A Diamond in the Rough

It's my favorite days of the week, the weekends, no school, no dramas, no nothing just me and my snacks and movies. I'm usually alone on weekends cause mom needs to go to work even on weekends. After I finish cleaning the house I will rest the whole day.

" Ok! All done, so which movie will I start with?" That's my weekend routine. After that, I'll be buying ingredients for dinner and cook.

KRING!!!! KRING!!!!!

"Hello? Heleina, Yeah? I'll go there then. Thanks, see you."

Heleina called me about a sale in the supermarket near their place. I usually like sales, they are cheaper and I can save money for mom.

After a while, I went out to catch up on that sale she was talking about. I got on my bike and drove my way there.

As I was passing by some of the stores, I saw this contest on going.

"Get a score of 98 and you'll have free tickets to the amusement park." That's what's posted.

I can't remember the last time we went into an amusement park. It's been a while.

It won't hurt to try. Besides, no one can see me here, no one knows who I am, no classmates around.

So I decided to join and forgot about the sale.

There are some very good singers who got the tickets already. I hope there's still some more left for me.

Then there goes my turn.

"Hi, there! What's your name?"

I can fake it right? no one will know.

"Dylan"

"Dylan, such a masculine name for a girl like you. Ok, what will you be singing for us today?"

"Chasing Cars-Snow Patrol"

I really am into this, before I could do anything else, I learned how to sing first. Something I will try to keep to myself cause I don't want to disappoint my mom.

"If I lay here, if I just lay here, Would you lie with me and just forget the world."

"Ok let's see the score...99!!! Wow! you got free tickets for the new amusement park! Congratulations!!!"

After getting my prize, I went to buy ingredients and head home.

I didn't expect that today will be the last happy weekend I will ever have in my life.

Then my weekend ended and the school's up again.

"This is going to be a tiring week. "

"Jadis!!!" Chloe and Heleina called in unison.

"Hi! Good morning! What's up?" As usual, they're gonna start giving me the gifts they're supposed to give to that brat.

"Jaz Ford is having an audition for his band. He wanted to join the inter-school band competition this year and he is looking for a band vocalist and lead guitars." Heleina was so psyched. I bet she plans on joining since she had voice lessons as a kid and I know she also has a nice voice. Chloe on the other hand will have a problem. She just started playing classical guitars and she doesn't sing that well.

"We will audition. What do you think?" Chloe said in enthusiasm.

I KNEW IT!

"S-Sure! Go ahead. I'll support you both" as a friend, that's the right thing to do.

"Thanks, so will you be watching us later? We need your strength!"

"Y-Yeah." Though I'm not sure it's a good idea since I really don't want to see his face! He's annoying and I would end up killing him in front of my friends if he starts teasing me again.

The classes went on. Even if my friends haven't stopped practicing for the audition so, like other girls on the campus who plans to join, I have to endure, cause I'm doing this for them.

"I'm nervous, Jade. I don't know if he's gonna like it" Heleina was fidgeting again. The sign that she's nervous.

"I can do this! I can do this!" I hear Chloe muttering under her breath. She's confident about this.

"Ok NEXT!!!! HELEINA ASTON-MARTIN!"

"Omg! It's my turn! Wish me luck!" I can sense her energy going up. Still, working with this guy won't bring any good to my friends. He's a heartbreaker for God's sake.

"You can start when you're ready". One of the judges and I think a friend of his, too said.

"Ok..... My heart feels like the sharpest razor blade...I really hope this won't give me away... Cause I've been drowning here for days..." I see her glancing at us. She's nervous.

"Like a watercolor about to fade... Every inch of me is there to trace" She closed her eyes, she's calm now. Good.

"No secrets left here on my page...Underneath my skin, I see a change...Blood races right up to my face"

She's in the zone. Nice. Her voice is really nice.

"Bursting out, no, I can't take it...You really wore me down...Read my mind just like I'm naked...There's no hiding now...I'm Paper-thin...Paper-thin"

All of them were clapping except that guy. That arrogant guy!

"Nice! Next! CHLOE MACLAREN!"

She stood up and smiled at them.

Unlike Heleina, Chloe didn't even get to finish the chorus. She was stopped immediately when the people started showing a sour face. But we still stayed and waited for the announcement. Most girls around us are so sure that Heleina will be chosen but still some don't like her.

"Ok, thank you very much for today. Please continue supporting our band in the future. For today, no one was chosen, I'm very sorry everyone. We will contact you if there are changes, anyway"

"What? They didn't like it? Awww, man" I feel so sad for my friends who didn't even say anything. I bet they feel so bad after hearing that.

