Chapter 11
It’s the day of the competition. For the whole week, I didn’t speak with Liam or Zac. Zac tried to talk to me, but I just couldn’t. Maybe some time will show, if he had something to do with the video. I am not ready to talk yet. I’ve been sure which song I want to sing, but after a conversation with Liam on the roof, I decided to change the song. I realised how much I am missing my boys. How devastated I am without them, how vulnerable.
The gym hall is full of students and teachers. Some judges from different schools are sited in front of the big stage. Some people are working on lights, some on music and volume. I am standing behind the stage. I am not envious because I have done it a million times before. I am sad because my boys were always with me, cheering and supporting and sometimes singing with me.
Two hours later is time for the first performance. A guy came on stage and started to dance. I don’t know what he is doing but it is working. Whole audience is cheering and whistling. After his dance, judges started to write some notes. Couple of people came on stage and so on and so on. Now is the time for Sophia’s performance. She is going to sing, brilliant. I am interested what song did she used. She is situated in the centre; the light went off and the first tune sound. I don’t believe her. She is going to sing my song; I mean Rihanna’s song but the one I have chosen. She looked behind her shoulder and smirked at me, that bitch. She was spying on me. She knew what I will sing, and she wanted to sabotage me. The thing, she doesn’t know, is that I have changed my mind, and I will go with something else. Her voice is okay but not perfect. I am curious how the hell did she won those previous years. The first guy was definitely better than her. Her movements are weak but exactly the same as mine. She copied everything. I will destroy her.
Liam is in the front row, but he is not looking at her. I think that he is ashamed of her actually. Everyone is listening and clapping. Finally, she finished. The audience whistled and clapped, and she smiled from ear to ear with satisfaction. What a joke. I will show her who is the bitch.
The judges noted the punctation or whatever in their notes and welcomed me on stage. I glanced at Sophia who is now looking at me triumphally. The lights went dim but not completely off and the tune started. I have chosen Meghan Trainor ‘Like I’m gonna lose you’ ft. John Legend. I, obviously, didn’t have anyone to sing with me, so I will sing alone.
The first line and the audience went dead silent. I closed my eyes and focused on my voice. I understand each word because this song describes my life. I am singing from the heart because I lost my boys and I am nothing without them. The song is about broken heart, about a girl who dreamed that her special one left her alone, so she is now focusing on her love to this someone. The songs describe how I feel about Ty or rather telling me what this feeling is called, love. Is it love? I don’t know, maybe Liam was wrong. Maybe I am not strong, maybe I am only lying to myself. I don’t know why the hell Liam is still on my mind. I opened my eyes and found him. He is looking at me, he is listening to every single word I am singing.
“So, I’m gonna love you
Like I’m gonna lose you,
I’m gonna love you
Like I’m gonna lose you.”
Now there is a time for John to join me. I took a deep breath and then I hear his voice. My head turned so abruptly that I thought it was about to fall off. This voice…
*
Liam
Her voice is heavenly. When she opened her mouth and began to sing, the whole world froze. I knew that she can sing but I didn’t know it was so beautiful. Every word of her imprinted on my heart. Her eyes were closed but I could feel her sadness. I saw her that day, so vulnerable, and I wanted to wrap her in my arms and help. I still don’t know what happened that day, but I couldn’t forget her. Her full lips and blue eyes. She told me then that her soul is dead as her eyes, but I saw something in them, something I couldn’t forget. She followed me in my dreams and when I spotted her in the hallway on the first day of school, I couldn’t believe my eyes. I knew who she was back then, in the hallway, but I didn’t know her when I met her on the roof. On that day, she took my hart and bring the light to my heart.
When she opened her eyes, they found mine and I could feel that every word she is singing is directed to me. Did she feel as I am feeling? I feel alive next to her, it is not love, not at all but it is some kind of feeling, I am not able to describe just yet.
Suddenly, her voice stopped singing and the other male voice could be heard. Her head snapped in the direction of the voice and the tall guy came into view. He started to sing with her about the truth of something, I don’t know. That wasn’t her singing, so I didn’t pay attention. He stepped closer to her and her eyes water. He took her cheek in his hand and sang about kissing. I know this guy. My father showed me a picture of him. This is her adopted or some shit brother, Tyler Bonnet. Interesting, my father mentioned that he stayed in London with his younger brother, so I shouldn’t be bothered by them, but now, he is standing in front of me and singing the song about love with my Emlyn. Scratch that, she is not mine.
They started to sing together, both of them staring deeply into each other eyes. What the hell is happening. He takes her hand and kisses it, then her forehead. She is looking at him as on someone important. Yes, he is her brother but for God sake, this song is about lovers, not siblings. Now her words before directed to me are directed to him. The same fucking words, she is singing them for him. Now I see, she wasn’t singing them for me, they were directed to him because she lost him, they have been separated. Her eyes found mine only because I am sitting in front of her, not because she wanted to look at me. I am stupid as hell; this stupid girl is making a fool of me. No, you are making a fool of yourself because you thought that she feels the same. That’s right, I have a fiancé and I need to focus on our arranged marriage not on some stupid girl who is actually our enemy.
