Unconditional

I Promise

"Shut up!!! Stop!!! Stop it!!" Dec covers his ears and crunches his eyes

"-Sleepless nights and every time I would show you how much I lo-"

Dec feels panic seizing him and in that fright he pushes the other person with all his might. But the other guy takes this opportunity holds his hands and pulls him closer. Dec again struggles to wriggle his hands away and in that effort, he hits the other guy on his chin.

Suddenly, without any warning, Dec is pushed away and he falls down, his knees and elbows hitting the rough floor.

He hears the other guy getting closer and asking whether he is fine and alright.

Dec groans as pain shoot through his elbows and knees but before the other guy can reach him, he stands up swiftly and runs out of the door,  to their team room, without turning around, his heart in his throat.

His head screamed at him to not to think, not to remember. Not to feel anything. After making sure he is away from the washroom, he leans on a wall, takes in a deep breath and reflects on the situation. He is back..he is back...he is here.. were the only thoughts in his mind.

He feels pain all over his body and rolls his trousers and sleeves to see scraped skin and gashes No! I can't go to the team like this. The competition is about to start! I can let them know what happened. I can't- shit!Anth...what will I tell him! How can I show them- no! I won't!!"

He takes his handkerchief and mops the small amount of blood, trying his best to swallow nausea enveloping him. He then ties it around the comparatively larger gash right below his knees and unrolls his clothes to hide them. He then walks to the room, trying his best to look normal.

Ant was about to send Ali when Dec entered the room, looking pale and worried

Ant walks to him swiftly "Where were you? Are you alright?"

Dec: "Me? Yeah, I am fine...I-"

Ant: "You look pale!"

Dec: "No, I am just nervous"

Ant: "Okay...come on, get your make-up done. We have to get on the stage within half an hour"

Ant then walks back to the team and Dec takes in a deep breath and moves to apply his make up.

Everyone gets ready and Ant calls them to him. He was holding a writing board and was wearing an earpiece. Dermott, Piers and other crew members wore similar earpieces and John and Gino held similar writing boards. Philip was with Ant, smiling and trying to keep their morale up.

Ant: "So this is the first set of the competitions and this is where all that we did for the past few months should come into worth. I know each one of you and I know the best you can do. And I want the best here today. The roles you are given cannot be done by anybody else. You and only you can show the crowd what that character can achieve and how much that character can impact all those people out there. I want you to do your best out there because as I said, I know what each one of you can do. I don't want anybody to think this competition as something you should fear about. Just go there and do your best! Even if we don't win, I want the crowd to remember each and every character you play. I want them to remember us! And what we did out there!!  You got that?"

Everyone cheers  "Yes!!"at that and Ant asks again louder "You got that?!!"

"YES!!!"

They reach the backstage within a few minutes and Dec watches Ant as he hurriedly started arranging the props and ordering people around. Even Piers didn't mind Ant giving him chores.