Chapter 40: That’s What You Like
...
For the next few hours, they were inford on the performance guidelines and given a makeover to look their part. Their room numbers were made to represent their assigned teams.
So for Von, they were Team 4, and since they were a three-boy team and a three-girl team, the first round saw a boys vs. girls showdown. The schedule was listed for them:
Team 3 (4 girls) vs Team 4 (4 guys)
Team 2 (4 girls) vs Team 5 (4 guys)
Team 1 (3 girls) vs Team 6 (5 guys)
The show began around 8:00 PM, and unlike the auditions, which were held in a room, this was a full-production spectacle.
A live audience of five hundred lucky fans filled the tiered seating, waving light sticks and signs.
Giant LED screens flanked the stage, displaying the Project: Star logo in bright gold neon.
Backstage, in the holding area, Team 4 was filled with tension.
"I think I’m gonna throw up," Max whispered, clutching his stomach. He was dressed in a loud, burgundy velvet suit with a patterned shirt underneath.
"Huh? I thought you were used to this," Julian asked in surprise, adjusting his white cuffs. He was wearing a tailored white suit that seed to glow under the backstage lights.
Max suddenly stood up straight. "Okay, you got , haha. But you should still panic. We ain’t winning nothing... Von can’t dance."
Von stood a little apart from them, checking his reflection in a mirror.
He wore a navy blue suit, fitted perfectly to his fra, with the top button undone. He looked less like an idol and more like a heist leader.
He flashed them a smile. "Just trust . And do give it your all, we’ll win this."
"That’s easier said than done," another voice ca. Alex Hall stood at the back, wearing an all-black suit with a high collar. With his hair covering his forehead, he looked like a vampire attending a gala. "Team 3 are good. Look, they’re almost done."
***
On stage, Team 3 was ending their performance.
They had chosen a popular 2014 hit, Earned It by My Holiday.
The four girls were dressed in identical blood-red dresses, and their hairstyles were similar. Their performance was a masterclass in traditional girl-group choreography.
They used chairs as props, moving with sensual fluidity and tid unison while singing in turns.
As they sang the final note, they simultaneously struck a perfect pose, panting heavily but smiling.
The crowd erupted with cheers and applause.
"Wow!" Michael walked onto the stage, clapping. "Give it up for Team 3! That was Earned It, and I think you definitely earned that applause!"
The Judges nodded in approval.
"Technical precision," Rex comnted into his mic. "Clean lines. Very safe, very polished. Good job."
"You hit those notes perfectly, and I loved the way you took this song and made it yours. That’s very comndable," Aria added.
Jax agreed with her. "I swear I would have broken my hips if I tried that. You did beautifully."
None of the Judges offered criticisms, so they bowed and left the stage.
Backstage, a stage manager turned to Von and his group. "Team 4, you’re up!"
***
The lights on the stage went black, causing the audience murmured in the darkness, expecting a synchronized start.
Instead, a spotlight snapped on. It didn’t hit the center. It hit the far left.
Max stood there, back to the audience. He slowly turned around, flashing a mischievous, manic grin. He brought a mic to his lips.
???? ??
Ayy, ayy, ayy...
???? ??
The beat dropped. It was a funky, synthesized bassline that imdiately brought energy.
Max suddenly did a standing backflip, landing perfectly on the beat.
The crowd scread, but another spotlight introduced Alex, who was walking up from the back.
???? ??
I got a question for the ladies!
Tell , are you ready? (Are you ready?)
You and your friends invited
So go on, keep it movin’ (movin’)
???? ??
Alex was first striding the stage with a calm aura as he sang with his perfect voice, while Max was throwing dance moves and voicing over him.
With the intro done, Max stole the show by taking over the song, while Alex beca the background dancer.
???? ??
Go move it for a player, move-move it for
Turn around and prove it to a player (prove it)
Prove-prove it to
(prove it)
???? ??
Max was nodding his head in rhythm and singing as he watched Alex dance, before turning back to face the audience.
???? ??
I’ll rent a beach house in Miami (’ami)
We comin’ for our Grammy (Grammys)
The world is gonna hear it (uh)
Julian, serve them lyrics! (Julian!)
???? ??
Hearing his na, the spotlight fell on a third mber, and the crowd awed again. Julian perfectly tid his entrance, continuing the song effortlessly while hitting the moves.
???? ??
