"Elsa start singing!" says Miss Honey for the third time.

I'm so sleepy I don't think I can hear her properly. My eyes are heavy and I feel like I haven't slept for ages. I look at Nancy and she's the same state as me. Her hair is all wild and she's not her usual talkative self. Seriously next time we have a sleepover we need to have a rule of sleeping before midnight.

"Didn't you both sleep last night?" asks Miss Honey her eyes filled with concern.

"Actually...." I really don't know what to say. Yesterday we were actually supposed to practice but Nancy and me just ended up having some fun. Shall I tell that to Miss Honey?

"We were practicing the songs till late night!" Nancy lies.

Miss Honey looks at both of us suspiciously. Nancy just pretends to be innocent in front of Miss Honey. She's good at lying but what am I supposed to do? Guilt is written all over my face. Anyone seeing my face will realize I'm hiding something.

"You both did not practice yesterday, did you?" says Miss Honey looking at Nancy and me suspiciously.

"We did practice a little," I say biting my lip.

"We just had really little fun!" says Nancy defensively.

"It's all right, but today I want you both to practice properly at your home!" says Miss Honey laughing.

The rest of the day passes normally except I can't really concentrate because I'm really sleepy. There is an excitement in the air because of the auditions that are going to happen tomorrow. I seriously can't believe I'm taking part in the auditions! I'm not even that well prepared! Today when I go home I'm going to practice like crazy!

"Are you going to practice as soon as you get home?" I ask Nancy on the way back.

"No, first I am going to sleep!" says Nancy yawning.

"Even me!" I say rubbing my eyes.

"We won't have a sleepover today!" says Nancy.

"Good idea!" I say smiling.

As soon as I reach home I go straight to bed. I'll sleep for an hour and then get up fresh and practice well! I put the alarm clock so that I get up right on time!

When I get up it's dark in my room. The room is cold and quiet. I give a little shiver and realize that I left the window open. Oh God for how long did I fall asleep? Panic is rising inside me! I pick up my watch and get the shock of my life. It's nine thirty! That means I just slept for four hours! Have I gone mad? How am I supposed to practice now?

I quickly remove the script and start practicing. Mom comes in and sees me practice.

"Elsa come down and have your dinner!" says mom.

" Mom can I have my dinner here? I really need to practice!" I say my voice filled with panic.

"Let me help you!" says mom.

"Ok!" I say.

Mom gets her and my dinner to my room. We eat quietly and then I sing in front of her. After I finish singing, I look at mom and I don't think I've ever seen her look so happy.

"I never knew you sing so well," says mom coming and hugging me.

"Thank mom!" I say blushing.

"Mom I really need to get perfect before the auditions tomorrow!" I say desperately.

"Give me the script Elsa!" says mom pointing to the script, "Now sing again!"

After I finish singing mom thinks for a minute before telling me, "Elsa you don't have to know the script word to word. You can add a few changes to it. Add your own special touch and you'll see how much better it sounds!"

"But mom what if I forget something?"

"Elsa nobody is going to care if you forget few lines as long as you sing well. They are judging how you sing not how you memorize!"

I had never thought it like that. Suddenly I feel a lot more relaxed. The pressure of memorizing the script had made me forget that what matters is how I sing. I take a deep breadth and start singing again. Only this time I don't say the script word to word and surprisingly it sounds much much better!

"Good job!" says mom patting me on the back.

"Thanks mom!" I say giving her a hug.

"Elsa it's actually quite late! You should go to sleep now!" says mom after a while.

"Can I just practice for some more time mom?" I plead.

"All right!" says mom leaving the room.

Suddenly she stops and looks at me.

"What's wrong mom?" I ask.

"Elsa I have a very important meeting tomorrow. I will have to leave very early in the morning. So when you get up I will not be at home. I'm sorry dear!"

"Don't worry mom! I'll get up on time!" I say laughing.

"Good!" says mom with relief.

"Ouch!" I get up in the morning with a serious neck catch. I might have fallen asleep while practicing itself. My room is bright and sunny. The house is surprisingly quiet. I wonder why mom didn't come to wake me up today? Maybe I got up early. I give a huge yawn and wear my slippers. Why do I feel like I'm forgetting something?

