𝐈 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖
[ Chapter Two | ⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ ]
SWEAT DRIPPED DOWN Kimberly's forehead as she and Kendall waited to audition. The venue was filled with the sound of singers practicing their notes and instruments being tuned, but all Kimberly could focus on was the endless wait. The tension was palpable, and both Kimberly and Kendall were starting to show signs of agitation.
She shot a glance at Kendall and saw the same frustration on his face.
"Do you like music?" Kendall broke the awkward silence by turning to Kimberly and asking. "Is it-Is it something you're passionate about?"
Kimberly hesitated momentarily before responding, "I enjoy music, but it's not my biggest passion. What about you?"
Kendall shrugged, trying to match Kimberly's lack of enthusiasm. "I like music, but I wouldn't say it's my biggest passion either."
"Okay," Kimberly responded in annoyance, clearly not interested in discussing music any further.
Kendall could sense the tension in the air and quickly changed the subject. "So, what brings you here today?" he asked, hoping to find a more comfortable topic.
"Well, I'm here to support Mindy, as you know. She's very passionate about music, and I don't want to let her down by not coming here to show it."
Kendall nodded in understanding. "You know, I was doing the same thing for James, but then I realized that this could be an opportunity for me."
Kimberly's eyebrows shot up. "An opportunity for what?"
"Other things." Kendall looked at her intently.
"Other things? Like what?" Kimberly was intrigued, but also skeptical.
Kendall hesitated for a moment before replying, "Let's just say that music could open some doors for me."
Kimberly was still skeptical. "You don't even like music. Why would you think it could help you?"
Kendall's expression grew more serious. "I have my reasons. And honestly, it's none of your business."
Kimberly felt a bit frustrated with Kendall's vague answers. She couldn't help but wonder what kind of opportunity he saw in something he didn't even like.
"Fine," she said, rolling her eyes. "But if you're going to keep me in the dark about this opportunity, I hope it's worth it."
Kendall shrugged. "It might be, it might not be. I'm just trying to keep an open mind and see where things go."
"Good luck with that."
"Thanks, I will."
▄︎▄︎▄︎▄︎▄︎▄︎▄︎
THE TWO OF them fell silent, lost in their own thoughts as they waited for their turn to audition. Despite their differences, there was an unspoken understanding between them. They were both there for a reason and determined to make the most of it.
Despite the fact that it was imposed upon them.
Kimberly turned to Kendall, her voice small and hesitant. "Kendall?"
"Yeah, Kimberly?" He looked over at her, his tone gentle but tired.
"I'm sorry... for being so annoying with all those questions."
Kendall let out a sigh. "Don't worry about it, Kim."
They fell into a comfortable silence for a moment before Kimberly spoke up again, her voice barely above a whisper. "Can I ask you something else?"
Kendall gave her a small smile. "Of course, what's up?"
"Do you think I should try to use this audition for myself as well?"
"W-what?"
▄︎▄︎▄︎▄︎▄︎▄︎▄︎
THE SILENCE THAT followed Kendall's words allowed Kimberly's thoughts to wander, and as she gazed around the crowded venue, she began to see this audition as more than just a favor for her friend. Perhaps it was an opportunity for her as well.
As she pondered this realization, her mind shifted to her true passion: writing. Kimberly had always loved creating stories, whether they were fictional or inspired by her own experiences. She was particularly drawn to screenwriting, the art of crafting compelling stories for television and film.
Kimberly realized that if she wanted to pursue a career in screenwriting, she needed to start somewhere. Maybe this audition was the beginning of her journey. She could use her writing skills to make herself stand out in the audition process. Instead of just singing or playing an instrument, she could showcase her talent for storytelling and create a unique and memorable audition.
As the idea solidified in her mind, Kimberly felt a sense of excitement and purpose. She was grateful for the chance to support her friend, but now she saw this audition as an opportunity to pursue her own dreams.
"Sorry, I just wasn't expecting that," Kendall said, feeling a bit embarrassed.
Her response caught Kendall off, guard, as he didn't expect her to take the audition seriously, let alone see it as an opportunity to pursue her own dreams.
