Monstercat University I

Chapter 023

[Dilumi's POV]

I finish applying my mascara and walk out of the bathroom. Danyka and Laura look me over. "You look nice!" Danyka approves.
"Thanks," I answer. I selected a black tank top underneath a white vest with rhinestones and a silver necklace to wear tonight, along with black leggings of modest thickness that come down around my ankles. They make me look tall and thin. I'm also sporting my 3" black heels, although I'll probably slip them off during the set so I can jump up and down. I left my curly brown hair down, because I like it to bounce and sway while I dance, but I'm bringing a hairband just in case. And I actually put makeup on, which I don't do very often, but tonight brings a good enough excuse.
"You ready? We should probably get going," Laura says, getting up. Laura and Danyka and I have agreed to go together, even though we'll eventually have to part ways. Anna and Veela have already left.
"What time is it?" asks Danyka. I look down at my watch, which is silver with a black band.
"8:39." My set starts at 9:00, so I should definitely get over there.
"Got everything?" Danyka checks as we move towards the door.
"Everything's there," I respond. I'm so glad I set up earlier today.
"Well, let's go!" We walk down the hall together, and I attempt to keep down some of the butterflies by chatting with the other girls. Our voices die down as we near the backstage entrance. I move to the front of the group. As we walk up, the stage manager opens the door a crack.
"Dilumi?" I nod. "You're on in fifteen," she says, opening the door for me to walk through. I look back at Danyka, who claps me on the back.
"Do good out there," she says.
"Good luck," Laura waves to me.
"Thanks," I say back, smiling. Then I walk through the door into the backstage lounge area, the manager closing it behind me. Principal Monstercat, who is sitting on the black leather sectional, greets me as I sit next to him. Droptek and Soulero aren't here yet...just like them. Then again, they can get here anytime they want before their sets start, so I have no idea when they'll show up. Most of the time, I like to be modestly early, just to make sure I'm not late. Especially for something like this. I lean back on the cushion, fold my hands in my lap and sigh as I stare at the clock on the wall. The minutes seem to tick by at a strenuously slow pace as I wait for it to turn 9:00. Just to pass the time, I check my hair in the mirror and make sure my outfit is straight. Five minutes before the set, I can already hear the voices of everyone chatting in the auditorium. Then I get a text from Danyka asking how I'm feeling. She's always so caring. Nervous but excited, I text her back.
You'll do great, she writes to me. Now get out there and drop it like u mean it :)
Thanks, I will, I write back, sending a smily face emoji and smiling for real too. I spend the few remaining minutes before my set visualizing myself playing it in front of the crowd. I figure that if athletes can visualize themselves playing before the big game, I can do it too. At 9:01, as if there isn't a huge clock right there on the wall, Principal Monstercat glances at his watch and then gets up and walks towards the stage entrance. There, he turns and asks me if I'm ready. I smile and give him a thumbs up, then he walks through the door. In a few seconds, I hear him welcoming the audience and saying a few things. The stage manager, standing close to the entrance, beckons me over.
"Now, we've got three amazing artists here tonight who are going to give us their best!" Principal Monstercat is saying. "Are you guys ready for it?!" The audience yells and hollers like crazy. I honestly didn't know all my fellow artists could be so loud. "Please welcome our first artist...Dilumi!!!" Excited whoops and screams go up from the crowd. I walk in, exchange places with Principal Monstercat, and take the microphone as the cheering dies down.
