Benji was more than a little excited to see the uping movie starring two of his good friends, Troy and Emily. It was such a strange feeling seeing Emily finally living her dream of being an actress. If Benji wao, he could have asked Troy for a simir favor, and Troy, being such a good person, would have gdly helped Benji bee an actor. However, Benji was utterly talentless when it came to ag or singing. He didn’t even have the desire to pursue such a career and was tent staying behind the ses.

  He leasantly surprised when Troy began attending strangers’ weddings and singing his songs there. The stra part was that videos of his performances, uploaded online, weren’t taken down for cht viotions. It seemed as if Troy and the produ team were allowing the clips to remain on YouTube.

  Then, they released the full music video for the song, “Sugar,” on YouTube—a first for any major music video backed by a produ house like Warner Bros. The video opened with Troy Armitage getting into a vertible driven by an older boy, a fellow band member, in the rural areas of Engnd.

  Troy began singing the song in a clear, crisp voice, building up the tempo with eaent. The bination of the sic beauty of rural Engnd and the apanying music was breathtaking. Meanwhile, the video interspersed ses of a wedding where preparations for something special were underway, surprising the bride, groom, and all the guests.

  [Sugar - Maroon 5]

  ~: I'm hurting, baby, I'm broken down

  I need your loving, loving

  I now :~

  The car suddenly stopped in front of a church where guests had already gathered. Troy and his baered through the back door of the reception hall and positiohemselves behind a curtain raised specially for their performahe bride and groom were called before the curtain, which then dropped dramatically, revealing Troy and his band. The newlyweds stood stunned as Troy unched into the catchy chorus.

  ~: Yar

  Yes, please

  Won't you e and put it down on me?

  I'm right here, 'cause I need

  Little love, a little sympathy :~

  From that moment, the story of the video flowed seamlessly. Troy and his band visited weddings of different cultures—Caucasian, Bck, Indian, ese. These weddings ranged from simple gatherings with a few guests to vish celebrations that showcased immense wealth. However, oheme remained stant across all the weddings: the focus was on the newlyweds, their happiness, and how Troy made their day even more memorable. The video appeared 100% genuine and unscripted, as guests at various weddings occasionally broke character and looked directly at the camera in realization.

  The video was wholesome from start to finish, cluding with Troy stepping off the stage to hug the newlyweds. As the video ehe title of the movie appeared: [Echoes of You], followed by the message: “Releasing this Christmas worldwide in emas near you.”

  ht, the video went viral, blowing up across the i. Troy’s immeernational fame, bined with YouTube’s explosive growth, put the video at the top of everyone’s watchlist. It helped that YouTube promily featured the video on its homepage.

  The ents on the video provided fasating insights into the audience's mood aement.

  Troy Armitage - Sugar (Official Music Video)

  5,098,348 views | Likes: 88k | Dislikes: 326

  @scorpion: Oh my God! Oh My God! Oh My God! (My rea is like that one bride when I saw the official video here)

  @BonitaJo: This young man is so uhat if he gets cut, he bleeds talent. ’t wait to see the movie iers.

  @wendyleroy: Holy m-f-ing sh!t! This is the bomb! Exactly the kind of song I o cheer me up. Thanks, Troy!

  @Joealohis is wow! From the music to the story, to the video—everything is just perfect. Just like all of Troy’s projects to date. Watg the movie for sure.

  @thegoldenemperor: How dare he! How Troy be this tall, handsome, talented, and dating Rihanna to top it all off? It’s like he hit all the lotteries at once. I hate him! (Not really, but you know what I mean)

  @scorpion: You fot he’s rich as well.

  @thegoldenemperor: ??

  @norahc: Hell yes! Been waiting for this movie for literal decades! Thank God it's here. ’t wait for it.

  @BeauBanana: I don’t uand what all the hype about this boy is for. All the girls at my school are crazy for him. Sure, he’s good-looking and the song is easy to listen to as well, but really, man, it’s too muetimes.

  @garfield: Looks like someone is jealous.

  @scorpion: Of course he is. Troy is the perfect human being God ever created. It would be a travesty if the plebs weren’t jealous of him.

  @grace: I think I fell in love with TA all ain after listening to this song.

  @scorpion: Then listen to the rest of his album, and you will legit die. It’s that good.

