"Play Freebird!"

[Olesya]

"Good, enjoy the show."

She grinned, nodding in return before stepping up on stage to where Riley and Lor were. Garrett was checking the sound system once more before coming into a sort of group huddle.

"You have everything you need?"

She asked Riley, glancing over the drumset. Everything should be there, and even if Lucas walked off with a pair of drumsticks (which he probably didn't), there were extra pairs in a pouch hanging off the left snare. Garret came over, brushing his hair from his face.

"Who's the kid?"

"Riley. He's filling in for us because Luke's gone again." The dark haired boy grumbled at this. "So Riley, meet Garrett. Garrett, Riley."

She waved her hand, finishing off introductions. Les said a silent prayer, hoping that it would all work out, the group breaking up to their respective instruments. Les picked up her beloved bass, Lor picked up her guitar, checking the tuning and adjusting her mic. Garrett took his place behind his keyboard, hitting the power. Les glanced to each of them, lastly to Riley, waiting to see if he was ready before beginning. Lor began with the guitar intro, easing in the rest of the band before she began to sing.

"So here's another day, I'll spend away from you, Another night, I'm on another broken avenue..

[Riley]

"You have everything you need?" Riley looked up from adjusting the height of the cymbal, since he was pretty tall after all, as he saw Olesya glance over at the drum set in front of him. "Hm? Yeah, I'm good, just needed to do a few adjustments, but everything's alright and here." Riley replied, as he continued to twirl the drumstick in his left hand around. Riley then saw a guy with dark hair come walking over, brushing his hair from his face. "Who's the kid?" "Riley. He's filling in for us because Luke's gone again." Riley heard the guy grumble at this, as Riley began tapping the drum with his drumstick, testing them out, making some adjustments to it, before getting it how he wanted it. "So Riley, meet Garrett. Garrett, Riley." Riley nodded at Garrett, holding his hand out to him, as he saw Garrett nod back before shaking his hand. Now that the introductions was done and over with, as he saw Olesya wave her hand, it was almost time to start.

Was Riley nervous? Not really, he was used to large crowds, although the light shining down was starting to blind him a bit. The group then broke up to their respective instruments, Olesya picked up her bass guitar, Lor picked up her guitar, checking the tuning and adjusting her mic, and Garrett stood behind his keyboard, hitting the power. While this was definitely not like his drum set, it was still a drum set nonetheless, and would suit Riley just fine. He then saw Olesya glance at each of the members, him last, as he gave her nod, telling her he was ready. Lor then began with the guitar intro, as Riley added in the drum part to the sound of her guitar, as he heard Olesya begin to sing. "So here's another day, I'll spend away from you, Another night, I'm on another broken avenue..." Riley maintained the drum beat through the entire song, never missing a beat.

A few minutes later, they finished playing, and started up the next song, That's What You Get by Paramore. Riley began to play, letting the rhythm of the drums flow effortlessly into his mind. Drums were his forte, he played and practiced on them for so long, it just came naturally to him. He played the drums much like Zac Farro did in the music video, as he heard Lor add in her guitar part. He had played this song so many times, both on real drums and on Rockband, he had pretty much memorized the lyrics and tune of the song.

[Olesya]

So far so good, only a few minor mess-ups, but that was to be expected. The crowd for the most part was happy (and drunk), and she could see quite a few mouths moving along with the music to the chorus of the Paramore song. As the last chords rang out over the crowd, they roared, clapping and hollering. It was looking to be a good night.

Next on the set list was Vindicated by Dashboard Confessional. It sounded a bit different than the band's rendition since Stir Fry Friday was headed by two female vocalists, but it still went over well, and white squares of cellphone light waved back and forth to the beats of the song.

[Riley]

Okay, so there were a few minor mess ups here and there, but they weren't really all that noticeable, and the crowd for the most part, were happy (not to mention drunk), but they weren't booing them, so that was a good thing, and Riley, as he played out the drum part, wailing on the drums, as he heard the sound of the crowd sing along with the song. As the last remaining chords of the song rang out and faded, the crowd roared and applauded loudly, and a few even hollered. It had been a while since Riley had played in a band before, but honestly, he didn't plan to. He had nothing against Olesya, in fact, he thought she was pretty cool, but he had come to San Francisco to find his mom, and that took priority over everything. But all that would be concentrated on later. Right now, he had a gig to play, and he was going to play his damn hardest for them.

