Not Just Another Cliché

"Okay who is next?" Ms Elliott asks as she sits at the back of the class.

Right now, we are doing our graduation song auditions. Turns out we are only allowed to play 3 songs maximum because the ceremony can't be any longer.

I raise my hand hesitantly and Ms Elliott smiles.

"What song are you singing?" Holly asks.

I had planned to sing a song to Casey but then I decided against it. My song isn't about high school but about our final song instead. You know, from itsy bitsy spider in the first grade to this, our graduation song.

"This is Final Song." I say.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUcXQ--yGWQ

"Please, won't you wait? Won't you stay?
At least until the sun goes down
When you're gone, I lose faith
I lose everything I have found
Heart strings, violins
That's what I hear when you're by my side
Yeah, that's what I hear when you're by my side." I sing and I see Holly smiling as people tap their toes.

"But when you're gone the music goes
I lose my rhythm, lose my soul
So hear me out before you say the night is over
I want you to know that we gotta, gotta carry on
So don't let this be our final song."

"So don't let this be our final song
So hear me out before you say the night is over
I want you to know that we gotta, gotta carry on
So don't let this be our final song."

"Baby when we were young
There was nothing to make believe
And the songs that we sang
They were written for you and me
Melodies on repeat
That's what I hear when you're by my side
Yeah, that's what I hear when you're by my side."

"But when you're gone the music goes
I lose my rhythm, lose my soul
So hear me out before you say the night is over
I want you to know that we gotta, gotta carry on
So don't let this be our final song."

"So don't let this be our final song
So hear me out before you say the night is over
I want you to know that we gotta, gotta carry on
So don't let this be our final song."

"Woo-ooo, take us to a higher ground
Here and now, whatever you do, just don't look down
Woo-ooo, underneath the disco light, it's alright
We could make the perfect sound
We could make the perfect sound."

"But when you're gone the music goes
I lose my rhythm, lose my soul
So hear me out before you say the night is over
I want you to know that we gotta, gotta carry on
So don't let this be our final song." I begin to feel more comfortable while I sing so I start smiling and tap my toes to the beat of the guitar that the band are playing.

"So don't let this be our final song
So hear me out before you say the night is over
I want you to know that we gotta, gotta carry on
So don't let this be our final song."

"Woo-ooo, take us to a higher ground
Here and now, whatever you do, just don't look down
Woo-ooo, underneath the disco light, it's alright
We could make the perfect sound
Woo-ooo. take us to a higher ground
Here and now, whatever you do, just don't look down
Woo-ooo, underneath the disco light, it's alright
Don't let this be our final song." I breath out and open my closed eyes.

Everyone begins to clap and I smile and cover my face.

I sit down in my seat between Case and Holls.

"That was amazing Em." Casey says kissing me on my cheek.

"Well done Emily. That was very good. Now we only have time for one more song and we only need one song so if you think your song is worth it, sing." Ms Elliott says.

Nobody volunteers and I look around and furrow my eyebrows.

"Casey?" I question.

"I'm not singing my song Emily."

"Why?"

"It's about you."

"And you are ashamed by that?"

"No, I'd just rather sing it for you and only you."

"I'd like to hear it too Case." Holly says leaning over me.

"Casey would like to volunteer." I yell out gathering everyone's attention.

"Em." Casey shouts at me.

"What? You're pretty good Case."

"I don't want to Emily."

"And you think I did? Its one time. You'll regret if you don't. What other chances will you get to sing in front of your senior classmates? It's now or never."

He sighs and stands up then walking up to the band and borrowing their guitar.

"I didn't know we just had to do grad songs. At camp I thought you said any so I thought of this song for Emily. It's from one of her favourite movies and I always thought this song was perfect for our relationship. This is for you Em."

"It is any song Casey. Some people just didn't let go like you did." Ms Elliott comforts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXVvWX-WbKk

"I'm falling in,
I'm falling down.
I wanna begin
But I don't know how
To let you know,
How I'm feeling.
I'm high on hope.
I'm reeling." He begins strumming and I smile at the song.

When the chorus nears, I begin humming.

"And I won't let you go,
Now you know,
I've been crazy for you all this time.
I've kept it close
Always hoping
With a heart on fire,
A heart on fire.
With a heart on fire,
A heart on fire."

"Hand in hand,
Sparkling eyes.
The days are bright,
And so are the nights.
'Cause when I'm with you I'm grinning.
Once I was through
And now I'm winning." I smile as he strums and sings.

"No, I won't let you go,
Now you know,
I've been crazy for you all this time.
I've kept it close
Always hoping
With a heart on fire,
A heart on fire.
With a heart on fire,
A heart on fire."

Casey walks over to me and holds his hand out. I place mine in his and he guides me to the top of the class and sings the song to me.

"Let me walk through life with you.
Everybody dreams of having what we do.
Like we're rolling thunder,
You pull me out from under."

"No, I won't let you go,
Now you know,
I've been crazy for you all this time.
I've kept it close
Always hoping
With a heart on fire,
A heart on fire.
With a heart on fire,
A heart on fire.

A heart on fire."

I smile and start clapping as does everyone else.

"That was incredible." I say walking up to Casey after he gives the guitar back to the band.

"I didn't write the song."

"Yeah, but you performed it and that's just as good for you."

I stand on my tippy toes and place a small kiss on his lips and then we walk back down to all our friends while Ms Elliott stands at the top of the class with a piece of paper.

"So I've chosen the three songs. The song Emily sang at camp, Hold Onto The Memories, the song Emily sang here, Final Song and Caseys, Heart On Fire."

"What? Mine? It's not even a grad song?"

"It's moving. I don't care what else it is. Let's organise it so. Who is singing it?"

"Emily." Everyone shouts and I turn around with my mouth open in shock.

"Why me? I don't mind but i don't want to take all the credit." I argue.

"You are the best singer." A girl called Aisling says.

"Fine. But only on one condition." I say turning to Casey.

"Casey sings Heart On Fire. Alone."

"Fine."

I hold my hand out and Caseys takes hold of us making us shake hands.

"Let's get practicing so." Ms Elliott smiles.

******
Bad chapter but the next one is sort of kind of good. Prom is coming up and then graduation and then it's over. Still need ideas for the sequel name so that's the question again.

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-Maddie🤘🏻🤘🏻