The Sheenite

I can't do this✓

The competition was in two days, we had to rehearse. I had to do something, I had to give Jeffrey back his history notebook. Vanessa followed me to their studio. Immediately we entered, they all stopped their music.

"Sapphire." Evan called.

"Evan, hi." I replied.

"Hi.... why are you here?"

"Well... um... I'm here to return Jeffrey's notebook." All this while Vanessa stood by her side.

"Notebook? What notebook?" He asked

Jeffrey pushed his guitar behind him and walked to Sapphire. He took his book from her hand and threw it to a table.

"What are they doing here Jeff?" Stacy asked annoyed.

"Um... I gave Sapphire my notebook to update." Jeffrey answered. He took some few steps to Sapphire with his look so intense.

"Jeffrey..." Evan called to stop Jeffrey, he never wanted him to hurt Sapphire.

"Don't worry Evan, I won't hurt her."

I swallowed hard he was so close to me.

Vanessa gently pushed him away and stood between us.

"she's returned your book Jeffrey, I'm trying hard to quench the anger in me already for obliging my best friend your responsibility, depriving her of sleep!"

"Step aside princess. Don't get me angry, I'm talking to her not you."

"Why? Let me take a wild guess, you want to go tell my dad the both of us are still friends?..."

"I knew it. Go ahead, I'm not scared."

Jeffrey squinted surprised

"This is my last warning Jeffrey, don't... you... ever... hurt my friend again otherwise?"

"Otherwise what?" Stacy asked

"You wouldn't like to know what the crowned princess of England would do, would you?" She asked and walked away towards Stacy

"I've been quiet up till now, not because I was stupid, but because my hands were tied."

"Oh! You have gotten so much courage to speak just because of your little popularity."

Vanessa let out a sly smile

"Don't test me"

Everyone stood shocked at Vanessa's boldness.

"Speaking of getting someone angry, you all wouldn't want to get me angry. The last time I checked, my aunt, the Queen of England is a potential customer to both your father's company, and Jeffrey's too. And she is an important shareholder also. If my Queen mother removes her support from both your companies, you know millions of people will join her, and you know what they means."

"Is that a threat?" Stacy asked.

"No it's a warning. And just in case you need some finance..." She said and searched her purse and brought out a bunch of dollars, loosed the band and poured the money on Stacy.

"That's a payment to do the job. I never owe my workers."

"Vanessa!!" Stacy yelled in anger pointing to Vanessa.

"Calm down Stacy. You might have a heart attack."

"I don't need your papers." Stacy said referring to the money on the floor.

"Oh no, you might." Vanessa said and turned leaving. She held Sapphire's hand and pulled her. Getting to the door, she stopped.

"Stay away from my friend, all of you."

She concluded and left.

"Ahhhh!!" Stacy yelled and threw her microphone to the floor. No one had ever insulted her like that.

Evan almost burst into laughter, but covered his mouth with his fist.

*****

After our rehearsals, school was over. We had a lot of preparations to do. Vanessa was to sing and I was to act as her manager, being on stage wasn't my thing.

On my way out of school after Vanessa left, I met a bunch of students. They kept on blabbing about how good Vanessa was when singing Alessia Cara's song. They also asked how I created the beat of the song, there was no one playing the instrument.To that question, I couldn't tell an answer.I took the subway to run from their questions.

I got home, watered my plants, had dinner went to bed and slept.

Thomas, mansion.

Aiden got home. The table was set, his parents and his elder brother were having dinner on the table.

"Hey, mom." Aiden said with a large smile and pecked his mother.

"Hey, son. How was school today?"

"Cool mom. And just so you know, our name came out on the list for the competition."

"Really? That's amazing." His mom Mrs Veronica said

"Thanks Mom." He said raising his head. His eyes met his dad's. He grimaced.

"Good evening dad."

Thomas his dad took the table cloth and wiped his mouth. He stood up and left while Chris his elder brother, wiped his mouth too and followed his dad, giving Aiden a hateful look before leaving.

"I'm sorry son."

"It's okay mom, I'm used to it" He said and headed upstairs.

"Son, wait!"

"Don't worry about me mom, I'm fine."