The next song on the list was Vindicated by Dashboard Confessional, and what they were playing was a bit different than sound of the one played by the band, but that was to be expected, when the lead vocalists were two females. So to help out, before they began, Riley obtained a microphone and positioned it so he could sing into it while still being able to play. Though it still sounded a bit different, nonetheless, with Riley's voice singing it along with Lor and Olesya, it sounded like the band's version. Riley could see white squares of cellphone screen lights wave back and forth as the song played, he smiled slightly as he sang, if the crowd was happy, then everything was oh kay. Finishing up the song, as the last little remnants of the song fade out over the crowd, they roared and hollered once more, only one more song left, and it was the best song of their list, Everlong by the Foo Fighters.

The song started out with gently strumming of the guitar, followed by louder playing, and then soon eased into full on electric guitar playing. Riley then joined in with the drum beat, as a bead of sweat rolled down the side of his face, a look of concentration on his face, he was determined not to mess up on this song, as he began to sing the song, keeping in time with everyone else. He could see the crowd dancing away to the song, even singing along with them. It was a good night, a really good night, and one Riley won't forget for a long while.

[Olesya]

Playing one of her favorite songs, Olesya took the lead vocals, Lor and Riley singing back-up. It went well, the band falling into sync to wrap up the gig. As the final chord rang out over the crowd, the cheering seemed deafening. Les grinned, waving to the crowd, taking them all for coming out, and that they would be back next week same time. Pocketing her pick, she shrugged off the guitar strap and walked back to back up her bass in its case, unplugging it and rolling up the cord.

"Nice playing tonight, Riley. You really saved our asses."

She called to the impromptu drummer. Garrett and Lor seemed equally relieved.

[Mathew Amtrum]

Mathew had to move away from the speakers when they started to play, after all he did enjoy having his eardrums intact. So he moved back a ways, but still able to watch them from the stage. He didn't know who the new guy was, nor did he really care that much. He watched them play wincing at the fuck ups, but he was sober. Still it wasn't bad, they might get somewhere someday, or they might not. A lot of bands with talent went nowhere sadly. It all boiled down to who you knew and being in the right place at the right time.

When they finished the set Mathew would clap his hands cheering them on. And he waited for them to start packing up their stuff, that's when Mathew moved back up to the stage motioning for Les to come with him. After all they had been in the middle of a conversation before she had to go back on stage.

[Olesya]

Les flipped the top of the case over, snapping it shut before picking it up by the handle and giving it to her sister Gabri who had come onstage with Garrett's brother Gregg to take care of the equipment. They were the unofficial roadies for their band, and since it allowed them to get into night clubs and stay out late, they were perfectly fine with it.

The ex-pillar turned around just in time to see Mathew standing in the front of the dissipating crowd, motioning to her. Adrenaline still running through her veins from the set, she grinned and made her way to the edge of the stage, grabbing her water bottle once more before dropping to the floor, running a hand through her disheveled brown and violet hair.

"Now.." She said kind of breathlessly, "Where were we?"

[Riley]

As soon as the final chord of the song rang out, the roar of the crowd cheering was deafening, making Riley wince slightly, but not in pain, but because man, they were really loud. He saw Olesya wave to the crowd, thanking them for all coming out, and that they would be back next week, well, almost all of them. Riley wouldn't be back next week, in fact, he wasn't even sure if he would be here in San Francisco next week. He placed the drumsticks on top of the drum, and stood up, stretching out his cramped muscles, first his legs, and then his arms, as he yawned widely, man, he had forgotten how exhausted he would get after playing 4 songs in a row.

"Nice playing tonight, Riley. You really saved our asses."

"No prob," he replied, after turning to Olesya, and waving his hand casually, "I had a good time playing with you guys." He smiled slightly at the relieved looks on Lor and Garrett's faces, as he turned to head down off the stage. "See you later Olesya." He called out behind him, as he waved before heading down the steps and disappeared into the crowd, making his way through, before reaching the door and headed out of the club, his ears ringing slightly from the loud music, it would go away after a couple days. What a night it had been, it would be one he wouldn't forget for a while.

OOC:Riley's exit.

[Mathew Amtrum]

Mathew put his arm around her shoulder glad that she was willing to pick up the conversation where they had left it off. He didn't know her that well true, but in her time as Pillar she had seemed to be dedicated, and that was the kind of person he wanted on the council. Someone that was there to help, to make the school a better place.

"I think you were just about to tell me how much you would love to run for your grades Representative on the Student Council." He said with a grin.

Honestly as long as she was at least willing to pass the word around and try and find other people who would be interested he would be happy. True he was trying to spread the word around, but when he said something people tend to look for his agenda, he couldn't fault them for that since normally he did have one. It was just a bit annoying that when he was finally doing something on the level that it was the one time people were wary about his motives.

[Olesya]

Olesya blinked when he put his arm around her shoulders, presumably steering her toward a table or something where they could talk. It didn't bother her or anything, just surprised her, is all. "I think you were just about to tell me how much you would love to run for your grades Representative on the Student Council." Les grinned, twisting the top off her water bottle.

