Note: One slightly NSFW screenshot ahead

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If Phoenix were entering the talent show with an acrobatics act, he was fairly sure he would have totally nailed it.

Or at least, his insides would have.

Phoenix’s stomach did somersaults as he paced back and forth in the hallway outside the auditorium. The backstage area was just so noisy and crowded… And he couldn’t take it anymore.

He closed his eyes, trying to remember the breathing exercises his stepfather had taught him. Phoenix counted to ten as he took several slow, deep breaths. It almost worked.

“Phee?” A muffled voice called out. He snapped his eyes open at the sound. “Are you okay?”

He tried his best to smile as Tam approached. “I’m fine.” He lied. “Just kinda stuffy back there. I needed a chance to like, breathe.” He forced a small laugh.

His friend nodded in understanding. “Yeah, it’s almost as crowded as the autograph tent at GeekCon last year!” Tam’s voice was so muffled, Phoenix had to strain to hear it.

“Dude, why are you wearing that thing already?” He asked, shaking his head in amusement. “You’re not on yet.”

“I’m up next!” Tam cried. “And besides, I’ve gotta get into character…”

“Uh-huh…” Phoenix smiled. “Guess I should too then… Like, get into ‘Bard mode’ or something.”

It was almost unsettling to see the way the pixelated face smiled as Tam nodded. “I wish you’d let me lend you that tunic… It would’ve been perfect!”

“Yeah, should’ve found a lute or something too while I was at it…” He laughed.

“Aw, you should’ve said something sooner.” Tam seemed to have completely missed his sarcasm. “I bet we could’ve found one! Damn…”

“Tamsin Turner?” A voice called out into the hallway. One of the girls from backstage stood at the threshold of the stage door.

“DJ TamTam.” He corrected her.

The girl just stared. “Um, yeah, whatever… Anyway, they were looking for you. They said you’re up.”

Phoenix reached out a fist, bumping it gently against his friend’s. “Go kick some ass.” He smiled warmly at Tam. “You and Jasper have been practicing like crazy… you’ll do great.”

Tam laughed heartily, the sound muffled by his helmet. He muttered something his friend couldn’t quite make out, then headed back through the door, leaving Phoenix alone once more.

The gymnastics routine in his stomach resumed instantly. If Tam was onstage now, that meant there was just one act left before it was his turn. Shit… I hope I don’t fuck up.

Phoenix closed his eyes as he did before. He’d never really considered himself religious, but he found himself silently praying. His Opa’s father Lucas had been such a successful musician before his untimely death… and Zayne’s adoptive mother Jocelyne was an actress, and later a director. They were both right at home on the stage. It had probably come so easily to them.

Please… Don’t let me fuck this up. Can’t you guys send me like… some strength, or whatever? Like, a +3 bonus to my Will save or something?

“Let’s see… Ooh, I don’t think we talked to him yet, did we?” A male voice called out from the direction of the stage door. “Oh… it’s Phoenix!”

Phoenix’s eyes snapped open as he held back a groan of annoyance. He knew that voice instantly — everyone at the school would have. Editor of the school newspaper, head of the student council, and the biggest gossip (and maybe dickhead too) on the whole planet…

“Hey, Marco.” Phoenix forced a smile as he turned to face him. At Marco’s side was another member of the newspaper staff. Phoenix recognized her from his science class. “Hey, Gigi.”

The dark-haired girl smiled sweetly at him. “Wasn’t expecting to see you here… But then, I guess I never really expected to see you at the gym either.” Her voice was almost teasing, but not unkind. “It’s been a while though… I know you hurt your foot. But you never came back! What happened?”

“Th-the gym?” Phoenix felt his stomach turn even worse than it had before. “Are you sure it was me? You probably got me confused with somebody else or something…”

“What do you mean? I used to see you there all the time! With your friend… Bryan?”

“Bryce.”

“Yeah, him! And then that girl…”

Marco’s eyes lit up instantly. “A girl? Moved on pretty quick after Hallie, huh?” He smirked. “So who’s the lucky lady?”

Phoenix’s cheeks grew warm, and he could not decide whether it was from anger or embarrassment. He said nothing, despite all the comebacks that danced on the tip of his tongue.

“Must be pretty special if she managed to get you to the gym.” Marco continued. “I remember having Phys Ed with you last year… Oh man, that was… Well, I’m sure you remember, right?” He asked with a laugh.

“Alright, alright…” Gigi placed a hand on her friend’s shoulder for a moment. “We’re here to harass him about the talent show, aren’t we? Not his love life…”

Phoenix smiled gratefully at her as Marco sighed, reaching for his phone. He pressed a few buttons on it before returning it to his pocket. Phoenix noticed that the end of it was just barely poking out from the top. Was he recording them?

“So, Phoenix… Gigi and I are doing a story about the talent show for our next issue… Care to tell us a little about your act?” Marco’s earlier smirk quickly found its way back onto his face. “Wait, let me guess first… Some kind of weird roleplay scene with that friend of yours? Or maybe a body building demonstration, from what Gigi just said…” He let out a small, cruel laugh as he spoke.

Phoenix clenched his teeth together. Why did Marco always have to be such a dick? “Ha-ha.” His voice dripped with almost as much sarcasm as Marco’s had. “Well y’know, some people are good at more than just one thing. Multi-talented… But maybe that’s not a concept you’re really familiar with?”

Gigi’s eyes widened. She put her hand over her mouth, stifling a giggle. Beside her, Marco still seemed completely unfazed, much to Phoenix’s disappointment.

“Alright, so what’s the talent du jour then? Don’t leave us hanging!”