Thomas wasn't so fond of Aiden because he wasn't helping him in his political career like his elder brother. His dad always preferred Chris to him since they were kids. Although it hurt Aiden, he acted as if he didn't care. He was used to the pain afterall.

1428, Aztec Empire

A teenage girl putting on a white aparel rehearsed her swodmanship with her eyes shut. A woman ran to her.

"Halyn.." The woman yelled.Halyn opened her eyes.

"Mom what is it?" She asked and ran to her mom.

"They are coming for us, they will kill us all."

"Kill us? Who?" Halyn asked.

"Child, we are slaves and it's time for the slave revolution. The Kings men are already on their way. Hurry! And ask no more questions."

Halyn joined her mom packing, when her dad ran in.

"Carolina... Halyn, are you all set?" He asked

"Which route do we take?" Carolina asked

"We stole horses from the Kings stable. That will enable us to go faster. We need to leave Aztec Empire before the gates are closed. Come on, follow me." He said and took Halyn's hand, running away while his wife followed.

They came out to see the community in chaos. The Kings men already arrived slaughtering everyone they came across. Halyn stopped, she wanted to go help her people, she couldn't stand them getting hurt, killed.

"Halyn no! Come on let's run!" Her dad shouted and tightened his grip pulling her away. They ran away. And a crowd followed them behind, but suddenly they all stopped because there were troops of soldiers before them. They were surrounded.

"Give up slaves! There's nowhere to run now!" The commander said with an evil smile.

Halyn began panting. She knew they were done for, her and the other slaves, She couldn't stand it ,she couldn't let her family die. She knew it was their fate, a fate to be born to die, but not this one's. She shut her eyes, trying to feel something from the inside. She heard the sounds of swords and the shout of men, following by a stampede. The soldiers were coming towards them.

"Halyn, save us." Her dad muttered as though he knew she was the only one who could save them. Immediately she opened her eyes, a great force pushed the soldiers and their horses away.

"Everyone run!!" Halyn yelled and everyone took to their heels. The soldiers behind ran after them while the ones before them still struggled to get up.

The slaves kept on dropping as they were either shot by arrows or spears.

"Come on Halyn, hurry!" Her dad yelled. He turned around to see that a soldier was pointing an arrow to Halyn.

"Halyn!!..." He shouted and pulled her forward with his strength. Halyn kept running when she suddenly noticed that she was off her dad's grip. She turned around to see her dad on his knees. He fell to the ground.

"Father!!!" She yelled

"Father!!" Sapphire yelled from her sleep, it was a dream. Everything in her room came crashing including her lamp. Her parents bumped into her room and ran to her cuddling her.

"It's okay sweetheart. shhhh.. daddy is here, daddy is here." Davis said.

"Please stay with me, Please don't leave me." I said.

"Never, I'll never leave you okay? Okay now that's enough, it's enough." He said and placed a peck on her hair.

Sapphire sniffed, with her eyes so heavy. Her eye lids fluttered and then she shut them, falling asleep.

Edville High.

My head was so heavy, I knew I had a dream, but I couldn't remember. I tried hard, but my head always throbbed in pain each time. I was worried and I wondered why, it only meant the dream was important, but what was it?

"Are you okay?" Vanessa asked as we walked out of the class.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"You don't seem so, because you were so absent minded in class."

"Halyn!" A male voice called from behind. I turned around immediately to realize it wasn't me he called.

Why did I turn like it was my name? Why did it sound so familiar? My head throbbed in pain again.

I turned back around and felt an arm around me in an embrace, I stood still. It was so calm and soothing. I realised I was so small, or maybe I wasn't but felt so because, I was lost in this person arms. I tilted my head to know who this Person was. Evan! It's Evan. His grip was strong but gentle. He released me and I just stood there awkwardly.

"How are you?"

"Fine. I'm fine!" I answered almost immediately.

"Hi." He waved to Vanessa.

"Hi." She waved back.

"How are you girls preparing for the competition?"

"Good." Was my short and stupid reply. I looked behind him to see the rest of his band looking at him. Zoey's gaze was so harsh on me, I knew it would have killed me if it were a knife. Evan walked to Vanessa and handed her a pen.

