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Chapter 1
A 16 Year-Old's Capability
.o0o.
Amelia sat in her chair, palms sweaty and breath hitching. This was another one of her competitions. (Quite an active amateur-competitor as all can see). Another one, where she hopes not to lose again. For someone as talented as her, she has never experienced as many triumphs and wins, like anyone else. In fact, she has never even tasted a drop victory. Numerous of her loses are the results of a bunch of other cheaters's schemes, most of them are just the outcomes of her unfortunate-slash-unlucky self. All she ever thought was that you only needed to sing your heart out, but as she continues to join in new competitions, it was nothing about talent, but of fame, money, and recognition. Needless to say, she never stopped signing up for more, even though loads of it caused her buckets of tears and sleepless nights.
And so, she sat there, thrusting the borrowed guitar with both of her hands, waiting to be called out for her turn. She never really had the budget to buy her own instruments, and she only learned out to play the stringed form from a booklet she found somewhere at the park on the way home. Curiosity got to her, and she knew she wanted it.
And now, she's here, waiting and looking for opportunities.
"Amelia Celine Vela? Amelia? Where is Amelia?" A girl came running, a small earpiece visible from her left ear. Amelia took a deep breath.
You can do this. You will do this. For Nicholas.
"-Vela! Where is Amelia?!" the staff yelled, louder than before, so that it overlaps with the music from the front-stage. "H-here! I-I'm here!" Amelia stuttered, finally raising one of her hands. The staff sighed, her nametag shining with the lights. Stacey.
"There you are! Go ahead and stand right there. On cue, Roger will call you up, and when he does- you get your piece ready-" She paused, her eyes fixated towards Amelia's (borrowed) guitar. "You're playing?!" She exclaimed frustrated, Amelia confused. "Why didn't you line up with the others earlier?! You should've connected this to the sound system ten minutes in time!" Amelia was dumbfounded, the staff named Stacey (from what she read on her nametag) seemed to have been stressed out. "S-sorry, I wasn't really paying attention." She apologized, looking down. "Whatever! Come along and queue up over there-!" Stacey said, pulling the guitar from her, and pointing towards the side of the stage. "Hey! I only borrowed that!" Amelia tried to grab it from her. "No! Go there and I will connect this to the sound system- NOW!" She ordered. Amelia nodded feverishly, reluctant, and uncertain about leaving it to her, but she did as she was told, either way.
"Please welcome, Amelia Celine Vela!"
And before Amelia knew it, it was her turn. It was her time to shine, yet she felt like exploding. All the pressure was filling her up from her head to her toes. The butterflies in her tummy were going crazy, she went pale-- all of her colors were gone, all the clapping and cheering were suddenly, inaudible. Everything—ever so suddenly, was a blur. She felt like trembling, with each step she took towards the lone guitar that sat at the center of the stage. She stepped closer and closer, her feet bringing her to her-hopefully, first win. Breathing in a huge chunk of air, she clutched the microphone and picked up the guitar from the floor. This is it.
Her mouth opened, she wanted to say a few words—but quite humiliatingly, the microphone brought a horrible ringing sound towards everyone's ears. Groaning, people covered their ears, clearly annoyed. Amelia cringed, internally scolding her in her inner monologue. Slowly, she put the mic back, hoping for all of them- not to start booing her off the platform.
She strummed the first note, her heart beating in a not-so-steady speed-- it was racing very fast. She caught her breath, and finally, she started,
(song by: mxmtoon, title: Almost home)
"Just close your eyes,
Soon we'll be home,
Fall asleep to the radio."
Slowly, she fell right into the trap, and there she was—one with the song. She closed her eyes, feeling it, and pouring her heart out. Words suddenly had color, and it was almost as if she was the only person in the world. The guitar she didn't even own, suddenly felt like it was a part of her--One with herself.
"-red green and gold,
I wonder what they're all waiting for."
Word by word, and second by second the song she was feeling, was feeling her. Each note she strummed made one's butterflies explode. Each syllable that slipped down her tongue, brought everyone's attention, only to her.
"-and then I had to grow up
No one ever says,
All the love you give might not be enough,
Broke my heart in two a couple times,
Before it hurt too much."
It was as if, they were now, hypnotized to the mellow. Each and everyone were in awe, drawn to the sound of her tiny voice—microphoned across the stadium.
"I was such a fool,
Didn't know the rules of playing make believe,
Didn't know that getting old would come and meet me,
Wishing on a star,
Waiting on a car,
To take me away-"
And with another breath she drew, she sang;
"-And my mom would say,
Just close your eyes,
Soon we'll be home,
Fall asleep to the radio.
Strangers pass by,
Red, green and gold.
I wonder what they're all waiting for."
Each lyric, each verse, and each letter forming the words, slipped out her mouth as if it was only a note. No words can describe what each of it meant to her. It meant a draw of breath, a whole load of feelings, and the purest of her heart to bring them to life. It took numb, and calloused fingers to strum the bare notes. It took her a whole lot of voice control to deliver the song flawlessly. And it especially took her courage, to be able to sing and perform on a platform in front of numerous people.
It may have been a challenge to her, but she took a risk, she did it because she wanted this, despite that she might lose another fight, again. With one last draw of breath, her vibrato was brought to a whisper, and into the silence of the crowd. She sighed, opening her eyes to a number of smiles, and eyes twinkling with glee.
For a moment, she held onto the thought that no one probably liked her singing, but wih one last sigh--one clapped, followed by two, and then three--- and then at the end of her performance, everyone was cheering, and applauding. Grateful, and ever so happy—Amelia smiled, her confidence suddenly boosted as she bowed, and happy tears starting to form in her eyes. This was it, she was going to win this time.
But being the most unfortunate of The Unfortunates, she waited but it did not come. She wasn't going to win anything today. Minutes, seconds passed- though it felt like days- passed, yet she didn't receive her triumph. Then came the most awaited award, "And for our Grand Champion, Elyza Thatcher!" Of course it isn't me---Amelia clapped, rather, bluntly. "-Not all of you may have the victory for tonight's performance, but I assure you, you all are winners-" Amelia sighed, glancing at the sashed winners and runner ups. So much for being one with the song."-We wouldn't let our non-winning contestants go home empty-handed. Each of you will receive $100 as consolation prize, and free cosmetics as take-home post-prizes!" As if I'd even use those un-organic medicated makeup.—thought Amelia, bitterly.
"Congratulations to all the winners, have a good night and see you all next year!" Roger Pye—the not-so-accommodating-host-behind-the-scenes. Amelia disappointedly kicked the air. "I guess no Amusement Park for Nicholas, next week." She muttered, grudgingly grabbing the guitar, and sadly walking out with an unwanted (not really) consolation prize. The least she could do is pay for their family's bills, and use the money for her brother's medicine, and food, then groceries and—
Who was she even kidding? Her aunt would probably spend all the expenses on casinos, and gambling she basically does for a living. "She doesn't even have a life, however would she get a job?" She groaned, walking to wave for a taxi.
And there, she rode, wishing for the night to just end, hoping for her aunt not to know about her whereabouts and the 100 bunch of a consolation prize. At least she brought something home, she wouldn't have to be humiliated about not winning anything, and that she wouldn't have to listen to her annoying aunt's rants, telling her off about how senseless it is to go out without permission and/or how she shouldn't aspire music, because she wouldn't earn anything from it.
What can she do? She was only a minor--- 16 and has got nothing to do in her life, but to sing, and hire guitars for gigs, and competitions she doesn't even win.
What in the world can she do?
♛
Dedicated to:
Oliver, you redheaded prat, stay as you are, I love you dearly <3 -theBrownHairedGirlYouHate