The song comes to an end and the hall erupts in chaos. Everyone stands up from their sit and start to clap enthusiastically. Emlyn is still looking into the guy’s eyes and then it happens. He fucking kisses her. She has feelings for him… I see red. The next thing I know I rush from the auditorium and out of school.
Chapter 12
I cannot believe my eyes. For a second, I thought that I am dreaming, but he is really here. We finish the song and then I focus only on his lips. We shouldn’t do this in front of all school, but I missed him so much. Everyone here will ask who he is and when they will find out that he is my brother, they will judge. But the truth is that we are not related. People shouldn’t care what is happening in other people lives, but this is how the world works. People judge everyone and don’t look at themselves. I don’t really care what they will tell about me, the only thing I care about is that I am happy.
I hear the loud whistle from the audience, and I know that this is Tobias. This little bastard, I missed him too. They a part of my family, the only people I can trust and tell my secrets. How could I not have missed them? But this doesn’t change the fact that they left me behind. They have lots of explanation to do.
“Go get a room lovebirds!” Yes, more humiliation, how sweet. I break the kiss and automatically scan the audience, but he is not here. Strange, I can swear that he was here just a minute ago. I take Ty’s hand and lead him on the backstage.
“How is that possible that you are here?” I ask.
“Well, Tobi wanted to tell you, but I persuaded him that it would be a good surprise.” Tyler’s voice is like honey to my ears. You cannot know what you want until you will lose it.
“You know that I hate surprises!”
“Yeah, and that’s why this was such a great idea! By the way, you were amazing, but why haven’t you told us that you are taking a part in such a lame thing? You never liked to be a part of a school’s life or some shit, what this state done to you?” Tobias voice beam from behind me. I turn around to look at him and quickly run his way to hug him. His scent envelops me immediately. His
strong arms catch me at my waist and lift me off the ground. He spins me around and I laugh.
“Enough you weirdo.” He put me on the ground, and I face them both. Ty lift his brow with the anticipation for my answer. “You see, there is some shit happening in this school like no one can be a part of the competition because one girl was always their leader and they don’t like change, so I stepped in and let them know that this year I will win. I don’t know why I care but I just couldn’t let this girl push everyone around.”
“So, this is not about the school spirit or else, you just don’t like the girl and you wanted to show her who’s the boss now?” Ty asks.
“Yeah, if you say it like that…”
“I knew it! That’s my girl! Show that bitch that you cannot be pushed around! Don’t worry, my love, if you need any help, we are here to help you, just show me the girl and I will decide if I hate her as much as you do.” Tobias laughs at his own words. What a dork.
“She has a boyfriend who happens to be our daddy’s competitor son, so don’t even try,” I answered with an annoyed voice. Tyler notices the change in my voice immediately and looks at me with suspicion.
“So that’s why Liam hates you so much, beautiful.” Zac appears from nowhere.
“Wait a minute, who is this? Who is Liam and what is he doing to you?” Tobias asks. His eyes jump from me to Zac. Zac shrugs and scans Tyler from head to toe.
“The better question is who you two are and why did you kiss my girl on the stage?” Oh no, he did not just say that. In a moment, Tyler is in his face. He’s fuming, even his nostrils flares.
“The fuck you talkin’ bout mate? Who are you calling your girl?” I step between them and look at Tyler. This is going to be hard.
“Look, I am no one girl, for starters. This is Zac,” I point my finger at Zac and then at Tyler. “And this is Tyler, my brother. Zac here, is guy who happens to share with me some… moments and Tyler here happen to share the same moments, in the past. Meet each other, from my point of view, you will have many topics to discuss together, so good luck. Ah, and Zac? Everything finished between us after you betrayed me, so keep yourself away from me.” I turn and leave because what else could I do?
*
“What a bunch of horny pricks. Who do they think they are? Some kings? I am no one property and they just act like I am theirs.” Yes, I am talking to myself. I left the auditorium without knowing the results, the fuck I care. I walk down the corridor when someone jump on me from behind. A large hand covers my mouth and second one wraps around my middle. I panic but then realised that this is what the person wants so I relax and immediately my attacker loosens the grip. I use that moment to back head punch him and something cracks. Bingo! I turn around to stand in front of Liam. What the hell? He covers his nose which now is painted in red, how bad for him.
“The fuck you are doing?” I asked with disbelief.
“Come with me,” He points at the doors to an empty classroom. I decide to go because I am curious why did he disappear from the audience. I step inside and the doors close behind us.
“What you think you’re doing? Did you wanted to die?” I repeat the question because I think he didn’t hear me right the first time I asked.
“Very confident words but I need to disappoint you. I didn’t want to grip you too much because I didn’t want to injure you in any way. You wouldn’t have a chance with me.” He smirks. He, fucking, smirks. I hate people, sorry, guys who think that they are the alphas. They need to study some more animal knowledge or some shit then they will know that the alpha was a female not male.
“Whatever, what do you want?” I give up because I don’t see any advantages of our arguing. He steps closer to me and I look into his eyes. He is sad or maybe angry? I don’t know because after a second his eyes turn steel dead.
