Divine Seers

15. Audition time

The fashion show audition was here and Sophia and I went straight to Elliot Hall to get ready. Elliot Hall was another school hall which was mostly used for performances and dance classes. It was big and had a wide stage.

With the charity fashion show coming up, there was a long catwalk attached to the front of the stage and lots of lighting throughout the hall. The whole set up gave me nerves that the fashion show was finally here and here I was trying to take part. When we arrived at the hall, we went straight to the backstage changing rooms to get ready.

The changing rooms were very long and wide with little cubicles for students to change in. A small creaky door from outside the corridor and into a dark room which then led to another door, finally brought us into a well-lit and busy changing room.

'Let's take a cubicle each and get changed into our sports kit. We will have to go on stage soon so let's get moving,' said Sophia. There were lots of groups of girls in the changing rooms walking up and down the changing rooms trying to practise their walks before the auditions started.

As soon as Sophia and I finished changing we decided to practise our moves and the walk that we had created together. Right at the bottom of the changing rooms there was some space in front of a long mirror to practise our steps, moves and manoeuvres for as long as we could.

After a bit of practise, I felt more confident about going up on stage. 'We can do this Olivia. We're going to get through,' said Soph smiling confidently. Just before we took to the stage, Sophia also spoke to the lighting technicians to ensure that the green and pink lights were switched on at the right times throughout our catwalk show.

My nerves came fluttering back within me. I kept thinking that the lights wouldn't work or that something horrific was about to happen. Sophia kept reassuring me that she had spoken to the lighting technician and there was no way the lights could go off or stop working.

Our names were on a long list and the group that were on the list before us had just gone on to the catwalk. Grace, Priyanka and Lucy were also on the list but they were right at the end. I hadn't seen them in the changing rooms yet so they would either turn up just before their audition or they were already inside a cubicle. 

'Stay calm Olivia. It's our turn next,' said Soph. I began counting the seconds in my head slowly, one, two, three and then suddenly we were both up on stage. I took a deep breath and smiled.

The audience cheered and we started walking slowly down the catwalk. My nerves started to calm down once I heard the audience cheer. Sophia also winked at me as if to tell me that everything would be fine. Someone had put some upbeat dance music on but it wasn't the song that we had chosen for ourselves if we were to get through to the real show.

We were only allowed the real music for the real show. Both Sophia and I smiled and continued to walk and do our little moves and manoeuvres on the way. As I looked at the audience, I could see Grace, Priyanka and Lucy clapping for us. They were dressed in their sports kits so I realised they had come out of the changing rooms to see us on stage. This made me happier as I realised they were real friends.

After a successful walk down the catwalk, the organizer Chloe asked us to go back on stage and walk again because the lights hadn't quite fallen in the right places. I took a deep breath and thought to myself 'I knew it'.

Chloe said the pink and green lights had lit up correctly but that they weren't positioned on us which meant the camera couldn't pick us up properly. Chloe went to speak to the lighting technicians and then asked us to do a quick walk down the catwalk again so that she could assess whether the lights were working. She also asked us to walk more down the centre of the catwalk too.

We walked back on to stage and walked down the catwalk. Chloe looked up at us and said that the lights had fallen perfectly. I was so relieved. It was so nerve wracking having to walk along the catwalk constantly with an entire audience watching.

I looked down at the audience and there right in the middle was Ethan looking incredibly hot! He smiled and gave me a thumbs up. I felt ecstatic! This was a confirmation that he definitely knew who I was. However, I did wonder if it was a thumbs up to me or to Sophia.

As my thoughts spiralled out of control, I realised that I needed to stop over thinking things. I smiled back and then we walked off the catwalk and back into the changing rooms.

'Sophia, I knew something would go wrong,' I said. 'Olivia nothing went wrong. It was just that the lights weren't positioned properly,' said Soph. 'Yeah but something went wrong,' I said. 'Liv it was only the positioning. Otherwise they flashed perfectly,' said Sophia.'

'Very true Soph, I think I am panicking for nothing,' I said. 'Yes of course you are panicking for nothing. The audience were cheering so please have some faith in yourself Liv,' said Soph.

I tried not to overthink the audition and was thankful that it had passed. 'Olivia I am just going to speak to Natalie and Sarah, I'll be back later or I'll meet you at home,' said Sophia. 'Sure, no problem,' I said.

I decided to go back to the cubicle to change out of my sports kit. As I went back, I passed a window that was looking out into the school grounds. I took a peek outside and there right in front my eyes was Ethan surrounded by the Nasty Boys crew. I absolutely freaked out, poor Ethan with his rosy cheeks and was outside all alone with them.

I kept watching through the window and noticed Bradley and Archie getting even closer to him with Dominic shouting nasty things from behind. Ethan began walking away and as he did, Dominic stuck his foot out and tripped Ethan up. Bradley and Archie started laughing loudly.

I became so nervous, there was sharp feeling of shock running through my heart. I never thought Ethan with his charming personality could be a victim of bullying. I needed to come to his rescue. Just at that moment, a tall guy held Bradley and Archie back and Ethan managed to get away.

Soon after, the Nasty Boys crew also walked away too. I felt a strong sense of relief and happy that Ethan had got away.

The shock had built up inside of me and I needed to use the toilet. As I entered the toilet, my next worst nightmare had appeared. 'Don't think that I've forgotten about what happened Olivia,' said Shannon in a threatening manner.

If the sense of shock inside of me could get any worse then it had literally started to cause a burning feeling in my chest and my breathing became irregular. I just did not expect to bump into Shannon and at this point I was also bursting for the toilet! 'If I ever see a basketball flying towards my head then I know who to come after don't I?'

Just then, a large fountain of water came shooting out of one of the showers and completely soaked Shannon. 'Nicole, watch your shower the water is shooting up and spilling all over me!' shouted Shannon.

Shannon went to grab a towel to wipe herself down and, in that moment, I ran for my life and escaped the toilet! Luckily Shannon was soaking wet and had to dry herself. She hadn't even noticed that I had run off.

I went back into the changing rooms and changed out of my sports kit. Then I went to look at the list outside Elliot Hall to check if Sophia and I had got through the audition. Luckily the names had gone up and we had got through!! I was ecstatic.

I tried to phone Sophia but I couldn't get through to her phone. I decided to head home so I could speak to her there.

On my way home I received a phone call from Soph. 'Olivia I overheard Shannon attacking you in the toilet so I had to spurt water all over her from Nicole's shower. It was hilarious wasn't it?' 'Oh, that was you?' I asked.

'Yes, that was me. I was in a toilet cubicle and I used my mind power and moved Nicole's shower head in Shannon's direction. As soon as I heard her attacking you, I had to intervene. I made a lucky hit,' laughed Soph. 

'Soph you are truly the best sister in the world!! Thank you for saving me! Also, guess what? I checked the list outside Elliot Hall and we got through the audition. We'd better keep practising because we're gonna be on stage again!' I said.

'Oh, I am so happy Olivia. That's two amazing things in one day!! Girl power!!! said Soph. 'Supernatural sister power,' I said and we both laughed!