SuperStar!

Behind the curtains at the wedding reception, Ethan and the band were busy setting up their equipment. Rebecca stood off to the side, her arms crossed and a frown etched on her face.

"Ethan, why did you agree to this?" she said, her voice laced with frustration. "There's no camera, no setup, and this is throwing off the entire schedule. We planned the timings perfectly, and now we're behind."

Ethan, adjusting the microphone, glanced up at her with a faint grin. "But Rebecca, crashing weddings is the whole point. What's more authentic than this?"

Rebecca pinched the bridge of her nose. "And how exactly do you plan on recording this? You do realize this was also supposed to be for your music video, right?"

Before Ethan could respond, Max, who had just finished setting up, chimed in from the corner. "Why not just use your phone?"

Ethan's face lit up. "Yes! That's perfect. It'll make it feel more raw and real. Plus, we can ask the wedding photographer for their footage later. Come on, let's just enjoy this." He gave Rebecca a reassuring smile. "And about the other weddings—don't stress. I know how you work. If you say we need to be somewhere by eight, it's actually nine-thirty. We've got time."

Rebecca groaned, clearly unconvinced. "Fine. But please, make sure this goes well. The magazine cover could do wonders for your image."

"Roger that," Ethan replied, snapping a playful salute. Rebecca rolled her eyes but couldn't entirely hide the small smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

As their conversation ended, the sound of voices grew louder, signaling that everyone had returned. Ethan quickly glanced over his shoulder and leaned in toward the group. "They're here. Let's get ready," he said in a low voice.

The band members nodded in silent agreement, moving into position. Rebecca sighed, pulled out her phone, and started recording. She panned the camera toward Ethan, who flashed a dazzling smile, his pearly white teeth catching the light.

Whispering into the lens, Ethan said, "Hey guys, Ethan Jones here, and we're about to crash a wedding." He gestured subtly toward the front with a tilt of his head, the grin on his face growing wider.

As the voices grew closer, Ethan nodded in time with the beat, signaling the start. Max tapped out the rhythm on his drums, the sound crisp and energetic, while Leo's guitar came in, strumming the first lively chords. The music flowed seamlessly, building anticipation as the band prepared to steal the spotlight.

As the curtain slowly parted, Ethan's voice drifted out, smooth and magnetic:

"I'm hurting, baby, I'm broken down..."

The room buzzed with quiet conversation, plates clinking faintly against glasses. At first, the music blended into the background, unnoticed. But as Ethan continued, his voice grew richer, and the melody became impossible to ignore.

"I need your loving, loving, I need it now..."

Heads began to turn, eyebrows raised in curiosity. Some whispered to each other, others simply stared, trying to place the voice that felt so familiar.

Then came the chorus:

"Sugar! Yes, please! Won't you come and put it down on me?"

The crowd froze. Gasps rippled across the room, followed by a shriek of recognition. A woman clapped her hands over her mouth, pointing toward Ethan as the realization spread like wildfire.

Ethan stepped forward, the microphone in one hand, his other gesturing toward the bride and groom.

"I'm right here, 'cause I need... little love, a little sympathy!"

The bride's eyes widened, her hands trembling as she dropped to her knees. Overcome with emotion, she whispered, "It's him. It's really him." Tears streaked her face as she reached out, unable to contain herself.

Ethan, still singing, reached her, pulling her gently to her feet. He twirled her in time with the beat, her dress spinning as the guests erupted into cheers and applause.

The groom, grinning ear to ear, turned to his friend Barney with disbelief. Barney smirked, arms crossed, soaking in the admiration.

Ethan continued, moving effortlessly through the crowd:

"Yeah, you show me good loving, make it alright..."

As he sang, he stopped in front of a little girl in a pink dress. Her eyes lit up when Ethan crouched slightly, holding the mic toward her. She joined in shyly:

"Need a little sweetness in my life!"

The guests cheered, clapping wildly as Ethan smiled at her and moved on, his voice never faltering.

By the time he reached the verse:

"I want that red velvet, I want that sugar sweet..."

His voice dipped low, smooth and intimate, drawing the crowd closer to him. The bride stood motionless, her eyes fixed on Ethan as if no one else existed. Ethan spun her again, dipping her dramatically as the room roared its approval.

The groom, still smiling, turned to Barney once more, giving him a thumbs-up before breaking into a full Carlton Banks dance. His arms swung side to side with sharp, exaggerated movements, and his knees bounced perfectly in rhythm. His friends howled with laughter, clapping along as he performed.

But as Ethan continued, the groom's enthusiasm faltered. He stopped mid-dance, realizing how utterly enchanted his wife was. Her eyes sparkled with joy as Ethan spun her again, her hands trembling as they clasped his. The groom's face shifted, the smile slipping away as he stood frozen, watching Ethan charm his bride with an effortless grace.

Ethan turned smoothly away, leaving the bride breathless, and made his way to her mother. He took her hand with a charming smile, twirling her gently as she blushed and laughed.

Meanwhile, the bride's sister stepped forward, hopeful. But Ethan passed her without a glance, seamlessly transitioning to the bridesmaids, weaving through their group with spins and playful steps.

Tom and Jerry, the Time magazine journalists, were now fully immersed in the chaos, awkwardly dancing with a group of older guests. The entire hall seemed alive, the music energizing everyone.

Ethan's voice soared:

"When I'm without you, so insecure..."

He approached an elderly man at the back of the room and gave him an encouraging nod. The man hesitated before offering a small shuffle, drawing a delighted laugh from the crowd. Ethan spun away, his movements perfectly timed with the beat.

Rebecca stood at the edge of the room, her phone capturing every moment. From Ethan's dips and spins to the crowd's ecstatic reactions, she recorded it all, her steady hands ensuring not a second was lost.

As the music swelled to its final chorus, Ethan walked back toward the bride. She looked completely overcome, her hands clasped tightly to her chest. Ethan gestured toward her as he sang:

"Won't you come and put it down on me..."

The song ended with Ethan holding the last note, his voice lingering in the air like a spell. The guests erupted into cheers, the bride's tears flowing freely as she clung to her groom, overwhelmed with joy.

Ethan stood still for a moment, his expression serene, before giving the crowd a slight bow. The room was electric, the memory of his performance etched forever into their hearts.