Secret Singing Superstar

Fifty-nine ~ ♫♪♫

"YOU - WERE - SO - AMAZING!" Karina gushed as soon as Leanne came back through the curtains, her ears still buzzing from the audience's thunderous applause. "I can't believe it! That crowd out there loves you!"

Leanne chuckled and blushed, showing her modesty. "I wasn't that bad, I guess..."

"You were the best," Karina assured her, speaking confidently as another singer got announced onto the stage. 

Out of the corner of her eye, Leanne noticed Sarah perk up at Karina's words, and she immediately felt nervous. But all Sarah did was give Leanne a glare and stalk off in the other direction. 

Now that the stress of the performance was gone, Leanne and Karina sat down just beyond the curtains to the stage and chatted together, making sure to take out their earpieces as they did. Leanne was fully aware of most of the singers staring at her, watching her. 

She was afraid they would judge her for 'showing off', but they said nothing. 

Just when she thought her nerves were gone, they resurfaced as the host called all the singers onto the stage to determine the winner. She started chewing her nails nervously - something Helina, and sometimes even Cailyn, did when they were nervous - and hoped to God that she would no embarrass herself on that stage. 

Singing was one thing: she could easily lose herself in the music. But standing in front of the stage and seeing everyone stare at you: that was another thing altogether. 

What if she tripped or did something stupid on the stage? 

The thought of tripping reminded her of the Queen of Clumsy herself: Cailyn. She could imagine Cailyn saying to her: Don't worry, Leanne. No one can ever make a big mess of themselves as much as I can.

Leanne giggled quietly to herself, but the giggle died in her throat as she followed meekly behind Karina onto the stage, where the twelve singers aligned themselves in a line. Leanne was one of the closest to the host, which made her hug her arms to her sides uncomfortably. 

"And there you have it!" the host was beaming at the camera man. Since when were there cameras filming them?! Did that mean...she was on TV?

If she wasn't on stage and frozen in fear, Leanne would've probably collapsed to the ground or fainted. 

"The twelve remaining singers have sang their songs, and now it is time to choose the winner! Perhaps we shall start with third prize first." He held aloft a bronze medal. "Third prize goes to...Karina!"

Leanne squealed and nearly jumped up and down in delight for her new friend, but thought better of it, and simply gave Karina a quick hug as the girl walked up and let the host drape the medal over her head. 

"Well done!" she whispered to her friend as Karina walked back to her spot, looking completely stunned as the audience clapped. She gave Karina a quick hug before turning back to the host. She kept her eyes away from the audience; if she looked at them it would be too overwhelming.

The host kept talking. "Second place goes to...Aaron!"

A boy that Leanne had never really made eye contact with or talked to shyly came up to receive his medal. His cheeks were burning even more than Karina's had. 

"And finally, first place." the host looked down at the sheet of paper that the judges had given him. His eyebrows flew upwards in surprise as he stared at it. "Well, as you know, the winner gets a trophy, a medal, $1000 (by cheque, of course), and a $50 gift card for any store!"

Leanne frowned as she realised that the way the host put his words sounded familiar, and realized with huge surprise that the host was Mr. Phillip himself - the Bulgarian man who had first talked to Leanne and Cailyn about the national singing competition, and had convinced them to participate.