"He's here," I whispered to Aaliyah.

"Who?" Aaliyah asked. "Marcus?"

"Did you guys say anything to eachother?" Aaliyah had a smile on her face.

"No, I had accidentally bumped into him," I replied. "I wonder why he came."

"Uhm, to sing," Aaliyah joked.

"Marcus doesn't sing," I said.

"But can he sing?" she asked.

I nodded in response. Aaliyah sighed, "How can you reject a hot guy that can sing? Dude, if you weren't in love with him right now I would totally date him," Aaliyah said dreamily. "But I doubt he would want to date a weird, cute girl like me."

We had booklets on our seats and we had them in our hands. In the booklets were a list of people who were going to sing on stage. Only fifteen people were allowed to perform and three people would be chosen from the three. And from the top three, the judges will choose the winner.

I was excited but nervous at the same time. I looked down on the booklet and and saw that I was the last one for some reason which made my uneasiness worsen. Aaliyah was seventh, Aeri and Emma were fourteenth.

Suddenly the lights went off and the stage lights went on. Some music started playing and the host walked through the maroon curtains. "Good evening, everybody!" the host said through the microphone,"I'm Kevin Baldwin and I'm your tonight's host for the annual Karaoke competition where you don't sing with lyrics in your sight."

The audience including us clapped our hands together. "So this is how the competition goes: Only fifteen people are allowed to enter the competition. Duo singers are allowed. You will sing on this stage, the judges and audience will vote on your performance and the top 3 will be chosen. From the top 3, everyone will vote for the winner. The winner or winners will get $1000 and a voucher for their favourite store while the other two in the top three will receive $250."

Everyone clapped again. "Introducing the judges, Frank Gossling, the beautiful Reina Stefan and Andrew Smith."

They nodded, smiling and waving at the cheering audience. "Now to start off with the first performance, give it up for Celina!"

Kevin disappeared through the curtains as Celina walked through. She started singing and slightly dancing to the song. I enjoyed her performance. After was done, everyone clapped.

More and more singers sang until it Aaliyah.

"Next is... Aaliyah!" Kevin said and left the stage. Aaliyah stood in the middle of the stage, and one light was on shining above.

"You think that you'll die without him

You know that's a lie that you tell yourself

You fear that you lay alone forever now

It ain't true, ain't true, ain't true, no," Aaliyah sang softly then all the stage lights went on and Aaliyah sang, moving around. She had such an angelic voice. I screamed her name and some people looked at me like I was crazy. Aaliyah smiled, still singing. She reached the end and she stood still,"Ain't no crying in the club."

Everyone clapped and whistled. "That's my bestfriend!" I screamed then stood up with Aeri and Emma, clapping loudly over the others. Bree was slightly smiling at my reaction and shook her head.

"Well done, Aaliyah. Excellent Performance," Kevin said. "Please get backstage and let the next performers come."

Aaliyah smiled and waved to the cheering audience, leaving the stage. A few more people sang and then it was Aeri and Emma who sang 7 Rings by Ariana Grande. I was nevrous. I was going to sing next.

I clutched the end of my hoodie, kind of regretting coming here. I literally didn't choose a song to sing, Aaliyah had insisted and I had hoped that she wouldn't try to get me out of the competition by letting me sing a Chinese song.

I got up my seat and walked to the backstage. I paused when I saw Aaliyah talking to Marcus, they both looked at me simultaneously. I avoided Marcus' gaze on me as I stared at Aaliyah. I walked to her, pretending Marcus wasn't there.

Aaliyah held a microphone and passed it to me.

"Now, last but not least is... Alyssa!" Kevin said and everyone clapped. I looked at Aaliyah and Marcus, fear running through me.

Why did I choose to do this again?

"I- I can't do it," I whispered, speaking to Aaliyah and Marcus, not caring that I was still ignoring him. "I'm scared."

"Alyssa, just go. You'll be fine," Aaliyah assured.

"What song will I be singing?" I asked Aaliyah and she was silent. She looked at Marcus with a knowing look. I furrowed my eyebrows,"Aaliyah--"

I felt someone held my hand and I was pulled away from Marcus and Aaliyah. "And there she is!" Kevin said and wrapped her arm around my shoulder. Kevin left the stage and I was alone. I was standing in front of a huge audience, with three strict-looking judges sitting in front. Everyone was staring at me, waiting for me to sing. I clutched the microphone tightly, my breathing laboured slightly.

Everyone was confused and some amused. The judges all had frowns on their faces. I noticed Bree with a concerned expression, she furrowed her eyebrows and gave me a small smile,"Sing." she mouthed out.

I brought the mic to my mouth and opened my mouth to sing.

"."

I froze.

"Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful angel."

Marcus?

"Love your imperfections, every angle."

