Locking In With My Life System

The gym was lively, the enthusiastic energy of Spirit Week and students ready to witness all the shows ranging from the greatest highs, to the mid, to the greatest lows.

Some students on the other hand, were simply looking forward to the greatest fails. One they could get some laughter out of.

Their sadism aside, the dress code in the gym was quite... colorful. But then again, the 80’s and 90’s were a very colorful time so it was only natural the venue looked like that, especially since most students had dressed up for it.

Aiden and his buddies were no different, as they’d all chosen to wear denim jackets and slightly baggy jeans.

Theo himself was no different, though his jacket seemed to have been a hand-me-down as it was way too big for his frame which was on the slimmer side of an average male teenage build.

Hence, his hands weren’t even showing properly at this point but, oddly enough, it looked pretty nice on him.

That said, Benjamin, Larry and Clyde were the stars of the show today, their fits leaning more into a rockstar’s fit with their black gloves, ripped jeans and bandanas dangling out their pockets.

Truth be told, they looked really cool right now. And that was saying something considering the two twerps next to them weren’t even trying and they were effortlessly looking nearly as cool.

In any case, the gang casually shuffled into the stands alongside several others, all of them settling onto the very same bench in the front rows.

No sooner had they, Daisy alongside a couple of her friends, alongside Clarissa and her clique of girls took to piling themselves next to the youths on their right and left respectively.

As Casper began interacting with his girlfriend, Clarissa on the other hand remarked, her brows arching slightly;

”You know, it’d be a proper shame if you guys lost after all the effort I put into coordinating your fits,”

”I find your lack of faith disturbing, Clarissa. Have some trust in my buddies.” Aiden defended, his head leaning slightly in her direction as the trio put on the cockiest smirks they could muster.

”You say that now, but Hayley’s showing off yet another insane dance routine,” the queen bee began counting on her finger.

”Then there’s Kevin with his stand-up routine. Lizzie with her ballet dancing.” she tilted her head slightly as she continued, her fingers adding two more to her count.

”Oh, and yeah, Eddy and his crew are putting on their quirky little magic show.” she gestured with said palm, the very same palm dropping to her laps immediately after.

”Well, let’s just hope they keep their fog machine at home this year.” Clyde sarcastically remarked while adjusting his glasses, Larry and Benjamin nodding in agreement.

Afterall, due to that dastardly thing, their performance had practically been cut short since no one could really see, or even focus on their performance, hence costing them a possible win.

In any case, it really didn’t take long before the Master of Ceremonies--the drama teacher, Mrs. Delacroix--walked to the center of the stage to give everyone the ground rules.

”Good afternoon, Silverlake!” Mrs. Delacroix beamed, her voice ivitingly carrying through the gym as applauds and cheers echoed back at her.

Waiting until the excitement settled, she smiled and continued;

”Before we begin today’s Talent Show, just a few quick ground rules.”

Then she raised a finger;

”First off, cheer as loudly as you want, but let’s keep it respectful. Clap for everyone, whether they’re the next superstar or simply brave enough to stand on this stage.”

”Secondly, no throwing anything onto the stage. Not paper airplanes, not food, and certainly not your friends.” she added with a second finger, a ripple of chuckles spreading through the gym in response.

”Thirdly, performers, once you’re done, please clear the stage promptly so our crew can prepare for the next act.” she raised the last finger.

”And most importantly, have fun! That’s what Spirit Week is all about.” she finally clasped her hands together, her smile widening as she said;

”Now then, let’s find out which one of you has been secretly practicing all year. Everyone, please welcome Hayley Lavigne onto the stage for her dance routine!”

The gym immediately erupted into applause as the curtains parted.

Confidently striding onto the stage in a vibrant retro outfit, the notably pretty lady offered the audience a playful bow before the opening beat boomed through the speakers.

Immediately, she moved in sync.

Her routine was energetic from the get-go, her moves seamlessly blending hip-hop with a handful of gymnastic flourishes that had several students gasping in genuine surprise and cheering.

Then, at the very end of the routine, she launched into a cartwheel that flowed into a back handspring, followed by a perfectly timed stomp to the beat, her form landing with her arms folding across her chests, a proud smirk on her face and her head tilted much the same.

Naturally, that earned loud cheers from everyone--her friends and the senior year students, especially.

”That was good. That was extremely good.” Casper admitted, clapping along.

”I know, right?!” Daisy nodded, her hands clapping much the same as she shouted out a big ’WOOOO!’ a few seconds later.

In any case, after the cheers and applauds had settled, Mrs. Delacroix soon returned to center stage, her voice booming through the mic once more;

”That was fantastic, Hayley! But now, let’s give it up for Kevin Leeroy!”

Almost immediately, the school quarterback jogged onstage with nothing but a microphone in hand as everyone clapped and cheered.

Then, after waiting for the venue to quiet down a bit, he then spoke into the mic;

”I was gonna sing before,”

”But then I remembered I valued my social life.”

Naturally, a unified wave of mixed laughter and chuckles followed that remark from Kevin.

Just like that, and for the next several minutes, Kevin bounced between stories about PE, football, Spirit Week, cafeteria food, and even Principal Walter’s uncanny ability to always appear at the worst possible moment when students were up to no good.

”He just, spawns, you know?” he gestured with pin-point comedic timing and yet another wave of laughter followed.

Even the Principal himself who happened to be standing near one of the exits with folded arms, couldn’t help but twitch his lips slightly, the man clearly doing his best to suppress the smile tugging at his lips.

When Kevin finally wrapped up with his final joke, the applause was every bit as loud as Hayley’s.

’I’d be so disappointed if he doesn’t pick up stand-up as a side hustle.’ Aiden amusedly thought to himself, clearly entertained as he clapped alongside everyone else.

