Behind The Spotlight

Chapter 17 --Celebration Party--

We all take our stuff and we make our way back to the hotel. Emily asked us to meet her in her room. So, we all just put down our stuff into our own hotel rooms before gathering in Emily's room. "You guys, you did it, you won Regionals!", Emily screams excitedly as everyone starts cheering and clapping. "Well, to leave this trip on a high note, everyone who wants is free to go to the celebration party", Michelle tells us. "But don't make it too late. We have to wake up early tomorrow morning and some of you have to drive so, be responsible", Emily adds before we all nod our heads. We decide to meet up at the lobby of the hotel so we can all arrive at the party together as a team, a winning team. Then, we go back to our own rooms to get ready for the party. I put on a cute purple dress Davis gave me, before putting on some natural-looking make-up. My hair is kind of a mess from the competition so I decide to just brush it out and put it up into a messy but also fancy bun. I put a pair of purple arm warmers on to match my dress and I'm all ready. I know that technically I shouldn't have to hide my scars anymore because everyone has already seen them, but I still don't like people looking at them. Out of nowhere, there is a knock on the door and everyone jumps up. "I'll get it", I say laughing at their jumpiness. I walk over to the door of our hotel room and open it. "Noah?", I say confused because I thought we agreed on meeting downstairs at the lobby. I see him looking me up and down, like he has never seen a girl in a dress before. "You look beautiful", he blurts out but I can see that he immediately regrets it, not realizing the rest of the girls getting ready in the room. "Thank you", I say looking down at the ground trying to hide my blushing cheeks. "But what are you doing here? Is there a problem? Something wrong?", I add quickly. "No, not at all. Uhm... I was just wondering if I could talk to you real quick?", he asks me, and I feel him getting serious which scares me a little. "Yeah sure", I answer him as I step outside and close the door behind me. "What do you want to talk to me about?", I ask him and I see him looking down at the ground, trying to find words. I can tell this is serious. "Noah?", I whisper concerned. He looks back up and his eyes meet mine. I open my mouth to speak but before I can even make a sound, I feel his lips on mine. It's a gentle kiss, but I'm conflicted. Noah's touch feels better than amazing and of course, I like this because I like Noah. But this can't be true. This can't be what he meant to do. Everything he said on stage earlier was just an act to win. I am so extremely confused right now. I pull away from our kiss and catch my breath. I look down before I ask: "What was that about?" "Don't do that", he says, ignoring my question as he puts a hand under my chin and lifts up my head. "Don't hide that pretty face of yours", he adds putting his hand on my cheek. I feel myself getting warm inside and there is no point hiding the bright red colour of my cheeks. "I like you too Blakely", he says with a beaming smile on his face. I don't know how to feel. Part of me is filled with joy but the other part is sadder then I've ever been before. I put my hand on top of his hand, still being placed on my cheek, and I bring it down. "You can't Noah", I tell him brutally honest, and I can see his smile changing into a confused and painful expression. "Why are you saying that? You told me first." "Yes, but I also told you that nothing can ever happen between us. I even explained you why, and now you come and tell me this?" "Blakely", he says to stop me from rattling as he takes my face in his hands. "I like you. I've liked you ever since you walked into the studio. I liked all the time we spent together and I liked how you trusted me with everything. When I saw your scars, and when I heard everything that happened with your father, the only thing I wanted to do was hold you and heal your wounds, make your battle scars go away. I just wanted to make everything okay for you", he tells me and I feel tears welling up in my eyes. He takes a deep breath before he adds: "But when we dance together, that's honestly the most magical feeling ever. Your touch is something that sends shivers down my spine. I've never felt anything like that before." I smile and try my best to fight back my tears. "Remember the afternoon we spent at the park? How we watched the sunset together?", he asks me sweetly and I just nod my head, forming a little smile on my face as I think back to that day. "I think I fell in love with you right then and there... I love you Blakely", he tells me. What?! What did he just say? I don't think I heard him right. "What?", I ask him extremely confused. "I love you Blakely", he repeats and I can see a spark in his eyes. I don't want to disappoint him but this can't happen. "No, you can't. You can't love me", I say, shaking my head 'no' as I remove his hands from my face. "It's not real. You're probably just attracted to me for some weird reason. Maybe you just need someone to fill the void Jacquie left, I don't know, but you don't love me." "Yes, I do! I liked Jacquie but I never loved her. I never felt this before. I never felt for her what I feel for you Blakely. You make my heart beat so fast every time I see you. Everything I need is you, just you. Your gorgeous smile always brightens up my day. I need your smile, I need you. Blakely, I really do love you", he says before he grabs my hands but I immediately pull them away. "No, you don't! No-one ever has and no-one ever will!", I scream before running back inside my hotel room. I slam the door shut and see everyone looking my way. "What happened?", I hear Richelle ask me. "Nothing. Just Noah being Noah", I answer her and just try to laugh it off. "Okay", is all she answers before they all turn their attention back on getting ready. I take a deep breath and walk into the bathroom. I close the door behind me and look at myself in the mirror. A tear rolls down my cheek. "I don't understand how someone can ever love this", I think to myself as I look myself up and down in the mirror. "I don't understand how someone can ever love me", I whisper out loud to myself as more tears fall from my eyes. "Everything okay in there?", I suddenly hear someone scream from the other side of the bathroom door. "Yeah I'm fine. Just washing my hands", I quickly scream back at whoever is standing on the other side, as I turn on the tap and water starts flowing. I quickly wipe away the tears clearly visible on my cheeks before washing my hands and walking back into the room like nothing ever happened. "Are you guys almost ready?", I ask everyone impatiently. They all give me a quick nod before they put their shoes on and out the door we go. We walk into the elevator and push the 0 button. I just look down at the ground the whole time. I really don't want anyone to see how upset I am right now. I don't want to ruin anybody's night because I know that once I tell them what's wrong, certain people will get extremely worried, or even angry. I know that Jacquie saw Noah and I kiss on stage and she hasn't said a word to me since. But if she finds out what he told me and that he kissed me again, she'll be furious. So, I'm just going to keep my mouth shut and act like I am perfectly fine.