Rise To Stardom - Chapter 195

Chapter 195: Light A Fire
In the hallways of a high school, a stream of students were currently filing their way into their respective locker rooms for a change of outfits.

P.E class was about to commence and to begin with, they’d be starting with dodgeball first.

“Honestly, I thought the production values of [Electrified] was already off the charts but damn, Kyle went above and beyond with [Light A Fire]!” Niall, an energetic youth with noticeably handsome features, excitedly commented as he steadily moved with the stream.

He was a well-known theatre kid despite being in junior year.

“I know what you mean man! It’s like he took everything he learned from [Level Up 2] and made his very own magic with it!”

“Honestly, if it wasn’t for the need to be in this P.E class, I’d probably be watching the video again!” Fletcher, his best bud whom was also a talented theatre kid in his own right, replied enthusiastically.

To that, Niall frowned.

The mention of P.E class ticked him off to no ends.

The idea of changing clothes into the god-awful sports uniform, the hot sun, the sweat–– yuck, the sweat!

Niall’s frown deepened and simultaneously, Fletcher sighed, perfectly understanding his friend’s deep disdain for the class.

In fact, the young teens would rather eat a tack of nails than play dodgeball in P.E class.

Their PE teacher too, didn’t help matters–– what with his unfair grouping of all the athletically built students onto one side of the pitch and their squiggly asses on the other?

In fact, Niall and Fletcher had had enough!

And that was why, both glanced at each other, seemingly reading the other’s mind.

And then they spoke in sync, mischievous grins on their lips;

“You read my mind brother!”

Quietly, instead of following the rest of their class to the boy’s locker room, they stealthily branched and made their way to the computer room nearby.

And when they did, they were shocked to notice as the projector in the room, had just finished playing the music video of [Electrified] on ViewTube, the countdown for the next video to be played reaching exactly ‘0’ as they closed the door behind them.

–

It started with a monotone color palette.

The world was dull and grey.

And living in that grey life, were two office workers, both of whom had just been chewed out by their boss.

It was Tyler and Jasmine, their heads lowered as lashing after lashing of harsh, inconsiderate words from their boss, had heavily rained on and viciously beat them down.

Listlessly, the duo trudged back to their shared cubicle, only to watch in confusion as an inviting flyer for a circus, gently lay on their desks.

Surprisingly, the flyer itself, was the only colorful thing in the otherwise, monotonous world.

The duo, having noticed this, were evidently intrigued.

And so the cameras cut to a different scene, showing as the two, arrived before a massive tent later at night.

Glancing over to the other for a brief moment, Jasmine and Tyler walked in, finding themselves in the sight of the circus’s massive space.

It was only a few seconds later.

A quietly pulsating, syncopated rhythm began to play.

To this, Jasmine and Tyler, became wary beyond measure.

Then came a shot of Kyle’s footsteps behind the bleachers as he rhythmically snapped his fingers in sync, the rest of his body yet to be shown as he quietly yet reflectively sang;

🎶 🎼

You trudge through the days,

Your spirit’s low, an empty walking shell,

A husk of what you were,

You’re asleep inside, dreaming to come alive

🎶 🎼

The tempo of the syncopated rhythm, slowly built up, the cameras cutting to Jasmine and Tyler who wondered where the voice was coming from.

More footsteps followed Kyle’s, all of them continuously snapping their fingers as Kyle’s previously quiet voice, became more melodious, theatrical and commanding whilst singing the second verse;

🎶 🎼 🎶

Now shake awake your slumber,

Feel the rhythm, flip that switch,

The world’s calling out and it’s a, brand new day,

Dawn is here and the color’s bursting,

Leave behind, those heavy chains,

You’ll never be the same…

🎶 🎼 🎶

The realization dawned on Jasmine and Tyler.

It was an invitation from kindred souls.

People like them whom had previously been living dull lives.

And it was exactly because of that reason that the duo, nodded their heads in agreement.

No sooner had they done that, the color palette of the music video, vibrantly splashed to life!

At the exact same time, a red curtain swept over!

Instantly, the circus ensemble burst onto the stage alongside a well-dressed Kyle and Tyler in golden-embroidered red tailcoats, both of them taking center stage as they powerfully and harmoniously pre-chorused to the excited audience;

🪄 🎹 🥁 🎶 🎼 🎶 🎸 🪄

Light a fire…

Light a fire…

Take a leap of faith,

Let it burn so bright,

All the way…

To the skies…

It’s your time to shine,

You’re electrified…

🪄 🎹 🥁 🎶 🎼 🎶 🎸 🪄

And then, with each circus member positioning themselves duly, the rapidly building tempo of the song, jubilantly exploded into an uplifting and memorable chorus as everyone danced in perfect sync;

🪄 🎹 🥁 🎶 🎼 🎶 🎸 🪄

And the world becomes your center stage,

And you’re more than you could ever be,

‘Cause you’re finally living for yourself!

