Nobody Knows// Ross Lynch

thirteen

After their long awaited rehearsal, Lorena and Rydel went their separate ways for the day and it was time for Mateo to take up a chunk of her day again. Just before it was time for her to meet up with him, the princess managed to get pulled into her grandmothers affairs. 

Lorena and Isabel stood outside with their hands crossed over one another. They watched and listened to all of the performers from all over the country who decided to audition for her grandmother's birthday showcase. 

Artists rolled up in all types of attire, some more elegant and professional than others, but some just straight up resembled a quirky arts student from a small town. Lorena admired their bold choice in clothing and secretly wished she could live a more simpler life like them.

 A young male sat on a stool on the stage as he painted the royal women in his presence. "What do you think about him?" Isabel whispered to her granddaughter, without taking her eyes off the young artist ahead of them. 

The boy was sweating and kept retrieving his handkerchief from his pocket to wipe off his clammy forehead. "Just give him a chance abuela, he's definitely talented. I can tell," the younger princess whispered back. 

Isabel groaned in a low voice as she threw her hands up in the air. "Alright young man, your time is over now. Let's see what you have accomplished in this short time." She invited the young man over and he nervously turned his canvas around to show them. 

"I know I promised a painting of the two of you, but I noticed the two dogs shaking their tales at me in the window way up there..." The boy pointed to the side of the castle, addressing the queen's dogs who were waiting for Isabel back in her room. 

Queen Isabel laughed at this as she waved her hand in the distance, making the dogs start to jump up and down and get excited over her. The portrait showed the dogs in their exact positioning but with a little bit of more imagination in the background. Instead of being shown through the window, the dogs were being showcased in the castle and seemed to be showing off their great puppy-dog dance moves. 

Lorena laughed as she held the portrait in her hands. "This- this is golden! Abuela look," She shoved the canvas closer to the older woman as they both smiled at the painting. 

"Amazing," Isabel agreed while shaking the boy's hand with her satin gloves. "We'll see you the day of the show. Can I purchase this from you in the mean time?" 

The young man widened his eyes in shock as his cheeks began to turn as pink as a tulip. "Aaa- I- Um. Of course, your highness. What do you mean, you could have it for free!" The boy exclaimed after throwing his arms around the two women. "Thank you so much! I won't let you down!" 

Isabel stood there frozen on her feet, shocked over the boy's touch. Lorena wrapped her arms around the boy, giving him an encouraging hug back. "We'll see you soon." 

The guards looked hesitant to step in after the look on Isabel's face, but her smile was enough for them to think they did not need to step in. The boy skipped out of the field and around the other side of the castle where a line of artists waited patiently for their turn. 

Lorena's grandma dusted herself off and cleared her throat. "Who's next?" She said as he voiced cracked at her sudden burst of happiness. 

And to both of their surprise, Benji walked across the stage with a sly smirk on his face. He was dressed in an all blue suit and a black fedora on his head.

"Benji?!" Lorena called out. "You're auditioning for this?" 

He repositioned the fedora on his hat and kept the same smirk plastered on his face. "Yes, I am. I hope it's okay, but I'm not auditioning as a solo act."