it. I stared at the folder containing lyrics of all the Lightning Devils' songs. Maybe I am a bitch, for being so mean like that. I can't really face Evie now, or Asher for that matter.



"Kaitlyn??"

Speak of the devil. I glanced up and got a shock. A dirty-blond-haired guy with cognac-colored eyes looked at me as if he were seeing an apparition of me. Asher.

Memories that I created with him and Evie came flooding back into my mind, a dam that I created whilst packing my things and crying, broken open.



"Asher?"

Asher, as heartbreakingly handsome as always, gazed at me, his jaws wide open. "I can't believe it... I found you! You're alive!"


"Uh, Asher, I moved. Not died,"

Bless my sarcasm to always work, even in the most sombre of situations.

I stood up from the bench I was sitting on, and started walking away. Well, tried to walk away. Asher caught my arm. "Are you avoiding me?" he asked me incredulously, "After all I did coming all the way to this place to look for you?"

"I never asked you to," I reasoned with a snide tone, taking a few steps away from Asher. I'm not taking any chances with a very emotional guy.

Asher Greene, a perfect male specimen standing at five foot nine; hair like the sandy dunes and liquid amber eyes. A package of a male model. An All-American Golden Boy with stellar achievements who is every parent's dream child. My… best guy friend.



I know what you all are thinking. What a waste, isn't it?



"Kaitlyn..." Asher had that sad puppy look on his face that never failed to capture the hearts of girls who are into sensitive guys; his brows knitted together and his eyes were large and sorrowful. He stepped closer towards me. Damn it. His arms are reaching out towards me!

I don't like it.

It's kinda creepy, somehow.

"What are you doing here anyway?" I asked, laughing nervously. Not good.

Asher stopped his advances towards me, but he still had his eyes locked into a steady gaze with mine. "I came to bring you back,"

Well, he's as straight-to-the-point as usual.



"Well, you can't," I answered, "Because this is where I'm supposed to live now,"

"But we all miss you..."

Yeah. Sure. Sure you do.

"Uh-huh...so that explains why I watched you and Evie kiss the day I was supposed to leave?" I asked, raising an eyebrow, "Quite strange, considering the fact that, oh, I don't know, you told me that you had fallen for me?"



That caught him there.

 Asher's eyes grew wider in shock.

"H-how did you-?" he sputtered.

"I was there," I deadpanned, "I dropped by the beach so I could say goodbye since none of you bothered to send me off at the airport, so I decided to say goodbye there. Instead of doing so, what did I see my ex-best friends do but kiss? The both of you broke our promise."



"It wasn't intentionally, I swear. We were drunk," Asher put in; there was a slightly desperate tone to his voice.

"Passionately, might I add?" I said. Even though I feel hurt, it felt kind of good too, to finally let it all out into the open. "Both of you seemed perfectly sober. As far as I'm concerned, I'm pretty sure Tanya is very much against alcoholic drinks since that accident her boyfriend had. So I'm sure there wasn't anything to make you guys drunk and kiss behind my back,"



"But if you just let me explain-!"

"I do not want to hear anything from a big, fat, frickin' liar!" I seethed, silencing Asher with my outburst.

A few quiet minutes crawled by, as he obviously had nothing to say to my rage, and I sighed. I wanted to get out of here. 

"Please, go home with Evie and don't ever come back," I said softly, and walked away from him, "Do me a favor. Bye."

-



To be honest, I was feeling pretty down after that. I went to another park; this time I made sure there was no one I knew present before I sat on a bench and huddled there, listening to my iPod. Taylor Swift and David Archuleta both helped me with their songs when I first felt the stabs of betrayal and hurt.

'It rains when you're here, it rains when you're gone, and I was there when you said forever and always...'

As I listened to Taylor's voice, I vividly imagined my own life back in Boston. I really should clarify a few things here.


Evie and Asher had been my world; they had been the best friends I ever had. My parents' jobs required a lot of moving around, since they were both writers. They needed to go to places for inspiration and research; all that author-y stuff. So when they finally decided, "Enough! We shall settle down in Boston!", I was mad for joy.

I always referred to Boston as my home. We had never settled down longer in any other place than Boston. Come to think of it, I don't even know where my real hometown is.



Evie had been the first person to talk to me, to tell me where the best places around were. She was the popular one, the one that guys always wanted to ask out. Evie had dismissed the fact that the both of us had been completely different people with two different personalities that didn't match. She had been my best friend.



She was the one who had introduced me to Asher. We hit it off instantly, because of our mutual interest in many things. Asher was always the one who helped me get through the tough times at school, like the time when I had forgotten to study for a test and he helped me cram by giving me quick notes he'd make especially for me, or when the time he had filled in for me when I got sick and was unable to help the cheerleading squad be their mascot.

It just happened - how, I do not know - but I found that I was increasingly attracted to Asher. Who wouldn't, though? He's a frickin' real-life Gary Stu. Then, he had admitted that he had fallen for me, a week before I found out that I was moving. I had been happy, I guess, knowing that my feelings could be reciprocated despite the long distance.

But we had an agreement. The three of us would still be best of friends; nothing in the equilibrium of our friendship was going to change. We would suppress any different kind of feeling for the sake of our friendship.

I suppose I had been played. Made fun of. Ridiculed. Lied to. Seriously, I can't believe I ever actually thought that Asher had been telling the truth, and that Evie had kept her promise, even for a second. I shouldn't have; it was impossible.


Despite knowing that, I was unable to accept the fact that the two people whom I trust the most betrayed me like that. My two best friends. Unconsciously, my eyes started to tear up.

"Kaitlyn?"

I looked up to the familiar voice. Leo. He looked at me with his startling blue eyes; his golden eyebrows furrowed. He looks concerned... I think.


What?? He may be mad at me for ditching them, you know. I know I would. It's rude to ditch without informing people involved in said ditching.



"What are you doing here?" I asked him, hastily wiping away my tears, trying to look as casual as possible. I trained my puffy eyes on the folder, hoping that I passed off as nonchalant.

Leo took a seat beside me on the bench.

"Well, when I showed up at Jay's place with the other guys, he told me that you left suddenly..." he trailed off, "Why?"

Trying to look like I am not sad: Epic, collosal FAIL.



I shook my head, hugging my knees tightly to my chest. "It's...kinda complicated to explain,"



Leo smiled. "I can do complicated,"



Wow. This is so... Twilight. It's like, I'm Bella, he's Edward, Edward asks Bella about her life, she says it's complicated. Edward can do complicated too, you know?

"Are you quoting Edward Cullen?" I asked, a smile itching at the corners of my mouth. It's kind of stupid, yet funny, at the thought of the suave Leo quoting a sparkly vampire off a movie, "That is so lame,"



Leo chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "Well, you caught me there," he admitted, "My sister asked me to watch the Twilight saga with her yesterday. She practically had me strapped and chained back into a chair while re-watching the movies five times. It was hell, considering the fact I only got two hours of sleep before I had to get ready for school,"


Ah. That explains why I bumped into him this morning.

"Must've been agony," I commented while making a face, "Watching the same movies over and over again,"

"You do not want to know what other movies she had me watching the other day,"

"Try me," I challenged.



"Then you tell me what's up first," he replied.

Well...



"The girl with Dakota is my ex-best friend," I confessed, "And I just met my other ex-best friend not too long ago,"



And then I started blabbing everything.



I know. I can't believe myself either. Pouring my heart out to a guy who's notorious for breaking girls' heart? Something is very wrong with me. But still... it's kind of refreshing.


"Well, Kaitlyn, I must say, if they came looking for you, maybe there's this little thing that's bugging their subconscious," Leo said in a sagely manner, after I was finally done ranting, "Maybe they want you to forgive them? You could have been mistaken about your notions for their actions, and they want to explain it to you,"


"But I just can't..." I said softly, staring at the sky. Clouds swathed the twilight sky; a faint dull ache starting throbbing at the back of my mind. Oh God, this is so scene-off-a-movie-ish.

"I'm pretty damn sure you can," came Leo's reply, "After all, this is the girl that called Asher a 'big fat frickin' liar', we're talking about,"

A bubble of laughter escaped from me; I couldn't help it. It sounded pretty darn silly when I think about it, acting like a kid and calling Asher something like that. How much more classier can I get?

"Well, you have to face them at some point of your life," Leo reasoned, as I faced him again. A smile played at his lips. "Might as well do it now."

"I trusted the both of them so much, but they backstabbed me," I said bitterly, "How would you feel if someone did that to you? Literally? I could demonstrate if you'd like,"



At this point, both of us were looking right into each other's eyes. You know, to make my point come across clearly. It is strictly for that matter and NOT romantic. At. All.

Well... I'm having second thoughts on that one.

As I buried my face into my arms again, Leo reached out, and stroked my head comfortingly. I could feel the temperature within me rise, as I processed the fact that he was touching me and I had not screamed yet.

What is wrong with me?


Chapter Seven

I do not own Gossip Girl, Paramore, and definitely not Isaac Newton. But I do own the whole story, plot, characters and the sad attempt of a song here.

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"You do NOT fraternize with the enemy!"

I heard Jay shout loudly, and the next thing I knew, I was pulled back, away from Dash and I became the apple to Jay's Isaac Newton as he had Dash up against the wall, holding him by the collar of his shirt while I sprawled gracelessly on my back against the ground. Jay's face was the colour he saw - red - and his jaw became even more defined as he clenched his teeth. His eyes darkened as they narrowed into a glare, but nothing that had happened seemed to faze Dash, who merely countered the angry Jay with a laconic smirk. Could he be any more masochistic? Collective gasps of horror could be heard from the two women who were watching the escalating violence with pale faces from their desks.

What's his problem - Jay's - anyway? I let him get away with the creepy, flirty comments he gives me, let him call me kitty (I don't really care anymore. What's the point of teaching an old dog new tricks?) and let him drag me off in the middle of a school day, despite the well-established fact that I am not the brightest student around.

And what do I get? I big fat bruise possibly forming on my ass because he had pulled me so roughly, that I fell smack down onto the cold, tiled floor. Dude, I'm actually lucky that I haven't hit my tailbone and been paralyzed!

I am so getting a more expensive health insurance now.

