C7 Epic Fail

It was two weeks later. They had made it to the finals to Melissa’s utmost bewilderment. Everyone loved them at the talent show and it was as if they would emerge winners. Just after their victory was confirmed in the semi-finals, Melissa went to meet them.

“I just hope you survive the final”. She said with a harsh tone.

“Come on, everyone likes us”. Cody said, shoving her irrational comment off.

“Your fame will soon wither away. Trust me guys, trust me”.

“You’ve got to be kidding me, you know. You are just being jealous and seriously, it’s going to do you no good”. Casey added.

She laughed at them.

“You guys think you have talent, isn’t it? I didn’t partake in the contest because all finalists including you both are no match for me”. She said with pride.

“Do you think we are no match for you or you are you are scared of losing?” Casey said, folding his arms.

“I don’t compete with people way below my status.”

“Just eat up your pride. It’s killing you”. Casey added.

“Let’s just get out of here”. Cody said and they walked out on her.

“You fools don’t think you know what I am going to do. If the worst comes to the worst, I’m sorry I will have to sabotage everything completely. You both are fools”. She said and walked towards her friends.

. . .

The day everyone was anticipating had finally came. It was the final of the Mill High School Talent Competition. The school arena was filled with crowd of people. The CM Stars (Casey ‘Manuel and Cody Morris will be facing the Hemi-Gods (Carl, Harry and Jeff) in the power tussle for the ‘Talent 2023 title. The Hemi-Gods were dancers unlike the CM Stars.

The first round came and went. The audience applauded them equally. The second round was more like the first. Both teams were tied at the same point. They were given a short break.

At the backstage, Casey was pacing up and down.

“Calm down bro, let’s think of this together.”

“Can you roll the ball thrice and give it a scissor kick. You were able to bring that into perfection in the rehearsals.”

“Let’s do this bro”. Cody said and they did their signature handshake.

They were called back to the stage. Carl and his friends did theirs perfectly. Casey was frightened. They needed perfection to be crowned as champions.

“Cody, have you got this?” Casey asked.

“Yes. I’m sure”. He said.

Casey walked up to the presenter and took the microphone.

“Thanks everyone. Our next performance is a triple roll and a scissors kick. He’s going to juggle the ball within his feet thrice, push it into the air and kick it. Let me explain this more”. He said and paused to ensure he had everyone’s attention.

“He goes at 5m/s and then uses the pull and push force to take it up. He defies gravity for about five seconds to use the scissor s kick and get a wood work into that goalpost over there”. He explained.

Cody stepped forward with the ball. He exhaled. He did the triple roll but just as he was about to do the scissors kick, he slipped and fell.

Murmurs came from the crowd. Casey rushed to him.

“Cody, are you okay?”

“Yes but my right arm just got broken and I don’t think I can move.” He said, groaning in pains.

Cody was taken to the school infirmary. He was injured and there was possibly no way he could forge ahead even if they were given another chance. The Hemi-Gods were announced as winners. The injury was the end of the journey for the CM Stars as far as the competition was concerned and the Hemi-Gods walked away with the trophy and the huge prize money.

The awarding of prizes signified the opening of Music Fest ’23. Melissa was to sing the opening performance and she did so cheerfully and without hesitation.

It was the next day. Casey entered the clinic. It was lunchtime and had decided to check on him for the third time that day. Cody saw him as he walked towards his direction.

“What more do I want from this guy. It’s 11:00am and he’s already here for the third time.” He thought happily. He was lucky to have such a caring friend.

“Hi, I brought you some pretzels. It’s honey flavor”. Casey said placing the box he brought in beside him.

“Thanks, you even got my favorite. Even my sister hasn’t checked on me not to talk of bringing gifts. You are the best”.

“Please, don’t flatter me”. Casey said with a smile.

They were silent for moments. Casey gave out a wry smile. Cody noticed the change on his facial expression.

“What’s wrong man, you look worried.”

“I don’t know. I feel like I’m the one responsible for your condition. Seeing you like this troubles my countenance.”

Cody sat up. “No, you are not responsible for this. You are the best friend I’ve ever met. You are nice and caring. Sometimes in life, what we plan doesn’t fall into place and that’s just what happened.

Casey felt relaxed after listening to him.

“I just felt like a heavy burden has been lifted from me. Thanks for your word.” Casey said, heaving a sigh of relief.

“You are welcome. So what happened in school today?”

“We did the Geometry lessons for an hour today instead of the regular forty minutes. Besides, Carl and his urchins also tried picking on me. They called us losers”.

“Those boys are mean. They’ve got the trophy and I don’t know what else they want”. Cody retorted.

“Anyways, I wrote your notes for you and got Mr. McMillan’s signature on your Math note.”

“Thanks”.

“Do not mention it”.

Just then, Melissa walked in with her two friends, Olivia and Priscilla. She walked up to them.

“Look at what we have here. Two pathetic losers with one maimed just when their hands could have being raising the trophy instead of being broken”. Melissa said and laughed hysterically.

“You are mean. He’s your twin brother and that’s all you have to say?” Casey said.

“You should just shut up. He’s your twin brother; you were born on the same day. That’s what you say all the time”. She said, imitating Casey’s voice to mock him. Her friends laughed.

“Walk out of here you bitch”. Cody yelled at her.

“Well, suit yourself”. She said and walked away with her friends.

Casey said and turned to Cody.

“Do you remember the day I was arguing with you that there still some good in her?”

“Yes, that was the first time you met her in the school”.

“I was wrong. She’s bad and evil”.

Cody stopped for a moment. His countenance changed.

“Why are you looking sad? Casey asked.

“I feel bad. We got into that competition to show off to Melissa. You warned me but trying to prove her wrong got us here. I’m sorry”. He said with sincerity.

“It’s okay. There’s no need to be sorry”. Casey said, patting his shoulders.