An Endless Serenade

Chapter Twenty-One

"Allie," Elliot started, but I couldn't focus on his words. Olivia was playing my piece. The only piece I had ready for this competition.

"How could she know?" I hissed at Elliot. "How? The only two people that knew are you and Paul, unless—"

"I didn't tell her," Elliot snapped at me before I could finish.

I gave him a brief glare. "I wasn't going to say that. If you'd let me finish, I was going to say unless she listened in on me during piano class."

Elliot clenched his jaw and gave a short nod. "Probably."

"What am I going to do?" I whispered, pressing a hand to my forehead and closing my eyes. "How did I not notice her? But the rooms are soundproof! And I didn't tell anyone... oh my god."

"What?"

I gaped at Elliot, trying to get my tongue and teeth to cooperate. "Back with Mr. Tucker... he asked what I was playing. And this was before I caught onto what was happening. Elliot, I told him. He must have told Olivia! Shit, I'm such an idiot!"

Elliot gave a death glare to Olivia, but it didn't matter, she couldn't see it. Trying to calm my pounding heart, I wracked my brain for any other impressive piece I knew. Nothing came up, at least, nothing I was ready for. I was totally, and utterly screwed. What would the judges think to have two pieces performed one after another? From the same high school? Would they think I copied Olivia? Or vice versa? Knowing my luck, I'd get the blame.

"Allie, you know a different version, right?"

I blinked at Elliot. "What?"

"You've played a different version a few times, right? Did another composer do a remake of it? Play that one."

"I..." Hesitating, I furrowed my eyebrows. "This song?"

"Yeah."

Oh. "No, Elliot, I was just playing around when I changed it," I told him, shaking my head. "I'm sure that's against the rules—"

"It's not," he said, cutting me off. "Just do it. It sounds professional, and it'll be different."

I bit my lip. "Good different, or bad different?"

"Just different."

"I don't know—"

"Just say that it's Canon in C, recomposed by you," Elliot said, giving me an impatient look.

I glanced at the judges, who were all already looking bored. They'd probably just give me shit scores if I played the same song again, anyway. Maybe using my version would be better. Of course, it'd probably seem a little pompous, but hopefully they'd notice I didn't mean for it to be like that. "Okay, okay," I gave in. "Might as well try..."

Elliot flicked my forehead. "You'll do fine."

"Mm," I responded noncommittally, rubbing at the sore spot on my head.

Olivia managed to play her piece perfectly, not missing or messing up a note. When she was finished, the crowd applauded loudly, but at least they didn't give her a standing ovation. She caught my eye as she went to sit down and I scowled deeply at her. But it didn't last for long, because I was being motioned up onto the stage. Glancing back into the crowd, I tried to find Paul. When I couldn't, terror took over me. This wasn't my first recital (well, technically this was a competition, but close enough), so there was no reason for me to be nervous in front a crowd.

But this was a big crowd.

And an important judge panel.

Just as I thought I was going to throw up with nerves, my gaze met Paul's, sitting slightly behind the judge's panel. That's right, I forgot he was sitting with them. He looked irritated, and I assumed it was because of Olivia, but after a moment he gave me a reassuring smile, and mouthed you'll be amazing. Swallowing, I nodded back at him, managing to get a smile onto my face. Our date depended on this. And with that smile on my face, I turned to my judges, who were all surprised by it. Mostly because most of the other pianists were too focused on the piano to show any emotion. Which I suppose worked for some people, but I liked to come off as friendly.