18.
chapter eighteen:
pulling carpets
and pushing luck?!

After the mishap, I was resting in my chair. Calem had returned to his observation tower in the shadows on the first floor. Kiawe, however, was with me. A few minutes passed without any problems. One of the Anistar students had just given a speech.

"And now, it's time for us to move our limbs!" Drew announced, signaling the time for the dances. Calem's panicked voice shot through the air pod quickly.

"Come in, Ash, Kiawe! The carpet is wonky on the stage's stairs!"

"I'm on it!" I exclaimed and stood up. When I reached the point, I saw Serena about to exit the dais. She had no clue!

I had to act quickly. The green carpet was more on the banister, and by the way she was looking back and forth between Drew and her dimly lit path, she was about to miss a step. "Serena!" I exclaimed, walking towards her, stopping just before the stairs.

The girl looked shocked, but I nodded and extended my hand for her to take. Her brows arched, and she was about to protest, but I cut her short. "Trust me."

On the other corner, Kiawe was signaling to Drew, but the boy seemed clueless. No, this won't work.

"Serena, don't you trust me?" I asked and inched closer a little, tapping my foot on the banister twice. She noticed the action and gently took my hand.

I managed to pull her toward where I thought the stairs were, and she descended gracefully. As soon as she was back on the ground, she squeezed my fingers, let go of my hand, and left. "Clemont, come in! Code: Lights Dim!" I heard Calem call out. "It's your turn, Ash, Kiawe! Roger!"

As soon as the lights dimmed, Drew paused, and I hurried to fix the green carpet. Kiawe was at my side, and we rushed to pull it back where it was supposed to be. After we were safely behind the screens, Calem ordered Clemont to restore the lights, and the other boy obliged.

"The event's worsening. It was their student's work," Kiawe supplied as I took a gulp from the water bottle that Misty had left behind for me. "The one who's on stage with Drew, announcing her school's students' names."

"Come in, Professor Wulfric!"

I heard Professor Sycamore's alarmed voice, and we tensed.

"Sir?"

"There's a change! There's to be a freestyle... skating that's different from the solo and the group ones! Do you remember that? I suppose it's an edit in the plans!"

"Shoot!" Calem's curse echoed, and I briefly wondered if Professor Sycamore would mind his student cursing into his ear.

"I know, right? The freaking event planners! Take care of our students."

"Who am I supposed to assign to the sudden change, sir?"

Kiawe and I exchanged a glance. The entire dance club of the middle years was part of the group dance, except for Lisia, who was doing the solo. There was no other person to perform a freestyle. "Someone, er, Professor Yvonne, perhaps? I think she knows freestyle skating?"

Yvonne, as in Serena. "Is it just dancing, sir?"

"No, freestyle with singing." What the hell? This was getting out of hand.

"I-I'll do something, sir."

"Roger."

As soon as Professor Sycamore hung up, Serena exclaimed, "What in the world, Calem?!"

"I'll be there. Kiawe, come up to the first floor. Replace me."

The boy beside me let out a long sigh. "This is going to be a long night. Stay here, Ash." I nodded and gave him a pat as he headed upstairs. The leaders met halfway, exchanged a few words, before Calem walked up to me.

"How in the name of goodness can I do both without a rehearsal?" I nearly jumped; unbeknownst to me, Serena had been standing behind me. "I haven't danced and sung in over four months!"

Lisia came over as well. "The group dance is starting. Solo is next and then..."

Serena sighed. "Not to mention, do I look like I'm dressed to dance?"

Calem scratched his head, but Lisia spoke up. "I do have a spare dress. I brought it along so that if I find this one uncomfortable, I would have the choice to switch over. Maybe it could fit you."

Serena shook her head vigorously. "No, Lisia! Even if it does fit, how can I sing and dance without any prior practice?! What song am I supposed to sing?"

"Don't worry about singing," Calem started. "I'll have one of the group performers sing it backstage. They won't find out. Let's pick a simple song with repeating lyrics so that all you have to do is redundant steps."

Serena still looked unconvinced, so I placed my hands on her shoulders. "Serena, I've seen videos of your performances. I'm sure you'll do great!"

When she looked up with moist eyes, I wanted to back away to a corner. Not those teary eyes—

"But Ash, I've always had weeks of practice before those! And I haven't performed in a long time!"

"The skills you know never leave you. They're still there, and you must tap into your heart," I advised, giving her shoulders a little squeeze. "I trust you, girl."

"I do, too," Calem chimed in, and Lisia nodded in agreement.

Serena considered the situation, then looked me in the eye and reluctantly nodded. I gave her an encouraging smile and backed away. Lisia hooked her arm through the girl's. "Come on, I'll give you the dress."

We watched as the two girls disappeared into one of the classrooms designated for dancers. Calem instantly tapped his air pod. "Anybody know how to sing Runaway by Aurora?"

There was a minute's silence before we heard back. "I can, but the lyrics..." It was Dawn. She seemed breathless, and it occurred to me that she was probably just catching her breath after their group dance. Drew's voice was booming through the speakers, calling for Anistar High's group performance.

"I'll get you the karaoke one from YouTube!" Calem exclaimed.

"Okay!" Dawn's voice echoed, and we sighed in relief as Calem muted himself.

"Just how many wild rides will we have to take before the end of it all?" he wondered out loud. As I inspected him closely, he was sweating profusely and looked just as worn out as any dancer—if not worse. I felt a pang of sympathy for him.

"I'll help you out as much as I can," I offered, scratching my cheek. He smiled appreciatively before Kiawe announced it was time for Lisia to make her entry. In a minute or two, the teal-haired girl passed us, giving each of us a high-five as she did.

I let Serena take my seat when she came behind Lisia.

Even under the dim light, I could tell just how beautiful she was. Her hair now hung over her shoulders, glinting under lights of gold. She wore a crimson-pale pink dress that went just above her knee. Her outfit was complete with a pair of teal earrings and a raven choker.

With how she was tapping her feet, I understood that she was nervous as hell. I placed a comforting arm on her shoulder. She smiled but otherwise said nothing.

Each minute passed tediously until the end of Anistar High's solo performance. We nodded and wished Serena good luck. She gave me her air pod, and I pocketed it. Just as she left, we received another worrisome message from Kiawe.

"Come in, Calem, Ash! It's the carpet again!"

"What in the name of—" I didn't hear the rest of Calem's profanity, as I dashed past him. An unfamiliar voice—the Anistar High host—rang, inviting the participant for the freestyle.

My eyes caught sight of Serena walking into view, and I exerted myself to reach her. I intertwined our hands and pulled her to the side of the carpet, which looked much more secure. The next thing I knew, our names were being announced as the contestants.

"Let's welcome Serena and Ash for the freestyle!"