Battle of the Bands Read Free

out of it.
    â€œReady?” I ask.
    â€œLunar Ticks!” someone screams from the floor. It’s Amy, already bouncing around at the front of the crowd. I’m distracted because it looks like sheforgot to wear a bra, and I miss my cue for the opening number. That chick is such a pain.
    I mutter, “Sorry,” to Cia and Kel. Then we start over and it’s perfect. I don’t think the crowd even noticed that Cia had to play her setup twice. That’s the great thing about music. It can flow, just be a jam session where nothing is planned. Sure, you have to be ready, and maybe we aren’t quite good enough yet to just let anything happen in a performance. Even the pros can’t do much of that because the fans always want to hear the hit songs, right?
    We blast our way through the first two numbers and then it’s time for our final song, “You’re Dead.” We’ve only played it in public once before and it wasn’t too polished then, but this time we nail it. The gym goes nuts. They love us!
    It takes a while for the vice-principal to settle things down. He makes the usual threat that the school day will be extended to make up for missed time. Nobody actually believes him because there’s nochance the teachers will agree to work longer, but we go along with him just in case. Then he calls the bands out onto the stage again, one by one. The crowd decides who wins by clapping and cheering the loudest and longest for their favorite. Sometimes it’s hard to call the winner, but today there’s no doubt. The Lunar Ticks score.
    There are two long periods of classes to get through before we can gather in Cia’s garage after school, but once we’re there, it’s celebration time.
    â€œWere we awesome or what?” Kel says.
    â€œYou were awesome!” Amy tells him. Then, of course, she has to plaster her big lips on his.
    â€œIt was cool,” Cia murmurs. “Way cool.”
    Amy comes up for air and sneers, “Yeah, but no thanks to you, Cia! You screwed up.”
    â€œWhoa,” I say. “What are you talking about?”
    â€œShe was off right from the start. She couldn’t wait to be first, like always. Lucky for her, nobody noticed. But I did.”
    â€œHey,” Kel mumbles. “That’s not what happened.”
    Amy draws away from Kel and plants her hands on her hips. “Damn right that’s what happened, Kel! Why are you defending her?”
    â€œAmy,” I say. But before I can explain, she cuts in.
    â€œCia’s your biggest weakness you know. She isn’t good enough. If The Lunar Ticks are ever going to be great, you’re going to have to ditch her and you know it.”
    Cia sucks in a breath and spits back, “What do you know? You’re just a dumb groupie bitch.”
    Amy’s hand snakes out like she’s going to hit Cia, but Kel catches her arm. I’ve never seen him so red in the face before. He glares at Amy and growls, “Stop it!”
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Amy squawks. “You’re not going to let her get away with that, are you? You know I’m right.I’ve told you tons of times before, she’s no good.”
    A muffled little noise comes out of Cia’s throat and then she’s gone, slamming through the door into the house.
    â€œAmy,” Kel says very quietly, “get out.” “What?” Amy’s eyes narrow to slits.
    â€œWhat did you say, Kel?”
    â€œI said get out. I’ve had it with you. We’re through.”
    Amy grabs hold of his sleeve and tries to get her mouth near his face, but he pushes her away. “I mean it, Amy. Screw off.”
    â€œBut, Kel!” she wails.
    And Kel strides away, goes through the door Cia took. He slams it so hard that Cia’s cymbals shiver out a chime from their stand.
    Amy looks at me, and I guess she doesn’t find what she’s hoping for in my face. She