I groaned, and Leo, who had come out already, proceeded to help me up like the gentlenotman he is as he rushed over, kneeling down to grab hold of my hand.

"You okay, beautiful?" Leo asked, and for a split second he actually seemed genuinely worried, with the way troubled creases formed on his forehead and his golden eyebrows knitted together. But the 'beautiful' comment basically erased all traces of earnestness from existence.

"Sure, if you think having a butt-bruise is okay," I grumbled, "That guy needs some serious anger management,"

Which is true. Jay looks like someone just killed his family and now he's Uchiha Sasuke taking his long-awaited revenge on Uchiha Itachi a.k.a. Dash Stryker. Except, I remember that Itachi merely gave Sasuke a look of boredom, like he really had something else better to do - True. Itachi pwnz! - while Dash was providing a catalyst for Jay's anger with that arrogant smirk of his. I must say though, Dash and Itachi do have something in common: painted fingernails. And Jay and Sasuke? Apart from the otherworldly and overbearing attitude that radiates of them in big, tsunami-sized waves, they are nothing alike.

For one thing, I'm pretty sure there's no Naruto for him to bully, and he's not gay either. I know Sasuke isn't really gay, but everyone who is sane in the Naruto fanbase knows that behind all that angst, bloodlust and sneers, Sasuke really lusts for Naruto. If he didn't, he wouldn't exactly go to great pains to-

Okay. I'm getting out of topic. Back to reality. God, what is wrong with me? Here is a potentially barbarous situation which could get Jay suspended if he touches Dash, or in the worst case scenario, expulsion and all I'm doing is thinking about Sasuke and Naruto. Mom always did say I had a knack for doing things in the wrong times.

Dash now looked bored, rather than scared or pissed off. In fact, he was kind of amused, judging by one corner of his lips curving into a malicious smirk. "Over-possessive, aren't you, Stanford?" he commented loftily, "What is she? Your girlfriend?"

What the bleep!?

Jay started spluttering; the redness on his face was probably for another reason now. His grip on Dash loosened as he attempted to form coherent words with his mouth, but failing to do so. I guess he has the right to. I mean, like, who in the world wants to be his girlfriend?

Okay. So I asked a rhetorical question when I know the answer. The truth hurts my feminine pride, but I know that the real question here would be: Jay could have any girl in the world with a snap of his fingers, including the ones that ooze liquid sexiness as they walk down runways in four-inch platforms, dressed in tight-fitting clothes that reveal all womanly curves that all men would die to have their hands on, so why the hell me?

But still, what is wrong with that boy?

I pushed past Leo, who seemed to be getting pretty worked up as well. He had his fists clenched into a bloodless white; I could tell that it was taking him everything to control his urges to give Dash a black eye. I went up to Jay, who still had Dash immobilized against the wall despite the loosened grip.

"Listen here, Stryker," I hissed, "The relationship between Jay and I is strictly platonic, you hear me? We. Have. NOTHING. Going on. "

"Uh-huh," Dash nodded, the very humored look still on his face. Ugh. I totally want to slap him right now. A nice, tight slap - totally got that off my old History teacher. Was a nice, salt-and-pepper haired lady in her fifties. - that'll leave a clear imprint of my hand on his cheek for a while, and every time someone asks what happened, he'd have to say he got his ass kicked metaphorically.

In fact, you know what? I think I will.

I zoned in on him, my eyes narrowing into my best glower as I growled in frustration and irritation.

"Bring it, I suppose," Dash was grinning widely, his cheeks stretched to the maximum point. It was a wonder that he hasn't shown any signs of strain yet, with all that facial muscle stretching going on.

I raised my hand to slap him squarely on the jaw, but Leo and Jay both grabbed my wrist, and pulled a struggling me back as I shrieked, "What!? You're protecting this mother effing son of a not-literally-a-bitch!?"

Jay shook his head grimly, having released Dash from his grasp when he had stopped me earlier. "We'll get suspended if we do anything violent within school grounds, and have our chances of playing at the Winter Dance revoked,"

"Sexual harassment! And he said to bring it!"

"Kitty." The hard and pointed look Jay was giving me made me back off, dampening my desire to bring harm upon that evilly handsome face of Dashielle Stryker. Well, Jay's right. But there must be justice served, for this guy freakin' deserves to have his face in the ground, lying in a bloody pool!

Life stinks.

I grumbled some more and stalked away, taking care to distance myself from Dash. Leo had this slightest look of amusement on his face as he stood beside me, and had an amused eyebrow raised as he said, "Anger management?"

"Shut. Up."

I watched as Jay seemed to utter a few more words to Dash, probably a warning. Dash nodded as he rolled his eyes as the serious expression on Jay's face hardened. Jay lifted his hand to gesture towards Leo and I, and Dash sighed - clearly, with the excitement having passed over, it wasn't fun anymore - as he nodded once again, opening his mouth to speak. Only then, did Jay release his hold on Dash's arm and walked back to us, with Dash going towards the opposite direction.

"As it turns out, Lucifer is our main competitor for the spot in the Winter Dance," he reported. He looked really agitated right now, but not as much as he was before. "Which is quite unfair, since they're not even amateurs,"

Not amateurs? Maybe I should Google them or something. I have a suspicion that if I typed 'asshole' and 'Lucifer', the search engine would probably show up with, 'Did you mean: Dashielle Stryker'.

Leo seemed to be processing the fact; mulling over Jay's words. "Well, I guess we'll have to send in our original CD, not the covers. I'll talk to Gabriel about it,"

"I have a question," I asked, raising a hand.

"Shoot."

"What exactly is the Winter Dance?"

Leo and Jay started laughing and I huffed indignantly as I crossed my arms in defiance. "Well, it's not my fault that I've only been here for only two days!"

They're so mean. I feel like kicking their asses right now. But I shouldn't. Because there is no meaning in doing so when I was denied permission to spill metaphorical Dashielle Stryker's blood on the stone tiles of the school building.

Leo was the first one to stop laughing, while Jay still chortled like the stupid moron he is. "The Winter Dance is one of the biggest social event here in Sandfields Academy besides the Spring Prom. Everyone wants to go, even adults, because it's spectacular every year," he explained, "Last year, a white Bengal tiger was brought in to do tricks,"

Okay. I was mistaken. Genevieve and I are the only poor students in the school. Everyone else probably rolls in pools of money as a penguin-suited butler stands nearby, holding a towel and asking, "What car shall you be taking to school today, master? The -insert expensive car here- or the -insert expensive car here- ?" and the person'll probably answer with a different but equally expensive car and probably go, "I feel like going low-key today.". I mean, white Bengal tigers!? Bengal tigers could be acceptable, but white ones!?

I think I misheard.

"You have got to be kidding me," My expression probably mirrored my tone of disbelief as I widened my eyes.

"It's true," Jay said, recovering from his chortling episode. "This year, the performing band gets to do a cover of one Paramore song with Paramore itself, since one of the school contributors are doing a term-partnership with their label, Fueled by Ramen,"

WHATHEEFFINGBBQ!?

"WHAAAT!?" I screamed, "PARAMORE!!!!??"

I heard desk chairs scrape, and I think Ms. Reynolds and Ms. Smith are looking over at me right now. Well, not everyone screams out of the blue like me, I guess. I could hardly believe my ears. If I'm dreaming, please don't wake me up, because I'm definitely enjoying it. Jay nodded in confirmation, and I felt a bit faint.

"It's good publicity for us if we do," Leo pointed out, "That's why we're keen on getting the spot that's coveted by every single amateur band here in school, and of course we know how much you love Paramore,"

Like hell yeah!

"So, we're gonna have to change the songs in our album a bit," Jay decided, "Since all the songs we have don't have your voice in it, kitty,"

"When do we start??" I asked eagerly. Anything for a golden meeting with Paramore. I don't care if I have to skip school (Actually, I do. But details can wait!). Once in a lifetime chances should not be taken lightly!

Jay grinned that cocky grin of his. "Come over to my house after school, and in the meantime, listen to this," He held out a jet-black iPod nano. "Listen to the album with the name of the band. I'll be claiming that later, all right, kitty?" He winked at me and headed for homeroom with Leo.

Which, by the way, I'm late for again.

Insert an exaggerated sigh here. I wonder why do I even bother?

-

I had a free period during the period before lunch, so I took this opportunity to go to the study hall to listen to Jay's iPod. I spent the whole hour listening to the album. Everything inside was, of course, of the rock genre, but some were kind of sad; some upbeat. There was this one song that I particularly liked. The lyrics were kind of weird, but it was played to a cheery and fast rhythm. A part of the song went like this:

I wind back to the past
Don't really remember much
But there was one thing I'd trust
And it was a person who was nonesuch.

I'm looking for the blast
from my past
Even though it's been years
It's bound to bring tears

We used to play games
during long, long summers,
But one day everything seemed to go up in flames,
when I saw you leaving in one of those big Hummers.

I still can't believe
that you left me bereaved
Empty promises were made
And you left me feeling betrayed.

I'm looking for the
blast from my past
Even though it's been years
t's bound to bring tears
It's bound to bring tears...

I looked down onto the illuminated screen to see the name of the song. Blast From My Past. Well, it's a fitting name for the song, seeing how the phrase popped up during the chorus. But I can't believe someone like Jay wrote it. The song talked about the past, where he had a childhood friend who one day suddenly left, and now he's looking for her?

Absolutely no comment there. You kind of don't mix arrogant, handsome boys with sweet-sounding lyrics of innocent, childish love. You just don't. I really should mind my own business. Except...

Okay, since my name's 'kitty' I should live true to my name, right? Like curiosity killed the cat but satisfaction brought it back? I'm really curious to know who's the inspiration for that song. Who knew Jay's still hungover a girl who left him?

Ahhh. Young love, young love.

God, now I'm starting to sound like some old geezer who regularly spouts crap about the spring of youth or something.

The bell rang shrilly, signaling the end of the period and the start of lunch hour. I could practically hear every chair in the vast academy scrape back and the thundering feet of students who were deprived of their social oxygen.

I'm pretty sure everyone's whipping out their Blackberries and iPhones right now and texting each other, despite the fact that they're standing right next to each other. It's true. It happens right here in Sandfields Academy, just like the way it probably happens on Gossip Girl.

