Broken Guitar Strings

Chapter 41

(ALLIE'S POV)

Today, we had a fresh start. After eating the delicious breakfast Waldorf Astoria served, we took a trip to the famed Madame Tussauds Wax Museum. It includes celebrities, athletes, singers, and famous characters from books, movies, TV shows, and comics. We were faced with a giant King Kong right as we walked in. It was fun trying to imitate the poses that the life sized wax figurines adopted, and the hallway we walked out through had pictures all over the wall of when famous people like Beyonce and Drake came to see and take pictures with their wax twin. "I asked Lay which one was his favorite, and he said that he liked all of them, but he particularly liked the music section.

After we visited the wax museum, we went to the Rockefeller Center. Mrs. Zhang made us take a lot of pictures. The view from atop the buildings was astounding, but to be honest I liked the one atop the Empire State Building. Maybe I just like night scenery better...or maybe I just like kisses.

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Today is the day before the competition. I know Lay is starting to become nervous because he ran on the treadmills on the first floor for forty-five minutes non-stop at six in the morning. We visited Times Square today. As many people as there were at Rockefeller, the people count didn't beat out Times Square. The square was full of people, buying food and looking up at the huge billboard screens. We had such a fun time there, and I think Lay is now three times more outgoing than the first time I met him.

We got back to the hotel at around two thirty in the afternoon, because just like Lay's mom said, he needs to rest before his big day tomorrow. The three of us just took some down town. Mrs. Zhang went to the in-hotel spa to get her nails done and hair washed for tomorrow; I stayed in my room and read while listening to music. I can't help thinking about what Chanyeol is doing right now. He hasn't sent me anything: no texts, no calls, no nothing. I bet it's because he's upset that I'm here with Lay.

Well, these two weeks are for Lay anyway. I am glad to be here to support him and watch him do what he loves one of the most important days of his life. It's about him, not about me.

Lay just played around on his guitar. He can play some real nice tunes, even if he switches every thirty seconds.

I know he's nervous. And scared. Scared of failing and disappointing us.

After dinner, we prepare for bed. Mrs. Zhang comes back with her hair all lush and her nails all manicured. Her complexion is glowing. As she is putting curlers in her hair, she calls from the mirror inside her room, "You two should get some sleep now. Right after I finish putting these in I'm going straight to bed."

"Okay." Lay steps into the bathroom for a quick, five-minute shower and comes out with nothing but messy, wet (and somehow attractive) hair and sweatpants. His torso is bare, showing off his abs. I guess he didn't expect me to be in the lounge area of the suite when he came out because his eyes widened by a lot when he saw me. "A-Allie," he stammers. Then he looks away. "It's your turn to shower." I don't know why there are only two bathrooms for three bedrooms. I also don't know why anyone would be embarrassed by such well-toned abs, but he was. "I'm sorry," I say. I quickly run into my bedroom and grab my pajamas. By the time he turns around, I've already shut the door, locked it, and turned on the water faucet.

By the time I come out of the shower, the lights are already turned off in the common area and Mrs. Zhang's room. The only sources of light were a small dim light in Lay's room and the light in my room. I take a towel and rub my hair in between both sides, shaking out as much water as I possibly can. Even after brushing my teeth and washing my face, the light in Lay's room is still on. His door is just slightly cracked open, and if I stand by the door I can hear him singing very softly to "At Gwanghwamun" by Kyuhyun. He keeps on inhaling sharply, and his notes are uneven. I think...he's crying.