Suddenly it hits me! Mom's gone for her meeting and hold on today I also have the auditions . Oh God please don't let it be late. I see the time on my watch and I woke up an hour late! The bus would have gone by now! Fear is gripping me. I can't miss school today! How will I give the auditions now?

There's no option, I'll have to use the local bus! That's the only way I'll reach school for the auditions! With superhuman speed I get ready and leave the house. I'm trying to be positive but it's really getting hard. I hate going to the local bus as there are so many people and it's so crowded! It always scares me!

I catch the local bus and go quietly and stand in the most quiet corner! My heart is beating really fast! What if I miss the auditions? Then all the hard work I put will go down the drain. How do I always get myself into trouble? I'm lost in my thoughts when someone taps my back. I turn my head to see Luke standing in front of me. He's looking curiously at me.

"Luke what are you doing here?" I ask with surprise, "Did you miss the school bus too?"

" No I didn't," says Luke laughing, "I have basketball practice in the mornings so I reach school late everyday!"

"Oh!" I say reddening with embarrassment.

"Did you miss the school bus today?" asks Luke.

"Uh...yes," I say softly.

"Oh!" says Luke smiling slightly.

"I was practicing for the auditions!" I say, "Now I may miss it!"

"We might make it actually!" says Luke giving me a warm smile.

Just then a red haired women and a bald, thin man sitting at one of the nearby seats wave at Luke. He waves back and they have a general conversation.

"How do you know the people in the bus?" I ask with curiosity.

"I come here everyday so we get to know each other," says Luke, "They all are my friends!"

"Oh!" I say in surprise.

"Their life is very different from mine and that interests me," says Luke.

"How is their life different?" I enquire.

"You see that man standing over there," says Luke pointing to a very very tall man talking on the phone, "He works really long hours so that he can send his daughter to the college she wants to go. This bus is the only place he gets to relax!"

"Oh!" I say.

"And you see that red haired lady sitting over there, she's a waitress. Her husband cheated on her and she takes care of her six years old son alone." he says, "And that old lady you see over there she ran away from her house when she was twenty-one and till today she stays alone. The only place she meets and talks to people is in this bus"

"How do you know all this?" I ask.

"We exchange stories, I tell them about my life and they tell me about theirs," says Luke softly, "When I hear about their hardships and struggles in life I realize how small my struggles are!"

Suddenly the bus comes to a halt.

"What happened?" I ask Luke in surprise.

"Nothing!" says Luke laughing, "We reached!"

"Oh!" I say turning pink.

"Come on!" says Luke.

We both rush towards the college. At the gate the guard stops us.

"Why are you two late?" the guards asks strictly.

"I have permission from the principal!" says Luke.

"I know you but what about her?" asks the guard pointing at me.

"She comes with me to the basket ball court!" says Luke quickly.

"I've never seen her," says the guard looking at me suspiciously.

"She's usually early but today she got late because she had to stay back with me for special practice," says Luke, "Please let us go in Mr. Stanley."

"Fine!" says the guard letting us in.

"Thanks!" I say sweetly.

"Don't mention it!" says Luke giving me his charming smile. I'm falling for him more and more day by day. He just gets better. The way he smiles, the way he talks, the way he looks at me ! Every single thing about him pulls me towards him and it's really weird because it's getting stronger day by day.

Okay seriously Elsa this is not a good time to think about Luke. I have the auditions in few minutes, I have to get myself ready for it. I take a deep breadth and try to calm myself down.

As we enter the auditorium everybody turns and stares at both of us.

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Author's Note:

Hi everyone!!! I hope you all liked this chapter!! This was one of the toughest chapters to write!!! I hope you all liked it!! If you liked it then please do vote and comment!! Every single vote and comment makes my day!!!!

The next chapter will be the auditions!!! Are you all excited? What will happen? Will Elsa do well in the final auditions? All these questions will be answered in the next chapter!! Thank you one again for reading!! I really appreciate it!!!

Love,

Vanshika.