I picked up my books and headed for the cafeteria after depositing them inside my locker. I saw Gabriel seated at the same table, writing something down in a notebook as his dark bangs fell over his eyes. I plopped down on the bench opposite him. "What's up, Einstein?" I asked, smiling at him, "Homework?"

Gabriel looked up with that fazed look you get when you're doing something and someone interrupts you, and I couldn't help but marvel at how, well, pretty he was. There aren't any other words to describe his frail beauty. His skin was like porcelain - you're not supposed to touch it, but you can't help but sneak a tap because it's mesmerizing. His coal-black hair was shaggy and fell in soft, ebony waves as it framed his face and ghosted across his eyes. I swear, he's so beautiful that it breaks your heart when you look at him.

"Hey Kaitlyn," he smiled at me; his voice velvety smooth and a baritone that could make him a potential candidate for the Lightning Devils, "It's not homework. It's the list of places that I checked out for gigs for the band,"

See? He's so hardworking too, even though he didn't exactly beg for this job. He's like the perfect dream guy, but damn it, why am I not attracted to him?

One of the world's most intriguing mysteries, I kid you not. Every little freshman and sophomore girl keeps taking more than just a brief look at Gabriel whenever they happen to see him.

Gabriel pointed at me. "What's that?" he titled his head sideways. I felt up my face and got a fistful of wires. Right.

I pulled out the earbuds of the iPod and I heard Jay's distinct voice. "Hey kitty!"

How infuriating. Doesn't he know how I hate it when people call me from the distance at a very public place? It's very attention-grabbing, and I hate being conspicuous, especially when I'm with him.

Sorry. I forgot that I've only known the little prick for under forty-eight hours.

I rolled my eyes and Gabriel chuckled. I felt someone pat a hand on my shoulder. I'm betting it's Jay. And surprise, surprise! It was.

"What do you want, Stanford?" I asked as he sat down beside me.

"What do you think of our album?" Jay asked, grinning. Leo was taking a seat beside Gabriel, and the both of them started going over the list, their voices only in soft murmurs.

I sipped the carton of apple juice I'd gotten from the vending machine. "Let's see...it's actually pretty good." I said conversationally, "But I don't think I can memorize all of them at one go,"

Jay patted my hand. "It's no problem. You can look at the lyrics sheet when we're recording. No one's gonna know. Besides, that's what singers do,"

I pulled my hand away. "I said, no touching," I snapped, "Anyways, when do we start recording?"

"Later, at my house." Jay said, "We'll practice a bunch of the songs, then do a tentative recording first."

He has a recording studio in his house? Wait. Why do I sound so surprised?

"Tentative how??"

"It's just the way I call trial recording. Sounds smart, doesn't it? Anyways, basically, we just play a few bars, then replay it to see if it's good or not,"

Wow. This kind of stuff is actually really complicated sounding, yet Jay made it seem like a breeze. Maybe it is a breeze for him. I mean, they've been in the music industry for longer than I have, amateur or not. Or, the only theory that makes sense, is that it's not even hard at all. I mean, I saw it once on TV. They just push the gauge thingies or whatever they call it on some big place filled with techie stuff.

Well, whatever it is, I ain't going near it.

By this time, Jordan, Tyson and Lance (reading The Great Expectations this time) joined us at the table. I somehow have this nagging feeling that the table is soon going to become a permanent place for us.

I had never intended to be tied down like this. It's kind of surprising for me, because before I came here, dating had been casual, and I never joined anything permanently. I was always in motion, going in and out of an extracurricular club once a month. If I liked it well enough, maybe two. The only thing that I permanently had a place in were the art rooms. Oh, and that-

Okay. Not going there. Steer clear of it!! No reminiscing of memories.

Tyson seemed to study me, as he sat down with his tray. "I heard from Jay that he had you listen to the album," he said conversationally as he tore open the package of his sandwich.

I nodded, crunching on the nut bar I'd gotten from a vending machine. Vending machine food is much more cheaper than the cafeteria food here. "Yeah."

"What'd you think?" Jordan asked, carelessly setting down his own tray and a glossy gaming magazine was tossed next to it.

I shrugged casually. "I have to admit, your original stuff is pretty good," I said, a little grudgingly as Jay started to preen like a peacock beside me.

"Really?" Leo asked, turning up from his conversation with Gabriel, "Which song are you particularly drawn to?"

I looked down at the bulky MP3 player in my hands, fiddling with it. "Well, everything could be addictive, if you listened to all of them a couple of times," I admitted, "But Track Five is the favourite,"

Jay raised his eyebrows, as if he was surprised. I think he really was surprised. "Blast from My Past?" he queried.

"That's the one," I confirmed, nodding.

"Ooh. A lot of girls say that this song particularly reminds them of their childhood crush," Jay said, then he gave me a sly look. "Did it remind you of your childhood love?"

I felt all eyes at the table on me, even Lance's. I swallowed hard. It was something that I did not want to talk about.

"So, which track are we recording first?" I asked in a too-fake light tone, digressing the subject.

Leo seemed to understand my need of privacy, because he had answered first. "That song. You must have listened to it more times than the rest, so we'll do that first,"

Okay, apart from having a natural sense of public relations, he also knows the way of humans pretty well. He's not just any male bimbo, he's a pretty brainy male bimbo. Well, that's a surprise, considering the fact that I almost believed in my self-made theory that he had taken a course in flirting and womanizing and graduated with a PhD.

What? Practically anything's possible now these days.

"All right. So where's Jay's house?" I asked.

Jay smirked. "I shall personally escort you there," he said, "Alone."

Oh no he won't.

"With Gabriel," I added, smiling back at him.

Jay's smirk dropped a little. "Fine," he grumbled childishly.

-

Fast forward a few hours later, Gabriel was faithfully waiting outside the gates for me, as I walked towards him with a sulking Jay. "So you don't have a car?" I asked him in surprise.

Jay started walking the opposite direction from where I walked from. "I just live a little way off here. That's why I walk to school, rather than drive. It's a pain to drive at such a short distance,"

Ah. So Jay must be a poor kid like I am. Insert happy smiley face here!

As we got further, I saw that my notions were, sadly, incorrect. Only then did I remember Jay had said something about a recording studio. Curse my stupid memory for selectively omitting things to just disappoint me in the end when I finally remember! Every house here was more like a friggin' huge estate plus a plantation or something.

Sorry, too much Farmville on Facebook. I quit, though. It turned out that my black thumb did not only stop at real plants, but even virtual ones could not withstand it.

Jay stopped in front one of the estates, a big, fat golden block of the letter 'D' was visible on the iron-wrought gates. God, this is so corny - it totally reminded me of Veronica Lodge's place from the Archie Comics. A security guard - I half expected guards like the ones in Buckingham Palace with the furry hats, but I should expect that only in Leo's case - nodded his head in greeting at Jay as he poked his head out from the booth stationed near the gates.

"Jayden. Are those your friends?" he asked. Well, he certainly looks like he fits the job of a bodyguard more than a security guard. He's pretty damn fine-looking, black shades, suit an' all. Very James Bond. Oh, and the lilting Scottish accent is very very cute.

Jay nodded. "Cliff, this is kitty and Gabriel. Kitty, Gabriel, this is Cliff," he introduced quickly, "The others will be over later. We're going to the recording studio in the basement,"

"All right. Should I direct them?"

"Nah, they can look after themselves. Thanks for the offer, though!" Jay gave a short, friendly wave as he entered the gates, with Gabriel and I following behind him like little lost puppies. I think we really are lost, though. There's like a huge maze right in front of us, and I have no idea how we're going to maneuver through it.

"I know the way," Jay said, answering the question in my mind. Damn him. "My dad, the eccentric billionaire, guy who likes to test others, built this maze for the very purpose of testing house guests."

Rich people like to make fun of us poor people. Screw them.

"Your dad seems like a very considerate person," I mumbled crankily. I hate mazes. I'm not exactly the brightest penny around, you know. And the touching the wall thing while walking? It's totally bogus. Doesn't work at all.

"Didn't I tell you my great-grandfather is the founder of a music talent industry? In fact, this place has been a family home for at least three generations," Jay asked, surprised, "That's why it's pretty big and old-looking,"

Gabriel was faster than me in answering. "Yes, but if you remember correctly, Kaitlyn wasn't actually listening to any of us talk during that car ride,"

Oh. So that was what Jay was talking about.

Jay mumbled a few incoherent words as he helpfully navigated us out of the maze. I'm surprised. I thought an idiot like him had a short attention span. Goes to show, like Leo, you can never judge a book by it's cover.

The really huge double doors were opened by an elderly man, dressed in mud-stained clothes. He looked completely out of place with the meticulous background of polished marble-patterned floors and tasteful paintings hung against the snow-white walls. "Ah, Jayden, you're home! Your sister would like to take some of your time."

"Alright, Travis. Thanks," Jay sighed noisily, dumping his bag on an island in the middle of the hall and putting his guitar on a lone loveseat. "What does Dakota want now?"

"Should we follow him?" I whispered at Gabriel. "And was that a butler? If it was, this place is so damn cliche,"

Gabriel shrugged. "Well, we do have the right. We are his guests after all," he whispered back, "And I believe that was not a butler. I think it was a caretaker or a gardener, judging from his overalls and outdoorsy appearance,"

Boy speaks sense. We walked after Jay, following him towards a door-less frame. He stopped, leaning against the frame and I could see him scratching his head. Rude as ever, I see. "What do you want?" I heard him ask, his voice slightly annoyed.

A loud squeal erupted, followed by a series of "OMGOMGOMGOMG!! I LIKE TOTALLY LOVE YOU!!!"

Yes, people. Either sister Dakota is happy to see her brother, or sister Dakota has got a bimbo fangirl inside there with her. I choose the latter, because if I were Jay's sister, I'd avoid him as much as possible. In fact, I'd probably go out of the way to make sure nobody - and I do mean nobody - knows that we're related. At all.

I'm a very nosy person, and Gabriel apparently is one too, because we scrambled to see who were inside the room. Well, for the both of us, seeing a lone fangirl with Jay is something we haven't seen before, and we're not going to miss it now.

