From Skid Row to Superstardom: An Idol System Novel-Chapter 136: Freestyle Innit?

"And coming in first place, taking us from the light into the darkness with their amazing costumes, choreography, and vocals, it’s team Black Swan!!!!"

Team Black Swan?

Us?

Our team?

At the unexpected announcement, Ari could only blink in surprise.

"No way!"

"Really?"

"Us?"

"No way!"

"Congrats!"

"Big man, Ari! Congrats!"

Before he knew it, Ari found himself being dragged into the center of a huddle of boys jumping up and down while cheering.

He felt like he was in a daze as people patted his back and mussed his hair up while he followed the rest of his team out the door and up the stage.

Even while Leo gave his tearful speech and others spoke when it was their turn, Ari could only stare out into the audience, taking in the faces that looked so happy to see them on the stage.

Coming first, huh?

Although it was just one mission, he had to admit, it felt really good to be rewarded for his efforts and come in first place.

Especially because he got to see William Forbes’ angry expression, which looked like he couldn’t believe it.

MC Ryan Leary interrupted Ari’s thoughts while holding a microphone to his face.

"Contestant Ari, do you have anything to say about your team’s win?"

"Thank you very much to the audience for voting for us. I appreciate it." Ari kept it brief and sweet, smiling happily.

While he was pleased about the 30,000 points, he was much happier about the prize money, even if it had to be split nine ways.

"Short and Sweet! I like it. Any plans for the money? Your leader said it would be an even split across the board."

Hearing the question, Ari smiled cheekily as he met PD Emily’s eyes, "Ah, somehow my clothes got messed up in the dorms, so I’m planning on using the prize money to replace them."

Even though he knew that it would probably be cut out, he still planned on complaining about his things being messed up and nothing being done about it.

With his entire heart and soul, he wished that somebody in the audience would harass the production team about it.

******

Once the filming was wrapped up and they were taken back to the dorms, Ari changed into his otterly adorable tracksuit, which was one of two pairs of clothing that wasn’t stained by the makeup bomb that exploded in his bag.

The production had told the contestants they could leave tonight or tomorrow, and since Ari had no intentions of being around the production team if he didn’t have to, he planned on leaving.

Especially since he saw the people who were in his room sneakily sharing some alcohol.

After grabbing his phone from the production team, he took his duffel bag and now empty snack bag down to the entrance to wait for Jamie to pull up with his truck, and caught sight of Carlos leaving with his small bag and motorcycle helmet.

The Spanish boy waved with a gentle smile, not moving until Ari came by him and they stepped outside together.

"Heading out?"

"Yeah, I’m waiting for Jamie."

"Of course. I’ll wait with you." frёewebnoѵēl.com

It was silent for a couple of seconds as the two of them sat on the sidewalk curb, before Ari impulsively held out his phone.

"Let’s exchange numbers. I didn’t have my phone last time."

"Sure." Carlos grabbed his old phone and called his own phone number before entering the details.

As he handed it back, Carlos asked him in a teasing manner, " Are you going to text me to stay away from the evil rubio like the movie?" (Rubio means blond in Spanish.)

Ari: ಠ_ಠ

"Have you ever been pushed from the top bunk before?"

"No?"

"Want to try it out? I volunteer to be the pusher. In fact, I insist."

Seeing that Ari was completely serious, Carlos burst out laughing, drawing some attention from people walking around them.

"You’re so violent. That’s why you’re short."

"I’m not short, I’m in my growth phase."

"Sure, sure, that’s what my short little brother says. Your ride is here." At the condescending tone, Ari briefly contemplated violence before sighing and getting up.

He would let it go just this once.

Jamie was pulling up in his white truck with Benjamin in the passenger seat.

As the car got closer, the smile on the British boy’s face faded as he glanced at Carlos, causing Ari to quickly step in front of him.

"Be nice."

"Ari, it’s fine. I’m not a little kid."

"Right. I wasn’t going to say anything to that brudda." Benjamin responded coolly.

The two boys stared at each other silently while Ari wished that they would just talk it out.

"I have an appointment to get to, so I’ll leave first. See you later, Ari. Jamie. Benjamin."

"Okay. Carlos, see you in two weeks. Text or call if you need anything or just want to hang out." Ari waved before shoving aside Jamie’s guitar and squeezing into the back seat.

"Protecting your mate, I see."

"He’s a good guy."

"Hmmm. Let’s just agree to disagree, yeah? Anyways, as the only loser in the car, I get to control the aux."

