It's been five months since I met those three idiots and it's been amazing! I feel so happy and welcome and like I actually belong for once. They've helped me so much. I'm learning that I should be comfortable in my own skin and I feel like I sort of am now and I'm so glad about that.

"Uhh Lana? Helloooo?" Rachel yelled, waving her hand in my face since I had just randomly zoned out. We were currently at school in the cafeteria when the intercom made some weird crackling sounds, which it does when someone's trying to use it.

"Good morning students. This is your principal speaking. I'm sure most of you will know what this announcement is about. But for those new students, there will be a talent competition held in one month's time. It will showcase any talents you might have like singing, dancing, acting, playing an instrument, etc. The sign up sheets are on the board right outside the library. Please sign up as soon as possible because even though we do not have selections, we would like to get everything in order right away. That is all. You may go back to your daily gossiping now."

With that the intercom crackled and went silent again. The whole cafeteria immediately resumed their talking except now it would probably be about the talent competition. I looked around our table and noticed James, Leila and Rachel staring at me in a weird way. Before I could ask what was wrong, Leila said, "Lana you have to participate!"

"Uh you're kidding right?" I say with a 'you have to be joking' face.

"No for once she's right Lana, you have too," both James and Rachel said agreeing with Leila.

"Guys, in case you haven't noticed yet, I'm kind of on the shy side and I'm not comfortable with my appearance and stuff so I don't think that's possible."

"Don't you want to be a singer Lana? This would be great practice!" Rachel said.

"No I can't do it. I'll mess up. I know I will," I reply dejectedly.

"You won't Lana. Just believe in yourself," Leila says.

"Okay fine I'll think about it." [gif]

"Good, you better," James says before saying bye and walking away since the bell had rung already.

I say bye as well and head to my history class but I couldn't really concentrate. All I could think about was the talent competition. Should I sing or not? Truthfully I wanted to but I feel way too scared to actually do it. I keep imagining scenarios where I would walk up on stage and just freeze or do something extremely embarrassing. People probably won't even like it. They would probably start booing before I even open my mouth. But maybe Rachel's right. I do want to become a singer and I can't do that unless I get comfortable with a stage and the prospect of being on it and performing by myself.

By the time I got home, I was still in complete indecision about the talent competition. So I decided to talk to my parents about it, maybe they could help me out. I went to my parent's room and saw my dad on his laptop typing away and my mom was reading a book. I walked up to them and sat on the bed.

"Mom, dad can I talk to you about something?" I ask them.

"Of course sweetheart what is it?" my mom asks, closing her book while my dad closes his laptop.

"Well, I don't know if you know this but I've started playing the guitar a lot now."

"Of course we knew. You could probably hear that guitar a mile away," my dad says jokingly.

"But if you knew, why didn't you tell me?"

"Because we knew how much you liked music and that it was your way of coping with everything."

"Oh okay well uh you know Rachel, Leila and James right? Well, they all want me to participate in this talent competition that's going to be held at our school. But I'm not sure if I can do it."

"Oh sweetheart, of course you can do it! You have an amazing voice. Your friends are right Lana, you should definitely do it!" my mom said trying but failing to hide her excitement.

"I think you should give it a try as well Lana, you've always loved music and maybe it's time to share that with the world. It will also be a great way to get rid of your shyness," my dad says to me, looking incredibly serious.

I look between both of them; their faces looking at me encouragingly as I thought about what they said. I sighed and then said to them, "Okay fine I'll try but I can't guarantee that it will be any good."

"That's all we wanted to hear sweetie!" my mom says before she and my dad hug me with all their might simultaneously cutting of my air supply before letting me go while I fall onto the bed laughing loudly.

After talking about it with my parents, I went upstairs and conference called Leila, James and Rachel to tell them the good news. "Hey guys!" I said when they all picked up. They all said hi back before I got down to business.

"Okay so I kind of decided to participate in the talent competition," I say nervously.

"Oh my gosh!" they all scream into the phone, making me hold it a mile away from my poor ear.

"I can't believe you're doing this!" Leila says.

"Yeah this is so great!" Rachel agrees.

"About time!" James says, probably rolling his eyes right now.

"Yeah yeah I know. Anyway I'll talk to you guys later. I have to go now," I say before hanging up the phone and lying down on my bed.

In my therapy session that day, I told Stephanie all about the competition. "Are you nervous about the competition Lana?"

"I don't know if I can do this Stephanie. I'm so incredibly scared. Suppose they hate my voice? Suppose they think I'm too ugly for a stage or something? I don't know what to do!"

"Lana it doesn't matter what they think. Your thoughts are the only thoughts that matter. Only you have the power to get over this disorder and to get on that stage as well. The only way you can do it is if you accept yourself as you are and believe in yourself. Have confidence and think beautiful."

_______________________________________

Hey guys!

So please tell me what all of you think of this chapter, it would really mean a lot! And vote as well if you think this chapter deserves it.

And guys be honest, don't you love this chapter's gif?❤

Also everyone who thinks Stephanie is amazing, throw your hands in the air and wave them like you just don't care! Or you can just vote if you want :D

Anyway, I will see all you beautiful people next time, bye!

-athena