NOVEL NEXT Chapter 15: Won the Battle but Lost the War
"Next person!"
Alice, clenched her fist as she heard the sound of the auditorium door open.
Ronnie, was the first to stand up from where she and Alice sat the moment she saw Laura and Erica walk up to them.
"Guys, how was the audition?" She asked nervously, unsure of whether to seem cheerful or indifferent.
Laura was the first one to reply as she held out a paper in her hand. "Well, we passed." She said cheerfully.
Ronnie, ran to Laura and Erica and engulfed them in a group hug. "Omg! I'm so so happy for you guys!" She squealed excitedly.
Alice, coughed to get their attention once she noticed that the rest of the people that lined in front of the auditorium door, were glaring at them.
"Don't mean to be a spoilsport but you do realize that the audition is still going on?"
"Sorry sorry." Erica, laughed awkwardly as she quickly apologized to the remaining students.
"Well congratulations guys, I'm genuinely happy for you." Alice, bit her cheeks and frowned at the fact that her words didn't come out as cheerful as she wanted them to be.
She was genuinely happy for her friends, like who wouldn't be?
Maybe a fake backstabbing ninny like Betty.
Alice, was far from that. To begin with, she had more braincells than the manipulating, attention seeking creature.
But the truth was that, she was nervous. In fact, she was beyond nervous. Yes, she had opposed the whole idea of the audition to begin with so why was she so nervous? Was it because there was going to be a crowd?
Who was she kidding? Alice knew the exact truth on why she was nervous.
She had forgotten to use her favorite Dior perfume and, only used a simple deodorant. Of course the day was bound to go bad!
There was no way she had the desire to smell like Jimmy from class 3.
"Ali baby, you look so serious. One would think you're actually trying to focus." Veronica said sarcastically.
Alice, rolled her eyes at the obvious sarcastic remark and, sighed loudly. "Unlike you, your Highness, I am trying not to cause perspiration."
Erica, reached into her backpack and brought out a perfume bottle. "Here you go Ali, you can use it. You could have simply asked instead of sulking."
"I was not sulking." Alice pouted, annoyed at the mere thought.
"Yes yes, whatever you say."
Alice, stretched out her hand in a stop gesture. "No thank you. I have no desire to scent like you and, your boyfriend." Alice, shook her head vigorously, appalled at the thought of having the scent as the male that Erica was sticking her tongue in places forbidden.
"Beggars can't be choosers."
Alice, frowned as she looked at Betty who was now standing in front of her.
Alice, wondered on when Betty had come? She had not noticed her at all, which was not surprising at all. Why in heavens would someone want to notice an entity so irrelevant?
Alice, forced a smile, which did not reach her eyes and, looked at the red haired bitch. "You must have so much experience begging Betty dear, thank you for telling me your personal experience."
Betty scoffed, and folded her hand. "I knew something smelt, I almost thought refuse had been dumped here. But it's you afterall."
"Go hang from a celling if you don't have anything better to do." Alice snarled, annoyed at her presence.
"Please, do you actually think I actually came for you?"
"Yes. Asides from the part that you eavesdropped into our conversation, you're standing right in front of me."
Betty, sucked her teeth and rolled her eyes. "I merely came to laugh at your misery."
Alice, chuckled at her response. "It's a shame you'll never see that." Alice leaned forward, causing her gray top to drop low, revealing her cleavage. "Tell me Betty, are you obsessed with me?"
"Ew, as if!" Betty replied in disgust.
"You know, the way you guys argue, one would think you're lovers." Laura said, as she shook her head.
"We are so not!" Betty and Alice exclaimed in unison.
Erica, clapped her hand excitedly. "Ha! See that? You just did that. Maybe you guys are just in denial."
Alice, tucked her curly hair behind her head and shrugged. "There's only one thing that I and Betty dearest, will ever agree on." Alice pointed to Betty.
"It's the fact that we hate each other." Betty concluded.
"Anyways." Veronica started, bringing the previous conversation to a close. "Betty, I saw your name on the audition list for today. I hope you didn't make it?"
Betty, huffed at the absurd question. "Ha! Like that could ever happen. I got right in, unlike some people who lack talent."
"And, that's my cue to leave." Alice stood up, arranging her short pink skirt.
"Scared already?" Betty remarked. "You're the only one out of your friends who hasn't auctioned. Troubled at the glaring fact that you won't make it?"
"Firstly, Betty I get the fact that you're obsessed with me but, you shouldn't resort to stalking. It's an infringement of my right and, you'll get more unlucky than you already are."
"You wish."
"I don't see the use of participating since they allowed someone like you to pass, they obviously lack taste." Alice shrugged.
"Deny it all you want Alice, but you know that's my turf."
Alice, cringed at the use of "turf" but as much as she hated to accept it, Betty was absolutely right.
The little wench, was born for the stage. She was raw talent, maybe that was why the guys liked her, because she played roles also in the bedroom?
"I'm too tired to banter with you. I'm more than fine with my friends making it."
"And the challenge you made?" Betty asked, raising her brows. "Are you backing away? I'm not surprised, I expected nothing more from someone like you. Scaredy cat!" Betty jeered at her.
"What are you 12? There's no way such stupid taunt will work on me."
Of course she wouldn't fall for Betty's taunts, it was absolutely and beyond ridiculous. There was no way in heaven or hell that she would stop to the peasant's level. It was merely too below her.
But why then was she entering the auditorium thirty minutes later for the audition?
***
After a gruelling session of dancing her heart out, singing till her lungs wore out and dancing till her legs couldn't move, Alice came out of the room, utterly worn out, with pass paper in her hand.
She had won the battle, but lost the war.
***
Eric, took in a breathe before he knocked on the door of his father's office.
"Come in!" A deep voice called out from inside.
Eric, opened the door and stepped inside the room.
"Hey Dad, you called for me?"
Mr Aaron, looked up at his son and peered at him through his spectacle.
"I almost forgot. Have a seat, would you like the chef to make anything for you?" He asked as he pressed the intercom.
"Don't bother Dad, I don't plan to stay long, I have to pick up something. So what did you want to say?" Eric, went straight to the point, not having the desire to prolong the conversation.
"If you insist. My secretary made me aware that you requested for most of your things from your boarding school."
Eric, smiled slightly. Of course his father would be aware. He was constantly being watched and his every movement was monitored and, reported to his father.
What he did everyday, who he saw, even who he loved.
It wasn't like he was bothered. If not anything, he was used to it since it had been this way as far as he could remember. It was the little price he had to pay for being born into a wealthy and, influential family.
"Yes, Father. I did that exactly. Your watchdog is as accurate as ever."
"Can I ask why?" His father requested, choosing to ignore the last bit.
"It seems I'll be staying longer than I had expected." Eric shrugged, feigning indifference.
His father, watched him and wondered what was in his son's mind but aside the fact that his expression was almost unreadable, his dark hair which fell across his shoulders hid his face.
"Is it because of that girl?" His father asked.
Eric laughed at the irony. "As if I would stay back because of a woman. I'm not a hopeless romantic like you father."
In fact, I am worse. Eric added in his mind.
"Silly question from me, it must be my age." His father smiled, although it was obvious he didn't mean it.
Eric, stood up from the chair and headed to the door. "If that is all you wanted to ask, I'll be in my way now."
"Son."
"Father?"
"Your hair, it's long overgrown. You shouldn't keep unnecessary things for too long."
Eric, waved goodbye to his father, not bothering to answer him because he knew it was not his hair he was referring to.
As Eric, walked do
wn the road, he spotted a hair salon and remembered the vow he had made, that he would not cut his hair, until he had achieved what he had come back for.
***