Chapter 76: Resonating

The TCL Chinese Theatre was bustling yet again. Only this time, it wasn’t due to the AFI Fest.

Rather, it was as a result of two distinct groups chatting and engaging in mundane conversations outside the theatre as they steadily filed in after scanning their tickets.

One group, judging by their flashy printed outfits and friendship bracelets, were clearly here to see [Tyler Kingstone: Under the Lights].

They were also the rowdiest group, their exuberant laughter and excited conversations riding the air waves as they trooped through the doors in batches after batches.

As for the other group, they were pretty relaxed and casually dressed, most of them here either by word of mouth or out of sheer curiosity and interest in [Silver Comets].

Brendan too was among that line, dressed in one of the better clothes that he had as his gaze took in the sights outside the theatre with bright eyes and a giddy air to him.

His parents were no different as they steadily moved up the queue, their tickets scanned briefly a minute after.

Since the theatre functioned on reservations only, it didn’t take long for most of the queue to equally clear up behind them.

That said, no sooner had they gotten in, their giddiness morphed into childlike awe, their eyes flicking about as they took in the modern architecture of the effulgently-designed hall.

Soon though, they realized everyone was getting drinks, snacks and what-nots, all in preparation for the screening of the movie to commence.

Yet, they knew better than to join the bandwagon.

Their financial constraints may have been lifted and all their little debts here and there may have been paid, but it didn’t mean they had forgotten where they’d come from.

It was why they’d also eaten at home before coming over so as not to salivate at other people’s snacks.

Quietly, they found one of the plush benches and took their seat while waiting to be ushered in for the movie.

Soon, they noticed that [Silver Comets] only managed to snag one standard theatre in the complex, a drastic difference to [Tyler Kingstone’s: Under the Lights] which had two different screens to itself for the night--one for its premium MX4D theatre, and the other being a standard theatre.

Meanwhile, Bella was currently shaking her head as she watched the quartet of friends dressed in matching printed outfits and friendship bracelets, sodas, popcorns, candies, snacks and the likes in their individual arms.

"You know, asides the premium seats that you guys really didn’t have to pay for, you’ve all individually spent over a hundred bucks. Just for those matching printed clothes you had to buy." Bella spoke to them in an almost motherly tone.

"Money, that you might as well have used for something much better, or, I don’t know, watch a second screening of your tour movie if you actually felt so inclined?" she added, her brows arched.

Instead, her friends raised their chins slightly with a pompous air and said nothing as they turned, a reaction that got Bella a bit surprised given how... ferally, they often defended their bad decisions.

Then she turned around with a small, resigned sigh... only to see the cause of said reaction.

Their former boyfriends.

’Ah, I see...’ the lady inwardly commented.

They had just walked in, the quartet having a rather disappointed look on their features as they watched their ex-girlfriends take their leave.

"They never learn, do they?" Brad remarked a moment after.

"Yep." Kendall, Jayce and Carlos replied in unison.

In any case, the group went on to grab their own snacks and drinks and roughly twenty minutes after, they were soon ushered into the auditorium where [Silver Comets] was set to play.

As everyone finally shuffled into their seats, the movie promptly began playing, Brendan and his parents watching on in anticipation.

Though the middle-aged couple hadn’t known who Niall Parker was prior to the incident, they were really curious to know more about him... even if it was through a movie where he was simply acting out a role.

As for Brendan, he just wanted to see what Niall was like on the big screen.

Bella on the other hand, alongside the quartet whom had become Niall’s fans due to [Hello, Goodbye], came support their favorite artists while equally hoping to have a good time.

The latter half of that reason was also why more than half of the theatre had come to watch the movie.

Which was why, when the first few scenes came up, the audience was already pretty hooked, the very first hospital scene already doing a lot of heavy lifting to keep them invested.

At the same time, the restaurant scene that came a few moments after had a good chunk of them chuckling, everyone seemingly sharing Owen’s sentiment.

Brendan’s parents especially could relate on a deeper level. Many a times, they’d wanted to sock their shitty bosses a good punch and a proper slap for their bullshit so seeing someone else do it felt rather... cathartic.

So much that one individual whom probably had a shitty boss whom was also named ’Rick’, couldn’t help but remark audibly;

"Yeah! Get wrecked, Rick! Fuck you!"

Thankfully, the audience was chockful of good sports who couldn’t help but burst into laughter at that remark, as did Bella whose witch-like cackle only served to exacerbate the entire thing further.

In any case, when the rooftop scene came on, the quartet couldn’t help but audibly chuckle alongside the audience, all four of them relating just as much to the scene.

Afterall, asides from understanding the underlying suppression of grief and pain the average male dealt with by joking and laughing about it, they also knew how necessary having a good support system was.

In any case, by the time the first thirty-minute mark had passed, everyone in the theatre had become so engrossed in the story.

Enough that most were already slightly ticked off by Leeroy of [Red Velvet].

Not that it stopped them from acknowledging that their performance was indeed worth all the pompousness their lead singer had.

