The lights went down on Kelly's act and she knew it was her turn. Her tummy was turning but she could do this, she had to.
"Next up we have the one and only...the one and only," her heart skipped a beat as she heard the announcer's voice, wait! Was that not Aiden's? He had gone out of his way to announce her? And repeated 'the one and only'? It must be a sign! But she must not think like this. She must focus. "Performing for the first time ever ALIA! Let me hear you make some noise!" He was a bit too enthusiastic about his job.
As the audience erupted in applauses, she cat walked onto the stage. Mindful of the extension cords. The mic was safely in her hands and it was up to her now. To take advantage of the opportunity. This was her moment and she purposed to shine!
Aiden hit the guitar striking all the right chords and just like that she was singing little by little, fear seeped from her muscles as she gave in to the music. Her heart was still pounding but now from sheer joy. As she sang the last line, the crowd went wild and she shot Aiden a -we-did-it grin. He was grinning back, a dozen stars in his eyes. At that moment, the real announcer took the spotlight.
"You were awesome out there" Aiden flung himself at her once they were safely backstage. Wrapping her in a big hug. She flinched involuntarily wishing she could wake up. Her night was going much too well to be real.
"No, you were awesome" she heard herself say. But she immediately regretted it, "I mean we all did great you know, team effort!" He was nodding, as always, understandingly. He left her side to congratulate the others. And taking a seat, she decided it the perfect time to recap all that had happened.
"Isn't he strangely fond of you!" She had been aware of Kelly's silent approach but her words still came as a surprise to her.
"What? No!" she uttered on a higher note. "He's like that with everyone. You know Aiden. Ha!"
"Oh okay was just stating the obvious!" Kelly muttered as she sashayed through the curtains.
"Give it up for this year's Prom Queen! Kellyann Cunningham!"
The congregation applauded. And she started her speech only to be cut short by her own voice projecting from the intercom.
"Ha ha! You think I like Cole, I only associate with him because he's popular and rich...No I actually feel sorry for that poor I-need-attention act Miss Bella has but you know who I feel sorry for? Alia how can she compete with a performer like me!...."
"Candy!" Alia raced for the stage were she found a flustered Kelly clutching a bouquet of roses. Rwen also skipped onto stage to grab the mic from the confused Queen.
"The fact that this... girl was voted queen speaks to the self esteem of the members of this school..."
"Boo!" someone from the audience shouted which caused a ripple effect among the students.
"Boo indeed!" Rwen shouted. Kelly was close to tears now and Alia was torn among what to do.
"I mean boo to you and Candy". A fiery red head, vaulted onto the stage. "We don't care. Nobody's perfect plus who likes Cole?" At this a tall, muscular boy slammed his fist against a table before storming out the door. (Everyone chose to ignore this) "and most of what she said is true!" The crowd murdered in agreement. "Give us our perfectly imperfect Queen!"
"What!?" Rwen was dumbfounded and in her confusion, she edged backwards only for a can of brown paint to go toppling over her head.
"Despite this um interesting side show, tonight's prom King, by default is... Aiden! And according to tradition, the prom King and Queen kicks off the night's dance! The crowd cheered and Alia was released from the spell that had once bounded her to the edge of the stage. Taking Rwen by the elbow roughly, she yanked her towards the exit. Only risking a backward glance at Aiden and Kelly dancing in the center of the room.
"Happy now!" She spat as she flung her hand away as if it were hot iron. She was close to tears now though Rwen could not seen why.
"What's it to you?" Candy met them at the gate and there was something close to venum in her voice. Yet Alia could not have cared less.
"This was my night it was supposed to be perfect, it would have been perfect if it weren't for you! What did I do to deserve this? To deserve you! I never wanted any of you!" The tears were flowing now and breathlessly out of words or the strength to further face them or the slow romantic melody coming from the school hall, she ran.
Turning to the gate, she bolted through, the heels of her shoes clattering against the solid asphalt.
"Where is she going?" Rwen asked blankly.
"I don't know. Except that she doesn't get to have the last say. Which one of us is covered in paint or hard work got underappreciated back there? C'mon!"
Blinded by tears and with no sense of direction, except that she wanted to be as far from that place as possible, she continued. Presently, she became aware of the soft crunch of leaves underfoot and then weary, rested her forehead against a tree. Something was oddly solid about the ground on which she stood and scuffing at the leaves underfoot, she found she was on some sort of stone plate. Though that was nothing in comparison to what just took place. The run had calmed her and she tried her best to dry her tears. A bit Astonished at what had caused them. It could not have been that she was jealous or else that would mean she was not being entirely honest about her feelings. And she was. She didn't like Aiden he was not her type, she preferred talented, understanding... Aiden? Sighing, she straightened herself.
Crack! The sound of brambles snapping and ragged breathing startled her and she froze. Expecting the worst. Only the giant fangs and bellowing roar was only a fragment of her imagination as the shadows separated and she found two familiar faces glaring at her.
"Leave me alone" she was exhausted and still had no words to say to them.
"Why are you the one that's sad? Rwen asked, her voice was soft and pleasant which made Alia sigh again.
"I'm not sad I just want to be left alone" she snapped.
"Hey I'm the one who's supposed to be upset, I got booed for delivering justice while you sang a hilly billy song and everyone cheered you on like the All stars. I don't know why you gotta be such a drama queen running and crying, oh look at me everyone loves me and I am so perfect!" her words hinted at a deeper issue.
"Please I just want to go home". Alia breathed pressing her forehead against the rough bark.
Rwen gasped from behind. And Alia, she was suddenly aware of a soft blue glow spiraling up from the stone beneath her. The leaves and lose earth rolled and tumbled away revealing a large circular stone with strange marks engraved within. These symbols were glowing fiercely and the light spiraled up the bark of that very same tree, which grew from the center. The wind picked up and the light became too bright for them to see. And as she squeezed her eyes closed, she heard Rwen scream and found she was holding a hand and she thought it was Rwen's but again she could not be too certain. Then the light subsided and a new eerie quiet settled over the night. The tree shook itself and a number of dead leaves covered the stone plate were the trio once stood.