And you know you can’t go back again,

To the husk that you were breathing in,

‘Cause you’re finally living how you should!

So light a fire!

🪄 🎹 🥁 🎶 🎼 🎶 🎸 🪄

With that powerful chorus, Kyle gestured upwards with his top hat alongside Tyler and the rest of the ensemble towards Jasmine whom was now swinging on the trapeze rig alongside a few others.

The cameras panned across the length of the circus’ excited audience and then settled back on the lady mid swing as she sang parts of the bridge while the rest of the ensemble harmonized;

🪄 🎹 🥁 🎶 🎼 🎶 🎸 🪄

Come one, come all,

Don’t miss, your chance!

(To anyone who’s a dreamer…)

Come one, come all,

Heed now, the call!

(To anyone who’s searching for a way to take charge…)

Take charge…!

Take charge…!

🪄 🎹 🥁 🎶 🎼 🎶 🎸 🪄

And then, with a double twirl mid-air, Jasmine effortlessly landed side-by-side with Tyler, Kyle nowhere to be found amidst a newly rearranged, pyramidal re-positioning!

Without a moment wasted though, the ensemble harmoniously clapped in rhythm as they jumped from side-to-side, while singing the pre-chorus again with even more fervor;

🪄 🎹 🥁 🎶 🎼 🎶 🎸 🪄

And the world becomes your center stage,

And you’re more than you could ever be,

‘Cause you’re finally living for yourself!

And you know you can’t go back again,

To the husk that you were breathing in,

‘Cause you’re finally living how you should…!

🪄 🎹 🥁 🎶 🎼 🎶 🎸 🪄

Following with a high note belted from Jasmine’s lungs, Kyle suddenly reappeared as he performed a knee slide from the very back, right back to the very front of the well-arranged pyramidal formation!

Instantly, he sprung up from his knees and stylishly flipped his top hat back onto his head while joining in with the dance number for the final chorus with an exhilarating grin;

🪄 🎹 🥁 🎶 🎼 🎶 🎸 🪄

And the world becomes our center stage,

And we’re more than we could ever be,

‘Cause we’re finally living for ourselves!

And we know we can’t go back again,

To the husk that we were breathing in,

‘Cause we’re finally living how we should!

‘Cause we’re finally living how we should!

So light a fire…!!!

🪄 🎹 🥁 🎶 🎼 🎶 🎸 🪄

And on that harmonized high note, the song came to an abrupt end, Kyle, Tyler and Jasmine, alongside the rest of the circus ensemble, spreading their arms out wide in sync!

And then the audience roared in excitement!

The performance, had ended.

The music video, faded to black.

–

“So exhilarating!!” Niall felt chills run up his spine while Fletcher, sighed in contentment.

And then, the actual culprits whom had been playing the music video itself, popped out from their chairs in the corner of the room, obviously startled by the appearance of the two teens.

It, was their seniors Patrick, Daniel and Elijah, the last of which was the captain and also the prodigy of the theatre club.

Locking eyes at each other, shock written all over their individual faces, Patrick and Daniel soon sighed alongside Elijah who then spoke;

“P.E sucks, doesn’t it?”

That was all Niall and Fletcher needed to hear to know they weren’t getting detention as they responded in kind;

“Right?!!”

*

___________________________

{Light A Fire} – (98%)

With its infectious energy and empowering messages of breaking free from monotony, expressing oneself and maintaining one’s individuality, this anthemic dance pop with the right dose of theatrical flair created by Kyle Kestis, is sure to resonate strongly with audiences of all ages.

___________________________

*

The rest of the day went on, with Maple High–– a subsidiary of Maple Foundations which also birthed Maple University (the same college Kyle attended) ––finally closing for the day.

Yet, busy with work was Margaret Thompson, the principal of said school, tirelessly toiling, long into the night.

And then, when the woman finally realized she had overdone it again, she simply sighed and quickly packed up her stuff.

It was already late at night, 9:00pm to be exact and Margaret was extremely tired and equally stressed to say the least.

Once again, accreditation for her high school was right around the corner and she had to ensure everything was perfect.

Getting into her car though, the rain drizzling heavily, Margaret soon headed out to the busy night’s street to head home.

Unsurprisingly, she got stuck in a messy traffic jam as the rain, also began pouring heavily.

Leaning slightly on her window, one hand on the steering wheel, the forty-five-year old woman was soon alone with her thoughts as the constant sound of heavy rainfall and honking horns, created a pretty monotone environment.

But Margaret didn’t want to be alone with her thoughts because she knew it would consume her, especially with the accreditation at hand.

And so, in an effort to clear her mind and distract herself, the fairly pretty woman whom was aging way faster than she should due to all the constant stress, switched on her car’s radio.