Time is of the Essence

Four

TOM

The driver dropped me off and I wave to people and walk into the building. Next to the refreshment table I see Rain. I go over to her.

"Hey." I smile.

"Hey. You look nice?" She smiles grabbing a small food looking thing.

"You too." I nod doing the same. She doesn't just look nice she looks beautiful. Her short brown hair is slightly curly and her green turtle neck type thing looks beautiful too. The green brings out her eyes.

She looks over to the carpet entrance. "Oh no." She looks scared. "No, no, no, no!" She's starting to panic.

"What?" I ask walking over to her.

"My dad. He's already out there. He left me again." She says through gritted teeth. She's still scared and now hungry. "I can't go out there without him." She looks worried now.

"Hey, it's ok. Would you like to go out with me?" I widen my eyes shocked at what just came out of my mouth.

"Really?" She asks looking to me relieved.

I clear my throat. "Yeah." I nod.

"Thank you." She hugs me. I'm a little taken back but ug her back eventually.

"Tom, you're up." Someone says getting my attention.

"Are you ready?" I ask to make sure. She takes a breath and nods. "You look beautiful." I smile to her. I felt like this moment need this. She smiles and turns her head away. When we get closer to the entrance her breathing gets shallow. "You're gonna be ok." I say adjusting my grip so my arms around her waist.

"Ok." She whispers as we walk out. I'm surprised that she put on a good smile. It looks natural. I do my frog thing and she chuckles. "What's your frogs name?" She whispers. I can't keep my face straight and lose it laughing.

"From what I remember it's Dave." She laughs as we make our way down. We make it to the end we're still laughing. The interviews are coming up soon. "Do you want to go with your dad or stay with me?" I ask once were in the clear.

"I'd like to stay with you if you don't mind." She smiles slightly.

"I don't mind. Not at all." I say almost too quickly.

"Good. Because I'm gonna need some help with the interviews. My dad probably would leave me again." She moves her bangs slightly and hugs herself.

"I won't leave." I say sincerely.

RAIN

"How was it?" My dad asks raising his eyebrows.

"You left me. Luckily for you Tom was there and helped me otherwise you would have been very embarrassed of your daughter." I glare slightly.

"Aw come on." he pushes me playfully. "Tom got to be a hero." He smirks.

"I'm not some damsel in distress." I hold my head high. "When I'm not in front of a big crowd." I add.

"You'll be ok." He nods before leaving me again.

"I gotta go out there soon." Tom says surprising me. I jump slightly. "Sorry I didn't mean to scare you."

"It's ok." I bite my lip. "I never got a chance to tell you I like the glasses." I make a random comment.

"Thanks, they're uh fake." He chuckles awkwardly.

"Don't you mean fashion statement?" I smirk.

He awkwardly chuckles again. "You saw that huh?"

"Uh huh." I nod trying to hide my smirk. "I also saw you dance, I think. And say or I guess sing yes." I snort trying to keep my laughing in check.