Kevin may have been infamous for his tendency to jump from one relationship to the other, but it was clear as day to everyone that he had all the charisma to back it up... so much that people often forgot that former trait of his until it reared its ugly head yet again.

That said, after the curtains had closed, another student came on board after he was introduced and began to perform his best mime impression.

At the end of the day, the performance was so, so, and he only got a lukewarm reaction from the gym, though it was still pretty loud and a couple of his buddies did cheer him on.

In any case, Mrs. Delacroix soon returned once more as she announced;

”Please welcome our next performer, Lizzie Montgomery!”

No sooner had the drama teacher left the stage, the lights in the auditorium dimmed and a lone spotlight illuminated the center of the stage as a soft orchestral music drifted through the gym.

Then the curtains parted, and Lizzie’s ballet performance began, her form elegant and her movements grateful.

Every pirouette she did, flowed effortlessly into the next movement, her balance so impeccable that the entire audience gradually fell silent in quiet respect and awe for her performance.

When she completed one final spin before finishing with a deep curtsy, the silence lingered for a bit... only for the gym to erupt once more.

As Aiden clapped, he saw once again why Lizzie was recruited to join the cheerleading team. She was just that good.

At the very same time, Mrs. Delacroix stepped back onto the centerstage, a light chuckle escaping her lips as she said;

”Well... this is gonna be a very close match.”

Still, she introduced the next performers with as much flair as she could.

A ventriloquist, an athletic student who showed his sleekest basketball skills and topped it off with the hardest slam-dunk and a lady who did her funniest impressions of the most popular staffs in school.

Soon enough, all those performances were over and Mrs. Delacroix came up to the stage once more;

”Now then, please welcome Eddy Harrison and his crew!” she announced immediately after and left the stage once again.

Immediately, five students rolled a handful of mysterious props onto the stage, each one more curious than the last.

A large wooden cabinet. Two tables. A wide, crimson, velvety fabric. And, last but not the least... the infamous fog machine.

Naturally, everyone seemed to give it the stink-eye. Everyone except for Theo whom was innocently looking on and just enjoying the show in general.

Since he’d only heard about the incident in passing, he didn’t really react much to it.

”This thing again?” Larry on the other hand, deadpanned, to which Clyde squinted without hiding his visible disdain while audibly muttering;

”Round two.”

Fortunately, this year proved to be very different as they kept watching on. Rather than flooding the stage beyond visibility, the machine only released a thin layer of mist that hugged at the floor.

It actually looked cool and everyone had to give it its credit as it was due.

Soon enough, the audience watched as Eddy seemingly predicted volunteers’ choices before they made them, produced bouquets from empty hats, made an entire table disappear beneath the curtain, and finally concluded by ’teleporting’ from one side of the stage to the other amidst a burst of fog.

That last stunt on its own, practically shook the gym with its roar of applauds.

”Okay. That... was... insane. I admit it, it was insane.” Benjamin remarked as he gestured with a finger.

”Maybe we should actually consider panicking now.” he added with a genuinely amused smile as he cracked his knuckles afterwards, to which Clyde and Larry replied, their tones clearly confident;

”Nah.”

As if in sync, Mrs. Delacroix returned once more, the excitement still lingering in the air from the last performance as she announced;

”And finally, our last performers for the afternoon,”

”Hi-Fi Radio!”

The gym erupted as Benjamin, Larry and Clyde made their way toward the stage amidst whistles and cheers.

Casper immediately cupped his hands around his mouth;

”LET’S GO, BOYS!! WOOO!!”

”Bring the house down!” Aiden cheered as well, his claps louder than everyone’s.

”Godspeed!” Theo managed to do the same, the gesture and his voice catching not just Clarissa and Daisy, but even the other students around whom had heard off-guard.

Soon enough, the ladies joined in, leading an entire section of the audience as they cheered the trio on.

Backstage, the three quickly settled into position.

Benjamin sat behind the drums.

Clyde slung his bass over his shoulder before giving the strings one final test.

Larry stepped toward the microphone and drew in a slow breath, a guitar already slung across his shoulder.

Clearly, they were ready to begin.

However, just before they were about to signal to the student volunteering as a stagehand to pull apart the curtains, one of the students whom had lagged behind in clearing the stuff they’d used, reached toward the fog machine...

...only for him to trip on the wire it was attached to.

Maybe it was the sudden yanking of the cord from its outlet, but almost immediately...

A sharp ’Bzzzt!’ crackled out, follow by a pop from inside the machine.

The next instant, a bunch of tiny sparks flickered within its vent before it violently coughed out a thick plume of grayish-white smoke mixed with the stage fog.

The trio hadn’t even managed to get their bearings properly, though Benjamin and Clyde reacted fast enough to cover their mouths, almost as if they’d been expecting it.

Unfortunately for Larry, he failed to do the same. Immediately, he began coughing and doubled over, only for another fit of violent coughs to force its way out again.

It didn’t even take up to a minute before his throat felt like it was burning as his eyes watered.

”Larry?!” Benjamin’s expression immediately changed upon noticing Larry’s state.

”What the hell?!” Clyde exclaimed, instinctively stepping away from the machine as he equally moved over to check in on their buddy;

”Hey, you good!”

Out in the audience, the popping sound had been so audible everyone had heard it... only for the weird plumes to flow up immediately after.

And then, as if that hadn’t been enough, Larry’s cough was echoing from behind the curtains.

Aiden, Casper and Theo were already on their feet, their brows knitting together as they caught the faint acrid smell drifting across the venue, same as everyone else.

’That darn fog machine!’ Aiden’s thoughts echoed as he and the other two swiftly made for the backstage, same as Mrs. Delacroix and some students from the student council committee.