Singing in Seattle (2 page)

They settled back as the first contestant walked onstage. It was a teenage girl dressed all in black, with black lipstick and makeup. She had dark hair that she wore up in a spiky ponytail. She stepped up to the microphone.

“My name is Amber,” she said. “I'll be singing my song, ‘Rain of Tears.' ”

The song was a little depressing, but Aly and AJ were impressed with the melody and the thoughtful lyrics.

Next, a boy named Henry came out. He was tall and thin with big, dark eyes. He sang a love song while he strummed an acoustic guitar. Henry was followed by a boy named Kurt who sang a country song, and a long-haired girl named Rainbow who sang a folk song. Each contestant was different in his or her own way. Aly and AJ carefully wrote down their impressions of everybody who performed.

A girl walked shyly out onto the stage. She wore her long red hair braided down her back, and she carried an acoustic guitar. She shuffled to the microphone, staring at her feet.

“I'm Claire,” she said softly into the microphone. “And I'll be singing ‘Lost.'”

Claire's low voice could barely be heard, and Aly and AJ had to strain to be able to hear the lyrics. She sang about feeling alone and confused, but finding strength inside herself. The girls liked the lyrics they heard, and they were touched by the haunting and beautiful melody.

“Wow!” AJ said. “She was great, but she's so shy!”

Aly nodded. “I wish she would have sung louder.”

The next contestant was Claire's exact opposite. He carried an acoustic guitar, too. But while Claire was timid, Austin walked out like he owned the theater. He flashed a huge smile at Aly and AJ.

“Hey, great to meet you,” he said. “It's not every day I get to sing for two gorgeous babes.”

Aly chuckled and nudged AJ in the ribs with her elbow. Austin, with his dark blue eyes and brown hair, was cute, but he was laying it on thick.

He confidently began to strum his guitar. Aly and AJ were expecting a corny song, but Austin surprised them by singing about a girl who only pretended to be in love with him. His lyrics were intelligent and the song had a great hook. The whole time he was singing, he stared at AJ. Once, he even winked at her.

He took a bow when he was done.

“I wrote that song from a real experience,” he said. “But AJ, I was thinking you might be the perfect girl to help mend my broken heart.”

“Thanks, Austin,” AJ smiled. “But I'm here to judge the contest, not date the contestants.”

“If you change your mind, I'll come running,” Austin vowed.

Aly and AJ looked at each other and began to crack up as Austin left the stage.

A girl named Bree who belted out a bluesy tune wowed them. The next contestant, Heather, wasn't as good. Her song was decent, but bland.

Then Josh took the stage. He looked sharp in jeans, a fitted T-shirt, and a blazer. As soon as the music started, Aly and AJ were impressed. The melody was fresh and original, but at the same time very catchy. Then Josh began to sing.

“
You loved me, but then you had to flee
,” Josh sang. Aly and AJ grimaced. His lyrics were very corny.

The last three contestants came out and performed. Now Aly and AJ had to make a tough decision.

“Only six can go to the next round,” Aly said.

“Hmmm,” AJ said as she looked over her notes. “I like Amber's song a lot.”

“It was kind of dark,” Aly said. “But good. I say she goes through. Now what about your new boyfriend, Austin?”

AJ laughed. “Could you believe him? What a flirt!”

“And he was good. He's got real talent. He doesn't need to butter up the judges,” Aly said with a laugh.

“Claire's song was the best, lyrically, I'd say,” AJ said. “But she was so timid onstage. I could barely hear her.”

“But this is a songwriting contest, not a singing contest,” Aly pointed out.

“You're right,” AJ agreed. “Then she should definitely go through.”

Aly looked down at her notes. “I'm not so sure about Josh,” Aly said. “His melody was fantastic, but those lyrics . . .”

“Need work!” AJ finished. “But his melody was off the hook. I could totally imagine us performing that onstage.”

They continued to debate about who the final six should be. After a few minutes, the girls looked at their list.

“It's a good thing we think alike,” Aly remarked. “I'm glad we didn't have to argue about anybody.”

“It's early in the contest, though,” AJ teased. “What if we each want a different person to win?”

Aly's eyes widened. “Oh, no. I didn't think of that!” she said.

“Don't worry,” AJ said. “We can always arm wrestle to decide the winner. But I should warn you, I've been working out.” She flexed her arm to show off her muscle, laughing.

Lily walked up. “Ready?” she asked. “I'll call the contestants to the stage.”

Aly and AJ nodded. They were excited, but they felt bad at the same time. Even though they were about to make six people very happy, they were also going to disappoint six more.

The boys and girls filed out onto the stage. Lily brought the microphone over to Aly and AJ.

“First of all, we want to thank you all so much for performing for us,” Aly began. “We enjoyed every single song. You are a group of extremely talented young artists and our decision was very difficult.” She handed the microphone to AJ.

“I'm going to read the names of the people who will continue in the competition,” AJ said. She held a piece of paper in front of her. “Austin,” she said. He let out a cheer and began dancing around the stage. AJ had to wait for him to quiet down before she could continue. “Bree, Henry, Amber, Claire, and Josh. We'd like for all of you to compete in the next round. To everybody who didn't make it, thanks again. You were all really great. Keep writing songs! You've all got talent.”

Some of the contestants exchanged hugs. A few were crying. Then one of the contestants, Heather, stomped up to the front of the stage.

“This is a total rip-off!” she screamed at the contestants around her. They slowly backed away. “I was robbed! You guys call yourselves songwriters? My dog could write better songs than you!”

