Silver sighed, ``Well I'll give it a try, but please don't blame me if anything goes wrong.''
``YES! Thanks Silver, Shadow can you go through the songs with Silver?''
``Can Tails please come with?'' Silver asked, ``For moral support.''
``Yeah of course,'' Sonic held out a hand and pulled Tails onto the stage. Tails looked really excited, Silver looked like they just got sick.
``Come on,'' Shadow said and brought them back stage.
``Don't forget the lyrics!'' Sonic yelled after them.
``NO WAY! I'm not going to sing!''
``Yes you are,'' Shadow only replied emotionless. ``It's only for one song, we all do it.''
``Wait you sing?'' Silver said.
``Sometimes."
``Would love to hear it,'' Silver said a bit uneasy as they didn't meant to use the word `love', and blushed even more.
``Come.'' The three of them entered the dressing room where it was much more quiet. ``Here,'' Shadow passed his earbuds and took out his phone. ``Listen good to these three songs.'' And he pressed play.
Silver closed their eyes to concentrate better. Bohemian Rhapsody, Silver already knew of course. The other two sounded familiar but they didn't know them all that well. The first of the two really made Silver feel stronger and more confidant and the last song just sounded beautiful and cozy.
After a long moment of silence Silver opened their eyes again and saw Tails and Shadow were staring at them.
``So, you think you can do it?'' Silver nodded and Shadow smiled, passing a sheet of paper. ``These are the lyrics for the second song, the one you will be singing.''
Silver swallowed a bit nervous and took the sheet and started reading, ``Can I keep this on stage?''
``Of course, don't be nervous just try your best,'' Shadow stood up, ``I've to go on stage now. You will be introduced after the fifth song, then we'll be playing Bohemian Rhapsody. After that we have two songs without you followed by your song and we end the performance with Piano Man.'' Shadow quickly explained before leaving.
Silver felt really uncomfortable and Tails could read it on their face. ``You will do fine Silver,'' Tails said, ``I understand this is something to be nervous about but after hearing you play at home, you got this, I'm sure of it. And I've heard you sing before, you will be fine.''
Silver smiled a bit shy, ``Yeah but that was only on that car trip with your parents. This is completely different.''
``It's definitely different but if you're nervous just don't look at the audience and focus on playing. You can do it, I know you can.'' Silver was still nervous but Tails' words made them feel a bit better. ``Want to go watch?'' Tails suggested, Silver nodded as they were too nervous to speak. They went to the front, where the band was still standing backstage. Sonic was giving them a pep talk.
``Hey look, it's our saviour,'' Sonic said as he spotted Silver approaching. The band looked around and saw Silver. The bass player pulled them closer.
``I'm so happy you can fill in for Mathilda, you were great this afternoon!'' She said and everybody smiled at Silver whose cheeks turned a slight pink colour.
``Well I'll do my best, but this will be my first time, so I'm sorry if I make some mistakes0,'' Silver apologised beforehand.
``You'll do fine,'' Sonic said, ``You are far better than any of the people in the audience. After the fifth song I will introduce you and you can come up.'' Silver nodded. ``Okay let's do this!'' Sonic yelled and they all went on stage and received a big applause from the audience with people yelling and screaming. Silver and Tails were left behind backstage.
``How are we all doing?!'' Sonic yelled through the microphone and the audience whooped. Sonic started to introduce everyone and took his place behind the drum. He took his drumsticks and banged them together with a countdown to make everyone start at the same time. They started with the song Back in Black by AC/DC which was a good one to start the evening with Silver thought.
Silver was just amazed watching them all play, the dynamic between the players was just amazing. Next they played Rock and Roll All Nite which Sonic had to sing. It sounded amazing. Silver looked over at the crowd which was going crazy.
``They really know how to put on a show,'' Tails said.
``They are amazing,'' Silver replied.
After three more songs Silver's legs started to feel like jelly, because they knew it was their turn. The crowd went quiet when Sonic took the microphone. ``You guys really are amazing!'' He thanked the audience who whooped again. ``But now I would like to introduce to you our newest member, as our girl Mathilda is home sick.'' The crowd made sounds of disappointment. ``Let me introduce to you, Silver!''
Silver was frozen and didn't move. Sonic beckoned them, he covered the microphone, ``Come on Silver, you can do this,'' he said. Silver shook their head but Tails pushed them out onto the stage as it was taking a bit too long. Silver just awkwardly stood there on the stage and looked at the crowd which looked even bigger now that they were on stage.
``LOOK AT THAT POTHEAD!'' Someone in the crowd yelled and people started to laugh, Silver turned pale.
``SHUT UP YOU!'' A girl at the front yelled and Silver noticed their classmates from art class standing in front of the stage. ``WHOOP SILVER YOU CAN DO IT!'' They all yelled which made Silver feel a bit better.
``Be prepared to be amazed!'' Sonic said in the microphone and made a gesture to encourage Silver to sit down behind the piano and Sonic went back to his drums. Silver looked at the audience and then to their fellow band members. Shadow looked over at them and gave them a nod as if to say `Go on.' Silver looked down at the keys and started to press a few of them to find the right note. Some people were starting to laugh awkwardly but it mostly was quiet. Silver found the key to start with, they closed their eyes, took a deep breath and started to play.
