Breathe...

Okay...you could do this.

My fingers absentmindedly played with the guitar strap that was swung across my shoulder, holding the instrument in place as I shuffled from one foot to the other. Momentarily looking away from the stage where a group of four boys were doing some sort of comedic dance routine, I peeked around the backstage curtains and looked for Charlie.

It was dark in the audience, but it was easy to spot her since she was sitting in the front row. She was laughing along with our fellow school mates as the boys did something ridiculous, and I did my very best to mentally call her attention to me. It worked. Her eyes went to me, and she gave me a questioning look.

I shook my head frantically, and mouthed, I don't think I can do this!

She rolled her eyes, then pointed over her shoulder. I looked past her and over to the general direction her finger was facing. It didn't take long for me to find what she wanted me to see. Leo was cackling away with his friends, their eyes trained on the stage. The stage I was going on as soon as the current act was over.

I felt like throwing up.

Breathing deeply, I hid back behind the curtain and clutched at my guitar's neck with both hands. I quickly let go of it, and checked if it was still tuned.

"Girl."

I almost screamed, but spun around on my heel instead. Charlie clamped her hands down on my shoulders and looked straight into my eyes. "You got this. Stop freaking. You're good. Crazy good! And if Leo doesn't figure that out, then good riddance to him."

"I still can't believe I'm doing this!" I whisper-shouted, resisting the urge to bounce on the balls of my feet.

"Did he text you back?" She raised a brow down at my jean's pockets where my phone was currently stored.

I nodded.

She held out a hand, and I placed the device on it. As she read my exchange with Leo, I went over it in my mind. I have read it so many times in the past two days I knew every word by heart.

He called.

"Then let me reach you."

My stomach tightened, and my heart skipped a beat. There was so much passion behind his words. My hands shook as I continue to hold my phone up to my ear.

I ended the call.

"And he's there." Charlie points out, as she hands me back my phone. "You can't back out of this now, Jus."

I slipped the phone back into my pocket and sighed. "I know."

"Thank you...Ragtag Boys for that entertaining number!" The MC and school music teacher, Mr. Gloss says as he steps back unto the stage. He looks down to the piece of paper in his hands, then back up to the crowd. My heart was threatening to jump right out of my chest. "And our next contestant, Miss Justine Grant!"

The crowd clapped, and Charlie gave me an encouraging smile. "Go get 'em."

I took a deep breath, holding it for a second, before exhaling. I nodded. "Thanks."

❤

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