"It's fine," Kimberly said, her voice tinged with doubt and uncertainty as if she was trying to convince herself more than anything.
Kendall gave her a reassuring smile. "You should definitely do it," he encouraged.
"Really?" Kimberly looked at Kendall with surprise and a hint of admiration.
"Really," Kendall confirmed. "Opportunities like this come once in a lifetime."
"Well... I'm not really sure how singing will help with this opportunity," said Kimberly.
Kendall was taken aback by her statement. "What kind of opportunity are you looking for?" he asked her, curious about her goals.
"You tell me yours first," Kimberly added, a sly grin forming on her lips. "How are you gonna use singing as an opportunity of your own?"
"I don't know, Kim. I haven't really thought about it that much," Kendall said, scratching the back of his head. "I guess I'll just go in there and do my thing, sing a song that I like, and hope for the best. Maybe I'll even throw in a few of my own dance moves, you know, make it stand out to Gustavo."
"Yeah, I get what you mean." Kimberly nodded.
"Now you tell me," Kendall said with a grin. "How are you going to use singing as an opportunity of your own?" said Kendall.
Kimberly thought for a moment before answering, "Honestly, I'm just going to follow your lead and see what happens."
"That's all you can really do right? "I mean, have you seen the way Gustavo treats people?" Kendall asked, shaking his head in disbelief.
"It's like he thinks he's the only one who knows anything about music," Kimberly added.
"I almost feel bad for Kelly. She's gotta deal with him every day," Kendall said sympathetically.
"Yeah, poor girl. She can't seem to catch a break," Kimberly agreed.
"But hey, we gotta focus on our own goals and not let Gustavo bring us down," Kendall said, trying to lighten the mood.
"Agreed," Kimberly nodded, a smile forming on her face.
▄︎▄︎▄︎▄︎▄︎▄︎▄︎
AS KENDALL AND Kimberly chatted about their goals, they noticed that Mindy had been in the audition room for quite some time. They wondered if she was doing well and decided to wait for her to finish.
They had no choice really.
After a while, Mindy stormed out of the venue, immediately grabbing Kimberly's hand. She looked upset and frustrated.
"Can you explain what happened inside there?" Kimberly asked, trying to understand Mindy's sudden outburst.
"That Gustavo guy is a complete jerk! He was so mean and rude. I don't know why I even bother with these auditions. It's like I'm never going to make it in this industry."
"Don't say that Mindy, you have an amazing voice and you're so talented," Kimberly reassured her.
"But that doesn't seem to matter to him," Mindy replied, her voice heavy with disappointment.
"Maybe we can talk to Kelly and see if there's anything she can do to help you out."
"Do you think she would do that for me?"
Kimberly was at a loss for words. "I'm not sure," she stammered.
Mindy let out a sigh and rubbed her arms. "Man, it's freezing out here," she said, shivering. She tried to warm herself up by rubbing her hands together.
"Yeah, let's head back inside," Kimberly replied, determined to give her best shot at the audition. "I hope it's not too late to impress Gustavo."
"Trust me, it is."
▄︎▄︎▄︎▄︎▄︎▄︎▄︎
MINDY AND KIMBERLY quietly walked back inside the venue, shivering from the cold. The building was eerily quiet, and they could hear muffled singing from the audition room.
Kimberly could feel the tension in the air as she and Mindy approached the closed door. She didn't want to be a part of that negative energy and decided to keep her distance until James and the others were finished. They both hoped that the boys would hurry up and finish so they could leave this cold, unwelcoming place behind.
Mindy could leave, but Kimberly couldn't. Not just yet. She wasn't done and she wasn't ready.
Kimberly couldn't help but worry about the state they might leave the room in. She knew how messy it could become, and she didn't want to be the one to clean up after it.
She hoped that they would at least have the decency to leave the room in a presentable state. After all, they were trying to impress Gustavo and leave a good impression. But with the negative energy in the room, Kimberly wasn't sure what to expect.
Especially from Kendall.
Eli Speaks
Hi! Sorry, it took so long to upload this chapter. I'm so excited to continue writing this story, and I hope you find some joy in reading it. Make sure to comment and vote!
See you in the next chapter! <3
- Eli ★