Beauty King [boyxboy]

Chapter 11

"Jan darling? January? Jan!" I snapped out of my trance, realising that Marco was snapping frantically at me. "I'm so sorry, Marco, it's just that I'm so stressed out right now." Marco sighed dramatically, fawning on a chair. "Marco know you worried about talent segment, but worrying no help! Try focus on practising your walk ohkay?"

All the clothes for the pageant had been done and were ready. Everyone was supposed to be working with their stylists for the next two hours, and checking that all the clothes fit, so that any alterations could be done before Sunday. I was in love with the clothes. They were so chic and stylish, yet they were soooo comfy and made of such high quality material.

Marco had managed to book the ballroom for me specially, where the pageant would be held, to let me practice my strut during the clothes contest. However grateful I was, I couldn't fully concentrate. Stacy had ratted me out to Mrs Martinez, and now I couldn't perform with Stefon! It was crazy frustrating. I had tripped countless times, and one time I even walked off the extended stage, to my embarrassment.

I cleared my mind, putting on the best smile I could muster and swaggered down the extended stage, posed, then walked to the left, posed, and then to the right, and posed again. Then I strutted back to the center, did a bow and walked back into the curtains. "Now that's better!" Marco clapped rapidly.

I smiled half-heartedly. "Thanks Marco, but there's really no need for a standing ovation, I wasn't even giving my hundred percent." Marco smiled. "Marco know. But Marco proud at least you try. You have been such a gem to work with, January Costello, and I want you to never forget that you are special! Yes, special! Only one with true courage will stand on that pageant stage Sunday night and shine like a star, even when he been rejected and denied by everyone else. I know you will, Jan. I know."

Mrs Martinez, François, and Marco. I had so much to thank them for.

***

I trudged to the room where Stefon was waiting for talent practice, not really knowing how to break it to him. "Hey Jan!" Stefon greeted me cheerily, tuning his guitar. Then he noticed I was less than stoked. He set his guitar down and was by my side in seconds. "What's wrong?" He took my hand by my side and squuezed. I shook my head and let my face crumple.

"They say we're not allowed to perform a duet together." "Huh?" Stefon furrowed his brow. "Why not?" "It's pageant regulations." I spat out, feeling hot and irritated yet once again. Stefon remained calm, running through the possibilities through his mind quickly. "Wait. How about I teach you how to play my guitar? You've got your singing covered down, and it's not that hard to learn the chords to the guitar. The strum's pretty easy, as well, not complicated at all. What do you say, Jan?"

I gaped at Stefon. He has got to be kidding. How was I supposed to learn the guitar, and be able to sing at the same time. And he was kidding, because I had seen him strumming, and trust me, it was difficult. Gah. Stefon sensed my hesitance, and took both my hands in his, putting his forehead to mine. "Come on Jan, I believe in you. You can do it. Anddd, I'll kiss you if you agree." He teased, eyes twinkling with mischief.

What other choice did I have? I nodded, and Stefon smirked, pulling me closer to his embrace and pressed his lips to mine.

***

I was feeling pretty confident. Stefon had managed to teach me the chorus of the song that afternoon, and I had been practising non-stop. Then he had to return to work, so I had gone to the roof on my own, our special place. I was lost in the music, until my watch rang. I had set the alarm to fifteen minutes before curfew. I slung the guitar over my shoulder, then proceeded to the stairs. But I had only managed to walk down one level when the landing was shut off.

Huh? It had always been open, even when I came here late. Suddenly, my phone rang. It was Karinne. "Hello Jan? Listen, I was going back to my room earlier, when I saw Stacy walking around with one of the security guards of the hotel. They were looking suspicious, so I followed them and saw Stacy shoving some cash, a lot of cash, at him. They were talking about a roof, or something. Where are you? Are you alright?"

Realization dawned, and I quickly filled Karinne in on where I was right now, and luckily she was able to devise a plan to save me quickly. "Ohkay, I'm here on the floor directly below the roof, I see that there's one area where it goes beyond the roof. I managed to get a few mats. Do you think you could jump from the roof to here?"

I looked down and saw Karinne waving. Whoa, it was pretty far from here. I hesitated. I was scared I was going to break all my limbs. What if I missed those mats? "Hurry Jan! We have five minutes till Mrs Metzger comes to check on us!" Karinne's voice brought me back to my senses. I had no time to lose.

I jumped.

***

"Arghhhhhh!" I cried out in pain, biting my lip hard. Unfortunately, although I had managed to land on the mat, I had sprained my leg, and the pain was intolerable. "Jan!" Are you alright? Karinne screamed worriedly, at a loss of what to do. I dragged myself up, holding onto the walls, as I hobbled back to my room, each step excruciatingly hard, pain shooting up all over. Karinne held onto me worriedly, till we reached the door.

"I think I should get the pageant's doctor! Wait for me!" "No Karinne, don't! Go back to your room! Don't be late!" I shooed her off, until she left, often casting worried glances back at me. I shut the door, dropping to the floor. Then I cried.

Cried because it was such a mistake coming to the pageant. I was going to let everybody down now. Mrs Martinez, François, Marco, Stefon, Karinne, Mum, Amber. I hadn't listened. I had let Stacy get to me and now... What was I going to do? I fell asleep crying, curled into a ball on the cold, hard floor.