  @Sonian: I was about to say that! Sugar is good, but it isn’t even close to being the best song on the list. This album is the best one I’ve ever heard. Mark my words—this will go down in history as one of the greatest albums of all time.

  The reason the video was being so famous so quickly was the eople shared it across social media ptforms like Myspad Orkut. Within a week of posting, it had amassed an incredible 5 million views—an unheard-of number for any video-sharing ptform at the time.

  Everailer of the movie [Echoes of You] had only garnered half a million views.

  With this one video, Troy demonstrated that he was here to disrupt the musidustry, and in a big way. Everyone already knew about his song ‘t on Me’ from his childhood and his performances in [Billy Elliot: The Musical]. However, this marked his first foray into pop musid not just with one song, but a full album.

  The full soundtrack album for the movie was released a week before the film’s premiere, and anyone who listeo it was vi would break all records.

  (Break)

  “I ’t believe we’re doing this,” Ashley said excitedly. “This is the sed premiere I’ll be attending in my life. All thanks to you, Benji.”

  “Stay with me until the end, and you’ll get to go to more of these,” Benji said hopefully, only for Ashley to shake her head.

  “I told you I ’t do that,” she said sadly. “I don’t wanna lead you on, Benji.”

  “I know, I know, just saying,” Benji grumbled. Life was so unfair sometimes. Ashley had been admitted to Harvard and would be leaving ihan a year. Benji, oher hand, wasn’t particurly good at academics or sports, nor did he have wealthy acy parents to help his ces. Attending the same college as Ashley was almost impossible for him.

  The two had agreed to break up mutually and remain friends, but Benji was still struggling to move on. If he hadn’t invited her already before their break up, he might as well be ing here aloonight.

  He took a deep breath to calm himself and released it with a sigh. “Fine. Let’s go in then.”

  Benji pstered on a smile before stepping into the theater where the New York premiere of [Echoes of You] was being held. The event acked with stars, and the energy of the night alpable.

  He briefly met Emily and her new boyfriend, Rob, but Emily seemed so engrossed in Rob that she didn’t pay him much mind. Benji didn’t mind. He knew what being in love feels like at their age. Moving on, Benji took to admiring the other celebrities from afar.

  From Natalie Portman to Scarlett Johansson, from Johno Christian Bale—many of Hollywood’s brightest stars were in attendance.

  Benji resisted the urge to go weak in the knees when Scarlett Johansson casually brushed past him. Then, the star of the night entered, and he wasn’t alone. A stunning diva clutched Troy’s arm as they made their entrance.

  Any other actor in Troy’s pce might have mingled with the A-listers, but not Troy. The moment he spotted Benji, a huge grin spread across his face, and he speed-walked over, still esc Rihanna.

  “Hey, Benji!” Troy greeted him with a brotherly hug before turning to the girl beside him. “And Ashley. Have you two met Rihanna?”

  After exging pleasantries, it didn’t take long for the four of them to start chatting like close friends.

  “I love your shoes, Ashley,” Rihanna noted gleefully. “Where did you get them?”

  Benji and Troy shared a grin before Benji remarked, “Girls.”

  Troy nodded sagely but kept his thoughts to himself.

  Just then, two more people ehe theater, and Benji was surprised to see them, especially the girl.

  “Emma! Jamie!” Troy greeted the newers excitedly before turning to Benji and Ashley. “Enjoy the movie tonight. You’ll love this one.”

  “We io,” Ashley replied with a smile.

  With that, Troy and Rihanna excused themselves a over to chat with Jamie Bell and Emma Watson, leaving Benji and Ashley to their own devices.

  “Why is Emma Watson here?” Ashley asked pointedly. “Didn’t you say they had a bitter breakup?”

  Benji shrugged. “I don’t know everything. They’re still w on [Harry Potter], so it would make sense if they patched things up.”

  Ashley nodded in uanding, though her curiosity lingered.

  Soon enough, it was time for the premiere to begin. Benji and Ashley took their seats eagerly, but Benji’s enthusiasm faltered wheiced he’d been assighe seat beside Emma Watson.

  “Hey!” Emma greeted him warmly as she sat down. “You’re Troy’s friend, right? I thi at a Harry Potter premiere.”

  “Yeah, [Prisoner of Azkaban],” Benji replied curtly.