He shrugged, trying to sound confident, but cool, just like Meg had told him. “I’m gonna play the guitar.”

Gigi’s eyes lit up instantly. “The guitar? Wow… I didn’t know you played!” She cried excitedly.

The way she was looking at him was so cute… Phoenix could not help the smug little smirk that crossed his lips. Bard Charisma strikes again…

“I started learning a few years ago, yeah. I’m not like, great or anything, but I thought it might be kinda fun to give the talent show a shot.” His smile widened as he spoke. It felt so good to be able to be completely honest with a girl, for once.

“Well, we’ll all be waiting on pins and needles to see how you do.” Marco cut in before Gigi could reply. “Maybe you’ll even get your own feature, with all these other hidden talents of yours.” He chuckled softly. “‘Phoenix Rosebrook: Jack of All Trades, Master of…’ Well, I guess we’re about to find out, huh?”

As though on cue, the girl who’d called Tam to the stage reappeared at the door. “Um, isn’t anybody paying attention back here?” She sighed. “It’s Phoenix, right? They said you’re up next.”

Fuck. “O-okay. Thanks.” He replied weakly.

“Guess it’s showtime!” Marco gave Phoenix a little nod, then headed down the hall toward the auditorium doors.

Gigi paused for a moment before following. “Marco’s just… being Marco.” She laughed softly. “Don’t let him get to you… Good luck!” With one last smile, she followed her friend back toward the entrance to the auditorium.

Don’t let him get to you… easy for her to say! Phoenix’s stomach lurched as he made his way back through the stage door.

They were going to publish a story about him! And if he blew it, the whole school would know about it, whether they were there tonight or not. God damn it… as if this wasn’t terrifying enough already… Ugh!

He closed his eyes as he prepared to step through the heavy curtain. Stop thinking like that. It’s gonna be fine. You can do this!

His eyes were momentarily blinded as he stepped out into the bright white lights of the stage. His guitar sat in the center, directly under the most blinding light of all.

With trembling hands, Phoenix lifted the guitar from its stand. He made it a point not to look up at the huge crowd of faces, but he could practically feel the dozens of gazes that looked upon him. Alright… You’ve got this, Phoenix. Here goes nothing, I guess.

The audience’s polite applause slowly died away as he held the instrument close and began to play.

From the moment he played the first few notes, everything instantly felt better. It was so much easier than he’d thought it would be. He closed his eyes, imagining he was back in his mother’s living room practicing with Rylie. His fingers moved effortlessly up and down the neck of the guitar, filling the quiet air of the auditorium with the beautiful, haunting melody.

From somewhere out in the crowd, Phoenix heard a soft “woo!” in a voice he recognized as his brother’s. It was quickly followed by a scolding “shhh!” that could only have come from Rubi. His lips curled into a smile at the sound.

Then he lifted his head and finally looked out into the crowd, hoping to catch a glimpse of his family.

A sea of faces stared back at him. Watching him. Probably judging him too.

Phoenix felt his stomach drop instantly. His entire body went numb… there was a weird feeling washing over his hands and fingers. Tingly and unpleasant, like pins and needles, almost. He couldn’t feel anything. He couldn’t think. He couldn’t breathe.

His fingers stopped moving, and the auditorium was silent once more.

That is, until a quiet, uncomfortable murmuring began making its way through the crowd.

Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck!

Phoenix tried in vain to remember the breathing exercises Devin had taught him, but his mind had gone completely blank. The neck of the guitar nearly slipped through his sweaty fingers. He just barely managed to balance it back on the stand before it fell.

The audience continued staring.

He had to do something, didn’t he? He couldn’t just stand there… He had to finish the song! But how the hell was he ever going to calm down?

The only thing that came to mind was the oldest, most cliche advice in the book. It wasn’t even something Meg had told him to do… But it was the only thing he could think of. So it was worth a shot, wasn’t it?

Okay, how the hell is this supposed to help me?! It was supposed to be the oldest trick in the book… So it HAD to work, didn’t it? Maybe I’m not doing it right?!

Phoenix’s eyes scanned the crowd, finally coming to a stop on the area where his family sat.

Ugh, this is so weird. Who the hell came up with this stupid thing anyway? And like, who wants to think about their FAMILY naked?! He couldn’t bring himself to even try imagining his little sister that way. Gross!

And blegh! I don’t even have to IMAGINE Mama and Dev… That day I walked in on them in the art studio… Oh my God… A memory he’d been working hard to forget suddenly filled his mind. Phoenix cringed slightly at the thought. Ew! Phoenix shuddered inwardly as he tore his eyes away.

Oh God, there’s Omi and Opi right behind them… Am I supposed to imagine THEM too? GROSS!

Damn it, I’ve gotta find someone else to look at. Well, there’s Bryce up in the front… Meg too. Mm… I bet her boobs are amazing… Wait! No! He’d kill me if he knew what I was thinking right now…

Phoenix shook his head as his eyes continued scanning the crowd. Then his gaze fell on yet another familiar face. His stomach twisted unpleasantly at the sight.

And speaking of boobs… Fuck. Hallie. Why the hell is she here?! Did she come here to laugh at me? Who’s that guy she’s sitting next to?! Did she let HIM suck her boobs too?!

Fuck! This is hopeless! It’s just making things worse. Shitshitshit.

His knees practically wobbled as a heavy wave of nausea washed over his stomach. His mouth was dry. He felt so dizzy. And the terrible pins and needles feeling still hadn’t gone away.

God damn it! How long have I been standing here like an idiot? Should I even try playing again? Should I just get the hell off the stage?! Oh God, what am I gonna do?!