A petite girl with the same brown, sun-kissed locks and sea foam eyes that Jay has was seated on a sofa, her hands folded neatly across her lap and a serene expression on her pretty face. A blonde - oh my god, isn't that-!?

"Kaitlyn!?" the blonde screeched. Literally. Her blue eyes flashed wildly as she processed my presence, "What are you doing here!?"

I forced a smile, tapping my foot against the marble floor nervously. "Evie. Fancy seeing you here. I thought it was school-time back in Boston. On a sabbatical of sorts?"

The blonde, also known as Evie Trummond, is- sorry, was my best friend in Boston. We used to be super-tight and did everything together. But of course, who knew that when once you tell a friend that you're leaving, you're instantly a stranger?

I have a question. What is she doing here?

Chapter Six

It was nearly nine by the time I got back to Aunt Elle's house. She was up and sitting at a table in the kitchen, typing on her laptop, her glasses perched on her nose. She looked up at me. "Kaitlyn. Well come back," she said, a small smile on her face.

Oh no. Not that smile!

I instantly got onto my knees and started grovelling. "IT'S NOT MY FAULTTT! ASK THE PEOPLE WHO KIDNAPPED ME!! THEY DID IT!!"

Yes. I have learned that dragging out your words in an attempt to whine your way out of an unfavorable situation never works, but at this point, none of that really matters, does it?

"What? I mean, come over here," Aunt Elle gestured over to the empty chair beside her, "I want to show you something,"

I shakily complied. I mean, if I don't, I swear, she's gonna throw me out. She's very very very deadly when she's pissed off. Once, when she visited us in Boston, she made this cab driver so scared 'till he ran off crying, not bothering to take his car with him, because he was thirty minutes late picking her up from the airport.

Anyways. Back to my execution.

I pulled the chair and placed it as far as possible from Aunt Elle. She looked up at me and pointed at her laptop screen. "Do you know who that is?"

I sat down, looking at her quizzically. "What's up?"

Aunt Elle gestured at her laptop, and my eyeballs nearly popped out and rolled onto the floor when I saw what she wanted me to look at.

MYSTERIOUS GIRL IN CAT MASK

Today, the hottest event of the normally chilly September month went even more fiery as the ever-popular and home-grown Lightning Devils made an appearance on stage as contenders of the Amateur Rock Bands Contest. They are said to be among the ranks of the world's most prominent bands of the now.


The familiar faces of the five fresh-faced teenagers of the exclusive Sandfields Academy were there of course; every single adoring female fan screaming and fainting at the sight of them. But as the last person to come on stage, the lead singer, guitarist and leader of the band, Jayden Stanford greeted the ecstatic crowd, no one expected the seventeen-year-old to make a shocking announcement.


"Today, we have a new addition!" screamed Jayden, "Please welcome the Lightning Kitty!"


A young lady, possibly a teenager, came out from the back of the stage, wearing a tacky yet mysterious black cat eye mask with the band's logo on it; a lightning bolt.


Some were outraged with the new addition, who could possibly ruin the band's popularity, but some were curious. As the band started their rendition of Brick by Boring Brick by Paramore though, everyone was blown away. The cat-girl had amazing stage presence, and her voice was breathtaking. The whole crowd fell in love with her voice and mysterious charm. Which brings up the current most popular question on the local and cyber news right now: Who exactly is the Lightning Kitty?


Whoa. I never expected that kind of thing. I mean, I guess the crowd did love me, but I never expected to be the internet's most hottest topic of the now.

I nearly had a nervous breakdown in the middle of the song, but I had simply shut my eyes and continued singing. The band's playing was so loud, that I couldn't hear the crowd. Jay had sung along with me, in a duet. I never expected a megalomaniac like him to have such an awesome voice. It was a surreal moment, when our voices harmonized and molded together, producing a sweet-sounding melody.

Please don't tell him I said that.

So, in conclusion, I am NOT telling any of those newshounds that I'm the Lightning Kitty. Or whatever crappy name they came up with, thanks to Jay's ingenius-not idea of giving me a cat mask.

"Kaitlyn, I know that's you," Aunt Elle looked at me. "I've known you since you were a baby. You can sing,"

O-kay. Time to lie. BIG TIME. I don't care if my teeth fall out or whether snakes will crawl out of my throat from the pits of my stomach. Those options are better than being shown to the pits of Hell by my aunt.

"What? Of course not! I don't hang out with guys like..." I glanced at the picture of my band-mates for emphasis, "…them."

Okay! Cue the innocent smile!

I smiled innocently at my aunt, who just looked at me with a disbelieving look. "Kaitlyn, next time you try to lie, maybe try changing your clothes first?"

Oops. I forgot about those.

Darn it.

This is a time where I should start to resent Chace again, fashion genius or not.

"Er...you're not gonna kill me, are you?" I asked her tentatively. "If you want, I'll resign. Leave. Storm out. Whatever term they use for singers who quit."

Aunt Elle just stared at me for a while, before breaking into a wide grin and throwing her arms around me. "Oh Katy!! You're singing again!" she exclaimed. She sounded like she was literally choking on her emotions.

I'd say menopause, but it's highly unlikely for a woman her age.

Well, I hope she doesn't choke and die. I don't want to disrupt my parents' vacays, nor do I want to end up with some stuffy ol' uncle, who lives in a creepy old manor in the middle of nowhere and has eldritch hobbies that involve tarantulas and pythons, that I have never known about until my parents tell me.

I laughed nervously. "I don't really wanna talk about what happened a few years ago, so yeah..." I mumbled, "I only wore that mask because I still have this thing for performing in front of big crowds. I promised Jay that I'd try, so I did,"

I heard sniffling. Oh god. I don't want to end up all night comforting emotional women when I'm supposed to be doing my homework!

"Aunt Elle! Don't cry! It's no big deal, really!" I thrust a box of Kleenex towards her; a lame attempt at comforting. I'm no good at these kind of things.

Aunt Elle took the box and noisily blew her nose into a tissue. "It's just that, I missed hearing your voice ever since-,"

"Remember what I said? I don't really want to talk about it," I cut her off, "Well, I gotta go now, I have lots of HW to do,"

I quickly stood up from the chair and ran upstairs, leaving my aunt to cry alone with the companionship of her Dell laptop.

Yes, I'm a heartless niece. I know.

I tiptoed past Genevieve's room, the soft thudding of my boots barely audible. I do not need to deal with annoying thirteen-year-old brats right now. I was definitely ready to plotz after a long day.

There's my door! Nearly there...

"Kaitlyn!" a sharp and commanding, yet squeaky voice said.

No plotzing now. Boo hoo.

"Yes, brat?" I asked pleasantly, turning around to face the newly teenaged menace, also known as Genevieve I am Princess Barbie in the Flesh Except Without the Blonde Hair Hunter.

"Where were you? You were supposed to wait for me after school!" she demanded angrily, eyes flashing angrily.

Genevieve looks a little like me, except that her eyes are a shade lighter than mine, and while her hair mirrors my auburn locks, it's longer. She's a little on the short side, despite the fact that she's a dancer and she's currently trying to pontificate all her sentences, because 'that's what madame says I should do in order to be the best ballerina there is'.

Oh. I should mention that she's one of those rare people who actually pick up ballet as a childhood activity and intends to go pro when she's older.

I shrugged at her accusation. "If I remembered correctly, you didn't say anything. You were too busy primping and preening yourself in front of the mirror before school when I left," I said with a matter-of-fact tone, "And I'm seventeen. I have friends to hang out with,"

Genevieve rolled her eyes like the Barbie brat she is. "Whatev."

Whatev? I wonder which senior bimbo did she pick that up from?

"You can't have friends." she reasoned, "Because it's the first day of school for you, plus, no one wants to be friends with people who dye their hair in absurd colours and wear high-tops instead of the issued pair of shoes,"

I don't like her. I really don't. I want to strangle that neck of hers now.

"F-Y-I, I can dress anyhow I like, and good news!: I have friends already. Six of them," I stood up straighter to tower over her. She has the Napoleon Complex, you know. Very sensitive. "And now, if you could excuse me from your grandiloquence on how absurdly weird I am, I will be retreating to my chambers for now to do my homework, Your Royal Pain-in-the-ass,"

I snuck into my room as I heard Genevieve whine to my aunt. "AUNT ELLEEE!!! KAITLYN INSULTED MEEEEE!"

I did manage to finish everything before midnight, but I had to run to school in order to not be late again. Genevieve purposely forgot to wake me up, and I'm so going to get back at her tomorrow when it's my turn. I was busy looking through my bag for my schedule for the first period after homeroom as I ran, when I crashed into an unidentified object. Or rather, an unidentified person, who groaned as we collided onto the concrete pavement.

I found myself on top of none other than...

Jay? Nope, not today, thank God.

It was better, but still bad.

Wanna know?

You seriously want to?

Okay, so the person who is currently probably suffocating under my weight is Leon Alexander, or as I like to call him, Leo the Playboy.

"Kaitlyn?" Leo asked, a pained tone in his voice, "I'd love to stay like this all day, but it's not exactly a good time for me right now,"

I can't believe it. God hates me. Yesterday, it was Jay's guitar. Today, it's Leo himself. Who next? Jordan?

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry!" I apologized frantically as I jumped up from Leo.

Leo stood up, dusting his blazer jacket, and took my hand in his. "Well, it's no problem, my dear," he said flirtatiously, "After all, I'd say that the heavens have blessed me to have such an encounter with you," He kissed my hand.

Oh. My. Effin'. God.

My cheeks heated up as Leo's lips lingered on my hand as he looked up at me with a questioning look. I hastily drew back my hand and told myself to calm down.

It didn't work, though.

I screamed. Again.

I don't get it. I should be used to having Leo do this to me, since he's done countless of flirting tactics on me since yesterday morning till I had to go home. And not only me, too, he was on full-womanize mode after our set last night, but of course, every single female excluding me lapped up his attention readily.

I think I'm gonna start developing an obsessive compulsive disorder if Leo doesn't stop contaminating parts of me with his lips or hands. I took out my hand sanitizer and started rubbing my hands with it like a psycho.

"Oh? Sanitizing your fair hands?" Leo asked, a lazy grin stretched on his godly face. He loped easily alongside me as I scurried to school.

