Leaving All I've Ever Known (Camren)

20. ButterLies

"Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, welcome to the first ever New York City Winterstage!"

The crowds roaring shakes the frame of the entire stage. Complete silence and an empty crowd during rehearsals just a few hours ago, is incomparable to this. The turn out is huge, they were already high in demand the first week they released and all 40,000 were sold! - Though I'm pretty sure 60% of those ticket sales were bought by people wanting to see Fifth Harmony and I perform in the same show. (90% of them probably hoped to see drama).

Performing in the same show created a lot of buzz. And controversy.

"We have amazing local and international talent for you all to enjoy. Opening tonight, we have the handsome and talented English man, coming all the way from London, England. Please give a warm welcome to William Jaures!"

A high pitched roar from the crowd, I'm assuming from all the women in the audience, sounded from the people in Central Park.

The times finally come. After hours preparing in rehearsals and months waiting for an opportunity as big as this one, I'm ready to give the crowd my all.

And give Lauren my all too.

After Will's performance, it'll be my turn to sing. The first half of the show must be consistently lively to get the crowd pumped. But it's the second half, where I close the show, that I'll be excited to perform in.

I'll be singing a ballad. It's a song only my most dedicated of fans know about, but I'll be singing it live, for the first time ever, tonight. Shows like these are normally always closed on a chilled, calmer note, but it's not just a way of calming down the audience, but it's a way I'll express to Lauren what she really means to me.

Sometimes I look and her and forget what I want to say, but this way I'll at least know the words by heart and I know I'll mean them because I wrote them. The added pressure of having to sing in front of thousands of people should help me deliver my message to her.

"Okay hunny, William's almost done performing. We need you on the left side line of the main stage."

The Winterstage director leads me over to begin the wait. Covered from the audience by the curtain, I could comfortably see Will perform from where I stand.
He's a natural. He controls the audience, not only with his stage presence and looks, but with his voice too. If he wants to give up on music, I hope he does something that captivates an audience.

"Thank you! You've been a brilliant crowd!"

Will walks off stage and behind the curtain.

I take a deep breath when the main lights fade. The darkness feels like the abyss, and my voice is what's going to fill it.
I get butterflies in my stomach, I know something special is about to happen tonight. And I don't have butterflies because it's emphatically loud. It's the murmurs from the audience, that I know will change into screams as soon as the spotlight hits me, that's what's exciting.

I'm ushered to the middle of the stage. The lights turn on. The music turns on. The screams turn on.

Time to perform.

-------

"Here, take this."

I take the bottle of water from Megan's hand, giving her a smile in thanks.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm so tired... but it was amazing. I want to do it again! Are you ready to get out there?"

"I have 15 minutes to cool my nerves but I think so. I mean, I've been practising like crazy and I feel confident in the fact I can pull of a great show."