The Choice is Yours: The End!

Author's Note: OMG! It's the end! I want to thank all my reviewers and supporters. I think I'll have the first part if the sequel up today. If not, tomorrow. Thanks again, and enjoy this last piece! :)

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3 years later...



Cho's POV



Everybody's waiting

Everybody's watching

Even when you're sleeping

Keep your ey-eyes open



The tricky thing

Is yesterday we were just children

Playing soldiers

Just pretending

Dreaming dreams with happy endings

In backyards, winning battles with our wooden swords

But now we've stepped into a cruel world

Where everybody stands and keeps score



Keep your eyes open



Everybody's waiting for you to breakdown

Everybody's watching to see the fallout

Even when you're sleeping, sleeping

Keep your ey-eyes open

Keep your ey-eyes open

Keep your ey-eyes open



So here you are, two steps ahead and staying on guard

Every lesson forms a new scar

They never thought you'd make it this far

But turn around (turn around), oh they've surrounded you

It's a showdown (showdown) and nobody comes to save you now

But you've got something they don't

Yeah you've got something they don't

You've just gotta keep your eyes open



Everybody's waiting for you to breakdown

Everybody's watching to see the fallout

Even when you're sleeping, sleeping

Keep your ey-eyes open

Keep your ey-eyes open

Keep your ey-eyes



Keep your feet ready

Heartbeat steady

Keep your eyes open

Keep your aim locked

The night goes dark

Keep your eyes open



Keep your eyes open

Keep your eyes open

Keep your eyes open

Keep your eyes open



Everybody's waiting for you to breakdown

Everybody's watching to see the fallout

Even when you're sleeping, sleeping



Keep your ey-eyes open

Keep your ey-eyes open

Keep your ey-eyes open

Keep your ey-eyes open

Keep your ey-eyes open

I ended dramatically and everyone in the studio clapped. The music video was finally over. "Great work, Cho!" said my dad. He handed me a latte and a gratefully accepted it.

We were supposed to have a lunch with all the people who worked with the label, but I skipped. I didn't feel like meeting with the paparazzi or whatever. I had a party to attend, and I wasn't going to be late for it, either.

"Dad, I'm gonna get ready, OK?" I called out. Dad nodded. I took the elevator to my private floor in the studio and headed over to my closet.

Taylor Swift was having a party to celebrate her new debut album, and I was invited. Her song I had done a cover of was going to be on it, too. I had had so much fun with her in the studio; we were really good friends now.

I put on a random dress and chose a pair of shoes to go with it. Then I put on some makeup and pressed the button on my intercom. "Can someone ask Gibson to put the seat warmers on in the limo?" I said. "Sure," someone replied.

I grabbed my phone and dialed a number. This was important.

"Yes, Cho?"

"I'm gonna need the hot tub ready by the time I get home, OK?"

Armani groaned.

"Look," I said, "You're even lucky I got you this job. I know you hate me, but please have it ready, OK?"

"Whatever."

I put my phone in my purse and took the elevator downstairs. "Dad, I'm leaving!" I yelled out. "Make sure Rick keeps you safe!" he yelled back. I laughed. That's my dad.



Jake's POV



"Where are we playing tonight?" I asked my band. Josh swallowed his spoon of gumbo before answering. "Pizza Palace." Then he dunked his spoon back in his bowl.

I sighed. Life was much harder now. After Cho left for Philadelphia, I stayed here in West Oak. I moved in with my friends and now we share a small house in the middle of the city. Of course, without Cho's talent, the record deal was cut short. My friends and I formed a new band, and now I have to start all over.

"I'm not hungry," I said. I got up and was about to put my gumbo in the trash when Josh stopped me.

"Hold up! Gimme that gumbo." I sighed and poured my gumbo into his bowl. Then I grabbed a water bottle and took a few gulps. I threw it on the floor and walked down the hall to my room.

We all got changed into our band t-shirts and a pair of jeans. Then we piled into the old pickup truck Oliver had fixed up from the junk yard.