"Can I get an autograph?"

Vanessa's lips fell agape in surprise. He was the first person asking her for an autograph. She nodded severally like a kid and grinned widely.

"Yes!" She shrieked.

He lifted up his sleeve and gave her his arm.

"Here." He said.

"Here?"

Vanessa asked confused. It was an awkward place for an autograph. That was how I felt when he gave me his wrist for an autograph. I wondered why he liked it on his skin.

"Hmm.." He nodded.

Vanessa signed and handed him his pen.

"Take care. And rehearse hard, you're up against Kings." He said to the both of us and left. The other members of the band followed him and walked past us.

Vanessa's gaze followed Evan smiling.

"Hey!" I said hitting her with my elbow bringing her back.

"I think he likes you." She said.

"What? No way! He has a girlfriend."

"Zoey is not his girl, they just play around and have fun with each other, that's all. He has never introduced her as his girlfriend."

"Yeah, whatever."

"At least he seems way better than prince I-ll-i-nois." Vanessa said breaking the name into syllables with irritation all over her face.

Prince Illinois was Vanessa's betroth. She dated him to safe her throne. He was the perfect power to give her the throne since she wasn't from the direct royal bloodline to inherit the throne. She didn't like him but was forced to him by her Queen mother. What could she do?

"If he ever ask you out, you better agree."

"Why? What if he is not my perfect?"

"Is this another excuse Sapphire? How long do you want to be single?"

"Don't ask, i don't know."

"You better know, I've been your boyfriend for too long."

"Are you tired?" I asked and wrapped my arms around hers.

"Maybe." She said smiling.

I laughed.

"Come on, let's go rehearse. We have a competition tomorrow." I concluded and pulled her, while we laughed.

"What was that Evan?" Zoey asked and hit Evan on his chest.

"Why did you hug that girl? You are cheating on me before my eyes?! She yelled.

"It was just a hug."

"A wrong hug." Aiden said.

"Especially with the enemy." Jeffrey added.

"Guys understand okay?"

"Do you like her?" Stacy asked.

"Don't lie." Tatiana added.

"I... I don't." He said and blinked. He didn't know why.

"Guys! She just my friend, nothing else! And about the hug, I embraced her because whenever my mind is in a mess and I'm close to her, I just feel all the pain go away like she was magical."

Immediately he said magical, Jeffrey lifted his head that had been down.

"So she takes all your pain away, and I don't?"

"Zoey please, you are more important to me than anyone in the world." He knew those words weren't from his heart, but he just had to say it to keep her mouths shut.

"So can we rehearse now?" Jeffrey asked and took his guitar."

"Yeah, that's a better thing to do." Aiden added taking his guitar.

I taught Vanessa Overdose by Alessia Cara. After rehearsals, I and Vanessa left the class to meet our school twins. They weren't the only identical twins, but the most popular. They were both dressed in their cheerleader costumes.

"It's Karen and Kathleen the top beauty queens of Edville!" They both chorused with their choreography.

"We love you V.S Galaxy, you have our support!" Karen said.

"Yes, because you'll sure beat The Rocking Wave asses down!" Kathleen added.

"Anyone who is their competitor is a friend!" Karen said.

"And remember our main target here is Stacy." Kathleen added.

"We'll create more supporters and fans for you... " Kathleen said.

"To bring the Rocking Wave down!!" They both yelled.

"Because Stacy is part of them, too bad."

"Thanks." I said

They both placed pecks on our cheeks.

"KK twins, over and out!" They chorused again and left.

We both watch them catwalk and we chuckled.

The KK twins were Stacy's natural enemies. firstly, the parents of the KK twins has a perfume company together with Stacy's parents. The both companies always struggled for the top, and that reflected on their children, they hated each other. Secondly, the KK twins were the leaders of the charmers cheerleaders club, while Stacy was the leader of the rainbow cheerleaders club. So in all areas of their lives, they were rivals.

The bell rang, School was over, Vanessa went home while I went to prepare our costumes for tomorrow's competition. My parents helped me prepare the costumes. They were my first fans. I stayed up through the night. Sleeping was nothing I could afford to do, I was scared of nightmares.

