Battle of the Bands

Julie's P.O.V.

"Georg?" I asked again, "Are you okay?"

He sighed as he turned to face me, "I don't-. . .I don't hate you. . .I just didn't know you and you sort of showed up at exactly the wrong moment." he explained.

I nodded, "So you don't hate me?" I asked, just to make sure.

"No, I don't hate you." Georg confirmed, "Now c'mon Linkin Park's set is almost over and we're on next." he said before he took my hand in his and began to run toward the stage.

Once we arrived to the right stage entrance, we bumped into something.

Or more like someone(s).

Bill, Tom, and Gustav turned to face us and Bill smiled brightly.

Bill swept me up into a hug, "Oh, Julie, thank goodness you're okay!" he nearly shouted.

"Yeah, I'm just fine." I answered.

Tom helped me out of Gerard's jacket and set it aside.

Linkin Park finished their set with No More Sorrow and walked off stage.

"Okay, we've got to go on right now, but we'll come get you soon. Okay?" Bill questioned quickly.

I nodded in response.

Then Bill, Gustav, Georg, and Tom ran on stage and the crowd roared with excitement.

"Hallo California! We're Tokio Hotel and we're the last band of the night!" Bill screamed into the microphone.

The guys began their opening song Scream.

You get up
And somebody tells you
Where to go to
When you get there
Everybody's telling you
What to do
Thank you
It's been another
Bloody Monday
And no one
Is asking what you wanted
Anyway
Nein Nein Nein Nein Nein Nein Nein Nein
Nein Nein Nein Nein Nein Nein Nein Nein

I began to dance just a little bit as someone tapped me on the shoulder.

I gasped as my heart began to race just a little bit. I slowly turned, expecting to see another security guard behind me.

Scream till you feel it
Scream till you believe it
Scream and when it hurts you
Scream it out loud
Scream till you feel it
Scream till you believe it
Scream and when it hurts you
Scream it out loud
Scream (Scream it out loud)
Watch out

Stay awake
They're lurking
Obsess you
They are always
Working
Promising
Everything you
Never asked for
And one day
It'll be too late
And you'll
Beg for more

But I was happily surprised to see Ryder and Melissa standing there.

"OMG I can't believe you're gonna go on stage, Julie!" Melissa said happily.

"Are you scared?" Ryder questioned.

"Terrified." I answered honestly.

Nein Nein Nein Nein Nein Nein Nein Nein
Nein Nein Nein Nein Nein Nein Nein Nein

Scream till you feel it
Scream till you believe it
Scream and when it hurts you
Scream it out loud
Scream till you feel it
Scream till you believe it
Scream and when it hurts you
Scream it out loud
Scream

Melissa smacked Ryder in the back of his head and shook her head, "Don't listen to him, you'll do great."

"Better than great." Ryder agreed.

Back to zero
Your time's about to come
Let them know
You're not just anyone
(Scream)
Your time's about to come
Scream till you feel it
Scream till you believe it
Scream and when it hurts you
Scream it out loud
Scream till you feel it
Scream till you believe it
Scream and when it hurts you
Scream it out loud
Shut up!

I turned back to the stage and gulped, "It's now or never." I said nervously.

No cuz you feel it
No cuz you believe it
No and when it hurts you
Scream it out loud
No! No! No! No! No! No!
Scream it out loud
SCREAM!

Bill nodded for the guys to play a softer melody before he spoke into the microphone, "We made a new friend backstage tonight and we found out she is an awesome singer. Would you like to meet her?" he questioned.

The crowd cheered.

"Okay, I would like to introduce you to Julie Karr!" Bill shouted.

Tom ran off stage and held out his hand to me, "You ready?" he questioned.

I hesitated.

Was I really ready?

I took a deep breath and took Tom's hand.

He pulled me out on stage and up to Bill's microphone before he went back to his own place on stage.

Bill smiled and whispered in my ear, "Do you know our newest song, Strange?" he asked.

I nodded.

He then turned to the audience and shouted into the microphone, "This is Julie Karr and we are going to sing Strange together!"

The audience cheered as Tom, Georg, and Gustav kicked in with the instrumentals.

Bill took my hand, squeezed it, and began to sing.

A freak of nature
Stuck in reality
I don't fit the picture
I'm not what you want me to be
Sorry

Bill then held the microphone between us so we could sing together.