"Next, for the guitarist, KARLEE BENZ! "

Wait, what? Benz?

"Step one, you say, "We need to talk.", He walks, you say, "Sit down. It's just a talk."...He smiles politely back at you...You stare politely right on through...Some sort of window to your right...As he goes left and you stay right..." He plucks the strings of his guitar with his heart. His eyes were closed and I can feel how sincere he is in his lyrics. He's good. Very good.

"Between the lines of fear and blame...You begin to wonder why you came...Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend...Somewhere along in the bitterness...And I would have stayed up with you all night...Had I known how to save a life" He slowly opened his eyes and I see it water but it's like he's holding it back. He became expressionless again.

I listened to him sing while he plays the guitar. He's really good. Even his voice is amazing too.

Some of the girls were giggling behind me. Saying how cool he is now, and how handsome he is, too.

"I didn't expect him to be this good" I heard one girl said it.

Because you are all over one brat. Jaz Ford

" You, you're in." The judge said. All the girls started screaming.

"Now, there are two of them in that band, I wanted to desperately get into it," Chloe said.

" No. They're just trouble. And besides, you auditioned already. That's enough." I talk like mom. GOSH!

"Jadis, this is ---" I have to cut them off.

" I can't, I can't take this, you chasing one guy, falling all over the same guy which doesn't suit you coz... you are both better than that. " They were silent. As if I hit the spot.

"You would never understand, Jadis. Cause you haven't been in love with someone before. That's why you are so cold-hearted." Chloe said.

"You don't want us to be happy because you're unhappy. " Heleina added.

"Seriously?! Where did that come from?" I'm now confused.

" From us. We don't get it. We can't understand it. Your coldness towards men and being so vigilant about love and all." Heleina said.

" I thought you want me to---" Chloe cut me off this time.

" We want us to be happy but if you will not be happy for us, then, we should start thinking things over now. What are we to you, Jadis"

"WHAT! Is this all because of him?"

"Yes," they said in unison.

"Unbelievable!" I walked away from them.

I can't believe what I'm hearing!

I stayed in my car. Trying to cool my head, I opened the AC and just stared on the ceiling of the car.

"KNOCK KNOCK"

"What?" I saw Karlee Benz.

He took out his phone, showed me a video.

WTF! IT WAS ME! SINGING IN THE STREETS FOR THE TICKETS I GOT THIS WEEKEND! OMFG! WHERE DID HE GET THAT?!

"I know this is you." He spoke, he has a nice speaking voice too.

"No. I don't sing."

"I'm sure this is you. But I have a feeling that no one knows. Well, except me of course."

"Like I said I don't sing. Besides, I'm Jadis, not Dylan."

"Huh? How did you know the girl named herself Dylan? I didn't even say anything about her name."

DAMN! CHANGE TOPIC. NOW!

"Why are you even talking to me? I don't care and I don't know what you're talking about so leave me alone."

"Can't do that. Now that it slipped out of your mouth, I have a proposal for you."

"Not interested."

"You haven't heard the plan yet. Anyways, it will benefit you too you know."

"How?"

"Unleash that hidden talent of yours and join the band. I auditioned you already. You just need to come. I showed the video to the band awhile ago"

"YOU WHAT?!?!" I was shocked.

" Don't worry, they liked it and if I get you to join, then it's settled."

What are you? crazy?! That Jaz Ford is in that band. NO WAY!

"NO, THANKS!" I immediately refused.

"This will surely benefit you. You get to know the guy and then spy on him for your friends so you----"

"You're eavesdropping weren't you?" He grinned.

"It was an accident. I was just passing by"

"But I can't stand that guy!"

"Who?" he asked.

"Ford."

"Oh, me too. But I have a dream to finish. I need money too."

"Aren't you rich? "

"Yeah, but I don't like spending my mom's money. I want to have it my way"

"Weirdo. What's in it for you? Why are you dragging me into this?" There must be something behind this eagerness of his.

He smiled. This is the first time I saw him smiled, or is that a smirk?

"...So? I'll see you at 3 pm on Saturday?"

"What?! SATURDAY?!"

"Yeah, band practice, time to meet the band vocalist!" he waved a little then walked away.

He avoided my question.

He put me into this complicated situation. Get me in this band which I never planned on joining. And I don't even know why he wants me in this mess.

What mess did I get myself into?