                                            ***

After the performance, we had to wash off the stench of tomatoes from our clothes. Another bad night. After doing that, I climbed onto my mattress.

On nights like this, I can't help feeling sorry for myself. If I hadn't done what I did to Cho,  I would still be living in our old mansion, living life and loving my girlfriend. Even Crystal had broken up with me for Brock, the football team's quarterback. I didn't blame her. She was a gold digger.

I thought about calling Cho. It wouldn't hurt, right? But then again, she had probably blocked my number. Oh well. You know, I had watched all of her live performances because she had never come to West Oak yet. I had downloaded all her songs and music videos, seen and bought all her movies, and all the magazines that mentioned her. She was an international popstar. I could've been along side her, but I jacked the darn thing up. Shoot.

I picked up my cellphone and dialed her number.

"Hi, this is Cho Zen! If you managed to get my number, congratulations! Unfortunately, since this is my fan number, I'm too busy to pick up. Right now I'm at: Taylor Swift's party. Leave a message and I'll attempt to get back to you. Bye now!"

Oh. I see what she did. She kept her old number, but used it as her fan number now. That was smart.

I put my phone next to my bed, rolled over, and tried to go to sleep.

No such luck.



Armani's POV



Stupid Cho.

I mean, OK, sure... she got me this job working for her. But I'm still not famous! Everyday, I look for another job. But when they see my resume, they flip. What the heck?

Anyway, Cho told me to get her hot tub ready. I had a plan, but I had to make sure it worked, or else I could go to jail.

I walked into her bathroom and cleaned out the hot tub. Then, instead of water, I filled it with a bunch of acidic stuff. I hadn't paid attention in Chemistry, but I was sure I was right.

I took a ruler and mixed everything together. When I took the ruler out, the whole thing was bleached.

Perfect.

My phone rang and I groaned. Who could be disturbing me?

Of course.

"Cho?!"

"Did you get my hot tub ready?"

"Yeah, sure, whatever."

"OK, great. Could you have a plate of snacks beside the tub? Thanks!"

I almost dropped my phone in tub in anger.

Wouldn't want that.



Cho's POV



As soon as I got home, I ran up the stairs, skipping the elevator. I put on my bathing suit and climbed into the tub.

It was very relaxing at first. VERY.

But then I started to itch. I scratched myself all over the place. Then it started to burn. Like, a LOT.

I quickly climbed out of the tub and put on my towel. When I looked at my skin, I nearly screamed. It was pink all over. When I touched it, it hurt.

How could water do this to me?

Wait.

Armani hates me. And I told her to get the hot tub ready.

Stupid me.

I looked at the tray of snacks she had brought me. It was full of green vegetables, fruits, different kinds of bread, cheese, and M & Ms. What if she did something to that, too?

I took the whole tray and dumped it into the tub. Some of it bobbed to the top. They were totally bleached.

OMG. My skin was raw pink, and I had an important meeting tomorrow morning. What was I supposed to do?

I took the elevator to my dad's office. He was sitting at his desk, signing contracts.

"Dad! Look what Armani did to me!" Dad looked up and stared at my skin. He sighed and said, "I'm on it." Then he pressed the button on his intercom.

"Have someone bring something to make Cho's skin go back to normal. And, Armani, you're fired."

I sighed in relief. That was done.

After I was treated, I was tucked in bed and told to go to sleep. But I couldn't. I was lucky, though. If I had stayed in that hot tub any longer, I would've died or something.

I decided to check on my fan messages.

There were the usual 'Hey, I love you!'s, and 'Call me, here's my number's. A few of them stood out to me, and I wrote down their numbers to call them back. I was pretty tired at the last message. I listened halfheartedly.

"Hey, Cho. This is Jake. I don't have your personal number or anything, but I heard you were coming for a concert to West Oak. That's good. I'll be there. Maybe we van meet afterwards at Pizza Palace? I know you love that place. Can't wait! I hope you sing 'Rocket'."

I immediately wrote down that number. Jake was definitely getting a callback.

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I'm gonna miss yall! Bye... :)