Under the radar
Out of the system
Caught in the spotlight
That's my existence
You want me to change
But all I feel is

Strange
Strange
In your perfect world
So strange, strange
I feel so absurd in this life
Don't come closer
In my arms forever you'll be
Strange, strange

Now it was my turn to sing solo.

If I could sing for My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, and Kyle Burns I could certainly sing for an audience of strangers.

So I just opened my mouth and let it flow out.

If you want to fix me
Push me into your fantasy
If you try to get me
Sell me your personality

You try to life me
I don't get better
What's making you happy
Is making me sadder
In your golden cage
All I feel is

Strange, strange
In your perfect world
So strange, strange
I feel so absurd in this life
Don't come closer
In my arms forever you'll be
Strange, strange
Like me

Strange
When you touch me
Strange
When you kill me
All I feel is strange

In my dreams together we'll be
Strange, strange
In your perfect world
Strange
I am so strange
Strange
I am so strange

Strange, strange
In your perfect world
So strange, strange
I feel so absurd in this life
Don't come closer
It turns slowly
In my arms forever you'll be
Strange, strange
Like me

Slowly, the music faded and the audience went wild.

Only then did I notice Bill was still holding my hand.

He raised our hands high to the sky before we bowed together.

Tom ran over to us and stole the microphone away from Bill and shouted, "Wasn't Julie awesome?! Why don't we let her sing one more song?"

Again, the audience cheered before Tom turned to Bill and said, "Sing Resuce Me."

Bill glanced over at me, "Do you know Rescue Me?" he asked.

"Yeah." I said as I smiled, "But that's not a duet song. How are we supposed to split it up?"

"You sing the first half and I'll sing the second half." Bill decided.

"Okay!" I said as I nodded.

Tom smiled before he ran over to Georg to tell him what to play and then went to Gustav to tell him the same thing and finally went back to his side of the stage.

I took a deep breath as Bill handed me the microphone before I nodded to the guys to start the instrumentals before I started to sing.

This used to be our secret
Now I'm hiding here alone
Can't help but read our names on the wall
And wash them off the stone
I trusted you in every way
But not enough to make you stay
Turn around

I've lost my ground
Come and rescue me
I'm burning, can't you see
Come and rescue me
Only you can set me free
Come and rescue me

Rescue me
Rescue me
We lied when we were dreaming
Our crying was just fake
I wish you could deny it
Here and today
My SOS on the radio
The only chance to let you know
What I fear
Can you hear?

I handed the microphone to Bill and he continued to sing.

Come and rescue me
I'm burning, can't you see
Come and rescue me
Only you can set me free
Come and rescue me
Rescue me
You and me
You and me
You and me

Bill did something I didn't expect

He handed the microphone back to me!

But without skipping a beat, I continued the song.

The walls are coming closer
My senses fade away
I'm haunted by your shadow
I reach to feel your face
You're not here
Are you here?

I handed the microphone back to Bill once again and nodded for him to finish out the song.

Come and rescue me
Rescue me
Come and rescue me
I'm burning, can't you see
Come and rescue me
Only you can set me free
Come and rescue me

Rescue me
You and me
You and me
Rescue me
You and me
Set me free
Rescue me

After the song ended, the audience was dead silent.

That is, until some guy yelled, "You ROCK Julie!" and the entire audience burst into cheers.

"Thank you." I said loud enough for only Bill to hear me.

"No problem." Bill answered as he smiled, "I'm honored to have you sing with me." he said as he looked straight into my eyes.

I shuffled a bit, "I guess I should get back to the green room." I said quietly.

Bill nodded, "We'll come visit you when our set is over."

"I'll be looking forward to it." I said as I smiled.

Tom ran over to us and planted a kiss on my cheek, "You. Were. Fantastic!" he shouted.

I threw my arms around his neck in a hug and whispered a thank you to him. I then nodded to Georg and Gustav and waved to the audience before I ran off stage.

As soon as I was off stage, I was tackled into a hug by Melissa and Ryder.

I also noticed as other arms wrapped around my frame.

I looked up and realized Austin, Jonathan, and Kyle had joined in on our little group hug.

"Let's get you three back to the green room." Caleb spoke up just as Bill began to sing Noise.

Come on
There are days when you feel so small
And you know you could be so tall
You think you got no chance
Look at the end
Look what we do
Here and now
We need you
Silence and destroy
Get up and raise your voice