I turned around and saw Marcus with a mic in his hand, him slowly walking towards me.

"Tomorrow comes and goes before you know."

He sang with his beautiful voice, walking towards me. His beautiful smile on his face. He stopped in front of me and his hand cupped my cheek. I shut my eyes, treasuring his simple yet loving touch. I opened my eyes to stare at his dark brown ones.

"."

He smiled. His beautiful smile, that made me feel a calm explosion inside me.

"

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful angel

you

," Marcus sang beautifully and backed away from me. Waiting for me to sing.

It was my turn.

I brought the mic to my mouth, more confidently. I wasn't scared anymore, I was too focused on someone important in life to be scared.

"Oh my God, where did the time go?

I wish the hours would go slow

How is it 6 AM?

Your touch is heaven-sent," I sang and I saw Marcus grin happily. I heard Aaliyah squeal behind from behind the curtains.

I walked closer to Marcus, "Beautiful, beautiful sight right now

Beautiful, beautiful life right now

Got the angels singing ooh-ah right now like, ooh-ah

And this is why we’ve got to touch (Ah)

Sometimes words are not enough (No)

Painted in your golden kiss, honey dripping from your lips

I thank God and my lucky stars

Darling, don't you know what you are?

Yeah, baby, you are."

We both smiled at eachother and sang,"Hey (Hey, baby)

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful angel (Ooh)

Love your imperfections, every angle (Baby, baby)

Tomorrow comes and goes before you know (Yeah, baby)

So I just had to let you know

The way that Gucci look on you amazing (Yeah, yeah)

But nothing can compare to when you're naked

(Nothing can compare, you're better when you, hey, oh)

Tomorrow comes and goes before you know (Yeah)

So I just had to let you know (Oh, know, yeah)

I just had to let you know

Swear to God you're beautiful, yeah."

Marcus had his hand on my cheek, his face near mine. My hand held his and I stared into his eyes. Many emotions running through my body. Suddenly, Marcus looked at the audience and his eyes widen when he saw someone.

Marcus looked at me sadly again. His eyes slightly starting to produce tears,"I... hate myself," he whispered and bit his lip. I stared at him in confusion though also wanting to cry. Seeing Marcus sad and scared made me feel the same. He wanted to say something but instead he turned around and walked off the stage while everyone started clapping loudly, thinking this was part of the performance. I clenched my fists, trying not to run after him.

I followed Marcus, pushing everyone out of the way trying not to lose sight of him. I saw the exit, ignoring the calls from people for me to return to stage. I made my way out and I saw Marcus walk away. "Marcus!" I called after him and he stopped. I rushed to him and stood in front of him.

He had tears in his eyes.

"Marcus," I whispered.

"Alyssa, stay away from me," he said, looking around.

"Trust me, I've tried," I replied honestly. "I... I can't."

Marcus looked at me with almost a smile on his face.

"Marcus, I don't want you to stay away from me. I don't want you to leave me alone. It's torture, Marcus," I said, warm tears streaming down my cheeks.

"Alyssa, the way I'm feeling towards you... it's fucking intense," he said. "Not even intense, way more. And I don't want to admit anything because I don't want to feel it..."

"Feel what?" I asked.

"Love," he replied, looking at me.

Love.

It was love.

"But you can't control it," I said.

"Exactly," Marcus whispered sadly. "Alyssa, you know me. I used to be a gangleader, I have people out there who want to hurt me but can't. They'll only hurt me through you. Alyssa, everyone knows you're important to me. Even my enemies who are in gangs. Do you know how stressful that is? Knowing that you're in danger is killing me, that's why I tried to stay away from you at all times, to show to everyone that you were just another girl I had dated. No feelings, no strings attached and all that shit but it's hard. Hard staying away from you, Alyssa. I can't sleep at night without knowing that you're safe. I have to suffer everyday, missing your smile and touch. I have to get Sam and Kendall to tell me if you're okay... and guess what? They told me that you were miserable too. Of course, I didn't believe them because I told them that you were too in love with Trick to even to think about me. I hate this, I hate my life," Marcus said.

He was crying.

Tears were falling from his eyes as he had said all that. I was crying too, staring at him as he spoke.

"Marcus, I can't stay away. I want you with me, I need you with me. I'll admit that I'm pretty scared that people might want to hurt me because I'm with you but I'm not going leave you... I'm not going to avoid you because of that," I said, clutching his arm tightly as if was going to leave me forever if I had to let go of his arm.

"I'm afraid to be with you, fall for you... I'm afraid to love you," Marcus said, wiping his tears away.

I slowly shook my head,"Don't be."

"And do you know what the scary thing is?" Marcus said with almost a sad smile on his face.

"What?"

"I feel like I already have," he said softly and he backed away, turning around and walking away.