Red Sparks

Chapter 31: End of Day 1 Audition

Harry’s POV

I hurried to the main hall quickly with my bodyguards close behind.

(Where is it?) I stopped and looked around, then started walking looking down hallways for the main hall.

As I passed by a row of lockers, I heard distinct singing and stopped in my tracks.

I recognized that song; it was ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’. I ran towards it.

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Jane’s POV

‘Someday I’ll wish upon a star and wake up where the clouds are far behind me’

‘Where troubles melt like lemon drops, high above the chimney tops’

‘That’s where, you’ll find me’

I sang as I strummed on the ukulele. I felt tears welling up in my eyes; so I sniffed and wiped them away with the sleeve of my sweater. I tried to continue singing but choked. I put the ukulele down. I couldn’t do it. No matter how I’d try, I could never play the song till the end. It just hurt too much. That was the last song I had heard my grandfather playing for me before he died. I broke down in tears.

‘Hey what’s wrong?’, I heard someone said. I looked up and saw it was Harry.

‘Harry?’ I called and almost toppled over the stool I was on but Harry managed to catch me in time.

‘Thanks’, I muttered. I was embarrassed that he had caught me crying again. I looked away from him.

‘You sang beautifully. Why did you stop?’, he said looking at me. (How long had he been standing there?).

‘No, I don’t’, I said refusing to meet his eyes. ‘How long had you been standing there?’, I asked.

‘Long enough. And you sang beautifully, I mean it’, he said. ‘Are you okay?’, he continued as he held my chin up. ‘I’m ok, don’t worry’, I replied. Harry didn’t say anything but gave me a quick hug. Then he looked at me ‘I have a surprise for you’, he said smiling.

(Surprise? What sort of surprise was he talking about?)

‘What are you talking about?’, I asked curiously. ‘Well, I saw your tweet’, he said smirking at me.

(Oh my gosh. He did?! That means he must have seen my random, awkward and ridiculous tweets as well!). I felt my cheeks getting warmer. ‘You did? Which tweet?’, I asked. ‘The one about it being so boring and what a waste of time this audition is’, he said matter-of-factly.

‘Oh, yeah. It is boring, there isn’t a soul in sight’, I said. ‘Wait a minute; don’t you have your own auditions to judge as well today right now? What are you doing here?’, I asked looking at him.

‘I talked to Liam and he said our auditions can be your auditions as well’, he replied. (I don’t get it, I thought). ‘I’m not sure I follow what you’re getting at Harry’, I said. ‘Well, you need actors, actresses and such right for the play?’ he said. ‘Yeah’, I said slowly. ‘Now, acting is a talent and all; so..’ he let his voice trailed off.

Suddenly it hit me. ‘Oh! I get it now!’, I said nervously. (He’s letting me see the student’s talents as well at the same time they are! Gosh I felt so stupid for not getting it the first time). ‘You’re so thoughtful Harry!’, I cried out as I hugged him. ‘You’re welcome’, he said as he hugged me back.

‘This is great!’, I exclaimed. Before we knew it, the students started piling in the hall and filling up the seats. The One Direction members and I took our seat towards the back; but I was careful not to seat near any of them. I took out my notebook and took down notes of each student that came on stage to showcase their talent to One Direction. I could feel Harry stealing glances at me every few minutes, much to Liam’s annoyance which Harry brushed off.