Becoming One: In The Heights

Twenty-Eight (Becoming One On Stage)

Nina felt like she would throw up. She was so nervous. She had to big solos and she'd had less than a week to prepare. Daniela was helping her with makeup which Nina was incredibly thankful for. "We're just going to do something light. But also, are you sure Benny didn't see the dress? You want to surprise him don't you?" Nina wanted to nod, but she couldn't since Dani was doing her eyes.

"I'm sure. He has no idea. I'm surprised it still fits with the baby bump." Nina spoke softly, laughing a bit.

"In all honesty, I'm not. You're not that big yet." Dani said, blending the eyeshadow and putting on eyeliner. "Now, I'm putting on fake eyelashes. So please, stay still." Nina did as told, staying still. When she was done, she grabbed a light pink matte lipstick. "Voila. You're done. And may I just say, you look muy, muy, muy guapa. ¡Tú es muy hermosa!" Daniela said, grabbing Nina's pink dress from the closet.

"Benny and I danced together as a couple for the first time with me in that dress." Nina mused. "And I wore it on our date. Right before conceiving this miracle." Nina place her hand over her belly.

"Yeah, yeah. You've got memories with the dress, now put it on!" Nina did and Daniela helped her zip up the back. Once it was on, Nina smiled.

"Thank you Dani." She said, hugging her friend.

"No problem. Now, Benny is escorting you. You'll do great. I'll see you there."

"I'll be scanning the crowd for you."

"And we'll be right there." Dani released her friend from the hug and Nina left to find Benny.

~~~

The group flew through the group arrangements and the professor stepped forward. "Our soloist is Nina Rosario. She's sing both our solos. The original song and a popular song too." The judges looked quite judge-y. "First up, the popular song, Mr Know It All by Kelly Clarkson."

Nina stepped forward, smiling softly and scanning the crowd for Benny. When she found him, she relaxed and began.

"Mr Know It All, well ya think you know it all. But ya don't know a thing at all. Ain't it something y'all? When somebody tells you something bout you, think that they know you more than you do, so you take it down another pill to swallow.

"Mr bring me down. Well ya like to bring me down don't ya. But I ain't laying down, baby, I ain't going down. Can't nobody tell me how it's gonna be. Nobody gonna make a fool out of me. Baby you should know that I lead not follow!

"Oh you think that you know me, know me. That's why I'm leaving you lonely, lonely. 'Cause baby you don't know a thing about me. You don't know a thing about me. You ain't got the right to tell me when and where to go, no right to tell me. Acting like you own me lately. Yeah baby you don't know a thing about me. You don't know a thing about me.

"Mr Play Your Games, only got yourself to blame when you want me back again. But I ain't falling back again, 'cause I'm living my truth without your lies. Let's be clear baby this is goodbye. I ain't coming back tomorrow.

"Oh you think that you know me, know me. That's why I'm leaving you lonely, lonely. 'Cause baby you don't know a thing about me. You don't know a thing about me. You ain't got the right to tell me when and where to go, no right to tell me. Acting like you own me lately. Yeah baby you don't know a thing about me. You don't know a thing about me.

"So what, you've got the world at your feet. And you know everything about everything, but you don't. You still think I'm coming back but baby you'll see!

"Oh you think that you know me, know me. That's why I'm leaving you lonely, lonely. 'Cause baby you don't know a thing about me. You don't know a thing about me. You ain't got the right to tell me when and where to go, no right to tell me. Acting like you own me lately. Yeah baby you don't know a thing about me. You don't know a thing about me.

"Mr Know It All. Well ya think you know it all. But ya don't know a thing at all. Yeah baby you don't know a thing about me. You don't know a thing about me."

The judges smiled, looking at each other, all baffled by Nina's amazing voice.

"Next up, Everything I know, music and lyrics by Nina Rosario."

~~~

"Nina, I think we all agree that you have a talent. Please don't let it go to waste. Audition for a musical, drop an album. Be the best you can be. And we aren't saying this because you're pregnant and we feel bad. We're saying this because it's true. You have a beautiful voice. You have a bright future ahead of you. And congratulations on your baby."

"Thank you." Nina said. With that, the group got off the stage. Via and Kaitlyn hugged her and congratulated her.

~~~

"Best soloist goes to, Nina Rosario, Stanford University!" Nina got her trophy and walked back to her seat. Everyone cheered for her, smiling. "And best overall performance goes to...Stanford University!"

***Author's Note***

Oh yeah. They won. Yeah.

Be fearless!

Xo,
Ryeli