  An awkward silence followed. Benji avoided further versation, having lost all respema after learning how much she had hurt Troy. He was certain that if he spoke, something unkind might slip out, so he opted to stay quiet. Notig the tension, even Ashley refrained from making small talk.

  After a few unfortable mihe theater lights dimmed, signaling the start of the movie.

  The opening se didn’t begin with dialogue or a traditional setup. Instead, the movie unched into a song—a full-blown musiumber seamlessly ied into the story.

  Troy appeared on s, decked out in skater-boy attire: an oversized T-shirt, cargo pants, and a hip-hop cap. A skateboard pleted the look. He was apanied by a group of guys his age, each exuding a rebellious energy. Then, the music began—funky arifying, unlike anything Benji had heard before. Moments ter, Troy’s vocals kicked in, perfectly matg the vibe aing the tone for the rest of the film.

  [Bad Guy - Billie Eilish]

  ~: White shirt now red, my bloody nose

  Sleepin', you're on your tippy toes

  Creepin' around like no one knows

  Think you're so criminal

  Bruises on both my knees for you

  Beggin’ you tive, I do

  What I want when I'm wanting to

  My soul, so ical

  You like a tough guy

  Like it really rough guy

  Just 't get enough guy

  Chest always so puffed guy

  I'm that bad type

  Make your mama sad type

  Make your boyfriend mad tight

  Might get shot by dad type

  I'm the bad guy

  Duh

  I'm the bad guy :~

  Benji was utterly shocked by the song that pyed. Though he khe album had been released, he hadn’t bought it yet. He wao experiehe music for the first time iheater, surrounded by other viewers. Now he was gd he had waited.

  The song henomenal. Unventional, with heavy eleic elements woven i undeniably captivating. The more he listehe strohe urge to hum along grew. And the way Troy delivered the word “duh” was absolutely perfect.

  The video apanying the song was equally innovative. It showcased Troy and his on-s crew pulling off wild stunts on skateboards throughout most of its entire runtime.

  “I’m the bad guy!” Troy cluded the song with a flourish, leaving Benji eager to go home and listen to it all ain.

  As the video ended, it was revealed to be pying on YouTube, where it had already amassed millions of views.

  The se shifted to a young girl, around 12 or 13, watg the video on her puter s with excitement. She wore a rge cap, but it was clear she was bald underh, hinting at her battle with cer. Sitting beside her was Emily, her older sister, whose expressiorayed her distaste for the song. Yet when the younger girl turo her, Emily forced a bright smile and said, “e o’s go, or we’ll be te to Troy’s cert.”

  Benji couldn’t help but admire Emily’s performance. In just one se, she had veyed so much emotion and backstory with her expressions mostly.

  The narrative then followed the sisters to Troy’s cert. Bailey, Emily’s character, made snide ents about Troy every few seds, making her disdain for him clear.

  “People like him are the reason real music is dying,” she pio her younger sister. “They use EDM indiscriminately when they could be using real instruments like drums and guitars.”

  The younger sister, however, paid her no mind, eagerly anticipating Troy’s uping performance. And what a performa was. It was a rog performahat shook the eheater with its inality and the poundis of the drums.

  [Radioactive - Imagine Dragons]

  Troy stood ter stage, anding attention with a massive drum in front of him. Every few moments, he struck it with a rge drumstick, each resoundi electrifying the atmosphere before he unched into another powerful song.

  While the first song focused on EDM and unventional melodies, this sed performance leaned heavily into rock. It showcased Troy’s impressive vocal range, revealing a med, raw side of his talent—a striking trast to the earlier track.

  By the time the song reached its cresdo, the audien the theater was pletely immersed. They sang alohusiastically:

  ~: “I’m radioactive, radioactive!” :~

  Many thumped their chests, seats, or whatever surface they could find to match the addictive rhythm. The beat was utterly tagious.

  Dana, the little girl with cer, gave her sister a smug grin. “You happy now? He used drums in this song, not EDM.”

  Bailey ignored her sister as if she hadn't even spoken anything.

  As the song cluded, Troy took a short break, stepping aside to let another siake over. He headed to his trailer to prepare for the segment of the show.

  Meanwhile, Bailey, needing to use the bathroom, left her seat. By sheer ce—or fate—she actally walked into the wrong trailer.

  ___________________________________

  AN: Just wao crify that I won’t include full lyrics for whole songs, only those who I have modified greatly, like I did with Bad Guy.