The Difference

Chapter 9

               Zayn Princeford - Monte Carlo.

She saw me. I can't believe she recognised me. My whole life in Sunshine College she never as spoke a word to me but today she said something even if it didn't last long. She never left Corbin's side and that's very irritating. I wish I can tell her how I feel but I can't bring myself to to talk to her.

"Zayn!". My mum shouted from down the hall. I was in my room, on my bed.

"What?!". I shouted back for her to hear. She has an ear problem. She's gone fully deaf in her left ear and partially deaf in her right ear.

I hesitantly got down from the bed and descended to the hall. She was watching Supernatural. At this her age it puzzles me how she's into these kind of things.

"When are you going to visit your dad? He's been asking for you almost a week now".

"I don't know mum. You know I'm a busy between work and school to go anywhere".

"Why don't you take a day off and spend an evening with him? He misses you dearly".

"You know I still can't believe that after all that he's put you through you still do what he says". I said in bewilderment. "Mum, why can't you move on like he's done? Why can't you forget him? I'm sure he's forgotten you.

"Zayn, no matter what Zac did he's still your father and I still love him".

"Mum, the guy's married to your sister. How do you still love him after that?". I literally was screaming now.

"Zayn I don't want to have this conversation again."

"Then I'll advise you to tell your husband that he should stop waiting for me because I'm never going to visit him again" I stormed up to my room.

                              ******

     Dakota Walliams - Monte Carlo - Sunshine College.

"I want you to look at the seats and pretend they are full to capacity. When you have that image in mind let the music flow". I said.

Corbin cleared his throat, relaxed, started playing the piano and opened his mouth to sing but nothing came out.

"What happened?" I asked.

"I don't know". As I was standing I went to sit by him behind the piano.

"I want you to look me in the eyes and sing".

"Huh?!", he exclaimed at me and looked at me as if I'd asked him to kill someone.

"Look me in the eye and sing. Trust me, it works".

"I can't" he said shaking his head like a stubborn kid.

"Why can't you? You're looking at me right now"

"I am but not in the way you're asking me to."

"You don't want to look at thousands of people in the eye because you're afraid your voice would crack. So look at me and sing".

"Why can't my eyes be on the piano?"

"You're planning to sing to the piano because they'd be the ones to judge you, right?". I asked laughing.

"But you're not going to judge, are you?"

"I'm not but what do you think the audience and the judges are going to say when they see me sitting by you and you're singing to the piano?"

"I don't know".

"Just do as I say and stop arguing with me because there's no way outta this. Start playing".

Since I knew my part, we'd decided he'll sing his part alone till he's perfect. Then we'll sing together. He looked into my eye and started singing. His voice cracked. He stopped, blinked, cleared his throat and then started singing but he cracked again. He did this four to five times but still wasn't as good.

"You need the courage to do this. The show is months away. It may seem long but it'll come before you can say Jack". I said once we were done for the afternoon.

"This is very hard. I don't think I'll be able to pull through before the night of the show" he complained.

"Don't say you cannot do it. Right now we can't change you even if we want to. I'll see you on Friday." I said.

He left the auditorium looking more exasperated than he came in.