SURVIVING COLLEGE? PTSS... EASY...

The oportunity of a lifetime

“Bye Mom, I love you” – I said to my mom while closing the passenger door, grabing my suitcase and walking into the big airport of Virginia.

I´ve been dreaming about this since I can remember. I´m only 18 years old but I´m sure that this is what I was born for. Singing is my passion. While I´m singing it´s like the world that surrounds me dissapears and it´s just me and the beat. The only problem is that I only can sing in front of my family and just some of my closest friends. Going to California University of Dramatic Arts it´s a real challenge for me, but I couldn´t miss this big oportunity.

It all started 2 years ago. I was chatting with my school parteners at my desk when my music teacher, Mr. Bolton interrumpted our class.

“I´m so excited to announce that the inscription for the Singing Show is open”-he said, earning a few whispers from some students.

“This year ´s theme is “Ballads” so you must prepare really well and get your beautiful voices to the stage”

“I have a question Mr. Bolton” – Lilly, my best friend, asked– “Can we sing in pairs? Like a duet?”

“Sadly, this year we are just going to accept solo performances” – Mr. Bolton asnwered, while Lilly glared at me with a sad expression.

We were hoping that these year we could sing together, but unluckily, thats impossible.

After the school finished, as always, Lilly came to my house. When we where looking for some snacks she said:

“It´s a pity that we can´t perform together, we´ve looking foward to this since we were little kids”

Lilly and I have a little and secret music group. I play the piano and she plays the guitar and we usually stay up late writing songs or making covers and umploading them to Youtube.

“I know”- I said to her, putting my hand on her shoulder to confort her – “Anyway, I will be cheering for you form the crowd”

“WHAT?!”

“You don´t want me to?” – I asked, concerned.

“You won´t be cheering my little lady, you´ll be singing”

“But I can´t becau-”

“Zip it!” – she cut me before i could finish my sentence putting her perfect manicured finger over my mouth  – “I already have sang you up, you´ll be singing this Friday!”

The week passed by really quickly and Friday came in a blink. Lilly helped me rehearsing every single evening after school. I´ve prepared “Jar of Hearts” by Christina Perri.

I was actually making myself up, foundation, lip gloss, mascara, eye- liner and that stuff. Yesterday I went to buy the perfect dress. It was a purple “high-low” skirt with a with heart shape neckline and slits on the sides. I paired it with nude pumps that have a cute little bow and a white necklace. My hair was down with beachy waves.

 I looked at the clock and I was already late so I told my mum that I was ready and we headed to the school. When I arrived I was completely freaking out. I´m a really shy girl, so this was a really overwhelming experience for me. Thinking about more than twenty people staring at me, watching every move I make makes me wanna throw up. When I thought about a school singing show I wasn´t expecting to be that much people in the theatre. Almost all the school was in there.

I went backstage and a member of the crew told me I was the next.

“I can´t do it” – I told Lilly that was beside me, giving me her support.

“Yes, you can. You are the best here by far. Don´t let the amount of people out there ruin this oportunity”- she said to me with her characteristic warm smile, while helping me walk to the entrance of the stage- “Good Luck”.

“And now the next it´s Leah Jones with Jar of Hearts” – The presenter said to the audience.

As I stepped the stage, the spotlight blinded me and all I could hear was the beat of my heart and my irregular breathing. I took the microphone between my sweaty hands and I started singing. I didn´t know where to stare at so I just focused on a random poster at the back of the room. I was just too scared to watch the faces of the people and watch their reaction. Hopefully for me, everything happened fast, and the song finished quickly. I opened my eyes and I saw every person in the room standing up, cheering for me. I smiled and left the stage.

“My friend, that was absolutely A-MA-ZING”- Lilly said hughing me so tight that I could barely breathe.

“Let´s just wait untill they announce the winner” – I said smiling.

What does the winner actually win? Nothing less than a recording contract in LA.

Now, I suppouse you are thinking: She won and now she´s travelling to California. Nuh-uh. I´ve lost with the second place, but the vicepresident of the college was in the crowd looking for possible new students, so he choosed me to have a full scolarship only if I had my grades up to six.

So here I am at an airport, heading to the sunny California, hoping the best. I don´t know about you but I really feel that I won´t forget this year.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N : Hey there! This is my first story so it would mean a lot if you can give us some advice. I know that the beginning might be a little bit boring but we´ve got some great ideas, we promise it´ll get better!  Hope you liked the introduction of the story! Leave you a pic of Leah´s dress and if you´re wondering how Lilly looks like, it´s up to you but in our heads she looks like Stilababe09 (Meredith Foster) Love you all! Valen and Cande :)