GUM

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter 17 ~ Mad World

Maxine

It was a miracle when Stefan and I reached the school's auditorium before 5 pm. We were both panicking and trying to catch our own breaths. Allie and Callie handed us tissues and I'm glad they never tried to know where we were from.

"Anne, did you prepare a song number?" Allie asked.

"Actually, no. I never expected this to happen. I never prepared anything, oh God." I answered nervously that my hands were already sweaty and my voice were getting a little shaky.

"Come down, girlfriend. You got this! We have in you." Callie assured me and when I looked at Stefan, he simply smiled at me.

Damn it. There goes his smile again.

"Okay. Wish me luck." I made the sign of the cross immediately after saying that.

"We'll be right here waiting for you. Since the judges don't want an audience. Pssssh! I don't even know why, anyway." Allie scoffed upon saying that.

I simply nodded and made my way inside the nerve-wrecking room. It was big but I felt like it was strangling me and the air was dry which only made me feel worse.

"Oh. Ms. Gates, I see that you're here. Please, have a seat while Taylor goes first. Is that okay with you?" Naomi, the school president and as well as the event coordinator, told me.

"Uhh...yeah. That would be great." And I finally took my sit and watched Taylor.

Damn. She's so good. How the hell am I supposed to win against her?

Unfortunately, Taylor was already done. She was freaking good! Naomi called upon me on the stage and I simply walked carefully to it. I was really nervous. But I had to do this, I had no other choice. As soon as I'm on stage, I sat in front of the piano and began playing it.

All around me are familiar faces

Worn out places, worn out faces
Bright and early for their daily races
Going nowhere, going nowhere

Their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression, no expression
Hide my head, I want to drown my sorrow
No tomorrow, no tomorrow

I simply played the piano as flawlessly and as I can but still not forgetting about how emotional and how meaningful the song is.

And I find it kinda funny, I find it kinda sad

The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take
When people run in circles it's a very very
Mad world, mad world

.....

I finished the song and returned to my seat as the judges gathered to form a small circle and started to discuss. I glanced at Taylor and she looks confident.

Well, what can I do? She does join every singing competition there is.

"Ms. Humphreys." One judge called out.

I guess I'm out of here, huh? But I tried my best, so it's fine. What else should I expect anyway?

"Thank you for joining. Ms. Gates won the slot. I'm sorry to say but she sings a song with more emotions than you. But don't worry Ms. Humphreys, you are selected to be the representative in vocal duet along with Mr. Turner." The three of them looked at me. "Congratulations Ms. Gates. Make us proud and win that gold medal."