You got it if you want it, got, got it if you want it
Said, you got it if you want it, take my number if you want it, now!
???? ??
Now with Julian taking over, Alex and Max returned to the main dance sequence while Julian remained the center of the singing.
???? ??
Step in the limousine
(Girl, let’s make a movie scene)
Livin’ like a king and queen
(Baby, we the winning team)
You deserve it, baby, you deserve it all
And I’m gonna~ give it to you~
???? ??
With Julian hitting the high note that sent the audience into a thrill, the center spotlight exploded to life and the fourth mber was exposed.
The others masked their fear of Von flopping on what he promised.
But their mouths dropped as Von used a perfect moonwalk to get to the stage center before spreading his hands and facing the audience.
???? ??
Spotlights are burning so bright
We taking over the night
Lucky for us, that’s what you like, that’s what you like
Lucky for us, that’s what you like, that’s what you like
???? ??
For the next verses, Von dropped to the floor and began doing a windmill into a headspin that made the audience scream, while Alex, Julian, and Max took turns at the verse, each saying one line and pulling a move.
???? ??
Max: I’m talkin’ Tokyo to the Rio (bih)
Alex: Anywhere that we go (we go)
Julian: You can be my hero (brr)
Max: Girl, I’ll be your villain, incognito
Alex: I will never make a promise that I can’t keep!
Julian: I promise that your smile ain’t gon’ never leave~
???? ??
All attention was on the moves Von was pulling on the floor, but when Julian hit that extrely high note, they turned to him again.
???? ??
Shopping sprees in LA
Everyday caras flashing
Take a look at what you see
Tell
who you wanna be?
Is it him? (Is it him?)
Is it him? (Is it him?)
Say it’s US, and we win, baby!
???? ??
The boys pointed at each other as they took turns on the lyrics while hitting the basic footwork. The main spotlight fell on Von one more ti, who stood up from dancing. The others continued, ready to chorus after him when needed.
???? ??
Step in the limousine
(Girl, let’s make a movie scene)
Livin’ like a king and queen
(Baby, we the winning team)
You deserve it baby, you deserve it all
And I’m gonna give it to you
???? ??
Von outstretched his hand and attempted the anti-gravity lean. Although his body didn’t recline as much as the original 45 degrees, his effort still bewildered the crowd, and they went wild.
But he continued singing as he stood, his voice steady despite the physical exertion.
???? ??
Spotlights are burning so bright
We taking over the night
Lucky for us, that’s what you like, that’s what you like
Lucky for us, that’s what you like, that’s what you like
???? ??
He snapped his fingers. On cue, the beat kicked in harder and they all ca together, forming a wedge to sing together. The beat exploded back in for the final chorus. Confetti cannons blasted gold strears into the air.
???? ??
Dancing ’til the morning light~
Everything’s feeling so right~
Lucky for us, that’s what you like, that’s what you like (that’s what we like~)
Lucky for us, that’s what you like, that’s what you like
(ooh~ ooh~ ooh~)
???? ??
Max and Von did a freestyle breakdance. Julian did a perfect pirouette, and Alex stomped his feet to the music until it died away.
After the performance was over, the stage lights were now on in full, and the auditorium shook with applause and screaming.
Von felt his chest heaving because of how intense the performance was. He looked at Max, who was panting but grinning like a maniac. It was clear to them all that they had impressed.
Michael ran onto the stage, looking genuinely shocked. "Whoa! Okay! Team 4 bringing the heat! That was... that was sothing else!"
He turned to the Judges.
Rex shook his head in disbelief. "Wow. You took the song and really made it yours. The performance was elite, I have nothing more to say."
"I loved it!" Aria chirped, standing up from her seat with an applause. "It was reallyy fun! I couldn’t take my eyes off you guys for reals. Especially the bridge! Alex, that voice!"
Alex was surprised to had received attention, but Jax continued with a serious nod.
"I was already blown away by Team 3, and Team 4 took that as a challenge. It’s gonna be really tough to figure out which was better."
To give everyone a chance, the Judges were making sure not to lay out favorites before the voting.
But the audience was already chanting Team 4! It was becoming very clear. There were still so fans chanting Team 3, but the majority were clear. Michael cut in and turned to the cara.
"You heard the judges! Voting is open now! Did you prefer Team 3 or Team 4? It’s yours to decide. Vote now on the Star App!"
The internet was taken by storm right away.
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