Umpteen Disadvantages of Being Awesome

Disadvantage 12 - Regionals

Disadvantage 12 -Just because you are 'awesome', doesn't mean you aren't frightened by the stage

"YOU DID NOT TELL US. THERE ARE 10 TEAMS AND ONLT-TWO WILL GET SELECTED FOR THE SEMI-FINALS. HOW DID YOU EXPECT US TO KNOW THAT WITHOUT YOU TELLING ?" My face is hot. I just screamed at my dance teacher who herself looks a bit alarmed. This is not done. The competition starts in 5 minutes and I know this now ? How the fuck is Alan so quiet. Is he just that egoistic eh ? He thinks that he can trample over 9 other teams just like that ? At least I would have prepared myself a bit better.

"Beck dear, focus on your performance. Just give your best. Even I didn't know about the elimination. The event organizers just told all the coaches."

I feel angry and nervous at the same time. Nervous is an understatement. Alan puts his hand on my back and leads me out. I brush his hand away - rude, and stomp down to the our room which is empty now. He makes me sit down and starts reasoning with me.

"How does it matter how many will be selected ? It is news for everyone. Moreover, if you knew about it yesterday or a week before, what would've you done ? Practiced more ? But haven't you practiced enough already ?" These are way too many questions in one single line.

"Yeah okay fine." I grumble. I don't really want to listen to this stuff at the moment. He won't even let me rant, always trying to reason and shit. It gets to me at times. He leaves the room telling me he'll be back in a minute. I look here and there and try to calm my nerves. Focus Beck, focus. You have practiced enough. Give your best shot, that's it. Focus. 

I hear knocking on the door. "Come in Alan." He could've just come in, I wouldn't have minded but no, he will go ahead and try to show just how chivalrous he is. Typical.

"Um hi, Beck." Marc says somewhat awkwardly. In a moment I am up from my seat, uncomfortable by his presence. One look and all the images of him kissing Katylin start blurring my vision. He makes me weak. He still affects me.

I keep aside my feelings and ask in a confident tone. "What are you doing here ?"

"Just came to wish you luck." He smoothly runs one of his hands through his hair, the way they used to drive me crazy. And still kinda do. "And got you these." He turns in a bouquet of flowers. Red roses.

 "Oh." Never liked red roses. I prefer white anytime. 

"Beck, I just .." He looks down, and up and everywhere but at me. " I just wanted to ask-"

.. and he never gets to complete as the door swings open again and Alan almost trips as he comes in. "Ours is the fourth performance. The show has started. First performance will be at 6:30, after that all performances will be in a gap of 15 minutes. We'll have to be present back stage by 7 – an hour from now. The results will be declared at 9." He says in one breath. It takes him a moment to see the outside company we have with us.

"What are you doing here ?" He asks crinkling up his nose, repeating my question. "You're the same guy who Rach punched. The one who talks in some other language. Which one ? Oh yeah, bullshit. Nopes, I still can't understand it."

And ladies and gentleman, that is how you get Beck to suddenly burst into laughter.

-*-

Was I laughing few minutes ago ? 'Cause now I am having this deep unsettling feeling in the pit of my stomach. Anytime they'll announce our name and we'll have to go on stage. I think I might pee. The wings back stage are a bit dark but I can still see Alan all cool as cucumber. He is standing straight but his body is loose, unlike mine – stiff. I never was abnegation.