The Chairs Between Us

Awards

"Ha! I won again!" 

Ella jumped up while she threw her card down. We have been playing Mao for about an hour and some how she keeps winning. 

Mr. Bennet threw down his giant stack of cards, "I still don't understand how this game works."

Liam just laughed at him, "That's kind of the point... Anyways how much longer until awards?"

Sorina looked at her phone, "We have about an hour. Ella, we should get to our room. We still have to change."

Ella smiled, "Okay! See you losers later!"

I yelled back at her before the door closed, "We will see about that in an hour." 

Ella and Sorina seemed to fit in pretty good with us, it's like we have always known them. It is just an added plus that they live close to Clearwater.  

Liam pulled me up off the wood floor of the practice room, "Come on, it's time to change into our suits."

"Ugh! Do we have to?!"

He just laughed pulling me towards our dressing room, "Yeah I think the judges would love us going on stage in ripped jeans and t-shirts."

I scoffed, "At least I would be comfy."

He turned and smirked at me, "But then you wouldn't get to see me in a suit."

I quickly changed my mood, "Alright! Where is that dressing room?!"

He laughed harder, "That works every time."

We quickly changed into our suits with me still struggling to straighten out by bow tie.

I have always hated these things.

Liam snaked his arms around me easily straightening it out for me then pulled me to him, "Now, are you ready?"

I nodded and turned around in his arms, giving him a quick kiss, "Yes... now I am."

He smiled, "Come on, we have an award to go get."

We met up with Mr. Bennet in the hallway and got in the elevator. I looked over at him, "Are they already down there?"

He pulled out his phone, "Sorina just said they left there room."

The elevator doors opened to show Sorina in her normal long, black skirt and white blouse with Ella bouncing behind her in a sliver ball gown. Mr. Bennet smiled at Sorina grabbing her hand and kissing it, "Speak of the devil."

Liam grabbed my arm so tight, "I TOLD YOU THEY GOT TOGETHER!"

Ella laughed, "Yeah Dom, you owe us five bucks. I believe."

I hated that nickname but seemed to love to use just for that reason.

I sighed and pulled the money out of my pocket. Mr. Bennet looked shocked in between the three of us, "You guys put a bet on us?"

Liam laughed, "You put a bet on us too!"

The elevator door opened at the first floor and we began our way back stage. Everyone was back there with their teachers. Some people were playing uno on the floor and others were looking nervous. We decided to claim a spot in the corner, a little bit away from all the craziness. 

One of the coordinators appeared began to give short speech, "Hello everyone. Congrats! Everyone of  your pieces sounded great. Now, the awards will be handed out by category so when you heard your category called, please be ready to go out if you name is called. Thank you and good luck."

The disappeared again and I felt Liam lean against me, "Well this is going to take awhile. They always say the soloist winners first."

We heard the announcer on stage speak, "Hello everyone and welcome to the Carnegie Hall Competition Award Ceremony. This weekend has given people from all ages and backgrounds to express their musical talent in front of a panel of judges... Our first category, Junior Violin Soloist."

Ella stood brushing down her dress, "Well this is my category."

"Fifth place goes to...," the announcer went on as we saw Ella lose hope.

She sat back down, "Dang it. I swear I would have at least gotten fifth or fourth place."

"And our first place junior violin soloist is Ella Green from Creek High School."

She burst up, "NO WAY! OH MY GOD I GOT FIRST PLACE!" 

Sorina laughed, "Yeah, now get on stage. Everyone is waiting."

Ella quickly walked to the opening in the wings, "Oh yeah, right, have to get the award now."

She disappeared on stage and we watched her on one of the TV screens get a medal and a trophy. She quickly took a bow then came back into the wings, instantly crushing all of us into a bone breaking hug, "I won losers!"

Sorina pulled her away from us, "Okay... Okay... calm down. We don't want to kill the both of them."

Liam gasped for air like he was really dying, "Thank you."

Ella just punched his arm, "Oh don't be so over dramatic!"

It took about twenty more minutes until we heard our category being called, "Junior Instrumental Duet... Fifth place goes to..."

My nerves immediately spiked up.

Liam grabbed my hand and kissed the back of it, "Don't worry. We did great."

"And first place Junior Instrumental Duet goes to... violists Liam and Dominic from Clearwater High School."

All of us jumped up into a group hug.

Oh my god we actually got first place!!!

Liam pulled me into a quick kiss then grabbed my hand, pulling me towards the stage.

The lights hit us as we walked out on stage to roaring applause. We were given our trophies and medals while shaking hands with the judges.

Liam was still holding my hand as we took a bow then he pulled me into a kiss just like at the end of our performance. Of course the audience's applause just got louder.

We took another bow and looked out at the packed house. Liam's eyes were sparkling and his smile was huge on his face.

This is definitely something I am never going to forget.