Worth The Wait || Lukeia (ON HOLD)

-C1P2: Luke-

Standing up on that stage felt nothing like any other audition. It felt important. I don't mean to say that other auditions aren't important, but... it felt like I needed to be at that studio, and that I couldn't let it slip from me.

I'm not one to get nervous, but I was terrified of that audition- of my originals not being good enough, of messing up, of... so many things.
Like I said, I knew it was important, but I couldn't put my finger on why.

I suppose you're assuming I got through my audition well, right?
That I finished my song and got into the studio just like that?

Wrong.

Partway through my song, I malfunctioned. I was so overwhelmed that I had to cut my song off early.
What brought it on?
I have no idea.
But Mr T was quick to climb up on stage and redeclare the auditions to be over.
The crowd turned around and began to barge through the back door of the rose room, whilst I took off my guitar and shut it in its case.

'What happened?' asked Mr T, in a stern voice. 'This is an audition, you come prepared.'
I didn't speak.
'Do you want me to count this as your audition or should I take you off my list and you can come back and retry next year?'
I'd blown my chance at being at Lost and Found, but I still had that urge to get my place; that sense of just how important this studio was going to be for me.

'Music is my one true love,' I said. 'It's all I've ever wanted to do; it's how I want to spend my life, and I hoped this studio would be a good start.'
'The system must be fair. I can't guarantee you a spot, but you'll remain on my list,' Mr T replied. He then turned and followed the crowd of teens out the rose room door, leaving me behind in all my disappointment.

I sat there for a while, on the edge of the stage that is, as if I was waiting for a miracle to come and take me back in time to redo my audition.
I distracted myself with the patterns on the floor until catching sight of two shiny, pink shoes moving closer and closer.
I looked up.
A familiar girl from the auditions came and sat beside me.
'I'm Leia,' she said, with a huge beam across her face.
'Luke,' I said, shaking her hand. 'You... Um... You did really great on your audition.'
'You too.'
I thanked her, though I knew it couldn't have been true. Everyone saw what happened up there.

'Do you want to go to Java Junction?' she asked. 'It could be like... a celebration! Of finishing the auditions.'
Within that moment, all of the mistakes of my audition flashed through my mind.
I thought for a while, then let out an excuse.
'Actually, I have to go,' I muttered, as she gazed back at me. I could almost see what she was thinking from the look in her eyes.
'But,' I continued, trying my best to excuse myself politely, 'I guess I'll see you around?'
She nodded, and with that, I made my way out of the rose room.

I wanted to go with Leia, but after what happened to me up there on stage, celebrating my audition was the last thing I could do.