Chapter 35-How Beautiful Now Is
We arrived to NYU about fifteen minutes ago, I already changed in my dancing outfit and was now waiting backstage with Fredo for Justin to arrive. I kept pacing back and forth, glancing nervously at the stage and couldn't help but think of all the worst scenarios that could ever happen. I could stumble, I could fall on my butt, I could forget the moves and the worst one is, I could completely humiliate myself by standing numb in my place without even being able to move a muscle.
I really need Justin, where the hell is he? And why the hell am I this freaking nervous? I've never been this freakin nervous in my whole life. Fredo did his best to try and calm me down, and as much as I appreciate his help, It still didn't help me calm down one bit at all. I just need Justin...
Fredo was on the phone, I couldn't quite hear who he was talking to or even about what. I'm not the eavesdropping type, but when you're nervous you'd be surprised by the things you'd suddenly start taking interest in.
"Madison Rose Galiano" I heard my name echo throughout the backstage.
I imidiatelly looked at Fredo biting my bottom lip nervously and he was quickly by my side. He gave me a friendly hug, wished me good luck and told me that I could absolutely do this. I started walking slowly towards the stage, I looked behind, but he was still not here, I sighed finally convinced that he wasn't gonna make it. I just hope that everything's fine with him, I know that he wouldn't just not come if it wasn't for something really important that stopped him from doing so.
I took one last deep breath before finally walking on stage, I plastered a fake smile on my face and tried my best to look as much confident as possible. I started feeling even more nervous than I already was, when I saw three people sitting on chairs behind a desk, I assumed that they were the judges that were gonna either get me in or out.
Suddenly the music I've chosen for my dance started playing, I took my position and gulped.
"Maddie" I heard his familiar husky voice yell.
I imidiatelly looked to my left to see Justin standing there breathing heavily, his hands were resting on his knees as he looked trying to catch his breath. I quickly looked at the judges and then ran towards him, I couldn't help but grin widely as I ran towards him. I wrapped my arms around his neck hugging him tightly and he didn't waste any time in wrapping his arms around me as well.
I hid my face in his neck inhaling his scent that I've missed so much, we pulled away after what felt like forever, we stood there gazing into each others eyes with huge grins plastered on our faces. We were snapped out of our trance when my name echoed throughout the whole place. Justin must've noticed my nervousness for that he pressed his lips on my forehead and let them linger there.
I just closed my eyes enjoying the moment, that's all he had to do to ease all my nervousness away, that's all he did to make me feel confident again. And with that great feeling I was feeling at the moment, I walked back on stage with a real smile on my face this time. I apologised to the judges and then took my position as the music started playing.
I danced my heart out, it was only me, Justin and dancing in this whole place, and that's really all I needed. I danced like I always do and realised how happy I get whenever I dance, how I get lost in my own world whenever I'm dancing. Justin was right, I really do dance because it makes me happy, not because it connects me with my mother and even though in some way it does really connect me with her, but I'm still not dancing for her, actually...I'm not dancing for anyone, I'm dancing for me.
I put everything I've got in this dance wanting to prove how great I could really be. By the end of the dance, I was sweating, I was tired, I was breathing heavily, but I could never feel much happier. The judges were professional and that's why it was obvious that they wouldn't clap, but they didn't need to, because Justin took care of that. I couldn't help but look at him grinning as he continued cheering for me, Fredo stood there looking shell shocked and I just smirked at him.
The judges weren't gonna tell us their decision today, or even tomorrow, they take a couple of weeks before actually telling you the news. I'm so anxious and I don't think I can wait that long to know if I made it or...not. Lets just hope for the best, I tried focusing on what's important right now and it's that I'm really hungry.
The three of us went to grab something from McDonald's, we talked and fooled around and I couldn't seem to take off that grin I had the whole time. I was just so happy to finally spend some time with Justin, although I would've wanted some alone time with him, but Fredo is a cool guy and he's our friend, so it's fine...I guess.
We had to go back to the arena as Justin had some sound checks for tonight's concert to do. I wanted to be there, I wanted to be by his side as he performs, just like he was by my side when I auditioned. And although he's probably not nervous and doesn't really need me there to be confident about himself, but we had a deal, he'd come to my audition and I come to his concert. He doesn't necessarily need me to be there, but it's enough for me to know that he wants me to be there.
I couldn't help but grin the whole concert as he sang and danced on stage, I forgot how amazing it is to see him perform and it's actually much greater to see him perform from close and not from behind the laptop screen. I would only be spending the weekend here in New York and then I'm gonna have to go back to LA.
Today was Friday and my first test was on Monday, meaning that I've got only Saturday and Sunday to spend with Justin. Although, I'd have to go back to LA by Sunday's afternoon to be able to go to school on Monday morning.
We went back to the hotel he's staying at after the concert, he was taking a shower while I was lying down on the bed, texting Brook. We're actually close friends now, all the things he's done are in the past, you could say that we're opening a new page in our lives. I was laughing at something he's said when Justin walked out of the bathroom.
I tried holding back the urge to look up at him and did my best to focus on just texting Brook. It took everything in me not to steal even one glance, but in the end, I couldn't help but steal one quick glance. He only had a towel around his waist, his hair was damp and I had this really huge urge to go and run my fingers through his golden locks, and although it would be awkward, but it still would've been worth it.
