Chapter 34: One Hit Wonder? (1/2)
The usual karaoke booth full of life was silent today. It had been quiet for the past few days enough though it was booked out every day like usual. The sound of lousy karaoke and banter was met with cold silence and a few empty conversations. This was the cruel reality for Zinnia now. She came to the karaoke booth as it was the only thing she could do. The others, more or less, felt the same. Emil and Percy had tagged along these past few days for the simple reason to cheer her up. With the mixture of being banned, Gale being hospitalised and Alton quitting she wasn't in her usual carefree spirits. Emil was the most bothered by this. He stared idly at her as Zinnia stared at her phone overlooking the V.I.R.A.L news. Alton, of course, was making headlines alongside serval more mental overloads.
Losing his patience, he grumbled, picking up the remote scrolling through the wide choice of songs. ”Choose the cheesiest song you can think of, and you can have the pleasure of hearing me sing it. If that's what it takes to bloody cheer up a noob like you, I'll do it.”
”Was it all just a misunderstanding?” She whispered.
”Where did that come from?” He barked, turning to her. ”Sitting here and sulking over the matter won't change anything. You keep up as this and Alton wins.”
”But everything he said to me, it was all true. I was too fixated with my dream of being like my mum. I never actually cared about streaming. It was all falling apart the moment I was a part of the team.”
”Zinnia that's not true… don't lie to yourself. We were all the same. Everyone was just caught up having fun we forgot the goal.”
Zinnia frowned curling up on the sofa. ”Alton was already gone when I got home last night. Told Rebecca the details. He's on the news and every podcast right now. He made it big, I should feel happy for him but… why am I so, so. So cross?!”
”Alright, I need all of you to turn the volume down by eleven,” Iris grumbled sliding the booth door open. She had a lollipop in her mouth, which fell out as she spoke. She quickly jolted down, picking it up, giving it a little look, she shrugged her shoulders. ”Three-second rule.”
”What are you doing here?” Zinnia tutted not wanting to see anyone.
”To cheer you up. I brought fried chicken.”
Zinnia gave a faint chuckle tearing up. ”Fried chicken sounds good.”
Iris set it all up as she sat down next to Zinnia. ”I got into a fight with my sister this morning. Over the stupidest thing… she learned what happened with you all. She was so determined to help you, but I told her no. She's got enough on her mind we don't need to drag her into this mess. And Alton told us not too.”
”You take orders from him? Don't know if you forgot noob but he's not apart of the team anymore. Can't exactly blame him mind you. If I was given an offer from Vanguard, I would take it. An idiot would turn that down.”
”Alton was that idiot,” Percy stated. ”Remember he already had turned it down he said four months ago. Maybe he really did believe in this team?”
”Or took pity on us.” Zinnia frowned. ”Is this how it's going to be? Pokiero was truly a fluke. We were destined to fail.”
”Hush, hush with the sad talk and eat your chicken,” Iris ordered swinging her drumstick around. ”If this all a big problem, why not just close the account down and join me? I'd welcome you loveable losers with open arms. We could show Alton not to mess with us!”
”Give up Team Rhapsody? No, I couldn't.”
”Huh? Why not?! If Alton wants to run away to the big kids, why can't you? It's not like we aren't already friends anyway… we are friends, right?”
”It's because she still believes Alton will come back.” Emil jabbed at.
Iris took a bite from her chicken giving Zinnia the all-seeing judgemental look. ”Seriously? Give me a break, why would he come back when he's got all that he needs. Fame, fortune. Why would he need to come back for?”
”Because Alton hates the idea of being famous. It terrifies him.”
Iris gave a confused look not catching on. ”He'd picked the wrong profession then.”
”Alton will come back. The wind says so.”
”Right… Zinnia no offence. I like you. I do, but that's dumb. Like super dumb. Like beyond dumb. The wind can't say those sorts of things. The wind just usually goes whoosh and boom I've dropped my ice cream, and it's on the floor. The wind isn't going to guide us into finding a way to get Alton back.”
As Iris went off on one, the booth door was pulled open with a mighty force as an albino girl in a gothic black dress standing in the doorway smiling. ”Found. You.”
”What the heck?”
The girl stepped in, looking at each one taking a deep breath. ”It really is you guys. Thank God I got it right this time.”
”Ugh, who are you?” Percy muttered slightly creeped out.
The girl looked lost before gasping. ”My most sincere apologies. I did not mean to intrude on your gathering. Please forgive me. My name is Scarlett of the Dawn family. It's. Nice. To. Meet. You!”