Something's Gotta Give

CHAPTER THREE - BELLA

𝐵𝑒𝓁𝓁𝒶

It was a little over three hours until my and Addie's first show was supposed to open. I was more nervous than I had ever been before, and even though I had been up since nearly 4 AM, I hadn't stopped shaking since the moment I woke up. I had been careful to be extra quiet when I climbed out of my bunk before the sun had even begun to rise, quietly searching around the bus until I eventually found what I was looking for. Some tea bags and mugs. I was hoping a warm glass of tea would help me calm down, but now, two cups of tea, and the third one in a styrofoam cup beside me, I was still shaking just as bad if not worse now that we were rapidly approaching showtime.

I was currently sitting in front of a mirror in a relatively small dressing room along with Addie and Bea, working on curling my already very wavy hair. Everyone always told me I looked like a different person when I actually put time into curling my hair instead of just brushing it in the morning.

While I was fairly okay at doing my hair, I was hoping that after I finished, I would be able to go find Normani, another girl from Fifth Harmony whom I met yesterday, and ask her to do my makeup because just about the makeup I can do is mascara since it's the only thing I ever wear.

Taking a long, deep breath, I set down the still warm curling iron and inspected my hair in the mirror. It wasn't perfect up close, but it would look pretty damn good from the audience. I just wish my hands would stop shaking already. There's a freaking burn mark on my ear from where I shook too much and hit it with the curling iron. Not exactly painless.

"Hey, you okay over there?" I looked from my hands at the sound of Addie's voice, glancing back over at her where she was sat with Bea braiding her hair.

"Uh, yeah, just a bit nervous," I muttered, running my hand over my ear and wincing. "And I think I burned my ear."

"Shit. You need some ice or something?" Adelaide asked worriedly as she came over, trying to move my hair so that she could see the damage I had done which only resulted in me pushing her hand away.

"No, I'm okay. I'm just gonna go walk around for a few minutes and get some air. I'll be back before showtime."

With that, I stood up and grabbed the backpack that I had been carrying around, walking out of the dressing room without really knowing where I was going. I really don't know my way around this San Francisco arena.

Eventually, I found myself sitting outside, semi-close to the entrance with my backpack resting between my legs. Digging through one of the side pockets of the light purple Jansport bag that was starting to show some wear and tear, I reached around until my hand found something soft. Pulling it out, it was a dark fuchsia octopus stuffie that had been handmade and was about eight inches long. I know, it's childish, but just holding something has always helped me to focus and calm down.

Squeezing my eyes shut and dropping my head to my knees, I thought about all that I still had left to do. Makeup, costume, get a mic pack, and find a way to stop fucking shaking. All in the two and a half hours before curtain.

"Bella?"

I snapped my head up fast enough to get whiplash, looking up to see Camila crouching in front of me. "What's wrong?"

"Oh, uh, nothing, I'm just stuck in my head," I stuttered as Mila dropped the rest of the way down so that she was sitting cross-legged in front of me.

"Mhm," The brunette mumbled, mostly to herself. "And what happened to your ear."

"I burned it with a curling iron."

"You should really go get some ice then," Camila stated, nothing but concern in her voice.

"Yeah, that's what Addie said."