The whole crowd fell silent as they listened to the intro of Bohemian Rhapsody and their bass player started to sing. ``Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?'' First it was only the two of them but after a few lines the other members jumped in with their instruments and sang with the bass player. It just felt so right as the crowd started to sing with them. `This feels amazing' Silver thought while they kept on playing and started to smile and feel less tensed.
The song ended quietly while Silver was finishing the last notes to the song and it went silent. All of a sudden the crowd went nuts! Silver looked over at the band members and they all looked back proudly, smiling and giving a thumbs up, Shadow simply nodded in approval. Silver felt their heart racing from the adrenaline, this felt so good!
Silver looked over at the girls from art class who were screaming madly and Silver laughed and waved awkwardly. They looked over their shoulder to see Tails standing backstage applauding and winking at Silver. Silver nodded and scratched the back of their head as to say, `It's so weird this just happened.?
The band continued with the next song, Silver thought it would be easier to just sit there, as after two songs it was their turn again. The youngster examined the sheet of paper which Shadow had given them and went through the lyrics again while the rest kept on playing. Silver's mouth felt a bit dry as it was their turn to start singing soon, it felt really scary, `But if I can play piano in front of this crowd, then I should also get used to singing.'
Silver looked over at Sonic to wait for a sign to start as they were wrapping up the song they were playing. Sonic looked at Silver and gave a sign to start playing so the songs would flow seamlessly into each other. The other members went along as the song was upbeat. Silver swallowed as they got to the part where Silver needed to start singing. Silver looked at the sheet of paper and tried to forget their surroundings.
``You could never know what it's like,
Your blood, like winter, freezes just like ice.''
Shadow looked over at Silver surprised by their voice, it sounded really good and fit with the song.
``Whoo!! Silver!'' Marine yelled as a fangirl.
Silver had a big smile on their face as they continued to sing.
``And there?s a cold, lonely light that shines from you,
You'll wind up like the wreck you hide behind that mask you use.''
Silver saw Shadow looking and Silver looked back at him.
``And did you think this fool could never win?
Well look at me, I'm coming back again
I got a taste of love in a simple way
And if you need to know while I'm still standing, you just fade away''
Silver blushed because of the look Shadow gave and turned to face the crowd.
``Don't you know I'm still standing better than I ever did.
Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid.''
Silver felt a pride swell up in their chest at the sight of the crowd sing along with them and dancing.
``I'm still standing after all this time,
Picking up the pieces of my life without you on my mind.
I'm Still Standing!''
And the other members went ``Yeah, yeah, yeah.'' Silver looked over at them and Sonic winked proudly at them. Silver's eyes sparked `this is just amazing,' they thought. They also felt this song was giving them a lot of courage, parts of the song felt relevant for all the things Silver had gone through in their life. `But I'm still standing' the youngster thought.
``Once I never could have hoped to win,
You're starting down the road leaving me again
The threats you made were meant to cut me down,
And if our love was just a circus, you'd be a clown by now.''
Shadow went to the piano as it was time for a short solo which he mastered perfectly. Silver looked over at Shadow, his silhouette was surrounded by a colour changing spot light which shone from behind him. Silver felt something which was hard to explain and didn't understand why it was happening. It felt like pressure on their chest but not in a bad way, it felt comforting.
They came to the end of the song and Silver just needed to take a breath from the tension in their chest. The crowd cheered loudly and Silver laughed for a bit while catching their breath. The other members started to move off the stage as the last song was only for Silver, Sonic and Shadow to play. One of the members took a high stool for Shadow to sit on and someone else placed the microphone in front of it and handed him the harmonica which he attached around his neck and their electric guitar was switched out for an acoustic one. It all happened pretty fast.
Some of the stage lights went out, and now there was only a bright spotlight shining on Shadow and Silver. The audience got quiet in anticipation. Shadow looked over at Silver and nodded, Silver swallowed, remembering the song Shadow had let them listen to. Silver took another deep breath and nodded back at Shadow as it was Silver's time to start.
Silver's fingers went over the keys playing a softer melody and Shadow came in with the harmonica and started to sing.
``It's nine o'clock on a Saturday,
the regular crowd shuffles in,
There's an old man sittin' next to me
Makin' love to his tonic and gin.''
Shadow's voice sounded soft and warm, the crowd listened silently while swaying from side to side.
``He says, son can you play me a memory?
I'm not really sure how it goes,
But it's sad and it's sweet and I knew it complete
When I wore a younger man's clothes.''
Shadow closed his eyes and made some melodious sounds after which he turned his head to Silver and opened his eyes again. His bright ruby eyes met Silvers golden ones and Silver felt a warm feeling from inside.
Shadow continued, ``Sing us a song, you're the piano man''
Silver turned red as it felt like he was just singing just for them at the moment, Shadow smiled.
``Sing us a song tonight,
Well, we're all in the mood for a melody,
And you've got us feelin' alright''
Silver looked nervous at the keys to break eye contact as it made them a bit uncomfortable. The song continued, it was very sweet and gentle, with small solos in between by Silver. Half way in the song became a bit louder and the crowd swayed even more as they sang along. The song ended slowly with Shadow using the harmonica and Silver finishing the last keys on the piano.
The crowd went nuts and cheered loudly as all the members came back on stage to receive the applause. Shadow held out his hand to Silver, which Silver took a bit shyly, they all locked hands to form a chain on stage and took a bow together. Silver smiled bright as this feeling was just amazing!
