Playing to Win

By C. Fennessy

Five talented teenage girls have beaten out the toughest competition on the television show, "America's Best Band" and are facing the semi-finals. Their rock band, Nightingale, has won every week since they started the competition, but will their luck hold? Throughout it all, the girls still manage to have fun and find a little romance. But someone is out to sabotage their chances of winning. Will the final round end up in disaster or victory?

• Language: English
• Publisher: C. Fennessy
• Release date: Jun 6, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311406859

C. Fennessy

I write for mostly for teens and sometimes for adults. Some of the teen fiction is Christian, and my other fiction is historical fiction. The next book uploaded will be another adventure with Kacey and her friends. I hope some of you will enjoy reading my books as much as I enjoy writing them. To contact me, please send an email to: [e-mail]

Book preview

Playing to Win

C. Metzinger

Published by C. Metzinger at Smashwords

Copyright 2014 C. Metzinger

Orlando, FL 32835

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

Thank you for downloading this ebook. This book remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be redistributed to others for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy from their favorite authorized retailer. Thank you for your support.

Table of Contents

Chapter One: The Ticking Time Bomb

Chapter Two: Do She Really Do That?

Chapter Three: Something’s Missing!

Chapter Four: Sabotage!

Chapter Five:We’ve Got Fans!

Chapter Six: Love is in the Air

Chapter Seven: The Big Surpise

Chapter Eight: The Competition Stiffens

Chapter Nine: The End is Near

Chapter Ten: The Big Finale

Chapter One: The Ticking Time Bomb

I'm scared, Taylor mumbled, chewing her lower lip.

Leisha grinned in amusement, There's nothing to be scared of! You'll be fine! We'll be great!

But what if I screw it up and-

Leisha grabbed Taylor by the arms and shook her gently.

Forget it! You are NOT going to screw up anything! We have played these tunes a million times and we can play them in our sleep, so don't worry! You've just got stage fright, that's all.

Taylor gave a huge sigh and shrugged, I know. I just can't shake it.

Once we get out on that stage and start to play, it'll be fine. We are just going to do our usual thing and do our best. If we don't win, that's okay. At least we got this far, and it's been fun, hasn't it?

Taylor looked into her friend's deep brown eyes and then ran her fingers through her own long black hair.

Yeah, it's been great, she admitted.

Right! So just be cool and enjoy the music. That's what it's all about, right?

Another voice from behind snapped, It's a lot more than that! If we get kicked out of the running, then it's over! No tour, no recording contract, no hundred grand in prize money….nothing! You'd better not screw up, Taylor!

Leisha glared at the girl with long blonde hair, full lips, and doe-like eyes.

Shut up, Susan. You're only making her nervous.

Susan rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. She gave a careless shrug and walked away. Her outfit fit her curving body like a second skin, and as she passed all eyes followed her.

Both girls watched her leave. Leisha rolled her eyes and shook her head in frustration, biting back the things she wanted to say out loud. Instead, she turned to Taylor and said,

Ignore her. Just concentrate on what you're playing and try to enjoy yourself. That's all you have to do…nothing else.

The attractive Oriental girl smiled at her dark-skinned friend and they hugged.

Thanks, Leisha.

C'mon Ladies! shouted Joey Travino, their manager, Get moving! You're up next!

The girls hurried back stage to take their places behind the curtain. Leisha and Kelly, the bass guitarist, picked up their guitars and Ashley adjusted her drums. Taylor checked the settings on her keyboard synthesizer. They stood waiting nervously behind the curtain as the crowd in the theatre still cheered for the previous band's performance.

The girls survived eight weeks of competing with 20 other bands from all over the country, managing to come out somewhere at the top each week in the ratings. The theatre was packed with people as the television crews stood waiting to give them their cue.

The MC was a suave and handsome pop icon named Cold Chill. His voice boomed out over the theatre's speakers.

And now, the group that has been here since the beginning of the competition is back again. They have beat out nineteen other bands and are one of the three finalists here tonight. Please welcome these five beautiful and talented ladies, known as Nightingale!

Applause thundered as the curtain rose and Susan walked to the front of the stage. Ashley counted off four beats on her sticks and the first chord rang out loud and clear. The crowd screamed as Susan began to dance on the first few bars of the tune.

If I had known you better, she sang, I would've walked away …

The crowd began moving with the beat and clapping as Susan sang and shook her head, dancing expertly. Her body moved like a serpent, winding, turning and swaying smoothly in time to the music. The music created a driving force that filled the auditorium. Everyone was riding the same wave of energy, rocking in unison.

When it was over and the last chord rang out, there was an explosion of cheers from the crowd. Susan waved at the fans and they screamed back at her.

Cold Chill ran back on stage as the curtains began to descend.

Aren't they incredible? Great job, ladies! Now it's time to vote! Everyone text in your votes…

The curtain was down now and the girls had to hurry off the stage for the next group. As the girls left, an attractive dark-haired guy in another band gave a thumbs-up sign and Taylor smiled. The other guys in the band glared angrily at him.

When Leisha