"It's great to see all of you here," I say. I hear another scream from the back of the room. "We're here tonight to come together as one, to get lost in the music, to forget all of our troubles, and to feel alive." All eyes are on me as I look around the quiet room. "And that's just what we're going to do. But first, we will have a moment of silence for someone who was very dear to all of us." I rest my arms on the edges of the mixing table, then I hang my head, and out of the corner of my eye I see everyone else do the same. I close my eyes, and memories of Tristam flash through my head as I think again of everything he was to me. An image of the Monstercat flag at half-mast outside goes through my mind. It is so easy just to let go and cry, but I numb my mind to the pain. I have to keep myself straight up here. There's a time and a place for everything, as my mom always says. So instead I concentrate on breathing in and out. Then I feel a gentle hand on my shoulder. After that everything happens in a blur. I turn around, see Tristam's face and throw myself into his arms, and as he holds me close to his chest, all I can do is cry. The other artists are ecstatically talking and screaming, but I'm not paying much attention to that. Before long I feel something slam into us that almost sweeps me off my feet. I look up and see Tristam turn his attention to Braken, who is gripping onto him tightly with his head buried in Tristam's shoulder so that only his fine black hair shows. I see Principal Monstercat standing behind Braken, then I glance down and happen to notice Tristam's left arm, which is hanging languidly and abnormally at his side. "What's wrong with your arm?!" I exclaim.
"I don't know, I think it's broken," Tristam replies in a kind of weak voice. Braken is still clinging to his side and is looking up at him.
"You mean you came all the way out here with a broken arm?!" I say, wondering why he hasn't gone to get it checked out yet.
"I wanted to see you," Tristam says, shrugging casually. I'm too shocked to say anything. Tristam opens his mouth to say something else, but before he can get it out, Principal Monstercat steps in. He gives Tristam a warm greeting and asks to see his arm, then squeezes it a little. As if Tristam's wince doesn't show his pain, Monstercat asks if it hurts, and Tristam nods. My heart melts for him, and in that moment it takes a lot not to rush forward and hug him again, but I stand still.
"Come on, I'll go with you to the nurses' ward so we can get this checked out," Principal Monstercat says.
"I don't want to miss Dilumi's set," Tristam says boldly. Gosh, I can't believe him.
"Don't worry, I'm sure they'll stream it on the computer in there for you," Monstercat reassures. Tristam hesitates, looking sadly at me for a second, but I tell him he should go, and finally he agrees. I ask Monstercat if I can have a few minutes backstage to gather myself and recover from the shock, since I am shaking a little hard. He says I can and then tells the audience it will be a few more minutes so they can chill. We all walk backstage, Tristam in front with Braken still clinging tightly to his arm, Principal Monstercat behind them, and me last. I watch them go out and then collapse onto the couch, trying to breathe. This feels like a dream. A thousand different feelings are mixed up in my mind at the same time. I'm overjoyed beyond description that Tristam is alive, although I do feel kind of sad when I think of how injured he was due to the fire, and I feel horrible for him for having to go through that. But he's back now. Everything will be all right. The stage manager comes over, kindly asking me if I'm okay.
"Yeah, thanks," I say, smiling.
"You might want to wash your face off," she says. Oh crap, my mascara. I walk over to the mirror. Yep, sure enough. I wash the streams of black off my cheeks and then sit back down on the couch. After a couple more minutes, I'm ready to go back out. And I don't want to waste any time. I have a crowd waiting on me.
When I walk out, everyone is still talking to each other quite loudly and excitedly over Tristam. I can't blame them. Some of the artists notice me and begin cheering, which makes the others do the same. I make sure my system is up and running properly and everything looks good to start, then, as the spotlights dim, I slowly fade in This Is Forever. Everyone starts screaming when they hear the song, and I look up from my mixing table and out at the crowd. I see each of my fellow artists and realize how much I love them all, even the weird ones. Gentle, caring Laura and kind Danyka, who is clapping her hands excitedly, looking very happy to hear her song. Eminence, who are looking ready to dance. Loud Noisestorm, who is grinning and has his arm around the slightly less loud Aero Chord. Crazy old Anna, who is such a fangirl. Cheerful Nitro Fun, quiet Rameses B, mischievous Rogue, and even mysterious Veela. As I see them all smiling in my direction and having a great time, and I think of Tristam, safe here now, I feel like everything is right again. Come to think of it, This Is Forever sounds like the perfect happy ending. But we've got a big night ahead of us, and this is just the beginning.