heart strings♥

chapter 38: An Epic Interruption

"Now that was amazing," said a boy as he clapped his hands along with the rest of the audience who were showing their appreciation for the performance that had just finished. The young man on stage bowed his head and smiled at the audience. He had just created a comedy show all on his own and brought the audience laughing. A lot of the others were good, though most didn't attract everyone's attention since they chattered away and ignored what was in front of them, but this particular number received the biggest applause so far. The performer smiled, happy to have been able to succeed throughout the nerves that he feared would ruin his show. Brimming with satisfaction, he bowed again before retreating within the shadows of the dark blue curtains.

"I pity the next number to perform after such a lively one."

"Yeah, coming after something good is always awful."

"From what I've seen, I think we already have a winner."

"Why does this school hold such silly events anyway?"

"Dunno, let them be. At least this gives us some amusement."

The talent show had always been the first event to determine who will be the ones that will receive the nasty humiliating remarks from everyone in his year level. Those who've made an utter fool of themselves should be prepared to be the temporary laughing stock of the entire school until some bigger fool showed up.

"I wanna go home."

"There's only one more number right?"

"Maybe we should skip it."

"I don't think I'll be able to stand witnessing another pathetic display of talent."

Sheela smiled. So far, Raysa Faye was still missing. Hearing the impatient murmurs of her fellow students made her smile widen in delight.

Folding her arms across her chest with wicked satisfaction, she regarded the empty stage steadily.

"Well," said the teacher who was in charge of the program, "Uh, it seems that the last performer isn't here with us."

Barely hushed voices resounded throughout the auditorium. "Must've backed out."

"Maybe had some last minute stage fright."

"WAIT A MINUTE!"

The words cut through the air and silenced everyone. "I'm here! I'll perform!"

Questions and sounds of surprise echoed as Raysa suddenly appeared out of no where, snatching the microphone from the teacher who was startled out of her skirt.

"I'm sorry I'm late," she told the teacher sincerely. "I just went for a quick bathroom break," she smiled at the teacher sheepishly.

Nodding, the teacher wordlessly left the stage. The spotlight focused on Raysa. She looked heavenly angelic. Her soft ashy blonde hair gently reached her shoulders, while twinkling stones glittered at the very tips of the hair pins used to hold a part of her hair stylishly. Her makeup was light but they brought out her eyes that were as blue as the clear cloudless sky. Her lips were pink and glossy, her cheeks naturally flushed from running all the way from the old school building. She was wearing a dress, its length just shy above her knees. The dress was something her brother had bought her as a gift. The thought of her brother going into some random store to buy her something wasn't entirely surprising though. He always did that whenever he was so bored he could die.

Thankfully, Rayray's taste in things were quite good. The dress hugged her tiny waist, emphasizing her figure, it's soft creamy white color added to the unworldly beauty she possessed, making her look like an actual angel and that the only thing missing was a pair of wings on her back.

Phones automatically snapped shots, and people wondered who she was, and looked expectantly at her.

But Sheela in her outrage, had made her way backstage and killed the lights.

"What the..." Raysa found herself saying through the microphone. "Not again," she sighed softly. "I'm getting pretty tired of this dreadful game already," she muttered under her breath with a sour pout. She crossed her arms and tapped her foot and looked up slowly. It was utterly dark and the audience in front of her had succumbed to confusion. And then oh so softly, she hummed the melody of her song.

Grinning in triumph, Sheela could not help but relish in Raysa's stolen spotlight. Sheela knew that the moment Raysa sang, she would win the crowd for she had experienced the grudgingly magical effects of the girl's voice first hand. She hated her too much to allow her to be loved by everyone when she herself had no real friends.

Dwelling in her wicked thoughts, she was caught off-guard when someone had tackled her.

More came at her and pinned her down, tying her wirsts together and gagging her. "We've had enough of you, you little b*tch," muttered a female voice.

And then all of a sudden, everyone fell silent. A soft humming was heard.

"She's starting," said a smiling voice.

Raysa sang the first lines of her and Alex' song.

Under the shade, sitting in the silence

Feeling so distant from everything else

Wishing for something that I didn't know

And then I heard your voice....

The lights switched back on and Sheela found herself looking at Raysa's friends in horror. They had come to Raysa's rescue, and to Sheela's absolute disbelief, Suzie was there as well.

Suzie, feeling Sheela's eyes on her, shrugged casually. "I switched sides. It's much more fun here."

Making a contemptuous sound through her gagged mouth, she glared murderously at the bunch, especially Suzie. She dug in her pocket with her bound wrists and pressed a button, sending a message to the other girls to start throwing something at the performing girl.

Raysa had no instrument with her, no melody to back up her voice. She knew her performance wouldn't be up to her standards. She had practised so much during the days for preparation. She wanted to make Alex proud. So that when he returned...

And at that split second the fearful doubts that she had tried very hard to push away came flooding back with vengence. She had met Marcus Raven, she had read all about him as well. Though he was not exactly a bad man, she knew that if he saw how well Alex can handle his company, he would do everything in his power to keep his son there. And although she had faith in Alex' promise to come back as soon as possible, that wretched feeling of horribly missing someone haunted her every night. And right then, on that very stage, Alex was supposed to be there, singing with her, making magic with the guitar.

And right as she had gathered herself from that tiny moment to continue the song with all her might,  the roof started to split.

Raysa suddenly stopped and stared wide-eyed at the opening roof, revealing the dark starry sky.

Along with a helicopter descending lower.

And lower.

People screamed, in both fright, wonder, and excitement.

"What in the world!?" Kayla said.

"We're under attack!" Ryan yelled receiving a fist against his shoulder from his girlfriend for fooling around while everyone was already in a panic as to what was going on.

Ryan grinned at his girlfriend and pecked her cheeks before yelling, "It's an alien invasion!"

A long ladder was dropped down and Raysa blinked in astonishment as she stared at the person on its very last step.

"Sorry I'm late!"

Alex jumped unto the stage, landing on his feet with the grace of a cat and the helicopter started to retreat into the sky.

Alex waved goodbye at the disappearing thing and returned his attention to his stunned girlfriend.

"Miss me?"