~Ariana's POV~
I grabbed my guitar case and headed out of my room. It was 4pm and today was the 17th, Jake's presentation was in two hours and the event had already begun, it was taking place at the University's music theatre.
I was putting on black leather pants, black heeled boots, a black crop top that had bold letterings in blue across it, the words read 'I didn't ask to be black, I just got lucky' and a blue leather jacket. It had been four days since the encounter with Lon and Sky and Lon hadn't spoken to me since, I wasn't bothered, if he thought I'd do anything about it then he was damn wrong, I wasn't happy with him either, he kissed me and then got mad about it all on his own, I didn't know how to cuddle grown up men, if he wanted to throw a tantrum, by all means two could play at his game.
Getting to the ground floor, everyone was there already, Grey and Jake the star of the show,Leo who had returned this morning, Kay, Cain, Dan, Mia and our latest addition Dylan unsurprisingly a shifter from same wolf pack as Jake of which he was the beta, like I predicted he had picked up Mia's scent on me and knew I'd eventually lead him to her or her to him as it happened, which was why he stuck to me, my phone screen had also been smashed when it was returned to me, as it unluckily wasn't important enough to occupy the hands she would use to hug her mate, so according to Mia, my cellphone was a victim of circumstances, again like I predicted.
And finally, "Luc!" I said with a huge grin as I caught sight of him, rushing to him, I pulled him into a hug and he chuckled,
"how are you?" I asked as I pulled away and he smiled sadly,
"I won't say I'm okay cause then I'd be lying, but I'm healing, it's slow but it's a process and hopefully someday, I'll be able to say I'm okay and mean it." he replied honestly, I smiled in acceptance,
"That is more than I can ask for Luc, thank you, for being strong." I said and he grinned.
Jay and Lon came out the elevator and I smiled at Jay, completely ignoring Lon, he had better not think of coming with us.
"I convinced Lon to come with." Grey said guiltily and I glared at him but didn't comment.
"Ana..." Lon began with a hesitant smile and I gave him a cold look to which he winced,
"So now you want to talk Talon, I'm not sure I have the time or interest." I said emotionlessly and he sighed,
"I'm sorry..." he tried, and I scoffed,
"sorry?, what for?, look Talon, if you can go for days without talking to me, by all means go a couple of more. I'm good." I replied, before turning around and heading out.
Getting into my car, I waited for the twins, Luca and Dylan to get in before driving off, the rest could find their own damned way. Dan who was sitting beside me chuckled suddenly and I glared at him,
"Do you know how it feels to be kicked out a moving car?" I asked seriously, he shook his head and I smiled,
"I don't either, so how bout we find out?" I asked innocently and he gulped, making a zipping motion across his mouth,
"Good choice." I said in approval, before turning concentrating on driving, we waited about two seconds before we all burst into laughter.
"Damn Ana, you sure are good at transferring aggression, did you see Jay's what did I do expression when you drove off?" Dan asked laughing and I sighed,
"I didn't mean to, I just wanted to take my own car and riding with him meant I wouldn't be driving," I said with a guilty shrug and they all nodded in understanding, Luca seemed a bit uncomfortable sitting at the back with the couple, thankfully, they noticed and didn't act too mushy, we made small talk for the rest of the ride till we arrived at our University.
We waited in the parking lot for the rest of them and when they arrived, we all went in. Jake and I went backstage immediately to confirm his time and inform them I'd be his guitarist, while our friends got seats in the third row, the judges had their own platform off to the right side of the stage.
After we were done, we headed out to join the crowd, taking the seats they had kept for us. We watched the different performances from the different departments in the faculty of theatre arts, when it finally got to the music department, they started from the first years who did a mass performance, before moving on to the single performances from the representative of each year, the final year representative went first, a girl I knew as Jane, her song of choice was 'Im yours' by Alessia Cara, her performance was amazing and the judges all stood up clapping, even I was blown away.
Jake was obviously intimidated and Grey assured him he'd do great, he was beginning to calm down when the third year representative got up the stage and his song of choice was Ed Sheeran's thinking out loud, the same song Jake had picked.
Jake turned to stare at me in shock and I grabbed him and dragged him out of the hall,
"we're doing the same song!" he whisper screamed once we were outside and I rolled my eyes,
"There's no rule against doing the same song Jake, you just have to do it better." I said and he sighed,
"I know but..." He trailed off, not knowing what to say and I sighed,
"do you want to change plans?" I asked and he looked up at me,
"I'd definitely prefer that but which song?, deciding on that took me a while." he said in frustration and I frowned,
"Do you trust me Jake?" I asked and he nodded,
"sure, you know I do," he replied and I nodded in approval, before whispering something to him, his eyes widened at my words and I smirked,
"think you can handle it?" I asked daring him and his features took on a determined look,
"bring it on." he said smugly and I smiled.
After settling that, we walked in just as Jake's name was called, he was the representative for the second year and his would be the last performance for the music department. I quickly grabbed my guitar from Jay and we got on the stage. I informed the pianist of his choice before I took the position of the former guitarist and waited, once we were cued to start, the pianist was about to begin playing but I raised a hand to stop him.