"Shouldn’t the winner control the aux?"

"Jamie doesn’t care, and you... Can you even play any music on that brick you call a phone? Ring ring, 1970s want their celly back," Benjamin asked in a teasing manner, and Ari briefly contemplated proving how much of a brick his phone was by smacking it against the back of his head.

As his fingers twitched-

"Uh oh, look at his eyes, he’s contemplating murder. I told you he had a short temper." Jamie chimed in as he met Ari’s eyes in the mirror.

"Ice. Shirt."

"You can’t threaten me forever! I will not be silenced in my own car."

"It’s not a threat. It’s a promise."

"It’s the same thing because it ends in violence!"

"It’s not violence, you putting me in a chokehold is violence. Ice down your shirt is science...or something."

"Or something?!!!! Stop doing that!"

"No."

As the two of them began to argue, Benjamin laughed along while messing around with his phone until an instrumental beat started playing.

"Boys, boys, boys. It was a long, stressful week, but we made it through, so let’s have a little freestyle to relieve some stress, yeah? Driver, you’re first. State your name, cuz."

Benjamin held his phone up to Jamie’s mouth like a microphone, and the blonde boy blinked before responding as he stopped at a traffic light.

"Uh, James Jones the third?"

"It’s Jamie, innit? And what are we doing today?"

"A freestyle? Innit? Is that how you use it?" Jamie replied in confusion, causing Benjamin to laugh.

"Rah, it’s a freestyle innit. I’ll go first."

Man try say he’s better than me

Tell that man shut up

Mention my name in his vids

Oi, rudeboy, shut up

Better than me?

Shut up

I’m the best, as you can see

Uh.

Benjamin began rapping in a lazy way over the beat, and when there was a slight pause, he held his phone out to Jamie.

"Jamie!"

"Uhm....yeah, no, uh I’m sorry, I’m not a rapper."

"Still! Try it!"

"I said I’m sorry! Let Ari go and come back to me!"

"Ari! I see you always scribbling on your little notepad. Let the words rip! Tell the world how you feel!"

Ari thought for a bit before saying a random line.

"Uh, I sing, I dance, I hate the school uniform pants?"

"Okay, good start, good start, keep it going. Tell us how you really feel." Benjamin laughed while still holding his phone out to Ari.

The PD’s are evil they like to torture

"Rahhh!"

Ever the hype man, Benjamin started beating on the dashboard and adding ad-libs whenever Ari said something.

My roommates are crazy, they weren’t nurtured

"They’re bums!" Benjamin spat the words out, emphasizing the B.

Calling me Captain Crashout’s fine

"It’s fine, it’s fine, it’s fine."

Cause I’m willing to fight for what’s mine

"Speak your truth, Ari! Let them know!"

Just flowing with the mood, Ari began to get into it as Benjamin acted as the MC and hyped him up as he let out all of his complaints and grievances.

After Ari finally ran out of words, he prepared to relax as Benjamin began rapping his own verse while Jamie played hype man.

[Ding!]

[Don’t Be Quiet! Spit out those words! - Complete!]

[Current Rewards: 1 Stat Point ]

What?

Why was it suddenly completed?

He hadn’t even been rapping a song, just making up lyrics.

As Ari stared at the blue screen that just filled his vision in confusion,

[Wow.]

[Finally.]

[Congratulations.]

[Never in all my existence have I seen such a terrible specimen as you.]

[I thought that you would never think to freestyle a rap to complete the mission.]

[Although I should be thanking your friend, not you.]

"You never said I could freestyle!!" Ari hissed quietly while covering his mouth.

[You never asked.]

[Stupid.]

[All that internet time spent looking for different types of paint for a costume, when you could spend it learning the origin of rap and utilizing such an obvious solution.]

[Don’t you feel stupid?]

Ari: ಠ_ಠ

Why did it feel like NOVA had gotten harsher than usual?

Even if it was obvious, he was completely new to this, okay?

His musical experience lay in playing instruments and working at various gigs.

And he had approached the rap task the same way he did the vocal one.

Would it kill the stupid system to give him a hint?

Pissed off, he subtly flipped the system off.

[You think you’re the only one who has middle fingers?]

[╭∩╮( •̀_•́ )╭∩╮]

[Use your brain next time.]

[Dummy.]

[I’ll give you your remaining rewards when you’re home, so think about what you did wrong.]

Thoroughly disillusioned, Ari just stared out the window in an angry silence.

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