Ready for it? (Joost Klein)

4

I try to ignore my nerves as I get out of the car at the pre-party. There is a red carpet and on both sides of it there are more fans that I expected.

"Livia! Livia! We love you so much!"

"Livia you are so beautiful!"

"I got a tattoo of you!"

I look at the person who shouted the last sentence. Would people really do that? I walk up to the fan and she proudly displays her arm, on which is my name and my song. 2024 is written in big, ornate letters next to it.

"This is crazy but I love it!"

I pose for a moment with the fan and the people next to it when they want to take pictures and then walk on.

Inside there are so many people. Everywhere I look I see artists, fans, journalists and people from the organization. 

I can already feel my breathing quickening. I don't do well with crowded groups, especially indoors. Nervously, I look around. A little further away I see Nebulossa and Joost Klein talking to each other. On the other side I see Marcus and Martinus and Nemo standing.

I begin to fidget at the bottom of my skirt. At least my outfit is perfect. I have a short skirt on with a blazer on top that perfectly accentuates my curves.

My high heels make me look a little taller, making me reach the 1m68 mark.

The interviewer who just interviewed Luna approaches me.

"Livia, hello! Is it okay if I ask you a few questions?" I nod with relief. If I focus on the questions, I'll calm down. 

"Tell us, do you have any special ideas for your act?"

"There are a few special effects but mostly I want to focus on my dancers and the power of the song."

"We're looking forward to it! Do you have any special rituals you do before you go on stage?"

"On the night before I always eat junkfood. My manager is a little less enthusiastic about this but I've been doing this for months now and I love eating gooed food."

"Do you have any future dreams for after this whole thing?""Hmm... As long as I can I want to keep making music. The combination of dancing and singing lets me forget about the real world for a while."

"Everyone knows you can dance well. How did you learn this?""As a child I started dancing as a hobby. When I was 15, I even danced 4 times a week. I could never make the choice between dancing or singing. They are both passions for me."

"Thank you so much for your time. Good luck with your rehearsal and see u next time!"

The interviewer moves on to another candidate and I find myself alone again. I look around a little aimlessly. I imagined this pre-party to be a little more fun.

"Why do you look so sad? Let me guess, they don't have apple pie here?" 

I recognize his voice immediately. I turn around and see the one and only Joost Klein standing there. He is wearing a blue suit that is wide at the shoulders. 

"Don't get on my nerves, Joost. I want to enjoy this evening." Joost smiles. "Enjoy it? You look like you're bored out of your mind." I sigh. I don't want to give that impression to the fans. 

"You know, I've been to Belgium a number of times. Honestly, I don't find anything special about it." I roll my eyes and answer directly. 

"Like Holland is modern Las Vegas." I see his eyes look at me from bottom to top. 

"Have people already told you that for such a small woman you are pretty feisty?" 

"No. And if you don't like it, don't talk to me." 

And before he can answer, Nemo joins us.