The crowd murmured at the delay and I rolled my eyes while walking up to a frozen in place Jake.
"Jake, look out there, in the crowd, the third row is almost completely occupied by our friends, they're all here for you, we're here for you, you know why... cause we don't want to miss the historical moment when everyone in this crowd gets to see just how amazing our Jake is, a fact we all already know." I said, he looked at me and I shook my head,
"Don't look at me Jake, look at the crowd, in that crowd, the love of your life is sitting right there, waiting to cheer the loudest for you when you blow everyone away, all you have to do for us Jake, is do what you know how to do best... just sing, think you can handle that?" I asked and he nodded,
"Good, now take deep breaths, listen to my tone and let us hear that heavenly voice." I said as I began playing.
The pianist followed up immediately, and I stepped back slowly as Jake's eyes opened and after flashing me a confident smirk, he sang.
"My mother said I'm too romantic
She said, 'you're dancing in the movies'
I almost started to believe her..
Then I saw you and I knew.." as he said this, he had walked down the stage into the crowd, and stopped besides Grey, everyone in the crowd had turned to face them but Jake was too into the moment to care, I smiled, as he continued,
"Maybe it's cause I got a little bit older
Maybe it's all that I've been through, I'd like to think it's how you lean on my shoulder..
And how I see myself with you" at this point he was trailing his hand down the sides of Grey's face, before turning and walking back to the stage while singing,
"I don't say a word, but still you take my breath and steal the things I know..
There you go, saving me from out of the cold"
He was on stage now backing the crowd and just as it hit the right tone, he spun around, immediately locking eyes with a now standing Grey, and as he opened his mouth, I could see the judges jaws dropping.
"Fire on fire, would normally kill us,
With this much desire, together we're winners
They say that we're out of control and some say we're sinners
but don't let them ruin our beautiful rhythms...
'Cause when you unfold me, and tell me you love me
And look in my eyes...
You are perfection, my only direction
It's fire on fire, mm
Fire on fire..'
He stopped, sinking down to a sitting position on the stage, his legs dangling off the edges
"When we fight, we fight like lions
But then we love and feel the truth
We loose our mind in a city of roses
We won't abide by any rules..." He tilted his head slightly, before continuing
"I don't say a word, but still you take my breath and steal the things I know..
There you go, saving me from out of the cold" Leaning his head back, he went all out.
"Fire on fire, would normally kill us,
With this much desire, together we're winners
They say that we're out of control and some say we're sinners
but don't let them ruin our beautiful rhythms...
'Cause when you unfold me, and tell me you love me
And look in my eyes...
You are perfection, my only direction
It's fire on fire, oh, oh
Fire on fire..'.
After repeating the chorus again, he concluded in a lazy drawl
"You are perfection, my only direction
It's fire on fire"
As he finished, the crowd was silent, as if frozen in place, we only had to wait for a heartbeat before pandemonium broke out, everyone stood up, screaming, clapping, jumping, even the judges, it was crazy. Jake looked shocked at his performance and I was too, breaking out of my frozen in place position, I stood up, practically tackling Jake with a hug, thankfully, he didn't fall.
When we got back to our seats, Grey hugged Jake tightly as everyone commended his performance. We waited for the judges decision, there would only be three winners from the entire faculty of theatre arts, so some could be dancers, or actors or the singers. After
about twenty minutes, one of the judges got on stage and announced the winners.
The third award was a draw between the final year dancers and the third year actors, the second award was given to Jane, final year representative from the music department and the first award was given to yours truly, Jake.
As soon as we heard his name, I stood up screaming my head off in excitement while he remained frozen in shock, again, I rolled my eyes, kicking him harshly,
"would you go up there before they change their minds?" I said annoyed and he laughed before hurrying to the stage and receiving the award, the moment the plaque was given to him, I was out of my seat, running to the stage and jumping crazily around him, I know, it was unlike me but who cares, I was excited and thankfully, I wasn't the only one, Mia, Dan, Grey, Sky.. yeah, she came a little after us, and his fellow second year students, were all on the stage, each cheering him loudly.
After we quietened down the judge smiled
"I am really proud of you, it would have been disappointing if only the final years took the awards, to think you beat them all to the first prize, Sam Smith's Fire on fire has never sounded better, you are an outstanding student and a promising musician and as promised and your stage presence is just impressive, you will be immediately signed to the top record label in California and your first debut album will be sponsored by the University, congratulations Mr Jake Winter and I wish you and your boyfriend a blissful relationship, you both are an inspiration." the judge announced, giving Jake a congratulatory hand shake, we went crazy again at the announcement, and the judges laughed.
After we calmed down, the judge smiled,
"I'm really curious though, why did you decide on this song in particular?" The judged asked curiously and Jake smiled,
"I didn't, my friend did, Ana, come here a sec?" Jake asked and I moved up to him, the crowd clapped again and I grinned, the judge looked at me,
"I am not surprised, your mastery of the guitar is commendable, if you ever decide you have interest in the music industry, give me a call." he said, handing me his card and I nodded laughing, as we headed down the stage to a stream of congratulations from all the attending students even as the judge concluded with,
"once again, give it up for... Jake Winter."