Symphony

36

Lilia finished her solo and it was time for me to go on,

My hands were shaky as i peered round the corner slightly to see the crowd, they had to lower the budget of the performance so it was now on the towns football field.

The stands was packed the whole town was probably here and I desperately searched for asher but I couldn't see him anywhere,

They announced my name and i took to the stage, i was the final performance

I sat on the stool adjusting the guitar on my lap and scanned the crowd again

Still no asher

I shakily began to strum my voice almost a whisper as i began to sing wings by birdy

I kept my head down concentrating on the instrument in my hands

I lifted my head watching the many eyes on me and I finally catch him, he is sat besides johnny but his focus is some place else and i follow his hard glare towards isaak who is smirking back at him.

I shrug the uneasy feeling i get looking at the pair and refocus on the music but my eyes find their way back to asher and i watch as he taps johnnys arm pulling johnnys attention away from me, he tells him something and johnny looks angry as he argues back but asher dismisses his words standing up and squeezing past people.

He reaches isaak and they go under the stands, im surprised the lyrics were still tumbling from my lips and my fingers still plucking  the strings.

He was all i had here to support me and now my confidence is gone, the crowd before me become bigger than i had thought before, all eyes on mine.

Panic.

The first thing i want to do is run, get off this stage and go find asher, but im stuck still in the seat my fingers still on the strings and i know im messing up every now and then but i can't seem to focus.

Some people look at me sympathetically others hold back their laughter.

Run! get off that stage as quick as you can, my subconscious screams at me however its as if my brain and body aren't connected and i stay firm in my seat.

I pick my head back up my attention on ashers empty seat i trail my eyes to johnny and he gives me a soft smile and thumbs up,

Then i find hayden in the crowd sat besides the girl from the other day he mouths 'you've got this' and nods at me.

Jayden, shes smiling wide at me her eyes filled with admiration.

Lilia, she holds up fingers on her hand counting down with them, a technique to help with nerves and i take a deep breath.

I didn't only have asher, i had all these people i was so oblivious to them most of the time and yet here they are for me. 

The song was over soon and im surprised this was only 3 minutes as soon as i finish i stand up, finally a weak smile on my face before i head off stage.

Lilia meets me first her arms looping around me

"you were perfect" she exclaims

"thank you" i mumble hugging her back tightly yet my words didn't just mean thank you for her compliment but for everything

Hayden runs up to me lifting me in a hug and squeezing tight

"you were so good annikan" 

i chuckle at the nickname as he places me down and im swarmed with a hug from jayden

"muffin!" is the only words she squeals and rocks us side to side

johnny stood with us too 

"you got talent girl"

"thank you johnny, for the ressurance"

he nods and smiles

"beautifully done leblanc" a voice says behind me, i turn to find isaak and most the team by him his eye red a bruise forming and knuckles bloody

"thanks" i reply furrowing my brows where was asher?

johnny stood besides me his hand wrapped around my wrist holding me close

"lay off her man" his words are harsh

"oh come on orlando don't play hero right now don't forget you were in on it too" isaaks smile is smug and i furrow my eyebrows deeper

"in on what?" i ask the pair, hayden, jayden and lilia stood close watching

"don't do this isaak" another voice chimes in and i spot will shaking his head disapprovingly

"oh come on when did everyone get so lame! you guys were all for it when i promised to get the winner a meeting with that team manager"

"winner? in on what?" i grow even more confused and concerned of ashers whereabouts

"you sure you wanna know princess?"

"yes now tell me" i snap breaking out of johnnys grip and taking a step towards isaak

"you're this years lucky girl"

lucky girl? what is happening

"jordyn jones? nadia turner? millie brown?" he continues to name girls all of which who had left the school 

"each year a boy from the team gets chose to play a game, more than one boy can participate depending entirely on the girl and the prize. The more they do the higher the money and the chances of being captain increase: a kiss, secrets, intimate times you get the gist. This year that girl was you and the boy i mean i guess you've guessed that by now is my dear ol step brother asher"

As if on demand asher appears his facial features dropped mirroring mine .

{ooooooppp some people guessed that it would be a bet, did you expect this?}