Saved By Elounor

Chapter 22

My phone was ringing in class that day.  I glanced down at my jeans pocket to see Carmen’s name flashing on the screen.  I quickly swipe to the deny button, and shove the device into my bag.  My final class of the day, music, is dragging on as the clock ticks about three times slower.  I am astoundingly excited for this afternoon.  I will be doing a local show for charity, specifically the DUI fund in my town, in honour of Ms Carter-- my old music teacher.

 

Finally, at half past two, the bell rang and I ran out of the classroom.  I boarded my car and drove straight to the theatre.  I walked in through the back door and met up with Amy, my makeup artist.  I ran up to her and shouted for her from a distance,  “Amy! I’ve missed you!”  Amy swung her head around her shoulder, saw me, and her eyes widened.  She ran towards me and grabbed me into a hug.  

 

“Ally! How’s your day been?” She inquired of me.  I responded with the natural answer; good.  Amy lead me to the stage where I met with the stage managers and such.  I began my soundcheck and ran through the setlist which included original songs and multiple covers.  I decided not to do choreography this show, but instead to just run around the stage.  The stage managers approved of the decision, and we marched backstage to lounge.  

 

I glanced outside the small window backstage and saw a line of people winding through the lot.  These people are waiting for me? I quickly drew the curtain to a close and rose from my seat.  I began feeling nervous as the show is an hour and a half away.  I can hear seats filling up with excited fans and citizens of my area.  Before the screams overpower the speaking of my team, Amy sits me down and begins my makeup and hair. I then run off to my dressing room to change into my first outfit of the evening.  It is a pair of tribal print leggings and an infinity crop top.

 

I then do my pre-show ritual with the band.  We jump in a circle, and then proceed to hop onto stage.  As we enter, cheers begin at an ear-piercing height.  The crowd is full of girls and boys-- all appearing to be my own age-- holding signs saying my name.  

 

As I stand upon the stage, singing, I truly realize how blessed I am to be in this position.  Not the cliche #blessed thing that somebody posts on Twitter, but the kind of blessed that is when you are born and nearly kidnapped at  the youngest age.  The kind of blessed where your Mum is killed and you narrowly escape death.  The kind of blessed where you spend over a decade in foster homes and orphanages and end up being adopted by celebrities.

 

As the show comes to a slow yet wonderful close, I wipe multiple tears from the corner of my eyes.  “Thank you so much, London!”  I shout.

 

I take a final bow and then proceed to run off the stage.  I meet up with dad who congratulates me.  I pull him into a hug and whisper into his neck, “I love you, dad.”  He responds with a hug and two simple words.

“Me too.”

~

I had to stay after the show for a meet and greet, so Amy offered to drive me home.  I accepted her offer and boarded her black Lexus.  We drove down the near empty streets of London to get back to my house.  The occasional car passes us as Amy and I sing along to Lana Del Rey on the radio.  

 

“Ally, what is your address again?”

 

“Oh, let me plug it into your phone.” I say as she knocks me out of my day-dreaming state.  I pick up her phone, open navigation, and type in my home address.  Amy nods as I place the iPhone 6 back onto her dashboard.  Soon enough, we are in my driveway.  “Want to come in for a cup of tea?” I offer.  Amy politely declines claiming ‘it is too late’, which I understand.  I glance at the car’s clock to see 1:04  blinking in green.  

I thank her and walk into my house through the garage.  I wave as I enter the house.   I rush to my room trying my hardest not to wake mum or dad.  I close my door and begin to pull on my flannel pants and old XFactor tee.  I hop onto my bed and click on my tele.  Oddly, the local news program is covered with my face and the headline ‘Local star does show for charity!’.  The remote clicks past the news to find HGTV.  I begin watching a bit of House Hunters.  Soon enough, I am under my blankets and falling asleep.  The sleep timer on my tele flips off and I fall asleep to the darkness and peace of my bedroom.