Beauty King [boyxboy]

Chapter 12

When I woke, it was noon and I was in my bed, tucked up and undressed to my boxers. I dragged myself up into a sitting position, head throbbing. What had happened yesterday? My memory jolted back when I tried to stand, falling back down instead when pain overtook me.

"Careful!" Stefon, who had just stepped out of the shower, rushed to my side. He helped me back onto bed, and crawled in beside me. "Karinne told me all about what happened. I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you yesterday baby." I shook my head, overwhelmed with emotions, and buried my face into Stefon's chest, where it was warm and snug. He smelled really nice. Stefon wrapped his arms around me tight, kissing me gently on the side of my head.

Since today was Saturday, the day before the pageant, we were awarded by being free all day until seven, when we were due to report for a full run through of the pageant. I really appreciated the break, we had been kept so busy throughout the week that I could hardly catch a breather. But I couldn't take a break, I still had to practise, I still had to beat Stacy!

I moved to get out of bed, but Stefon held me in his grasp. "Jan, where do you think you're going?" "I've gotta get to the dance studio to rehearse some more! I'm not perfect yet!" Stefon tightened his hold around me, his forehead crinkling up in annoyance, “There’s no way I’m letting you! You have to rest, you’re hurt, remember?!”

I did, but I couldn’t let it stop me. I managed to break free of Stefon, tug on some clothes, and then I threw the door open and took off. To heaven knows where.

***

I stumbled through the hallways, trying to find my way to our individual practice rooms. My head spun every time I took a step, and my stomach heaved and whirled heavily. Saying I did not feel well was the understatement of the century. But I could not let that get to me, I had so much to do, so little time. Winning the pageant was the only thing that mattered right now. There was no way I was going to let Stacy win.

Eventually, I wound up at the dance practice room, so I barged in, deciding that I would focus on refining my solo first. It was draining, and I wound up on the floor five times, but I wouldn’t give up. I had noticed by now that my shirt was soaked with cold sweat, and my face was burning red, but no stopping. That was not on my agenda.

For the next six and a half hours, I covered everything extensively, redoing and redoing the opening and closing numbers, rewalking and rewalking my catwalk, replaying and replaying the song on a random guitar I had grabbed from one of the stands in the practice room, resaying and resaying my introduction, till full dress rehearsal was about to start.

Stefon had pleaded for me to at least go for lunch, but I wasn’t having any of it. I locked him out, pushing the look of hurt that flashed across his face to the back of mind. No time, no time to lose!

Right, rehearsal now. I didn’t want to be late. I couldn’t afford to be. When I plopped down next to Karinne in the ballroom, she casted a worried look at me, holding her hand to my forehead. “January! What have you been doing? Oh mi gosh, you look so bad, I think you have a fever!” She panicked, trying to get me to go to the doctor’s room, but I brushed her off. I couldn’t afford to miss a single second of the run through.

I somehow manage to make my way through the jazz number, but not without stepping on some girl’s feet twice, and turning in the wrong direction a gazillion times. Even cool and collected François looked like he was going to pop a blood vessel. No time to dwell on it. It was my turn for introductions.

The emcee announced my name, signaling my cue to step forward. I forced on my winning smile, trying my best to saunter confidently onto the stage, but not before I felt the world shifting sideways, and my vision going black.

Oh, please no.

***

When I finally came to, I was back in my bed. I groaned and tried to sit up, but something was pressing me down. I blinked slowly in confusion, going off into a daze, before I gradually realized that I was being wrapped in Stefon’s arms.

My wriggling seemed to have woken him up, because now he yawned and shifted slightly, setting his stern gaze onto me.

***

Stefon’s POV

I opened my mouth to reprimand January for his foolishness, but I just couldn’t pull through. He was still in such a fragile state, and his pale face was only slightly starting to color. I sighed, gently running my hand through his hair. “January, you scared me…” I whispered softly, softening my gaze.

January cringed outwardly, but a bolt of terror ran through his eyes. “Wait! What happened at full dress? Oh my puff, I have to get back! Arghhh, I can’t believe I let myself fall, how weak.” January mumbled senselessly to himself, his eyes averting all around.

I opened my mouth to start again, but January cut me short. “Be back soon, just gotta get back to rehearsal!” “No January!” I clasped my hand down on his, pulling him back down. “Don’t you get it? You fainted at the rehearsal! You’re sick January, you’re having a high fever!”

“I know, I know, but this pageant is so important to me, I have to win –“

“At this rate I don’t even think you can compete! Come on January, this pageant’s just stupid anyway –“ I stopped midsentence, trying to take back what I said, but January had already heard, and his eyes were blazing. He pushed off the bed and stood, quivering, “It’s not stupid!” He whined-screamed, just like a little kid now.

“Please Jan, calm down, you’re acting like a kid –“

“Oh, so now I’m back to being a kid?” January took a step back, like he had been punched in the guts. “What was I thinking… I’m just a kid to you. I can’t believe I trusted you, let you help me with the pageant… You have no idea how important this is to me at all.”

And then he just stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him, leaving a cold cruel gust of air to sweep right over me.