Liv's Pov

Travelling to Beverly Hills was something I never expected I would do, even if I was only going to be in there for less than a day. Beverly Hills is a city right next to LA, but even then, I simply did not have a reason to visit there.

I can't tell how eager E was the moment we set foot on the new city (or in this case, our wheels). She might not have showed her excitement of the new environment, but judging by her request to sit by the window to look at the view, I would say otherwise.

It has been a good two hours drive and we, sadly, reached our destination in time, no thanks to the reliable GPS on Google Maps. The Annenberg Arts Theatre was magnificently humongous. I counted: a total of five buildings, all coated with a touch of gold to the sides.

Damn, this place must be owned by the Kardashians or something.

To sum it off, the place looked like it came straight out from Vienna, where aristocrats from the 1700s gather around to listen to the most authentic classical pieces composed by the legendary Beethoven and Mozart himself.

My dear friend Elsa had no idea she is in for a treat. Thinking of how she will be a contestant staying in this gorgeous castle of gold during the competition period makes me envy her so much. After all, I should be given credit for urging her to join the competition. She gets to roam around the carpentered hallway, while I am stuck with those two lunatics again back to L.A.

Thus, we finally made our way to the registration corner for the admin work after wowing at everything that passed our sight.

".... and here are the passes for the backstage entry," the authority said.

"When do we wear them? Before or after when we get in?" E asked.

"Uh, sorry could you give us a moment?" I grinned nervously.

Pulling E to the side, I whispered, "E! What has gotten into you!"

"Nothing! Um, just a little worried."

"E, I know you better than you think. That look on your face; it isn't just about the anxiety now, is it?"

"Oh fine. Believe me if you will. I feel... a strange uneasiness. Like a kind of déjà vu? I don't know... like a strange feeling that Shelby is somehow here."

"What? E, stop imagining. There is absolutely no way Shelby would be here. We are all the way in Beverly Hills, remember? Why would Shelby Winston be anywhere near Beverly  Hills?" I tried comforting her. She gave a slight nod.

I know Shelby is such a stuck up and mean, but E has no reason to be scared of her in any way. If anything, E might be more intimidating than Shelby.

"Elsa, you look like you need a drink." Mike passed E a bottled water.

"Thanks, Mike." E was a little pale. I was starting to get worried too. And more worried when the the bottle crystalline with frost as she held onto it.

She doing it again. Anxious, confused. Her powers were acting up in response to her emotions. Peter must have also noted her reaction.

"Now, Snowflake. You'll do great out there. We support you no matter what. Don't think about anything else." Peter lowered Elsa's arm, in hopes of making her relax her tension.

"Alright, Cowboy. Whatever you say." Elsa brushed it off.

For the first time, he had actually said something nice to her. For a moment, I thought maybe Peter and E would work things out by stop teasing each other... but then this happen.

"Yep. I'm telling the truth. Oh and... don't forget to actually sing in front of the judges." He joked.

Peter had really went overboard. Yet Elsa didn't seem to be bothered by the comment.

"Ha ha. Very funny, Cowboy." She emphasised on 'cowboy' with a southern accent, having her own impression of what Texas Peter would have sounded.

I just love it when E does her teasing on Peter so flawlessly — something I had never seen that side of. While I was the best friend that constantly seeks fun in everything, Elsa is quite the opposite. She had always been the serious type, rarely cracking up jokes and most definitely not making fun of other people. Yet ever since she met Peter and Mike, it was as if a door had opened for her.

 "Elsa," I gave her a stern look.

"It's okay, Liv. I'm unaffected by Elsa's views of country life. As my Uncle Stanford always says, 'Be like an eagle and soar above the mocking bird'," he spoke proudly.

"You're the mocking bird," I laughed.

"I know," E sounded crushed. And then she turned facing Peter and voiced, "It kills me that I can't get to you." She clenched her hands half way which look like she's holding something.

"Sorry, Mam." Peter tipped his imaginary hat at her.

"Ugh, you and your cowboy hat," E sighed.

Mike and I can't help but laugh at this whole thing.

"Well, hopes for suckers." E responded.

The rest of the contestants were already rallied backstage with the stage crew in preparation for the next round of auditions. The actual auditions. We all wished we could have stayed to watch the auditions, but we were reminded of its formality. It is, after all, a national competition. They forbid any kinds of distractions from the audience.

As Elsa was about to leave for her dreams, I called out, "E! Good luck!" And I added, "Ring power!"

From a distance, I could hear her responding the same thing back to me, "Ring power!"

Word count: 952 words