Right one at the wrong time

Before the first press conference

Already dressed and holding a coffee cup in her right hand, Konstrakta walked again through the now familiar corridors. Even though everything seemed so big and confusing at first, she slowly started to recognise certain places. After all the arena would be their second home for these two upcoming weeks. Now she had met almost all the participants and finally listened to all the songs. All but one. Sweden. Something deep inside her resisted listening to that song even just once. Although there was absolutely no reason for it. Luckily she hadn't been asked about it much in interviews so far and if she had, she would of course say she liked it. Which wasn't exactly a lie. She would probably like it. The first 20 seconds were good. Very good.
"Good morning, Ana. Are you all ready for the first press conference with the other candidates?" Kosta, one of her choir members, asked her as Konstrakta stepped into the dressing room.
"As ready as ever."
She smiled slightly, put her coffee cup on the table and looked for a clock. There was still a good hour to go.
"Kosta?"
"Yes?"
"Where is the list of participants who will also be at the press conference now?"
Not that it mattered but still she was curious who she would be sharing the long table with today. Kosta just pointed to the table. Konstrakta followed his pointing finger with her eyes and then saw a small piece of paper with a coffee rim on one side laying next to some other papers. She took it and carefully let her fingers fly over the letters.
"Estonia, Australia, Romania, Serbia" and then she stopped. "Sweden" Immediately she put the note down again and stared into the air. Without her consciously noticing, a small wrinkle appeared on her forehead between her eyes.
"Are you okay? Why are you looking like that? Do you have to share the spotlight with some contestant you don't like today?" He grinned and Konstrakta knew he was just fooling around.
"No, no it's all good. It's not like I really know the other four. And no need to dislike anyone."
-
After they were finally called, Konstrakta was now standing in the corridor next to the press room. After a while she heard a distant voice coming closer and closer. Although she had only heard this voice for 20 seconds so far, she recognised it immediately. But because the words were Swedish, she could not understand it. All of a sudden, this unpleasant feeling returned to her stomach and she didn't feel like she wanted to meet this woman again. Even though she didn't know her at all, there was something about Cornelia she disliked. Or rather wanted to dislike. She was a little weird and young and so excited. Way over the top.
Cornelia came around the corner and beamed. Without any inhibition or hesitation, she immediately walked up to Konstrakta, held out her hand, which was adorned with even more rings than Konstrakta's own, and said, "Cornelia Jakobs. I'm a big fan of yours." Konstrakta was so taken aback by her direct manner and the compliment that she really was at a loss for words. She took her hand, but before she could say anything to her Sheldon addressed Cornelia. You could see that the two of them had apparently talked before. Cornelia let go of Konstrakta hand and started immediately talking to him instead. This young woman really was all over the place. Suddenly, however, Cornelia put her hand on Konstrakta's shoulder, which made her flinch slightly. "I have an idea" she started and then looked Konstrakta straight in the eye. This woman was confident and brave and one of the few people here who didn't seem intimidated by her. On the contrary. After a while she broke eye contact and now looked back at Sheldon. "What if we hold your robe? And then enter the room like that? I mean it looks heavy."
At this, Cornelia increased the pressure on her hand, which was still holding the shoulder of the black-haired woman beside her as if to indicate for her to say something.
"Oh sorry. You mean the two of us? You and me? His robe?"
"Yes!" she seemed so absolutely thrilled about it as if Konstrakta had just offered to bake a cake for her. The blonde looked at her with shining eyes and a huge smile, waiting for an answer.
Konstrakta pondered. Actually, this was almost a little too silly. And she wasn't too keen on doing anything WITH that Swedish girl either. They had nothing in common. For some reason, her mind kept trying to find reasons why she should not like Cornelia. And why she didn't want to have anything to do with her. She also cursed the fact that out of all the participants she had to sit at this table with her now.
"Okay yeah. Let's do it." Konstrakta heard it come out of her own mouth before she could stop herself.