Kofi Stryder

Our performance turned out amazing. Leo did amazing with the lead vocals, Kaiden was great on the guitar, and not to brag, but I wasn't so bad myself on the drums! Overall, I think we've won this competition by a mile.

"Thank you to all the competitors and audience for this year's competition! We'd also like to extend an extra thank you and a prize to the winners. In third place, the Careless Corpses!" the announcer exclaims.

There were a few claps here and there, but I think people were mostly excited to see who had won first.

"And in second place, the Bright Voyages!"

Wait, what?

Second place? Then... who got first?

"And in first place, Dark Oasis!!!"

Screams erupted from the crowd, but I could only wonder who Dark Oasis was?

"I'd like to invite all three winning bands to come onstage for prizes and photos," the announcer shares.

I start to make my way onstage again with the band, feeling a bit down. I was honestly really excited for this, I'm disappointed we didn't win. 

Now, I want to sit back and relax and enjoy my evening, when all of a sudden, I hear this agitating, grating voice.

I look to my left to see the guy from earlier smirking at me, yet again. 

At this point, I'm ready to throw a couple punches, but then I realize how badly that would go. How tall is this guy? I practically have to snap my neck up just to glare at him. And besides, if word got out that I fought someone, it could ruin our band's reputation.

"Told ya," he says, before strutting away to the first place platform. 

"CUSTOMER SERVICE SMILE. KEEP IT TOGETHER, KOFI." I grumble.

I'm 100% ready to explode.

And who the heck names their band "dArK oAsIS"?? 

I silently scream under my breath, before joining the rest of the winners onstage.

Onstage, cameras are clicking, flashes are everywhere, music is playing, and there's just a lot going on overall.

"But what the heck does this jerk want with me? And who is he?" I quietly mutter under my breath, talking to myself. 

"Lucian Ashford, nice to meet you," the idiot to my right says.

I let out an audible scream this time and everyone onstage turns to stare at me. Even the cameras stop clicking.

Almost turning red from embarrassment, the awkward customer service smile makes its return. I give the most awkward thumbs up, and the people around me basically just shrug and continue to take pictures of the bands.

I quickly shuffle away and offstage after they finish taking our band's photos and crouch down in a corner with my face in my hands. Agh, I'm practically getting second hand embarrassment just remembering it. Suddenly, I hear slow footsteps, but don't bother moving as it's most likely Leo.

"You okay?"