••••••

Edville High.

The day was so colorful, Vanessa came with Valerie. She was on black heel boots, A black pants which had net from her thigh downwards revealing her skin. She wore a silver jacket made of fur she held her special golden microphone, and around her right eye was the shape of a star made with glitters, she colored the tip of her hair red and wore make up with her lips in black. As she walked in with her body guards everyone stared at her even the contestants. She was glamorous.

"How do I look?" She asked.

"Amazing!" I shrieked.

"That's because I have a good Manager." She added.

"Hope the delivery wasn't late?" I asked.

"Nope. It was just in time, that's why I'm here early."

"Hey Valerie." I said and crouched rubbing her fur. "You came to cheer Vanessa for the competition."

"Yes." Vanessa whimpered.

I stood, up and heaved a sigh.

"My parents are here. Are yours here?" I asked.

"Hmm... My mom and Kyle are here, dad couldn't make it. An emergency came up this morning."

"That's good, I wasn't expecting any of them."

"Me neither. I guess they want to see what I'll be like on stage."

"And cheer for you too. Don't forget that part. You are still their only little girl?"

"Yeah maybe." She shrugged and smiled.

The hall was packed. The dignitaries stayed in the VIP room, watching. The charmers cheerleader club were entertaining the guest. The reporters were taking photos and the security was so tight because, lots of dignitaries were present. The competition was one of a kind. The judges took the four special high chairs in front and they were all top musician but one was also a DJ.

Here at the backstage, all the eleven contestants were putting themselves together while I and Vanessa just sat watching them. I noticed where The Rocking wave stood. My eyes caught with Evan's. He smiled at me and I smiled back. Suddenly I noticed some arguments between them and then Stacy, Zoey and Tatiana began walking towards us.

"Are the three witches coming to us?" i whispered into Vanessa's ears.

"I guess. I just hope they don't spray on us their bad luck." Vanessa whispered back and I giggled.

"Hello! Losers!" Stacy yelled, drawing attention.

"What do you want?" Vanessa asked so calmly that someone would have thought it wasn't her Stacy called loser and Stacy hated it, she wanted to provoke us, so we could retaliate in a fight and get kicked out of the competition for violence.

"Nothing, just wanted to tell you to quit now you have the chance, so you could save yourself from being humiliated." She added.

"Why?.." Vanessa asked rubbing Valerie's fur sitting on her thigh. "You are scared of getting beaten aren't you?"

"Never, you can never beat us, whats that stupid name again?" Stacy asked.

"V.. S Ga-la-xy." Tatiana answered full of irritation.

"Good. Your place is in the court and not here." Stacy said.

"Don't be so confident and speaking of court, as they say see you in court, see you in stage Stacy, that's the only way to find out where everyone's place lies." Vanessa concluded and bent her head.

Stacy scoffed in anger, I knew her plan to provoke us didn't work.

"Come on girls, let's get outta here." Stacy said and walked out while her friends followed.

The Kreisten high students took a space at the backstage for themselves. They couldn't associate with us. We were enemies, like salt water and fresh water, we can never meet. Kreisten high also had a popular band with the name Twilight tunes. They walked up the Rocking Wave while their leader spoke to Jeffrey.

"Longtime friend." He said sarcastically and the others laughed.

"It's not funny Jack." Jeffrey said.

"Yeah I know, you'll know how funny it is to get kicked out of stage."

"You couldn't beat us last year, you can't beat us now. Accept the bitter truth." Aiden said and stepped forward. Jack wanted to give him a punch, but Aiden escaped it and was about to retaliate when Evan held him back. The other members of Twilight held Jack back. Fighting wasn't good.

I smiled to myself. The rocking wave got a dose of their own medicine. Stacy confronted us, and their team got confronted by the enemy. Stacy looked at me with disgust as though she heard my thoughts and I gave her a sly smile and grimaced immediately before turning away.

The ceremony began after the entertainments by the cheerleaders and some artist. The Blissful were called up to the the stage. I noticed that all other contestants were in groups but Vanessa was the only one. Fear kicked in but i pushed it out. I had to be strong.

