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It started as an inside joke.
The amount of time Gem hung out with Scott Smajor and Impulse, also legally named Scott, led someone to nickname them. Gem didn’t know who it was that coined the term “Gem and the Scotts”, but she was okay with that title. Her and her boys just chilling in Impulse’s garage talking about things at happened in their lives or showing off screenshots of their Minecraft builds and grabbing food at a local food joint. It was cute and peaceful and exactly what Gem needed sometimes after a stressful day. That was until Scott pushed it to the next level.
“You signed us up for a Battle of the Bands?!” Gem exclaimed the day she found out the news.
“Yeah? So what? How hard could it be?” Scott shrugged, as if it wasn’t a big deal.
“So what? You didn’t ask either of us if this is something we wanted to do!”
“See, because I knew you would say no. But I thought it be funny considering our nickname. We do an okay job, have a few laughs and low quality recordings on our friend’s phones and move on.”
Gem sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Do any one of us even know how to play an instrument for this sort of thing?”
“I can play Drums.” Impulse chimed in.
“And I can probably learn guitar in 2 months.” Scott added. “I did take some lessons as a kid.”
“Does that mean I have to … sing? In public?” Gem asked, before changing thought. “Why am I entertaining this too?”
“C’mon, Gem. Nothing is going to come of it.” Scott assured her, putting her hand around her shoulders in reassurance. “We’re going to be fine. We’ll write something suited to your range.”
“I’m sorry, we have to write something?” Impulse asked.
“Yeah. This battle has to have us perform one original work per band.”
“How many songs due we have to learn until the battle?” Gem asked. “Cause this is seeming more and more impossible by the second.”
“I’ll get back to you on that. I think it depends on how many groups there are. So I’d say probably 3-5, with one original at least.” Gem sighed at Scott’s answer.
“I can’t believe we’re doing this.” She finally said.
“Neither can I.” Impulse laughed. “But we’re here now so … let’s do this I guess?”
The actual Battle went pretty alright. They managed to get themselves together for a 4 song set. Each of them chose a song to cover plus the original song that the three of them worked on together. They didn’t win, as expected, but they had fun getting together thrift store rocker style costumes with face paint to match the vibes. Gem knew a couple of their friends recorded it on their phones but didn’t realize the extent of their spread. She figured they’d just share it locally with people who weren’t able to make it and move on. Not post it on public social media. And she definitely didn’t expect their original song to go Viral.
“Hey Gem? Did you see the video Pearl posted of our performance online?” Impulse asked one day.
“No. Oh god how bad is it?” Gem groaned.
“Um … it’s at 250,000 likes already?”
“What?!” Gem practically ripped the phone out of Impulse’s hand to see. He wasn’t lying; the video Pearl made of their original half put together song had over a million views, quarter million likes and several thousand comments. Scrolling through them, she could see that lots of them were positive, wishing the song to be on Spotify or loving the aesthetic of the group. “This can’t be real.”
“No it’s real.” Impulse chuckled. “I had Pearl pinch me when I saw it and it’s very real.”
“Oh wow. Um … I don’t know what to make of this.”
“I do!~” Gem looked up to see Scott recording her, probably for the reaction, with his hand raised like a child in school. “We’re taking this to the next level. Spotify release soon, more songs, maybe get a recording deal with concerts and …”
“Slow down, Mr. Starstruck. Does any one of us know how to make and put a song on Spotify, or at least get a better recording of it than this video?” There was silence from her boys. “That’s what I thought. I’m going to look up recording equipment or studio rental space, whichever is cheaper.” Gem handed the phone off back to Impulse and began to walk away to do her research.
“You’re great, Gem!” Impulse called out after her.
“I know.”
One thing lead to another and now they were here, nearly two years to the day of their first performance. A sold out concert venue with plenty of fans calling out and cheering their names waiting in anticipation. Half of them probably knew their whole set list by heart and that fact alone made Gem’s own practically beat out of her chest.
“Is this the point I can officially call myself a popstar?” Gem asked as Scott was finishing up makeup and Impulse was chugging an energy drink quickly. “Cause this is insane! I still can’t believe we’re here now.”
“Neither can I.” Impulse chuckled. “How many people are out there again? You know what? Think it’s better if I don’t know.”
“You guys are going to make me mess up the makeup if you don’t let me concentrate.” Scott pointed out, to which Gem rolled her eyes.
“I can always do your makeup for you, you know. You don’t have to do it yourself every time.”
“But you mess it up every time and I am … done.” Scott put down the face paint and turned around to the others. “And yes, I think we are officially popstars now.”
“This is … god I didn’t expect my life to go this way I might just throw up.” Gem said.
“Please don’t.” Impulse advised. “We kind of need our lead singer to perform.”
“I don’t know … I kind of think I can cover if Gem falls ill enough.” Scott teased to an eye roll from Gem. “Or I have some meds in my bag.”
“I’m fine. Thanks though.” Gem assured. “Let’s just do this.” Gem put her hand out towards them, and without a word both men put their hands in. To everything they had worked towards, all the success and humble beginnings, to new adventures and fun times. This was it.
“GEM AND THE SCOTTS!!”