“Why do you need to always disobey my advices? I told you to not to take a part of the competition, I told you to keep your head down, but you just needed to make a show of yourself and kiss your own brother in front of everyone!” He is shouting now. Why? Because I crushed his little fiancé publicly? What a shame.
“Are you mad because I have more talent than your fiancé or because I kissed him?” I didn’t mean to ask, but to hell with it, I want to know what his problem is. Deep down I know the answer, but I hope it’s not the answer I am thinking about. Liam looks at me with something in his eyes, something I am not able to describe. What are you thinking about Liam?
“Keep your head down or you will be dead before Halloween party,” Those were his last words before he stormed out of the classroom. I glare in his direction for good three seconds and decide to leave. Why does he need to be such a drama queen? Is he threatening me or something else is waiting for me in the dark?
Chapter 13
After Liam left the room, I stayed there for a couple of minutes, thinking. I was thinking about his words. Why was he so nice to me on the roof the other day? Why did he try to explain himself and now he is threatening me? It is so confusing. I composed myself and left the room and then went straight to the auditorium. They announced that the guy who was dancing won the competition and will be representation at finals. The jury said that I signed as a single singer, not a duet and I have been disqualified. Sophia, on the other hand, didn’t even qualified for a podium. That’s a win because I won against this school’s stupid rules to keep the trash because it’s easier.
Now, I am sitting in my room with Ty sleeping next to me. I have this amazing guy lying next to me and I am still thinking about this stupid Liam and his words. I don’t know why he is so cold sometimes. I don’t have any experience with boys and their drama, so maybe that’s why it is confusing me so much.
My phone vibrates for a millionth time today and Tyler opens one of his eyes.
“Are you going to pick up this damn phone, or should I? I don’t answer him because what is the point. He takes my phone and answers.
“What?” He barks. “No, she is not available at the moment, we are busy.” He hangs up.
“Who was it?” I ask.
“If you would pick that up, you would know.” He puts his head on my stomach. My hand automatically goes to his hair. He looks at me with concern in his eyes.
“What is happening, princess? Are you not happy that we are here?”
“I am, really. It’s just. Liam is making me angry. I hate this guy, he is so…” I don’t know what to say. I shouldn’t bother Ty with my problems with some dude. He has more on his head now.
“Are you sure that you hate him? Because for me, it looks like he has a room rented inside your head.” His voice is calm, but I know better. I know that it bothers him that I am thinking about some guy.
“Are you serious? This is our father worst enemy; this guy sends a picture of me to the entire school and you think that I like him?”
“Chill, just checkin’ the ground. I know that you would never be bothered about a guy like him. You are something else Em. You know, when I was in London, I have a couple of chook ups, hope it doesn’t bother you.”
“You know it doesn’t. I had a thing with Zac as well but now it’s done. One-night stand.”
“Yeah, I know. I just, you know, letting you know.”
“Why’s that? We never explain ourselves to each other before.”
“Without reason. I just really missed you, you know. And now I don’t have my usual girls to spend a night, so I just thought that I will focus on you, you know?” This makes me turn my head in his direction. Is he asking me to take our ‘relationship’ to the next level? Is he really that jealous of Zac that he would stop whoring himself?
“Do what you want Ty. I don’t care. We are siblings, we cannot be together, not officially.”
“You know that this is bullshit. We are not related. I even spoke with dad about it and he doesn’t care.”
“You did what?” Does father know? How could he do it behind my back? I am not ready for some bullshit relationships.
“Don’t be mad. This separation showed me that I really care about you, and when this guy came and claim you in front of me, I just… I decided to be your first. You know, I have already unopened you, so now we could really be a thing. What you gonna say?”
I wanted it; I really did. But it was before, before I came here. Before you met Liam, stupid. Not again, this voice inside my head is making me feel like crazy.
“Yeah, okay, we could try that but let’s not push this too much.” I smile at him because what else could I do. I love him and he loves me. Maybe a relationship with Ty will help me to forget about Liam.
*
For a whole weekend, I stayed at home with my boys. We catch up with drama in school. I told them what those pricks’ve done to me and boys decided to give them a punishment, whatever it means. I also decided to stop thinking about Liam, he has a fiancé and now, I have a boyfriend.
Monday came pretty fast. As soon as we step out of the car, all eyes are on us. Ty takes my hand in his and we march through the hall. People whisper and point at us. We stop at my locker to collect my things and then huge hand closes my locker. I jump and confused look at the intruder.
“The fuck you’ve done to my car, bitch?” Liam’s voice seems to be a little annoyed.
“Keep yourself away from my girl or I will turn your life a living hell,” Ty answers for me. I don’t need his sudden alpha attitude to speak for me. I can handle myself.
“What do you mean? I haven’t touched your car.” I answer.
“I know that was you. Stop making yourself to look so innocent. I know you; I know what you have done to Russo family. I know you think you are a player in this game, but you are not. You are only a pawn in your father hands. Listen to me very carefully. Stop making so many mistakes and maybe you will survive to your upcoming birthday, but I guarantee you, you are not expecting what they planned for you.” A shiver went down my spine. Who? Who is he talking about?
The Lies: Landon Academy book 1 Page 7