"Oh, that's right. How about your tell me more about it, then. After all, I want to know what I'm walking into, Mr. President."

She took a healthy swig from her water bottle, half hoping they could talk outside where it wasn't so hot and loud, but she could sit at a table too. Anywhere where she could take a load off her feet was fine with her.

[Mathew Amtrum]

He didn't even think that she would want to go outside, he had lead her to a table, closer to the back by the door so they were away from the speakers. It would make it a bit easier to talk without having to shout, not that anything was secret, it just wasn't dignified to have to shout "WHAT!?" in the middle of a conversation because you can't hear someone over a rockin' Guitar Solo.

When they got to the table he would take a seat so she would know he meant for them to sit there. That's when she said she was waiting for him to go more in depth on the idea, wanting to know what she was getting in to. Fair enough, at least he thought so.

"Well it is pretty much what it sounds like. Every year there would be an election and a member from each grade will be selected by their peers to represent them. In the council meetings, which will be run by the current Student Body President, issues will be discussed ranging from classroom content to supplies or even field trips. I know I am not the best person in the world, but I do want to leave something positive behind. Leave a mark and have people remember me, maybe even say they were glad I was alive." He said with a small frown. "I don't know, sorry I am rambling." He finished still frowning slightly.

[Olesya]

A mild smile formed on the ex-pillar's face as Mathew explained what he wanted to do. It was a great idea, really, and she hoped that it would at least have a chance in this school. They were relatively new transfers, so Les wasn't completely familiar with the workings of the school, but it was anything like 259, then a council would be a good idea.

Her smile faded slightly when he frowned, talking about leaving a good impression behind, but that caused her to smile brighter.

"I really misjudged you, I think. I'm sure that with the right people, the council will be a success."

This was two for two on her missed first impressions now, either she was losing her touch about judging character, or people were getting trickier these days. First she had misjudged Jon, Unfettered, back when they had a fight in the Long Beach skate park, and he turned out to be a goofy, sensitive, talented individual. And now Mathew, who she was certain was nothing but an oer-sexed asshole, was now showing signs of civility and interest in the good of the people. It was really respectable.

[Mathew Amtrum]

"That's the hope. I am hoping to get the right people, but I have no right to choose who is right. The fundamental flaw of the Pillar system is that it allows someone like me to become a Pillar, not because I won the hearts and mind of the student body, but because I am a good fighter. That is not how government should work, student or otherwise." He said, his frown wiping off his face as if it had never been.

Mathew's right hand raised up running through his hair as he leaned back sighing in his seat. He was frustrated, this was the most luck he has had with this council idea, and she seemed skeptical. It wasn't going nearly as well as he hoped, but maybe if he got someone else in on it, maybe more people would be interested.

"I mean I think I heard you say once that Matrim was doing a good job as Varsity Captain, but really that is more luck of the draw then anything. It could have just as easily been another Pillar like the countless ones before. Getting lucky once in a while isn't good enough, not if anyone really wants to make this a better environment." He said this time leaning forward so that she could hear him better over the music.

"I am not asking for a commitment right now, just promise me you will think on it?" He asked, he knew asking for her to commit right now was not going to happen. But hopefully if she had time to think about it she would see that it really was a good idea.

[Olesya]

Les leaned her elbows on the table, twisting and untwisting the top of her water bottle. She pondered his words, and wheat she knew so far about the school. She was optimistic to a fault, and maybe she was wrong to think that the pillars would be people who could run the school. Afterall, she herself fought a bunch of jerks who were good fighters, but would have been catastrophic in the student government. That was why she didn't let them win.

"I can definitely see how it's luck of the draw, though I think it's a bit of something else though. If you get a good School Captain, then they can choose who they think can best run the school, not just who's the best fighter."

She pointed out, though she saw his point. She briefly wondered if that was how the actual government worked as well, though instead of fists they fought with words and money. She grinned though when he asked her to think about it.

"That I can do."

[Mathew Amtrum]

He offered her a sheepish smile, not his normal cocky one. This was a delicate matter though and he was trying to play it semi modest at least. He reached in to his pocket and pulled out some money and put it on the table.

"Well in any case you guys played a good show. And I appreciate you considering what I had to say. Buy the band and yourself something to drink on me. Think of it as ticket fair." He said with a wink returning a bit more to his normal overly confident self. Sliding his chair back he would stand up, offering his hand to hers to shake.

"I won't waste any more of your time. Get back to me with your answer either way. Better yet, if you decide to run, start campaigning and tell other people about it. I think people are wary about the idea coming from me. Not that I can blame them." He said with a small laugh. Then as long as she didn't try and get him to stay he would give her a small wave and make his exit from the club.