’Okay. That’s really, really good.’ Bella inwardly remarked as she munched on her popcorn, her expression genuinely impressed.

That then led to a question not just she, but every other individual in the room seemed to ask;

’Wonder if Silver Comets can even manage to actually top that performance.’

Afterall, in movies like these, everyone knew how they could sometimes inflate the performance of the main characters to make it seem like they performed better when they clearly did not.

All that concern, was immediately put to rest by the [Tightrope] performance.

The thrilling shivers and goosebumps that gripped them all was one for the ages, the surround speakers seemingly booming through their beings.

Brendan’s mouth slowly parted in amazement, Bella’s popcorn fell from her hands as her pupils dilated in shell-shocked awe.

As for the quartet, they were utterly stunned... same as every other person in the theatre who seemed to want to ask if that shouldn’t have been the final song?!

More than that they all seemed to resonate so strongly with the themes of the song, a bunch of people had already began singing along with the easy chorus by the last half of the song.

Still, it wasn’t anything particularly crazy. Just a bunch of people who really couldn’t help but sing along to such a great song as they swayed from side to side in their seats.

Soon enough, the performance was over and every single person in the theatre couldn’t help but feel the exhilaration running through their veins!

But then, the next major performances came, and for an audience whom had subconsciously assumed they’d already seen the best possible performance from Silver Comets, they were instantly blown away by [I’ll Keep Rising].

Brendan especially, felt himself feeling so empowered by the lyrics. More so, since he knew how much he had to ignore the bullying and teasing from several of his peers, just ’cause he had chosen a sport that wasn’t predominantly male-focused.

As for the audience, the themes of believing in oneself, pushing forward and dropping the haters in the dust was such an invigorating feeling, they were practically vibing as they sang alongside fictional band towards the end of the song!

-

I’ll keep rising! (Yeah, yeah, yeah!)

I’ll keep rising! (Yeah, yeah, yeah!)

-

By now, the audience was already feeling so hyped, they wondered how amazing the last song would be. More than that, they were hoping that the soundtrack of the movie was released pronto!

But first, they were treated to the second major hospital scene, one that had them all rooting for the fictional band yet again.

It was also why a good chunk of them felt utterly pissed when Leeroy stole and performed their song. Clearly, they seemed to have forgotten they were watching a movie for the briefest of moments.

Yet, when the Silver Comets got around to performing [Heal You], tears upon tears streamed down people’s faces.

Bella, especially, was a mess... as was Brendan’s mum whom had lost her grandfather just a couple months back.

Those tears of theirs seemed to flow even more when the scene cut to Owen’s father in the hospital slowly opening his eyes.

At this point, several sniffles and quiet sobs could be heard as the performance slowly rounded up.

Hoping that the fictional band would win despite their marks being deducted, a lot of people in the room were rather pissed at the fictional judges when they announced they didn’t.

’Oh, come on!’ Bella inwardly remarked, only for someone else to audibly shout immediately after;

"That’s some bullshit!"

No sooner had that particular comment landed, a mini-protest suddenly happened in the theatre... though it didn’t last past a couple seconds as people started laughing, most of them still teary-eyed.

It also didn’t help that Owen Winters had a pretty dark sense of humor many seemed to have come to like a lot.

-

"Well,"

"On the bright side,"

"My Pops isn’t awake to witness his son’s inability to keep a promise."

-

The audience only seemed to laugh harder at that, half because of his comedic delivery, and the other because it wasn’t true and he was about to get the shock of his life very soon.

Yet, Owen just kept going on and on, further exacerbating their reactions.

-

"I mean, we got our song stolen, lost the competition, Alex’s parents are still shitty, you’re still running the garage at a loss, Luke’s homeless, I’m behind on rent, my Pop’s still in a coma..."

"So, if karma really does exist, clearly it’s got us all confused with a bunch of other people."

-

In any case, following up from the scene ending and the title card and the first few credits rolling, the audience gave a standing ovation.

Then, a new scene was shown, the boys filing into Henry Winter’s hospital room later that same day... only for Owen and the trio to stare in shocked disbelief as the man whom was previously prone and asleep, was now seated upright, his back propped against a pillow.

Warmly, he smiled at them and said;

-

"Judging by your expressions... I’m certainly not in hell then."

"Good, good, good." Henry Winters nodded to himself, to which he then asked, his smile beautiful despite his slightly gaunt physique and malnourished features;

"So, how’ve you been these past few years, son? Care to fill me in?"

-

No sooner had the audience witnessed that, they couldn’t help but feel a sense of genuine happiness.

At the same time, they now understood perfectly where Owen’s signature dark humor came from as the final credits rolled immediately after.

This time, the standing ovation was even louder than before! Truly, [Silver Comets] was a movie that had resonated strongly and deeply with audiences, not just here, but in several other theatres all around the world where it was currently being shown.

However, just when everyone had thought it was well and truly over, some of them already filing out of the theatre in fact, one more scene came up.

Advance Chapters are available on Patreon!

/Caer07