I made an impatient noise. "My hands are not fair. They're tan. I happened to get a nice one at the beach last summer,"

Goddammit. I just said the wrong thing.

"Fair as in beautiful, but the beach?" Leo queried, "I should've gone to a beach near Boston then. I might've had a chance to see more of your fair virgin skin,"

Ew ew ew. He is SO perverted.

"Don't you think of anything other than girls?" I complained as we passed through the iron-wrought gates of the school. I'm beginning to think that boys really do think with their you-know and not their brains.

Leo tilted his head as he seemed to contemplate the question. "Hmm...I do think of my future sometimes, and maybe those who are important to me,"

We stopped in front of the doors. "You mean the other guys?"

"Of course," Leo winked as he pushed the doors open, "And of course, 'specially you, my love,"

"Can it, Romeo," I growled as I pushed the doors open, scowling.

"Hey, kitty!"

Oh, not another one. Jay's words last night had repeated over and over again in my mind, as if someone had put it on loop. It was rather surprising, because it was very unexpected to hear something like that from him.

"What do you want, Jay?" I asked, annoyed as I started walking towards my homeroom class. I swear, I could feel all eyeballs rolling towards the both of us.

Jay caught up with me, smiling smugly as he dangerously twirled his PDA with his left hand with easy expertise. "Did ya check the Internet news today?"

"Jay, I saw it yesterday,"

Jay chuckled. "Whoa. You must be really good then, right, kitty?"

I shrugged carelessly. "I was halfway towards a panic attack. If it weren't for the stupid mask you gave me, I would've fainted a few bars into the song," I confessed grudgingly, "So thanks,"

"What's that?" Jay asked, pretending to be deaf to my gratitude. "Could you repeat that again? I'm afraid that amplifiers turned up to loud volumes have taken a toll on my eardrums,"

"I said, THANK YOU for HELPING ME," I said slowly and deliberately loudly, causing more people to stare at us. A number of pairs of eyes narrowed suspiciously; some widened in unadulterated glee. I could see some hunched over their phones, probably spinning tales of untruth extrapolated from my words to Jay.

Why do I feel like I'm on the set of Gossip Girl?

Jay tossed his head back in obvious pride. "Well, I guess I was pretty clever if you say so,"

Well he's a modest one. "Hey, kitty, follow me to the music department for a while, will you? I'd like to put our names in for the band to play at the Winter Dance,"

"Names as in our names or the band?"

"Band, of course. We don't want to expose you, now would we?" he winked at me.

Yeah. Sure. Like that cryptic wink is going to be any form of reassurance.

We went through two huge glass doors, and a light strain of classical music was playing over in the piped speakers. (Elevator music, anyone?) Two ladies were seated behind a desk, and an oddly familiar blond guy with his back turned onto us stood in front of the desk, and as we got closer, he seemed to be flirting with them, because both their faces had a vibrant shade of red.

I have a dark sense of foreboding here.

One of the secretaries happened to look up and see the both of us. She hastened to push her glasses up the bridge of her nose and adapted an expression of professionalism. "How may I help the both of you?" she asked coolly.

Instead of replying, Jay turned to the blond guy. "Hey, Leo! Where are the others?" he asked, lightly punching Leo's shoulder in a greeting.

Leo turned to us, a suavely sadistic smile on his face. Should I shudder or swoon? "I told them to go ahead, of course. The two of us can handle the submission-," he turned to the other secretary, "-right, Ms. Reynolds? By the way, have I mentioned how that dress perfectly comments the colour of your eyes?"

Ms. Reynolds blushed and giggled girlishly while she nodded. Ugh. Hormonal seventeen-year-olds are dangerous, I tell you. Especially ones with foreign accents and cocky smirks that can turn your knees to jelly and elevate your heart rate.

The other secretary, Ms. Smith, as her nameplate said, kept casting glances over at Leo while she talked to us. I don't mean to sound rude, but I wonder if she's a pedophile? Should I ask her? "Jayden Stanford, right? And what's your name?" she turned to me.

"Hunter," I grinned, "Kaitlyn Hunter," I felt rather classy and cool. I've always wanted to do that. You know, like, 'Bond. James Bond.'

Only I don't do something as cool as question terrorists, flipping cards in a casino to the tune of six million dollars, or have hot babes fluttering all around me, but details, details.

Besides, I have got to be thankful for the last one. Nobody except Bond girls make you feel inferior to their godly species. I simply refuse to accept that there are women out there who look good, have a brain, and get to handle all the coolest weapons in the world adeptly while still looking like a billion dollars. Where is the justice? I want to learn how to handle weapons too! They would sure come in useful in the presence of certain rock band members.
Hint Jay. Hint Leo.

"Next you'll be saying your codename's 007," Jay commented.

Hey. He actually got my reference to James Bond! No one's done that before. That's odd.

"I was playing around with the numbers 007.5. You know, like a newly improved version of 007,"

Ms. Smith cleared the throat. Oops. "The head of department will see you shortly after his meeting with-,"
"Lucifer," a cold voice finished.

A meeting with Disney's Cinderella's evil stepmother's cat? The fat and oddly green-furred one? The Disney's Cheshire Cat's evil, but no less diabolical, fraternal twin? Or maybe they were from the same litter. Who knows?

I watched Jay's face turn black in a matter of few seconds. That's strange. What's the connection between a cartoon cat and an amateur rock band leader?

"Stryker," he spat out at the person who had finished Ms. Smith's words.

I looked up from Jay to see this uber tall dude with a line of steel piercings in his left ear and short, spiky blond hair. A shiver ran up my spine as I noticed a tiny skull tattoo on his exposed collarbone. That's creepy.

The guy seemed to notice me, because he turned his eyes away from Jay and pierced directly into mine. His eyes were a steely gray, matched with the studs in his ear. "So. You're the new girl who's been hanging with the Lightning Babies, huh?"

The Lightning Babies? Once upon a time, I would've laughed along with the scary punk dude, but now I'm part of them, and they're not so bad once you get to know them over free sushi. They're a friendly bunch, if not psychotic.

"It's the Lightning Devils," I corrected, ignoring the wobbly feeling in my knees. You know Sephiroth from Final Fantasy Seven? I had a hard time playing against him because he was had this scary - albeit not real, but details don't matter - presence which stemmed from my television and dominated the entire room.

Goth-Boy gives off the same vibes as the one-winged angel. No shit.

"Oopsie," the goth said, grinning maliciously, "So, what's your name? You must know me of course, I'm the real up-and-coming artist around here. It's Dash Stryker,"

The real up-and-coming artist? Wait. I thought that was the Lightning Devils.

"Kaitlyn Hunter," I said boldly. I tell you, it ain't easy to stand up to a guy who towers eight inches above you while he looks so freaking scary. Wasn't playing to defeat Sephiroth supposed to be image training for potential real-life villains?

"I must ask you this, what is a girl like you doing hanging out with a bunch of sissies?" Dash asked, ignoring Jay's glowering presence, "Because the sorry excuse of a band isn't much of a band. It's more like America's Next Top Male Model, if you ask me,"

"I just happen to be friends with their new manager,"

He narrowed his cold eyes. "You don't happen to be the Lightning Kitty girl, do you?"

I was caught off-guard as he said it. I never expected him to know about the Lightning Kitty, since he hates the Devils so much, but I guess I never expected to be the most Googled of the now either.

"O-of course not, do I look like I can sing?" I waved a hand in front of me. I'm not really sure how the way I look will prove my point, but the wave of the vague hand thing always works, right? "If you're thinking about the way Stanford calls me kitty, I'll have you know that he probably calls everyone kitty,"

Dash pointed over at Jay, who had gone to the head's office. Traitor. "Does that guy look like he can lead a band?"

Dude has a point. Jay doesn't look like a leader of a band, much less a leader of a group of chipmunks. He looks more like a guy who has a harem of girls clinging onto his legs twenty-four-seven, and possibly, the hormonally-imbalanced people as well. Look what effect Leo had on Chace. But Leo's hotter than Jay is in the looks department, as well as the flirting department. But maybe some girls prefer the bad-boy American mojo rather than good ol' British suaveness.

I digress. The attractiveness of Jay and Leo, of all things. I'm so ashamed with myself.

"Never mind your answer," Dash said, sounding impatient as he leaned towards me, "I'm curious, though. What do you mean to that guy if he's with you nearly every time a fellow student sees the two of you? I'll have you know that Sandfields Academy is home to a rather big nest of gossips."

Dash did the exact same thing that Leo did to me when he first introduced himself to me, but this time, I felt more paralyzed-scared rather than paralyzed-surprised. He trailed his cold fingers down the side of my face, and I noticed that his nails were painted black, like the rest of his clothes. Everything he wore was black, through and through. He was dressed to the style of visual-punk-goth-emo-*insert colourful music genre here* theme.

He was so close to me, I could feel his breath on my face. I wasn't even remotely attracted to him, even though that he was just about as good-looking as Jay, but maybe it was his eldritchness and clothes that chilled the hotness factor down to level sub-zero. Despite that fact, my heart was still racing, faster than the normal speed.

I may have to start considering my Christianity and turn into an Atheist. God doesn't love me at all.

Chapter Five

References: There are mentions of Vouge magazine, Paramore, Brick by Boring Brick and Taylor Swift.

--------------------

My head pounded painfully as my body willed itself into consciousness. I didn't feel like waking up, though, as I felt the cool and clean-smelling sheets underneath me.

Wait. My room doesn't smell like this. It smells of fresh paint.

My reverie quickly went away as my eyes flew open in comprehension of my surroundings. My ears detected a conversation not too far away from where I was situated, and I could feel panic rising within me.

Great, my second panic attack of the day. I roughly estimate that my life has been shortened by about twenty years now.

My slowly rising panic abated, however, as I remembered with a sudden flash what happened before I ended up here. I had been with the Lightning Devils, and my new friend, Gabriel, and Jay had provoked me into singing.
I don't remember much after that.

I picked up the conversation, which was becoming clearer and sounded a lot closer by the second, followed by a light clicking of heels and a lot of feet-shuffling.

"So, you're saying Jayden and Leon pulled her off somewhere without letting her eat anything?" a lilting female voice asked.

