Chronicles of a Fat Teenager (Complete - Sequel coming soon)

Chronicles of a Fat Teenager - Chapter Twenty

"Jess, I think I'm gonna be sick!" Beth groaned as she waited on the side of the stage with the rest of the choir. "I'm gonna hurl. My legs won't stop shaking."

Jessica rubbed her arm reassuringly and smiled widely at her, "B, you look amazing, you're gonna sound amazing. Now stop worrying, take a deep breath and concentrate on knocking the front seat of the audience off their seats."

Beth looked over nervously to the rest of the choir, each one of them looking anxious but not as green as she felt.

"Beth, you'll be fine" called Danny from the back, "and you look fantastic, you really do!" Beth saw a few of them look over at her and nod approvingly.

Beth looked back at Jessica and smiled nervously. "I just want this to be over. I can't stand the thought of Miles being out there with my parents. I bet my dad has got about three cameras strapped around his neck!"

Jessica laughed, smoothing down her dress over her tiny bump.

"Almost showing now, Jess," she whispered and then she noticed how tired her friend looked. Her skin a little pale and her eyes had dark circles underneath them. "You alright, Jess?" She asked.

Jessica nodded, "I'm fine. Hormones make you really tired and I've had growing pains all day, they're like period pains but the book I've got said it's normal as everything is growing."

Beth smiled and adjusted the front of her dress for the fourth time that minute. "Oh lord, this dress is tight!" She complained.

"It's fitted you tool, not tight. You're so used to wearing oversized, baggy clothes, if anything touches you, you automatically think it's tight. You look incredible, B."

Beth shook her head and took a deep breath trying to calm her nerves. "As long as Miles thinks I look OK, that's all that matters. God, I wish I could see him before we go on but it'll be too late now. How long we got before we're called on?"

"Five minutes if we are on schedule." Jess replied and then looking over Beth's shoulder, she smiled and said "You want to see him? Turn around."

Beth followed Jessica's instruction and turned. Behind her and the rest of the choir she could see Miles searching through the sea of faces. His sapphire eyes settled on her for a moment and then he continued looking. For a second Beth thought he was looking for someone other than her, and then she realized he didn't recognize her. She called his name and her followed the sound of her voice. Beth walked forward and called his name again. She was only feet away when his eyes finally settled on her again. Beth stood in front of him nervously as she saw his face drop. He looked her up and down shaking his head and narrowing his eyes a little. Beth held her breath, she knew the dress had been a mistake. The girlie shopping trip with her mum and Jessica, the laughter in the changing rooms as they all tried on ridiculous outfits and then the endless dress combinations they had forced her to try on, resulting in them selecting the figure hugging, plunging neckline monstrosity that Miles was obviously desperately trying to not to openly despise. She stood there like a statue, tears starting to burn her eyes, betraying the bitter disappointment she felt in herself. Miles looked smart and so, so handsome. His apple cheeks and slightly unruly hair looked adorable and his dark jeans and shirt under a smart casual blazer made him look taller, more masculine and devastatingly sexy. Beth longed to feel that night that she belonged on his arm, not out of place. She hung her head, shoulders slumped and went to turn from him. In one large stride his arms were around her waist and his lips on hers, kissing her with shaking passion and hands moving up to cup the back of her head.

"Watch the makeup!" Beth heard Jessica call, "and that hair took forever to curl. Don't you bloody mess it up, put her down!!"

Miles broke away from her, apple cheeks flush and sapphire eyes sparkling in the poorly lit stage area.