Out of Time

Chapter 17: Qualifications

Sometimes you just have to take a deep breath.

Azriella feels nauseous, it feels like a combination of anxiety, dread, and excitement all at once. Her palms become sweaty like an open faucet, her heart is already prepared to jump off from her chest, and it feels like she swallowed a bunch of butterflies whose now wandering around her stomach. Her grip from her microphone trembles, she tries to stop it making her grip become tighter.

Christine went to her seat, "Azriella your phone keeps ringing; do you want to answer it before your turn starts?"

Azriella nodded and grabbed the phone from her hand. "Hello?" She answered.

"I can feel your presence all the way out here, keep your head high and make your eyes shine." Zach teased around from the other side of the line.

"Shut up Payne in the ass." She chuckled.

"Can't wait to see you lighting the stage Ms. Grumpy."

The line ended. Azriella handed her phone over and her beauty guru rushed towards her to retouch the area.

"Montiel High Representative, Mr. Marshall Jackson and Ms. Azriella Montgomery! The Elysian Duo!" The organizer shouted.

Beauty and the Beast started playing.

The applause of the audience died down as they tried to ignore the stares they received. Azriella Stares at his eyes even he's on the other side of where she is standing. The fourth beat dropped, her sweet smile made him red while walking down the path.

Max kept his hand behind him while Azriella swayed her hand gracefully, keeping her shoulders relaxed, and shifted her hips slightly. At last, they took their places and waited for the soft flow of music to begin.

Their shoulders touched while they were slowly circling around, their glazes remained locked. Azriella blinked slower while shifting her sight to his eyes and lips. Max's lips rose and formed into this little smile enough to reveal his white teeth. Azriella's pure yellow gown moved freely while the Swarovski crystals kept shining because of the spotlight's reflection. Max can't help but stare at her almond eyes, blue as spring, deep and irresistible, until it went down to her lips. Their feet are in perfect sync with the beating of their hearts. The light reflected through her eyes making the tone of her eyes more vivid.

Eli can't stop shaking Zach's arm from excitement, "My Mariella Heart!" She exclaimed.

Max placed his hand on her waist, Azriella placed hers on his shoulder, then finally their free hand met. Max leaned on her until they were an inch away. His warmth between them grew more powerful by the second. Their heartbeat was growing steadily along with it.

The high notes kept flowing but they received it by hitting a higher note. The atmosphere brought the judges to have big smiles and clap their hands.

Everyone screamed their name, "Mariella until the end!" they kept repeating.

Sparks from the side of the platform begun to lit up, it made the crowd cheer louder. Banners from their schoolmates rose. Their classmates swayed their hands, hyping them up.

Zach slowly lowered his arms and camera from recording. His lips rose and turned into a little fluttering smile. How can I compete with the person who everyone loves for you? He said to his mind.

"That's our golds!" Christine proudly screamed.

Max pulled away from the mic from his lips and leaned closer to Azriella. That was when he decided to let go. Let his worries, his anxiousness, and doubt go. Right here, right now they were living. Nothing else seemed to matter anymore; She allowed him to take her around his arms, on top of her. We became one with the song, with the dance and with each other. He leaned his face and kissed her on her cheeks, making it look like he kissed him.

Eli grabbed Zach's wrist and pulled it away from the crowd towards backstage.

"What a performance! Again, Elysian Duo from Montiel High!" The organizer shouted to his mic making the crowd growl louder, "And now, for the last and not the least contestant. Breylee Academy!"

The roar dimmed as they descend from the platform. Christine dropped her weight on them as soon as they touched backstage, "You both did great!" They exclaimed.

"Azriella!" Eli ran towards her and her warmth comforted Azriella. "And that's how you win a competition." Eli smirked and whispered.

"Hey." Azriella shrugged Zach, "I did great huh?"

"No." He frostily declared. "Come here." He chuckled and messed her hair up.

"Hey! Her awarding." Eli tapped his hand.

As she turned around, their eyes met for the second time. "Hey Max." She frowned. "My turn." Max hugged her and lifted her up to sway her around. "You still owe me one, that kiss was never on the plan." She rolled her eyes.

"Here I'll return it." Max leaned closer making her fall back to his arms. "Hey the show ended minutes ago." Zach interrogated.

Eli sighed and shrugged him away, "You're so bitter."

"Hey!" Someone ran behind them, "Stop!"

A loud noise came from the platform, a huge metal tube slammed the stage, luckily the contestants were far from it.

"Oh God!" Eli exclaimed.

"It seems someone set them up." James spoke.

"We were supposed to be the last competitors, right?" Max exclaimed.