After the Blissful, Oceans from Kreisten high took the sstage.They weren't bad. The starlight followed, they were good! And I began to tremble, I and Vanessa stared at each other in fear.

Splendor from Kreisten high took the stage. I began to beg them to finish at a point, they were so boring with their classic music. I even saw some people sleeping in the audience. I had hope that, there were people we were going to be better than even in our sleep and Splendor was one of them.

After splendor, The diamond sparkles from Kreisten high. They were Acapella and we're awesome! The audience kept clapping for them till the end. I swallowed hard.

The next up were the Ancient tunes from Edville.

Afterwards, The Dragons. I didn't know what they were doing because their presentation was more of choreography than singing that I got confused if I was actually in a dance competition.

The Nightingales. They were all girls, all in bright colors. pink, blue, purple, orange red, and the rest of them. They would have called themselves rainbows instead.

In the VIP room, Kiera, Lucy and Veronica sat on the soft couch laughing as they watched the show.

"Sister do you remember when we were cheerleaders, we always moved around to hunt our soulmate!" Lucy said laughing.

"Yes that's right sister, I remember when Veronica told us she has found her soulmate, the guy was so cute that i was already jealous of you. Only for us to find out that he was dumb!" Kiera said and she and Lucy burst out laughing while Veronica looked at them like a child.

"That was the most horrible day of my life. I mean I fell in love with him at first sight only to find out he couldn't talk. It was heartbreaking."

"Awwn... " Kiera and Lucy chorused and burst into laughter again. Veronica reached out for a pillow and hit the both of them.

Vanessa's mom, Myla together with other parents and dignitaries, kept looking at them. She and Kyle exchanged glances, it was obvious he was thinking what she was thinking. She took her phone to confirm on Google if they were sisters, afterall they referred to each other as sister, but she found out they weren't sisters. So how could they be so close. She handed the phone to Kyle and he was surprised too. The bond within their children was so strong to pull their mothers together. Myla thought.

After D'Tunex from Kreisten high, Vanessa was up. She was trembling.

"I can't do this." Vanessa said.

"Vanessa, get yourself together. You have to do this, we struggled to get this opportunity and you know it."

"I know, but I'm scared." She said. "You know I'm scared." She added. I could see through her, her heart was throbbing inside her chest.

"I'm not going anywhere, I'm standing right here. I'm not going anywhere. Just try to imagine that you are the only one in the hall. That could help."

"But I can't just imagine that no one is in the hall!" She screamed stomping her feet.

"Okay.. okay. See my mom and dad over there?" I asked and pointed to them and my parents waved to us.

"Yes."

"Just sing for them. Imagine that they are the only ones you are singing to."

"How?" She asked.

"Next up, V.S Galaxy!" The master of ceremony called.

"Oh no! I'm up!"

The Charmers kept screaming at the top of their voices.

"Come with me to the stage."

"What? Vanessa you know I can't?"

"Okay, then go and sit with your parents so I can sing just for you."

"Vanessa, I'm your manager, I'm supposed to stay her and ensure everything is in place and your secured!"

"Sapphire please! The security will stay here to watch over me and everything is in place already. Please!"

"Okay! Okay! Go to stage now." I said and she walked to the stage while I went to my parents and took a seat by them.

"How is she doing?" Brenda asked

"Fine, just a little nervous."

"She'll be fine, I trust her." Davis added.

The curtains were opening to Vanessa who was backing the stage.

Oh and I overdose

Boy I want off of this roller coaster

you take me high just to bring me down

oh, and you bring me down, down.

She sang and turned around, everyone screamed in cheers about her charisma, her attitude and emotions.

I'm trying not to take too much

I'm in over my head

over love, boy I over trust

Give me a chance to pick up the pieces

You left me in, why did I let you in?

Overzealous, I'm over this, oh I'm over us

Over and over, I let you under my skin and it's over

I promise never again you'd come over

something takes over me I can't control this hallucinogen.

Oh and I overdose....

Myla's lips were apart as she watched her daughter in surprise and shock.

"It's that our Vanessa? Because I'm beginning to think it's her look alike."

