The Nerd and the Cellist

Chapter 6

Meanwhile, while I was walking Octavia home, the Dazzlings were performing at the Siren's Cafe. The restaurant was a well-sized place with customers consisting mainly of high-schoolers drinking coffee and sweets. The windows were covered by blinds, and the only lights on were the spotlights shining blue, purple, green, and yellow on Adagio, Aria, and Sonata, who were on a stage. The three girls were singing a soothing melody while they moved their feet back and forth and slowly waved their hands around as if they were performing in a ballet. The song had no lyrics for them to sing, but none were needed, for the audience were entranced all the same just from the Dazzlings vocalizing.

But while some members of the crowd were watching the trio as a whole, many eyes were fixed on Adagio, in particular, and the orange girl knew it. She danced and sang at the center of the stage with pride as she watched many members of the audience, particularly guys, gazed at her in awe, enamored by her beauty and singing voice. Many she recognized as boys from Canterlot High who regularly came to the cafe to watch her perform, hoping that they might gain special attention for their devotion. Some of them she's manipulated for her evil plans in the past, and yet they still came to watch her sing in adoration, ready to carry out her every command if she needed them to do so. To her, performing in front of them was her favorite part of the day because she took pleasure in seeing those boys watch her perform out of foolish hope that their worship will win her heart.

After singing the last note of the song, the audience roared with applause with Adagio's fans clapping and cheering louder than they needed to and tossing roses at the stage. The Dazzlings bowed, and Adagio blew kisses at her hopeless pawns for good measure. Some of the boys swooned at the gesture, making her chuckle in amusement as she followed Aria and Sonata backstage.

"Ugh, I'm tired of singing that song," Aria complained. "Why can't we get some new material for once?"

"Because Adagio said not to fix what isn't broken," Sonata said.

"That was a rhetorical question, you idiot," Aria snarled.

Sonata flinched and looked down ashamedly like a little child caught doing something she knew she shouldn't do while Adagio rolled her eyes, annoyed with Aria ridiculing her choice of music.

"Irritation over Sonata speaking aside, she is right. I am the leader, and I say there's no reason to change what we sing," she said. "What matters is how much our audience enjoys our performances, and they rightfully adore us."

"And by adoring us, you mean just you," Aria rebuked.

"What are you complaining about, Aria? You don't care about getting the attention," Adagio said.

"Of course, I don't. I just hate that it's all about you," Aria said.

"Of course, it is," Adagio boasted. "After all, I bring in lots of customers, thus making a lot of money for this cafe. It's just that simple."

Aria frowned in annoyance as the three girls made their way to the employee break room, where they sat down on different sides of the table at the center of the room. Adagio took out her laptop from her backpack lying next to her seat while Aria put on her headphones and listened to music on her phone, and Sonata started playing a game on hers. The Dazzlings took their break in silence for a couple of minutes until there was a knock on the door from the other side of the room. Adagio and Sonata turned to the door curiously while Aria stayed still, having not heard the knocking with her headphones on.

"Who is it?" Adagio asked.

"It's me, Camera Flash," said a male voice on the other side of the door.

Adagio smirked and stood up, saying, "Come right in."

The door opened to reveal a scrawny boy with pale yellow skin and messy light-brown hair and wearing round glasses, holding a bouquet of purple and orange flowers. Adagio gave the boy a captivating smile as she walked over to give the boy a hug that made his face turn pink, and his knees wobble.