Hide & Seek

The Music In My Heart

"I can do this." I muttered.

"Ofocurse you can do this fishy." Nicholas said from behind me.

I turned and gave him a look. "I am nervous here."

"I know. Did you eat fish for breakfast?"

"Hey!" I punch him on the arm.

He clutched his arm feigning a deep wound. "Ouch! Jeez. That hurt."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, whatever."

I clutched and unclutched my hands heaving deep breaths.
It was the Debate finals. Out there, behind the curtain, in the auditorium, head of three different schools, the judges and three hundred student were waiting for me to begin the show.

I gulped and to distract myself seized up Nicholas who was frowning at some pamphlets. I bite my giggle, he looked really good in his navy blue suit, brown loafers and for the first time as long as I've known him, he was wearing the tie properly and hair perfectly gelled back. He looked beautiful.

He caught me starring and grinned, the dimple surfacing. "Your call."

"Huh?"

He took my hands in his. "Best of luck."

An anchor out there on stage called for the start and Nicholas pushed me towards the curtains.

I hesited a moment and lifted it when he called. "Hey, Fishy?"

I turned. "Yes?"

"You look beautiful." My heart beat a thousand time a second on that. His words sounded like music. I smiled and was about to say something when he waved me on.

I stood before the curtains, engraving Nicholas's words on my heart like some lyrics of well memorized song. The curtains started liftling slowly and I moved with the rythm of the sound of my goongroos.

*
"That was great!" Miha said as soon as
I drooped back stage. The applause of the audience still rippling about.

I snatched the bottle of water from her and took appetizing gulps. "I-I don't know. I was so nervous....see, I'm still shaking," I show her my hands and to exaggerate a little gavee it a tremble.

She eyed me. She knew I was faking it but shook her head. "God, girl, you better stop hanging out with Nicholas." My eyes widened. "Don't, give me that look. You did great! Not an ounce of nervousness. Now, you better wish all of us luck, we are on, soon." Right.

I nodded and went to change my clothes. When I came back my friends were waiting for the call and fidgeting.
Specialy Rishi, who had given me frets all day. I decided, now it was my turn.

I put my arm around him and made commiserating face. "You sure you can do this?" He looked at me, uncertain. "I mean, there are so many peoples out there to, judge you, god knows on what basis."

He gulped. "Yeah?"

"Yeah, and they have good eyes. Would see through you. Trembling. Shivering. Not, you know, efficient. Words juggling in your head...."

Behind us Purav snorted and Rishi's dubious expression changed. His eyes shone with discernment.
He jerked away from me. "Oh, I get it girl. I get what you are trying to do. Now, keep away from me. You are some dangerouse woman."

As he dissapeared behind the curtains with a smile I yelled. "Best of luck and don't let them see through you!"

One thing about Rishi I had learned in all these months was that, if we spook him, it will invigorate him. I don't how that works but that did, always. And I knew he was going to do wonderful.
Suddenly Nicholas linked his arm into mine and thrust a chocolate bar in my hand. "You know, I also need that?"

"Not just you. We all do." Eshani said, without looking from her book. Whenever she's nervous a book is her solution. She reminded me a lot of my best friend just as Nicholas here did.

Nicholas rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, whatever." Then wispered to me. "How can she talk and read at same time?"

"I know, right? Probably another subconscious sitting inside her head." I wispered back.

"I can hear you, you know?" Eshani called.

As Nicholas groaned, I chuckled. "So, whats your theory on that, Mr. Physics-sic?"

He thought for a moment then took my hand and started swaying me around. "Hmmm, my theory....is that you dance really well, next time we have a dance competition you so are going to win...." He smiled at me.

Purav whistled from behind and suddenly I staggered. "Hey, there," Nicholas caught me "you okay?"

I nodded. "Yes." And sat on a stool. "Feet...tired... propbably." I said, trying to reassure him and not give away the sudden pain in my heart.

He was about to ask somehting when Shivangi interupeted. "Okay, people, this is the moment we have been envisaging since the brink of inception and I forsee the best from you."

"Why is she giving me goose skin ?" Priya muttered looking weary.

"What is she even saying?" Purav asked and I shook my head. My eyes were already glazing over.

Shivangi continued. "I know we are here to win, however, do not let it escape your mind, even if we loose, we did our best. This is not about only me and you and them, its all of us, we cannot back down, we'll get once chance and we must fight till our last fight."

"She sounds like we are going on a war." Eshani murmured from her book.

"This is war!" Shivangi said and Eshani's head snapped up. "You ready?"

They all nodded. I wished them luck and they dissapeared behind the curtains and I ran out of the room.
Before they started I took my seat in and focused on friends voice as they put their views forward. There were claps now and then. My head getting dizzy and the last thing I knew was my heart giving a terrible pain and everything going black.