"Yes, miss. They were desperate," a familiar male voice confirmed, "So is that why she fainted? I mean, because she didn't eat any lunch?"

Waitaminit. I fainted? Is that it?

I heard what seemed like a cross between a chuckle and a snicker, before another voice said, "I thought she fainted because of me. I must say, this is the first time that a girl has fainted when I'm not performing,"

That voice sounded familiar. It somewhat awakened my senses of irritation and tiredness.

"Don't get too full of yourself, Jay," a British-accented voice said, "You know it's your fault for stealing that muffin Gabriel gave her,"

Stealing that muffin? Now that I think about it, the reason as to why I blacked out is kind of embarrassing. A muffin, imagine that. Is this how far I've degraded myself?

I sat up from the bed, pain hitting me in multiple directions. I winced as I rubbed the bruised areas on my arms and head.

Note to self: Never have fainting fits ever again. They're inconvenient and painful.

"Hey!! Look who's woken from her cat-nap!" Jay exclaimed delightedly. Another lame pun?

Hardeharhar. He is so funny.

"I would kindly remind you to refer to me as Kaitlyn," I said as the Devils and Gabriel – Hah. Now that's funny. Devils? Gabriel the angel? Geddit? Shoot, now his lameness is rubbing off on me. - led inside, a pretty young woman with red hair following them.

The woman came up to me and prodded my head gently. "Where does it hurt?" she asked, "Do you need any aspirins for a headache?"

I managed a wan smile at the woman as I scanned the name tag on the pocket of her white coat. Evie Summers, School Nurse.


"If I had an aspirin for every headache I had today, I would've OD-ed by now,"

Ms. Summers laughed as she helped me stand up from the bed. My legs wobbled, and before I could fall again, Jay caught me with his arms.

I must say, we ended up in a very awkward position.

No, not that kind of position, you pervs.

Jay and I ended up in a position where you would think that two people who love each other very much are hugging. In other words, an embrace. I shudder to think of that.

God, what did I ever do wrong to make you do this to me? Was it the time when I once painted every single leaf of my mom's apple tree with blue paint? I just thought it would attract fairies. I was six, okay?

Or was it the time when I accidentally kicked a senior where it hurts the most? It was partly his fault! I was substitute cheering when he thought he'd come over to flirt with the senior girls even though he perfectly knew well that we were still doing our routine!

I'm not going to lie. Jay doesn't smell like sweat or dirt or whatever guys are supposed to smell like. He just smells like faint cologne. Well, that's a surprise. I pegged him for the type who hate men toiletries, despite his obvious vanity and big-headedness.

It was only very much later when I realized that I had been in Jay's arms for more than I should've been. I quickly withdrew, and Jay's face had the hugest smirk I have ever seen in my whole life. Then, under no intention, I let out a piercing scream.

"PERRRRRVEEEEEEERTT!!!"

Jay backtracked a little, as my voice went a few decibels higher than a normal pair of ears could withstand. And I thought he was a rock star in the making.

"Save that for later, would you?" Tyson complained.

"Kaitlyn," Ms. Summers said, a firm tone in her voice, "Please refrain from overexerting yourself again."

"Well, Ms. Summers," Leo added in conversationally, "If you would be so kind as to sign permission slips for us and excuse us for the rest of the school day to bring Kaitlyn out for a lunch and bring her home to rest?"

Ms. Summers seemed to be considering it. Please say no say no say no say no...

"Well, as long as you pay for it, Leon, and Jayden too. Both of you are at fault here," Ms. Summers went into her office to get slips for the seven of us.

I SAID SAY NO DAMNIT!

"Ms. Summers!! I don't wanna go home!! I can just eat after school!!" I called after the nurse hastily.

"Hey, just leave it, will you?" Jordan asked, blocking the way to her office, "You can skip for today's remaining lessons plus get a free meal,"

Well, he is right.

I glared at Jay, hate emitting out of me in great auras. Jay caught my look. "What? You seemed pretty comfortable," he pointed out, "And a lot of girls would've killed to be in your shoes,"

"Well, as I said before, I am not one of those girls," I reminded him, my patience fraying, "And I absolutely did not enjoy it. I would rather go hug a statue of Barney,"

Jay wore an injured look. "Kitty, how could you say that to a person who-,"

"Made me late for school? Put me in the teacher's black list? Stalked and eavesdropped on me? Stole my lunch then dragged me off somewhere?" I cut him off, "Now that I think about it, you owe me more than a free meal and no lessons for the day, buddy, but I'll take it,"

Gabriel chuckled as he took my arm. "C'mon, Kaitlyn. We'll go get our bags," he urged.

"Oh no you don't," Jay took my other arm.

I am feeling a serious sense of déjà vu here.

I shook off their hands. "I am not a toy to be tug-of-war-ed. I'll go alone,"

Jay sulked as he gave Gabriel a dirty look. "Why are you here anyway? You're not even a part of the band,"
Gabriel smiled enigmatically, his eyes sweeping briefly over to Lance, who was, as usual, reading a book. That's odd. The brief look, I mean, not the reading.

"Kaitlyn's my friend, and I do have to right to follow her," he looked over at me, "If you're fine with it," he added.
Fine? It's more than fine. Anything to keep me away from Jayden Stanford.

"No, it's fine. Just let me go get my own bag,"

I got the permission slip from Ms. Summers, then proceeded to get my backpack from my locker. It turns out that the Devils all have their lockers next to each others. I suspect that either Leo seduced the female admins to do it, or Jay must've snuck into the office and rigged the arrangements.

"So, where are we going?" I asked conversationally as we walked towards the car park.

Leo fished inside his pockets and retrieved a set of keys. "How does sushi sound?" he asked, as he pointed towards a row of cars and pressed the button thingy that people use to unlock and lock their cars from a distance.
I'm not really educated in the field of cars, if you must know.

"Um… sushi's fine," I mumbled, staring at all the cars in the lot, every single vehicle looked brand-new and high-class. "Wow."

"Nice," Gabriel commented with admiration as Leo stopped to open the passenger door of the jet-black van.
"Thank you, Gabriel," Leo looked at me, "Ladies first,"

I shook my head defiantly. "Only now you show me some basic chivalry," I said dryly, "But if I'm sitting anywhere with you guys, I'm sitting right next to either Gabriel or Lance,"

Jay stifled his laughter as he invited himself into the passenger seat that Leo had offered me while Leo himself looked at me injuredly. The other members of the Lightning Devils piled inside the spacious vehicle after I went inside, and I started squealing in excitement, as I assessed the interior.

"Are you English royalty or something?" I asked, looking at the plush seats. My eyes nearly bugged out at the sight of a mini flat-screen that Jordan had pulled out from the roof's interior, "Because only people who are ridiculously rich can afford a van like this. I thought only celebrities had these kind of cars!"

"Close enough," Leo said, grinning at he started up the engine, "Back in the UK, my family is of noble blood. My name's Sir Leon Griffin Alexander the Third. Our ancestors did have quite a fortune,"

Well, isn't he the modest one? "Really? 'Cause I thought-,"

"I'm kidding," Leo chuckled as the corner of his eyes crinkled in mirth, "I can't believe you actually believed that for a second,"

I glared at him; it's a pity looks can't kill. "You suck," I sniffed, tossing my head pompously away from him.

Jay turned back to look at us. "Well, my family's not nobility, but my great-grandparents have...kitty? Are you listening?"

I ignored Jay's words as I stared above me. "Is that a sun protector?" I asked in fascinated wonder.

"Yes, Kaitlyn," Leo nodded as he backed the van out of the lot.

"Does that mean I can stick my head out of the roof?" I asked hopefully.

"Do you want to?"

"Hell yeah!"

-

Very soon, Leo pulled into a parking lot in front of this huge Asian-looking building. I didn't notice that the time had passed by so quickly, because I had been enjoying the view of the town. Sure, I did see parts of it from the airport to Aunt Elle's place, but seeing it from inside the car isn't as exciting as the view from the sunroof, right?

Jay had been trying to talk to me about the gig later, but I had been too engrossed with the pretty houses that looked like they came out from a picture book to listen to him.

I think I heard a few words here and there.

We crossed the miniature bridge that was erected over a small moat/pond that was built around the huge restaurant. I looked over the rails to watch the koi fishes in the pond with Gabriel as Leo talked with the maitre d' stationed at the podium at the entrance who was dressed in a traditional kimono.

"Irrashai mase, Mr. Alexander. How may I help you?" I heard the maitre d' greet Leo in a perfectly accented Japanese voice. I curiously looked over to see that instead of an Asian guy, it was a dark-haired guy who looked more European than Japanese.

Dang. The management here must train their staff pretty damn well. The most extravagant sushi restaurant in where I previously lived didn't even have staff that could speak proper Japanese greetings with proper accents.

"Afternoon, Sebastian. I'd like to have a table for seven people. We're here for a light lunch," Leo replied smoothly. He must be a regular patron here or something. Rich-ass.

"So, kitty," Jay said as we settled at a table with chairs instead of the low tables I had seen in the other rooms, "While we're having our meal, I'd like you to tell us your life story,"

"My life story in exchange for a free meal?" I asked suspiciously, "But the reason why you brought me here is because you nearly killed me."

"I'm intrigued by you. A seventeen-year-old girl with a rebellious image suddenly popping up late into the school year and has a voice. Bound to make a good story," he replied, "And besides, you're not just gonna die from that. Stop being paranoid, will you?"

"You have such a boring life," I commented cheerfully, "But fine, it's not like I have much to say anyway,"

Over the raw fish, sushi rolls and tempura, I poured my heart out to the guys as I told them how I used to live a upper-middle class fairy tale life before my parents decided to go to the 1000 Places To Visit Before You Die, and how I was now living with my aunt and sister. Okay, fine, I guess I did add a bit on my ex-friends.

"Wow," Tyson commented, "You must've had a lot of things to deal with, huh?"

"Oooh! Tempura ice-cream!" I exclaimed, as the waitress - also dressed in a kimono - set a bowl in front of me. "What? It's pretty normal. At least now I know that my friends back home weren't serious about our friendship."

"If my parents were going traveling, they'd bring my brothers and I along," Jordan put in.

I knew that Jordan had five brothers who were as handsome as he was. Two of them were twins, even. They must be as well-off as Leo's family. Don't ask me how I know. I just have my sources.

