𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄, damiano david

━━𝟎𝟗.𝐎𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬

The first rehearsals the next day went pretty well. I wasn't as tired as I thought I would be and singing on stage was fun, even though there was no audience, just the other participants listening.

I hadn't seen Damiano since last night, we had been at breakfast earlier than usual today and now he was in the Italy room with the others. Somehow that calmed me down because I was nervous about the idea of him hearing me sing. We still hadn't said a word about what had happened yesterday before my interview.

"That was great, you and the piano are enough. We don't need all that stuff with dancers or lightshow," Elle said enthusiastically, clapping her hands as I walked to our alcove.
"When are we going to the hotel?", I asked my manager, because I wanted to go shopping quickly after the appointments today.
"I think in about an hour, the others still have to rehearse and then there is some information for the delegations," she glanced at her wristwatch.

"Alright, thanks Elle," I smiled and sat down on our sofa, from there I looked at Sophia who was talking to the band from Finland. Joel noticed my glance and waved at me with a grin, I waved back.

As the Italians came through the meeting room into the hall, I bent my knees on the sofa and looked at them.
They were all wearing comfortable clothes for the rehearsal; only at the dress rehearsal would we all perform once in our stage clothes.
Victoria had tied her blonde hair in a high braid, she looked excited.

"We missed your rehearsal, didn't we?" she asked me when she arrived at our sofa and I nodded, "Luckily," I said.
"Hey, I would have liked to hear you sing," she complained and I knocked on the sofa next to me, "Have a seat, I think Germany is having their rehearsal now."

Victoria sat down next to me and leaned her head on my shoulder, "What are you going to wear tonight?" she asked me out of the blue and I looked down at her, "Honestly I don't know, I have a few things for the party but I can't decide".
"I can come to your room first and we can get ready together," Vctoria offered, "Then I can advise you."

"Sounds good, I could do with a bit of advice" I agreed with a grin and tousled her fringes. She resisted squealing and boxed my upper arm with her fist.
It turned into a little scuffle on the sofa while Jendrik rehearsed his song.

Victoria and I laughed suppressedly, but it was not noticeable because the music from the stage was so loud.
"You're too weak, Cora," Vic laughed when I tried to knock her over.
"Ey," I giggled, "cheeky." She was only a few inches taller than me and yet always acted like I was a midget, always had been.

"Hey ladies, calm down," Ethan stepped up to us, I looked up and realised he had tied his long dark hair into a deep braid.
"No way," Vic said, "First I have to overpower Cora," I rolled my eyes, then she unintentionally punched me hard in the jaw and I made a pained noise.

"Oh shit I didn't mean to do that," Vic cursed, but she grinned.
"You'll pay for that," I threatened her with my index finger and held my jaw. It didn't hurt much and I had to laugh, but I still sank dramatically to the floor.

"Oh no, Cora," Vic howled sarcastically and tried to revive me. I heard Ethan laughing.
"Why did you kill my sister?" asked Sophia suddenly and I opened my eyes.
"She was mean," Vic explained as if it was a perfectly logical reason. Jendrik's song was over and the stage was rearranged.
"Okay," Sophia said with a grin and swung onto the sofa, she smiled brightly at Ethan.

"Sophia you have to save my honour and not watch her kick my ass," I scolded her jokingly and she raised her hands defensively, "It's not like I don't have the urge to push you off the balcony sometimes."
I looked at Ethan for help, but he just laughed softly.

"Guys we're on in a minute," Damiano snapped us out of our amusement, coming towards us with Thomas.

"Good morning Coraline, did you sleep well?", Damiano grinned at me with amusement.
"Surprisingly well, thank you for asking," I replied with narrow eyes. The corners of Damiano's mouth twitched.
He was wearing a black jumper and black trousers, as well as the Dr. Martens I had seen him wear before.