Beyond the Beats

Chapter 94. Destination

The dance fest was lit!

It reminded me of the Victorian Era's fashion that Arushi always romanticised about. Women clad in silky gowns, and men in three-piece suits, I felt like a time-traveller.

I checked my dress that Faith and Claire had bought for me. It was a light cream coloured knee-length one-piece dress with lots of laces - I loved it.

"How long are you going to admire yourself?" Axel asked me, boredom plastered on his face.

"I don't have anyone else to admire, so what can I do?" I replied.

He took a sip of water. "You haven't complimented me even once. Look at all the girls checking me out. Which one do you think should I accept the dance proposal from?"

I was really annoyed because Axel was praising himself non-stop, and he wasn't even wrong because a lot of girls were indeed staring at him with hearts in their eyes.

I played along and pointed at a girl with light brown hair, dressed in a red floor-length gown. I had noticed her looking in our direction, but while I was talking to Axel, she had turned her back towards us.

"Why are you picking up a guy for me?" Axel cribbed.

"I just saw a girl, dumbhead, but I guess she lost interest in you," I said.

He elbowed me, and before we ended up fighting, Taylor approached us and informed about the main event starting soon.

I followed Axel, and we went backstage. There were a lot of green rooms dedicated to various academies of the league. Our make-up artist was already waiting for us, so Axel and I dived into our respective changing rooms. As expected, Axel finished sooner than me and excused himself as I got my make-up done.

"I will be back soon," he said and left to catch up with some of his acquaintances.

When I was done checking my costume, I waited for Axel to return; before we went on stage, we had to discuss some pointers. One by one, the duos before us began performing, and our turn was inching closer. Still, there was no sign of Axel.

I called him, but he didn't pick up my call. I informed Taylor about the same, and he told me he would check.

Did Axel run away? It sounds so stupid, but what if he suddenly thought that he couldn't perform with me? After all, it is my first time here.

I picked up Taylor's call when my phone rang.

"Did you find Axel?" I asked him.

"I couldn't. Where could this idiot have gone? Bhoomi, please check all the changing rooms and the ones on the first floor. I will handle the management till then," Taylor said.

I quickly went out and searched other rooms. No one knew where Axel was. I went to the first floor, but most of the doors were locked. The passage was very long too. I called Axel and thought of leaving when I heard a faint noise resembling a ringtone.

I followed it and reached a room that had its door open just by an inch. To confirm my doubt, I called again. I heard Axel's familiar ringtone, but the call was rejected. I opened the door and noticed the pale Titan standing in one spot like a statue.

"What the heck is he doing?" I mumbled. "Axel, why aren't you answering your phone?"

I went inside, but he gave no reaction. Then, I noticed someone else also being present.

"Who are you?" a girl asked me.

Her light brown hair and red dress looked familiar. After a few seconds, I remembered that she was the same girl I had randomly picked to be Axel's dancing partner.