Chapter 193: Truancy (1)
"Thank you to our J-pop group for their amazing performance. The next group performing has given themselves the name the Ocho Amigos, and they will be representing Latin America. Please give them a round of applause!"
Clap clap clap-
Gabriella clapped along with the watchers with wide eyes as her brother’s team, dressed in what was clearly an outfit inspired by a mariachi band, took the stage.
If they had the sombreros and instruments, it would be similar to other mariachi band outfits she had seen at various events before, and she felt a bit touched seeing a bit of her family’s culture being represented at a non-family event.
Having done her research after watching Carlos’ previous performance in Las Vegas, before everything blew up at home, Gabriella had become pretty familiar with the contestants, apart from Ari and Carlos, and easily recognized the popular members who were now on Carlos’ team.
She recognized Jamie, who always had a cowboy hat, the angry fuzzball Levi, and Alfonso with long hair.
On the small, black stage in front of her, Jamie was handing out specific microphones to his other teammates while speaking to a staff member, and Ari had his back to the audience, pointing at his teammates to move into the right position like an orchestra conductor.
The eight boys lined up, and she could see Carlos tapping his foot the way he did when he got nervous before he scanned the crowd and took a deep breath to calm down as he spotted Antonio and Luis waving at him.
Gabriella quickly waved as well before putting her hand down, peeking at her mom’s frowning face and saying a quick prayer that her mom would see Carlos perform, see how good and talented and amazing he was, and change her mind.
If that could happen, then her dad could change his mind, too, and the house wouldn’t be so tense.
Gabriella glanced around once more, noticing that more people than before had shown up, including several two police officers with different outfits than the ones already here who had surrounded the stage and seemed to be speaking with a rail-thin blonde woman who was arguing fiercely.
Absentmindedly wondering what was going on, Gabriella turned her attention back to the stage as guitar sounds began to play.