She said picking her words.

"I'm not sure mother, because this Vanessa is too amazing." Kyle answered almost lost. "I wonder if she has been this amazing."

"If she had, then I've missed a lot." Myla said.

"Your daughter is pretty amazing." Kiera said.

Myla turned surprised at her comment. Weren't they supposed to be enemies since it was a competition between their children. Just then she realized the three women weren't narrow minded but open hearted.

"She is an has every attribute of a popstar."

"Thanks." Myla answered with a smile.

"Why don't you come join us for a drink." Lucy offered.

"Sure." She agreed and stood up taking another seat by them. Ordinarily, she would have refused, but she didn't want to be rude to their kind request, their attitude warmed her heart.

My parents cheered and I gave Vanessa a thumbs up, all the while she had her attention on us. She had turned the audience into mad people as some of them wanted to jump to the stage and eat her, she was good!

Boy I come crashing

Down from the high and wondering...

Immediately water poured on her from above but it soon stopped. Silence fell in the hall, everyone was surprised.

The water continued this time in great amount that she was soaked and dropping. Her microphone gave a shrieking sound. I stood up in shock at what happened what would have caused water to pour on Vanessa on stage.

Myla and Kyle stood up seeing the scene. Vanessa was asthmatic getting a cold wasn't good for her and she was already wet.

"Oh my God! What happened?" Veronica asked really worried. And other rich personalities kept muttering to themselves.

"Get.. Vanessa.. out of there now!!" Myla ordered to her security and they all left the room. While she fell back to her chair.

The crowd was totally silent that if a pin fell, It could be heard. Vanessa stood still looking at me, I could see tears well her eyes with my super vision.

"What the hell happened? How come about the water on stage?!" A man from the control room yelled, he was on an earphone.

"I don't know sir, Even if something went wrong on stage, it wouldn't have caused water to pour on the stage!" A voice spoke through the earphone.

"Shut the curtains! I repeat shut the curtains!!" He ordered.

"But what about the contestants?" another asked.

"I don't think she'll be able to continue." He added.

I wondered what would have happened? Even if there was a problem with the stage connection, it wouldn't just vomit water out like that, it should have been a spark or worse fire. It only meant this was planned, someone did this? But who? Who wants Vanessa so down badly?

Stacy! s**t how didn't I think of that earlier. She remembered how Stacy threatened them to quit to avoid humiliation, this was the humiliation. I couldn't let Stacy win, most especially not now. Vanessa shook her head looking at me. I knew she wanted to walk away, so i shook my head back. I knew i was putting her in a tight spot by doing that, but I had no option.

"Sing." I said. Vanessa read my lip immediately she lifted the microphone to her lips just when the curtains were about to close.

wondering... why this ain't over.

She sang without a beat picking her words. I shut my eyes, Vanessa was asthmatic and shouldn't catch a cold. I opened eyes and it shone gold I shut it back and sat down burying my face in my hands. My parents tapped me thinking I was frustrated, but I was trying to concentrate on Vanessa, she was far away so I was using too much energy. I created heat on the stage to keep her warm and then I began lifting the waters up from the floor. The water danced around her, circling her. I created more stage lights and turned off all other lights.

Vanessa felt so warm like she wasn't wet at all. She looked at the water that danced around her it was beautiful a smile crept to her face, confidence crept In. The stage curtains opened Back slowly while Vanessa took a few light steps forward.

"Where did those stage lights come from?" An engineer asked.

"I don't know, it wasn't part of the package."

"And that stage trick of that floating water, who is doing it?"

"No one sir." They all said.

"What the hell is going on today?" He muttered a rhetorical question.

oh and i overdose

Boy I want off of this roller coaster

You take me high just to bring me down

oh and you bring me down

Vanessa sang bringing back more attitude, power and emotion to her song, with her beat returning, the crowd and the judges stood up at her awesomeness of picking back herself again, they all clapped and cheered.

Kyle smiled and looked at his mom who couldn't help but smile.

My parents kept cupping their mouths with their hands screaming, they totally forgot that I was sitting with my face still buried in my hands.

I was using too much of my energy and I began to beg her song to finish.

******