Change of Plans

34|The Big Apple

Saturday, March 18th

Today is the day. It's theee day. The day of all days. The day to end all days. Audition day.

No matter how many times or how many different ways I say it, it just doesn't feel real.

My parents and I left Friday before school and took a five and a half hour flight to New York. After much much convincing, I was able to have Aidan tag along. His parents didn't really mind him coming because it's just one less kid they have to take care of, and they have a lot of kids. My parents on the other hand were a bit weary that something 'bad' would happen between the two of us. I told them that I'd be too engrossed in practicing and worrying that doing something like...that, with Aidan wouldn't even cross my mind.

So, Aidan's staying in a different room but I could care less. I just want to nail this audition so badly. So so badly. My whole future depends on it. I'm sure my future will be just fine if I don't get in to Juilliard because I have other options, but I don't think I realized how much I wanted this, to go here, until I arrived in New York.

I love the busyness of the streets, the sound of horns honking, the thrill of hailing your first taxi, Central Park, the different people. The atmosphere here is incredible and I love it so much. It just seems like the perfect place to peruse my dreams of becoming a pianist.

It's audition day so I have to nail my repertoire if I want to live here and stay here.

Deep breaths, no pressure right?

I slide my professional black dress over my skin and smooth it over with a shaky breath. A knock sounds at the door and my heart jumps in my chest. I guess anything will scare me today.

I walk to the door while trying to zip up my dress and open it revealing a dashingly handsome young man. Oh wait, that's Aidan. His hair is styled and he's wearing khaki pants with a white button up and some casual yet dressy shoes.

"You nervous?" He asks and I simply offer a forced smile in response. I soon realize that I'm still not zipped up and blush a little. I grab Aidan's arm and gently tug him into the hotel room so I can close the door.

I walk backwards making eye contact with Aidan until we reach the open area in front of the bed. "Will you help me out?"

I turn around to reveal my back to him and hear a muttered woah. I almost giggle but feel his hands move my hair over to the side, brushing the skin at the nape of my neck with his warm fingertips. I shiver and his hands travel lower to the zipper.

He bends lower and before he zips up the first area, he places a warm kiss on my spine. I exhale a sigh of pleasure and he continues with the same pattern. He reaches my lower neck and zips up the last bit of the dress. I almost turn around but feel his lips on my neck under my jaw.  He leaves a lasting effect once he's pulled away.

"Thank you." I whisper and lean my head against his shoulder. Thank you for the help, thank you for the distraction, thank you for always being good, thank you for surpassing my expectations for you. Thank you.

"Anything for you."

We stay here for several more seconds before I have to part from his embrace to finish preparing.

The next couple of hours drag on slower than I could have imagined they would. The traffic got so bad we had to get out and walk to make it on time which made me way too nervous. Once we reached the building I almost hyperventilated from realization and now we're sitting on a bench in the waiting room with tons of other talented artists.

I close my eyes and rest my head against the wall, playing my pieces over and over and over in my head. My hands sweat and I have to keep myself from fidgeting so I clasp them together making them even more clammy.