Totally Amp'd: Aria's Story

Totally Amp’d: Aria’s Story

Written by xoStardust

“The good news is I’d like to manage all of you,” said Zoe, a manager/producer with XMP! Entertainment. “If you’re game.”

This must be a mistake.

That was my first thought as I processed Zoe’s words. This had to be a mistake. Obviously she didn’t mean me.   She couldn’t mean me.  This had to be a joke, I thought to myself as I looked around XMP’s recording studio.  I was only here by accident.

“All of us?” I clarified.

My eyes automatically darted to Madison as she opened her mouth to protest.

You know that feeling you get when you’re drowning?

Okay, I don’t either, but I think it would feel something like this, like you’ve been holding your breath for hours. You have no idea which way is up or down, whether you’re sinking or floating, and in those first few seconds, that build up of anxiety you can either give in to or stay calm and keep fighting.

I looked over at Madison again, completely confident, and of course I could see why they would pick her, she already knew she belonged here, but did I? Madison had been in the spotlight all her life, whereas I always seemed to choke whenever I was made the center of attention.  I felt more comfortable doing my own thing in the background starting as far back as the third grade when Madison and I were both in our class production of the Thanksgiving Gobble Gobble Spectacular. 

“You have to kill a turkey.”  Madison cornered me at my desk, seconds after Mrs. Pinkerton put up the list assigning everyone in the class a part.  Suddenly, the excitement I felt about getting to play the Pilgrim froze, sure I hadn’t heard right.

“What did you say?”

Madison twirled a lock of hair around her finger, not taking her eyes off me for a second. I remember feeling nervous just from her constant stare.

“I said you have to kill a turkey before your dinner with the Indians.” She said casually. My mind went into a sudden panic and I only caught the end of what she said next.

“…I hear they scream the whole time too.”

I tried thinking back to when we tried out for the roles, but I was sure no one said anything about having to kill a turkey. I closed my eyes at the thought of what that would be like, not even wanting to picture it.

“I think I’m going to be sick”.

All my excitement over the twelve lines I would get to say was forgotten, and all I could think about was the turkey.

And all that blood.

Madison tisked, looking at me and shaking her head.

“What are you going to do when you’re on stage in front of everyone?”

Everyone? I forgot about that part.

“What am I going to do?” I whispered, biting the inside of my cheek to keep from panicking.

“Well, I guess, if you really want, I could step in for you.”

“You would do that for me?”

She nodded seriously, her blonde curls bouncing against her shoulders.

“Of course.”

“Thanks Madison.” I said in relief.