"Well, not everyone's born into a rich family," I said brightly as I stuck the spoon inside my mouth. Ah...ice cream. Well, that was two people who are stinking rich in the band now.

"And you always seem happy too," Tyson added, casting a skeptical glance at the plates in front of me, "You're the first girl I have ever met to not consider food as her enemy,"

I shrugged. "One: Life's short; and Two: I'm not always this happy,"

"I can attest to that," Jay said unnecessarily.

"By the way, isn't it nearly five?" I asked, glancing at the clock on the wall.

The others looked at the clock, but none of them looked panicked. I wonder why?

"Er...why aren't you rushing to pay the bill and running to the van to get to the park?" I asked.

"The thing actually starts at seven, but we thought we'd bring you over to a stylist that works for one of our dad's company," Tyson said, "Because you..."

Three people. Three filthy rich people. "...look incredibly out of place, especially when standing next to all of you?"

"Pretty much, yeah," Jordan grinned at me.

What?? Not everyone can have branded wardrobes, okay? The only existing brand I have in my room is probably the MacBook and iPod Nano that some rich ass CEO included as a party favor in a bag that my parents got at some party a few years ago and my Converse stuff. And I tell you, I had a very trying time acquiring some of the Converse stuff from thrift stores that I used to raid with my sister.

Come to think of it, that's about the only time where Genevieve and I really bonded and had each other's backs. The other times we were just about ready to kill each other.

Good times, good times. Moving on.

"What do you say, kitty?" Jay prompted.

"I have no choice," I sighed, standing up from the table, "You'll have to thank Gabriel later. It's only because of him I'm here,"

The boys carted me back to the van, which I learned was also the band's main mode of transportation due to its size, and drove uptown, where all the rich and famous of Sandfields lived. I couldn't help ogling at every single mansion we drove by, as it seemed like every building we passed, the houses just kept increasing in size.
Leo stoped the van in front of a stately residence, which had this extremely well-kept garden and the courtyard had the classic water-fountain-at-the-courtyard-with-a-roundabout thing going on. What century are we in again?

"Welcome to my humble abode," Tyson said with a grin as he slid the door of the van open.

Humble my ass. My idea of humble is the tiny apartment that my college-freshman cousin rents in California.

Inside Tyson's mansion, we were greeted by a very flamboyant man who looked like he was in his early twenties. He introduced himself as just Chace. No last names or whatever, because according to him, having a first name and surname was too 'stuffy' and 'businesslike'.

Apparently, he's a celeb stylist that the women of the Gyles family had poached at a fashion show in NYC. He had quite the looks, but let's just say he wasn't really my type.

"Tyson, mon chéri!" Chace cooed as he flounced towards us and kissed both of Tyson's cheeks, "I wasn't expecting you for another half-hour!"

Yeah. He's a homosexual.

"Plans changed, Chace," Jay said as he got his turn of the cheek-kissing.

Ew. Who would want to kiss...him?

Chace stopped to look at me. "Who is this...this..." he seemed to fail in finding words to describe me. Well, I've always thought that I was pretty hard to describe. "...this unfashionable, unmade-up creature who looks out of place among you!?"

I think I prefer to be indescribable.

"Here, let me introduce you. This is my kitty, Kaitlyn Hunter, and that noob-looking guy over there is Gabriel Lyndon," Jay offered helpfully.

"Lyndon?" Chace repeated as he cast a curious glance over Gabriel, who was squirming uneasily now, "Are you by any chance related to Chaz Lyndon?"

"Yeah," Gabriel mumbled, "He's my brother,"

Well, that's a surprise. I never knew Gabriel had a brother. He struck me as the only-child type.

"Fabuleux!" Chace exclaimed. Well, he's one happy person. "I absolutely love what he did with the models at the Winter Fashion Gala last year!"

"Er...yeah. It was pretty good, I guess." Gabriel agreed uncomfortably.

That's strange. Gabriel seems like he wants to avoid the subject of his brother. I wonder why?

"Chace, sorry to interrupt your chat, but I would like to ask of you to maybe work your magic on this lady?" Leo asked with a pleasant smile.

"All right, give me an hour and a half max, I'll have this girl looking from drab to glamoreux in no time,"

Gee, that was nice of him to say so. Until today, I thought I looked reasonably okay.

"Some of my team are in the other room, readying your clothes for you." Chace informed as he whisked me away from the band and Gabriel.

Chace dragged me to a huge wooden oak door and pushed it open, and I saw a highly-equipped salon station with a couple of women bustling about with their arms loaded with clothes.

"Girls!" Chace announced, "We have one and half hours to convert this fashion disaster into something presentable!"

Did I mention how bad does an insult bite?

I was literally chained to the beauty chair while a bunch of people plus Chace attacked my hair and face. I must've squealed in pain for about a million times as a brush poked me or when a pair of tweezers clamped onto my eyebrow. I was obstructed from the view of the mirror, so I couldn't see what they were doing to me. Good grief, these stylists can definitely beat a heavyweight champion in a martial arts duel, no problem.

I silently sent prayers to the Heaven above and silently cursed the guys minus Gabriel, who took no part in what was happening to me right now.

Exactly one hour later, Chace clapped his hands. "Okay! We're done with phase one and two! Station and ready yourselves for the final phase!"

The assistants automatically started towards a black door nearby, which I assumed had to be something to with the final phase. Chace sure knows how to make a person feel like a mutated experiment, huh?

Chace had a very satisfied look on his face as he surveyed his handiwork. "I'm a genius, if I say so myself," he commented delightedly. Well, he sure has no problems conveying his thoughts to people.

"Prepared to be ah-mazed," he announced as he stepped aside to let me have a proper look at the mirror.

I resent Chace for being rude about me earlier, but right now, the only thing I'm feeling for the man is: R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

I found myself staring at an extremely gorgeous girl, with the same hair color as mine, but instead of the previous cut it had before, it was now artfully layered. How he managed to do that in one hour, I would never know. The soft, glittering eyeshadow made her eyes look more hazel than just plain brown, and her lips were full and pouty, thanks to the wonders of lip liner and lip gloss. I shall never degrade make-up in future.

"I-is that me?" I gasped in disbelief. Damn. I looked, well, awesome.

"I didn't get the front cover feature on Vouge for nothing you know," Chace said placidly. "Well, time's a-wasting, let's get you dressed,"

So that was the final phase. Figures.

Chace pulled me through the black door and pushed me into a changing stall, throwing a pile of clothes at me. "Try these on,"

I fumbled with every article of clothing Chace gave me, but I somehow managed to work out which was which.
I think.

I tentatively stepped out, and Chace started clapping with hands and jumping up and down delightedly. "Wonderful! Magnifique! My best work yet!" he claimed.

To my utter disbelief, he threw the clothes that Ms. Summers gave to me to change into, into a wastepaper basket.

Who in their right mind tosses away perfectly good clothes into wastepaper baskets!? And when it's not even theirs to boot!?

"Hey!! Those were clothes I borrowed from the school!" I cried as I tried to retrieve them.

Chace held up a hand that held my Converse high-tops. "No worries, I'll give them a replacement set. I shall be sending my assistant over to your aunt's house. I have provided you with an updated wardrobe and shoes. Keep these sneakers, since I can see the future you wearing them despite my insistence," he ordered, "Yes, you shall now be able to go out looking presentable, instead of traipsing around in those nameless rags,"

Well, isn't he thoughtful?

The black door opened, and the Lightning Devils came in, with Gabriel who had apparently been caught and beautified - in male terms, of course - as well. Not that there was much to improve about Gabriel.

I watched as the members of the Lightning Devils and Gabriel took me in. Jordan had a sharp intake of breath. Leo and Tyson both just smiled at me. Lance took one look at me and his eyes widened before looking away.

Okay, so maybe I would've never actually worn what I was currently wearing, since I did have a limited allowance. Chace had given me a crimson button-up blouse that had long sleeves, which I had rolled up to arm-length and a black sleeveless vest to pull over it. My lower-body was clad in a black miniskirt with red leggings beneath and black Ugg boots which I thought were out-dated.

Now I know who put Ugg boots back in style.

"Well, you look prettier," Gabriel was the first one to speak. "You were pretty already, though,"

Awww. Gabriel's such a great friend. I love him!!

Not to be outdone, Leo gave me a flirty look. "I always knew you had the potential to shine. Beauty does lurk beneath the skin after all," he claimed heroically, "A spunky rebel or a timid little schoolgirl,"

Timid little schoolgirl? Leo actually...?

You know what? Let's just not go there.

Lance looked up at me again. "You're a very pretty girl, Kaitlyn," he said softly, "Even without the hair, make-up and clothes," Then he blushed. I didn't know rockers blushed, especially quiet, brooding ones with a small celtic cross tattooed onto his right bicep, which I just noticed when Lance came in, his shirt short-sleeved.

It was actually pretty cute; the blushing I mean.

Tyson patted Chace's back in approval. "You did good, Chace," he said appreciatively, "My sisters are gonna be sooo jealous of her,"

It was only after Chace had looked pointedly at Jay that I realized he was the only one who hadn't said anything at all. I waited for an insult or an ill-mannered sexually harassing comment from Jay, but he just kept quiet.

"Jay! I can't believe you call yourself the God among men when can't you at least compliment a beautiful lady when you see one!" Chace cried in exasperation.

My, my, Chace. Wasn't I just an unfashionable and unmade-up creature not too long ago?

Jay avoided my gaze as he turned towards the door. "Well, it's getting late, we have to go now," he said, "If we want to beat the traffic,"

Chace shook his head, obviously not pleased with Jay. He patted my cheek and gave me a pep talk. "I heard from Tyson that they had problems getting you into their band,"

Now I know boys gossip like old women.

"Do your best, all right? The boys worked hard for their reputation," Chace finished. That was rather uncharacteristic and charitable of him, if I say so myself.

I nodded before going after the boys.

-

It wasn't long before I realized that they hadn't told me what I would be singing.

"What am I supposed to sing?" I asked them as I sat between Lance and Gabriel -whom, according to Leo, was taking his position as a manager since I liked him so much, so why not?- as I had said earlier this afternoon.