“Sounds like someone is a sore loser,” Austin smirked.

“Whatever! My song was the best and I know it.” She turned and glared at Aly and AJ. “You made a big mistake, I hope you realize that. This contest is a joke without me in it.” Then she stomped off of the stage.

Aly and AJ were shocked.

“Wow,” Aly said finally.

“Too bad she didn't put that kind of energy into her song,” AJ said, shaking her head. “She might have made it to the finals.”

The contestants all headed backstage.

“Maybe we should go talk to them,” Aly suggested. “I want to make sure that the other kids aren't as upset as Heather.”

“Good idea,” AJ agreed.

The cramped backstage area was a mess of folding tables and benches. The contestants' guitar cases and other belongings were strewn all over. They spotted Austin talking excitedly to goth-looking Amber. They looked happy. In another corner, the country singer Kurt and the folksinger Rainbow were hugging each other.

“Let's go talk to them,” Aly said.

They approached the two songwriters. “Hey, Kurt. Hey, Rainbow,” AJ began. “We just wanted to say that both of you have a lot of talent.”

“You should definitely keep writing songs,” Aly told them.

Rainbow nodded. “Thanks,” she said. “It would have been really cool to win. But somebody has to lose, right?”

“I just wish it wasn't us,” Kurt said with a sad smile.

“And don't let Heather bother you,” Rainbow added. “She's, like, super-dramatic.”

The sisters thanked them and headed over to Claire. She was standing over her open guitar case, with her back to Aly and AJ.

“Hi, Claire,” AJ said. “We just wanted to say congratulations. We really liked your song.”

Claire didn't answer. Aly and AJ exchanged glances, then moved in closer. Claire was softly crying.

“Claire, what's wrong?” Aly asked.

Claire straightened up and wiped the tears from her cheeks. “It's my notebook,” she said, between sobs. “It's not here.”

“It's probably around here somewhere,” AJ said. “We can help you look for it. What does it look like?”

Claire took a deep breath. “I'm sorry I'm freaking out,” she said. “Every song I've ever written is in that notebook. I'm really happy that you picked me to move on in the contest. But without my notebook, I won't have anything to present in the next round.”

“I can totally relate,” AJ said. “Sometimes I think I'd be lost without my notebook. But I'm sure yours is around here somewhere.”

“It's purple,” Claire said. “And there's a picture of a butterfly that I pasted onto it. I always keep it inside my guitar case. But when I opened my case just now to put my guitar back, the notebook was gone.”

“Maybe it fell out,” Aly suggested. She knelt down and looked under the bench. She spotted some dust bunnies and a chewed-up pencil, but no notebook.

“Keep looking,” AJ told Aly. “I'm going to ask around and see if anyone has seen it.”

Aly scanned the backstage area. Most of the contestants had left already. She cornered Kurt and Rainbow as they were about to leave. Neither of them had seen the notebook.

Austin and Amber were packing up their things.

“Congratulations, guys,” she said. “Aly and I really liked your songs.”

“Cool,” Amber said. She had a nice smile that somehow didn't match all of her black makeup. “Thanks,” Austin replied, grinning at AJ. “But you know, you might as well not bother with the next round. You've got your winner right here.”

AJ shook her head, but she couldn't help smiling back. Austin was cocky, but there was something really sweet about him, too.

“We'll see about that,” she said. “Listen, have either of you seen a purple notebook back here? Claire lost hers.”

“No,” Amber replied.

“That's too bad,” Austin said. “So, what number should I call you at if I find it?”

“You can call Lily,” AJ said. This boy was persistent!

Austin reached into his own guitar case and took out a blue flyer. He handed it to AJ. “If you and Aly aren't doing anything tomorrow night, you should check out this poetry slam,” he said. “The best poets in Seattle will be there. That includes me, of course. Actually, a lot of the contestants are part of the poetry scene.”

“That sounds cool,” AJ said. She had heard about poetry slams before, when poets get up onstage and read their poems to an audience. She'd always wanted to go to one. “Maybe we'll see you tomorrow.”

“I know you will,” Austin said.

Amber rolled her eyes. “Austin, give it a rest.”

AJ laughed and headed back to Aly and Claire. “Any luck?” she asked.

“Nothing,” Aly replied. “How about you?”

“Nobody's seen anything,” AJ said. “But then again, I didn't get a chance to talk to everybody. Maybe something will turn up.”

Claire looked like she might cry again.

“Claire, do you have a copy of your songs somewhere? On a computer, maybe?” Aly asked.

“No,” Claire said. “I know I should have. But the notebook's all I've got.”

Aly gave her a hug. “You'll find it. We'll talk to Lily for you. She can have the theater manager look for it.”

“It's a few days until the next round,” AJ reminded her. “I'm sure it will turn up before then.”

Claire nodded. “Thanks.”

She packed up her guitar case and left, casting a sad glance around the room before she went through the door. Aly and AJ were alone backstage now.

“I feel so bad for her,” Aly said. “I hope it turns up.”

“I do, too,” AJ said. “But I have a feeling—”

“Oh, no,” Aly interrupted. “I know what you're thinking. This is another mystery, isn't it?”

“It could be,” AJ said. “There is a big prize for the winner of this contest. Maybe one of the contestants stole Claire's notebook so they'd have a better chance of winning. See how upset she got? I wouldn't be surprised if she dropped out.”

Aly sighed and sat down on a bench. “I hate to admit it, but I think you're right,” she said. “I guess we've reached the next stop on the Aly and AJ Mystery Tour!”