Beauty King [boyxboy]

Chapter 13

January’s POV

I had no idea what I had been saying, and they didn’t make any sense at all. Nothing was making any sense. I let out a sob and rubbed furiously at the tear that had streamed down my cheek after walking out on Stefon. I hadn’t meant to go loony on Stefon like that. It was just… It was just that things were so messed up right now.

I had come to this pageant with high hopes and dreams, hoping that I would become the first guy to be ever crowned in a pageant, but I had let myself get caught up in all the meaningless drama and rivalry. I wasn’t even sure if I had wanted to win right now, but I couldn’t go back. Not after all that.

***

It was the big day.

All around for the whole day, everyone had been rushing around, trying to squeeze in last minute practices, making sure everything was perfect and in order, and nervously counting down the hours to the moment of truth.

I had successfully managed to avoid Stefon for the whole day, not that it was hard. He had been assigned a lot of duties I think. I had gone straight to bed after the rehearsal yesterday, and Stefon hadn’t been there. He hadn’t been there in the morning either. Until I managed to sort everything out, I wasn’t ready for a confrontation. Good thing was at least I was feeling a lot better.

It was six now, and everyone was gathered in the massive waiting room. We were all getting ready. Our stylists swarmed over us as they busied preparing us for the first segment. I was glad that Karinne and I were still on talking terms, after I had acted all weird yesterday. She really was a good and true friend.

“January?” Karinne snapped her fingers for the fifth time, snapping me out of my stupor. “Trouble in paradise?” She lifted a brow, cocking her head sympathetically at me. I nodded my head meekly, “Don’t really wanna talk about it now though.” Karinne patted my shoulder understandingly, and I thanked my lucky stars again that I had managed to make such a genuine friend. At least that was something I gained from the pageant, pretty sure that victory and boyfriend were out of the question now.

Marco set my last piece of hair in place, and I rose from my seat, excusing myself to go to the washroom. Ten minutes till show time, boy was I nervous. I dropped my head over the sink, getting myself together, then took a deep breath and was about to head back out, when suddenly, I heard the sick twisting of a key in the door knob.

Something clicked in place in my head and I sprinted over to the door, tugging at the door knob without avail. A wave of fury overtook me and I pounded my fists against the door. “Stace! I know it’s you! Let me out!” A cruel chortle emerged from the other side, and Stacy snarled, “Of course it’s me darling, who else would it be?”

Grrrr. “Why are you doing this Stacy? I never did anything to you!” “Never did anything to me?!” Stacy spat, laughing viciously. “You publicly humiliated me in front of the entire school population, January Costello! Did you think I would forget that easily?”

This girl was impossible to get through. “Stace, I’m gay. What did you want me to do? Fall on my knees and profess my undying love to you?” There was a moment of silence as Stacy fumbled about what to say, but she quickly brushed it off and remarked snidely, “Whatever. You’re so not worth it. Just stay in here till I, win, the, pageant. Then you can come congratulate me!”

Stacy’s voice dripped with sarcasm, and then before I could reply with another witty comeback, I heard the sound of her heels clicking away. Oh my puff, oh my puff! What was I going to do? The pageant was starting in like, three minutes!!!

I fumbled in my pocket for my phone, but then I realized I had no pocket. Because I was dressed in my dress pants. Damn it! Looking good sure did come with a price. I ran my hand up and down my face, flustered. Why oh why??? What was I going to do now?

I know! I could slam on the doors and create a ruckus. That way, someone would hear right! Before I even landed my first punch, the door flew open and I felt myself falling forwards.

I squeezed my eyes shut, waiting for my face to kiss the ground. I waited for a second or two, before slowly popping open my eyes. Stefon! He had an arm up against my waist, holding me close to him, keeping me from falling further. “Whoa easy boy, you sure like getting yourself hurt huh.” Stefon’s soft chuckle was like a melodious lullaby to my ears.

My eyes reddened, welling up with tears. How? Oh puff, he had come to save me after I had been so irrational and unreasonable to him… Stefon quickly brushed them off. “Hey, hey, not now baby, shush…” He calmed me down, planting a kiss on the side of my head.

“We don’t have much time, so I’ll just be quick. I’m sorry I called the pageant stupid. It’s not, and neither are you. I was just so worried about you, I didn’t want you getting hurt, I had to protect you… Forgive me alright?” Stefon pulled me away from me, gazing intensely into my eyes. “I believe in you, and right now, I believe you have a pageant to win.”

Stefon’s eyes morphed into a twinkle of mischief, slipping his hand through mine, and taking off the hallway to the ballroom. I tightened my hold, an uncontained laughter spreading through me. Well here we go!