"Are you familiar with Paramore?" Jordan asked, putting his bass guitar on the empty seat beside him.

"Yeah, pretty well actually," I confirmed, pleasantly surprised that they had mentioned one of my favorite bands. "I'm a fan."

"Which song's your favourite?" Tyson asked.

"Brick by Boring Brick?"

I saw Leo grin from the rearview mirror. "Excellent," he drawled in his sexy accent.

Leo pulled into a parking lot, and I realized that some of the people milling outside had guitar and bass cases in their hands. My eyes flitted over to a poster with the headlines'Amateur Rock Bands Contest!', then dread filled up in me.

"We-we're competing?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

"Of course, it's not exactly a one-band gig. This is good publicity for our band," Leo explained, before looking over at Gabriel and adding, "I suppose that should be your job now, eh?"

Gabriel nodded, a slightly confused expression on his handsome face. I knew it. Leo just dropped the job on him.
We climbed out of the van, Jay and Jordan holding their guitar and bass respectively, and Leo sent Gabriel off to go get our number.

I am toast.

The Lightning Devils were up soon, so I just watched the other bands perform. And I have to say, they were all just so damn good.

As our turn drew closer, my heart rate started accelerating and I started seeing white spots, a sure sign of a panic attack.

I think Jay must have noticed, because he turned to me, and finally spoke to me. "Hey, kitty, you okay?"
I looked up at him; my legs feeling like Jell-O.

"Can I skip this one?" I asked him, " 'Cause I don't feel so good,"

"Up next: The Legendary Lightning Devils!!" the MC screamed into the microphone.

Jay looked up to the others who were already getting on-stage, then looked back at me. He held out a black masquerade mask, which, to my irritation, was shaped like the upper-half of a cat's head. A lightning bolt was crudely drawn on the left side of the mask with neon-yellow marker.

"You're the Lightning Kitty for now, kitty," he said with the wink I knew so well, "By the way, did I mention how fabulously attractive you look?"

I gaped at him as he bounded on-stage with his guitar and plugged it in the amplifiers and gave a teasing pluck on the instrument. The crowd went wild, screaming for him and his band-mates.

"Today, we have a new addition!" Jay shouted into his microphone, "Please welcome the Lightning Kitty!"
I pulled the mask over my eyes and said a quick prayer before joining the guys.

I gripped the microphone as I looked over at Jay, who was standing beside me. He nodded encouragingly.

I took a deep breath and...

Chapter Four

References: Hurricane Streets by Hey Monday is used here. Don't sue!

-----------

Against my will, I am currently being dragged to one of the school's music rooms by Leo and Jay, with the others trailing behind us. I wonder how many kinds of rooms does this school have, exactly? It's like so freakin' huge.

"Uh, hello? I can walk you know," I said matter-of-factly to the two guitarists, "And I'm gonna press charges against you guys for molestation, man-handling, kidnapping and depriving me of lunch,"

I started struggling, trying to pull myself free from the grasps of Jay and Leo. Why is it that I'm always so weak? Back in Boston, I was always asked to be at the top of the pyramid when one of their flyers were absent.

Goodness, I'm saying a lot of things that start with 'Back in Boston'. Damn it.

The two of them just held on harder onto my arms, resulting in me accidentally (but to my satisfaction) punching Jay's jaw and narrowly missing Leo's one. 

Jay let out a train of swear words that could've made a truck driver blush, as he freed one of his hands to rub the sore area where I had hit.

Tsk, tsk. I wonder what his mom would've said when she heard him?

"My God, kitty. We're not doing anything illegal to you," Jay grumbled, "It's the twenty-first century, for goodness' sake. It's perfectly legal to hold the arm of a girl,"

"And what, drag her somewhere against her will!?" I retorted, "I haven't even eaten anything since morning!"

"You can eat later. Who asked you to be an anorexic bimbo and not eat breakfast?"

I seriously feel like saying some of those profanities that Jay had spouted earlier. Oh, and I also feel like kicking him where the sun don't shine. That's a pretty tempting idea right now, seeing my current situation.

"I'm not anorexic, all right!? It's just that you don't have the luck to feel like a pregnant woman, rushing around throwing up every morning just because you eat a bit of breakfast like I do!" I snapped, "And besides, why can't I not perform today? It's not like they'll miss me or anything, since they don't even know I exist,"

"Which is exactly why you should start performing ASAP," Jordan said, opening a door that we stopped in front of.

Jay and Leo, both still holding onto either of my arms, dragged me inside the music room, followed by the other members of the Lightning Devils and Gabriel. I was dragged and placed in front of a microphone stand.

"Here's the other microphone. Try it out," Jay ordered. Wow. They work faster than I do. I wonder who set up the microphone before we got here?

"There's such a thing as the word 'please', you know," I muttered, "Or are you just used to having millions of women and girls falling and bowing at your feet?"

"The latter, kitty," Jay grinned, "Now, sing some random song you know,"

That's why I hate hot guys. They think they're all that and stuff, and Jay was a very good example of that. 

I folded my arms, a look of stubbornness etched into my face. What can I say? I'm a feminist at heart, even though I'm half-starved.

Lance looked at me, a blank look on his face, which actually suited his looks. He turned to Jay, and opened his mouth. "Jay, just say 'please' will you? We can't lose this one. We've been through this too many times," he said quietly, "And competition's getting tougher. Kaitlyn will be a great trump card,"

A moment of silence ensued as I processed the fact that the normally quiet Lance had spoken more than five words. Then I processed what he had said.

What? I'm a growing, half-starved teenager. I need my nourishment, but thanks to some people (hint at Jay), I have to wait 'till four o'clock when I get back to Aunt Elle's house to actually eat something edible.

"Fine," Jay said childishly, "Please, kitty. Sing a song for us to hear your lovely voice,"

I ignored Jay, and turned to Lance with a questioning look. "What do you mean by you have been through this too many times?"

"It's pretty easy to guess," Lance replied in the same quiet tone.

Then, realization suddenly dawned upon me. It felt pretty epic, by the way, the realization dawning upon me.

"Do you mean I'm not the first female singer you've tried recruiting into the band?" I asked, a spark of interest growing in me. "What happened to my predecessors?"

An uncomfortable and pregnant silence hit the room, as some of the band members, Jordan and Tyson in particular, fidgeted nervously. Only Lance was unaffected by my question, seeing as he was the one who led me to asking it, and Gabriel, who was obviously out-dated in the band's history. The lack of noise was deafening.

Oooh. This is interesting.

"Soooo...care to tell me?" I urged, a cheshire-cat grin of my own spread across my face.

Jay cleared his throat in a business-like manner. "It's nothing important, so..."

"The last one quit because of Leo," Lance interrupted, "And the one before that quit because of Jay."
I knew it. It had to be them.

Jay and Leo shot the keyboardist a dirty look.

"Well, I couldn't help it. She practically expected me to marry her," Leo said defensively, "And I'm only seventeen, for God's sake! All I promised her were good times and memories. She misinterpreted me for a serious relationship,"

"What about him?" I asked, pointing at Jay like he was an animal. But animals are better than him, I tell you, waaaaay better.

"I'm just not interested in a relationship now," Jay said airily, picking up an electric guitar and studying the surface, " 'sides, I have to look after you now, kitty," He winked at me. 

Jerk.

"How many have you been through, exactly?" I asked, ignoring the gnawing irritation that had festered ever since I met Jay this morning.

"Well...a couple of them," Tyson said, the tone of his voice reluctant. He must be uncomfortable with the fact that his friends are a bunch of playboy jerks.

"Eight," Lance dead-panned. All of us, excluding Leo and Jay, turned to look at said people accusingly.
"We can't help it if they can't cope with it and be professional about it," Jay said loftily, "I mean, it is partly their fault for misreading us,"

That tweaked a nerve. My dad has always said that I liked to be the best of the best, because it was a faulty genetic trait that I inherited from him. I take up challenges like a dog picks up a bone.

What? I thought it was a pretty good metaphor, actually.

Anyways, I did that weird bangs over eyes thing and in a deadly tone, I said, "Are you trying to say that I'm not cut out for this thing?"

"Oh, no, it's just tha-," Leo began, but Jay cut in like the ill-mannered person he is.

"You could be," Jay suggested slyly, "I mean, after all, you didn't want to join us in the first place. You might not be even cut out for it at all,"

I fully put the blame on my daddy for whatever happened next. Sorry dad, if you're sneezing right now in Paris or Rome, wherever the hell you are with mom.

"Never fear," I said icily, "Because I don't intend on running away after whatever you've done wrong to me, because I will get back at you, and I especially do NOT intend on falling in love with any of you,"

The Devils and Gabriel stared at me in shock after my announcement. Both Leo and Jay simply smiled at me cryptically.

I distrust those smiles.

"Amaze us, if you will," Leo said gallantly, flourishing an arm towards the microphone.

"Fine," I snarled, stepping up nearer to the stand.

I can sing, no problem. It's just them anyway, and it's not like I'm performing on stage in front of a crowd. Just pretend that none of them are here. It's pretty easy, in Leo's and Jay's cases. 

I mentally picked out one of my favourite songs that I knew like the back of my hand. It goes like this:

The storm is rushing on me
Here's the flood flash
I feel so locked and loaded
Let me out, let me out


Wake up in a wasteland
Where the trees are crashing fast
Make or break
The road explodes
Get out, get out of this town


Live faster, live stronger
Let us speed up
Or get blown over


Time's wasting
How much longer
Before I get myself free
Of these hurricane streets?


I reluctantly looked over at the Devils, wondering what they thought of my singing after I finished, or rather, my song choice. They don't look like people who would take too kindly to Hey Monday, but as the saying goes, looks can be deceiving. Leo's a prime example of that, thank you very much.

Jay and Leo were smiling; contentedness present in both their faces, the kind a person would get after eating a hugely satisfying meal. Jordan was just nodding sagely in approval, and Tyson and Gabriel both looked taken aback. Lance, as expected, remained cool.

Awesome. I wasn't expecting such reactions, Lance's excluded.

I stepped back from the mike and turned towards them, and before anything else happened, I saw a blinding white flash, rendering me unconscious, next thing I knew.

At least I didn't fall on top of the equipment, though, because those tangles of wires don't look very accommodating.