Minutes later, I felt the edge of the bed sink, I didn't have to look up from the phone to know that it was him. He sat beside me and rested his head on my shoulder as I continued chatting with Brook.
"Watcha doin?" I heard him whisper, his hot breath fanning on my neck, sent those goosebumps throughout my whole body.
"Chatting" I said and hoped that he didn't notice that I just shuddered.
"With who?" He asked and I could just feel him smirking.
"Brook" I managed to choke out, his touch just always manages to make it hard for me to breathe.
"How's he doing? " he asked, he knows that me and Brook are just friends and it makes me feel over the moon to know that he trusts me.
"He's getting better" I answered.
"That's good" he said leaving butterfly kisses on my neck making me completely melt under his touch.
"I've missed you so much" he whispered against my neck.
"I've missed you too" I managed to whisper.
I couldn't be any happier as we cuddled and just slept in each others arms, I missed this feeling, I've missed this. I've never felt this safe or warm before, I was happy, because everything was just perfect right now. The next morning came and I just wished if it was a little more late, because I just wanted to stay a little longer in his arms and if I want to be quite honest with you, I didn't want this to ever end, I wanted the night to last as long as it could.
We ate breakfast together in the bed and then decided to go out and do something. I don't care where we go as long as he's there with me. I found myself standing infront of the cinema, debating on which movie we should watch. It was really hard, there was alot of good movies that I wanted to watch and it was just hard to choose.
"Lets watch pitch perfect 2" I said grinning.
"I knew you'd choose that movie" he said smirking.
"Oh, yeah? " I said arching an eyebrow at him.
"Oh, yeah" he said and then planted a kiss on my cheek.
I found it ridiculous yet romantic how Justin bought all the tickets to the movie, I guess that he just always loves to do things big, it's not him if he doesn't do it big. We just sat there eating our popcorn even before the movie even started. I loved the original movie so much and I just can't wait to see the sequel, I hope that it's just as good.
I was so engrossed with the movie, totally lost in it while eating popcorn, when suddenly popcorn was thrown on me. So it's either an annoying ghost or an annoying Justin, I'll go with the second choice. I glared at him as he just sat there pretending to be the angel he's not. And right before I could even throw my popcorn at him, he imidiatelly stood up and ran away. I groaned before quickly jumping off my chair and started chasing after him around the whole place.
"Come back here" I yelled still running after him.
"Never" he yelled laughing his ass off.
"You're so dead" I mumbled.
I then had this idea, I smirked and then fell to the ground, I quickly held my ankle and winced in pain. Justin imidiatelly came to a halt and looked behind, he looked suspicious at first, but when I pretended to be in so much pain and winced again, he quickly came running towards me. It's an old trick, I know, but he fell for it.
"Are you okay?" He asked worried.
"No...could you help me up?" I said wincing and sealed my eyes shut.
I felt him grab my hand, I took it as my chance and quickly pulled him down making him fall on top of me. I couldn't help but throw my head back laughing at his shocked face. He then glared at me and I just grinned innocently at him.
"You know what? I like this position" he said smirking down at me, I imidiatelly blushed furiously when I finally took in our position.
"Aww, you're so cute when you're blushing" he said pinching my cheek, I just swat his hand away glaring at him.
*****
"So where are you from? Heaven?" He asked smirking.
"Yeah. I'm a ghost. I died fifteen years ago just like that pick-up line" I shot back with a smirk even wider than his.
Right now, me and Justin are just sitting in this booth eating pizza. I wanted to try New York's pizza, because I've heard that it's the best pizza ever and so Justin took me here. He suggested that we play a game, he would say a pick-up line and I would have to come up with a good comback. And so far, his pick-up lines just gets worse by the second.
"Well, damn" he said in disbelief.
"You're gonna have to order me another slice of pizza" I said.
"You're still hungry? " he asked.
"Yeah, I mean all of those lame pick-up lines made me starve" I said smirking.
He narrowed his eyes at me before standing up and headed towards the cashier, I looked at him as he dragged his feet towards the cashier, I just had to roll my eyes at his dramatic actions.
The next morning came quicker than I wanted it to and although I was excited because Justin told me he has a surprise for me, I still didn't want it to come this quickly, because then I would only have till this afternoon and I'd have to go back to LA. That's right, it's Sunday already, this weekend had passed even quicker than a lightening bolt and I don't like that.
"Where are we going? " I asked as he opened the passenger's door for me.
"I can't tell you" he said.
"Why?" I whined stomping my foot like a little kid.
"Because that's the whole concept of a surprise" he said simply, I just narrowed my eyes at him, lets see if he cracks under pressure.
"I'm gonna give you a kiss if you tell me" I said with a slight smirk, knowing that he won't say no to that.
"As tempting as that is, I still can't tell you" he said shaking his head.
"You're so annoying" I huffed hoping into the car.
"You won't be saying that when we get there" he said smiling and it took everything in me to keep a straight face and not to smile back.
Soon after he was speeding down the road and I can't help but guess where he's taking me. It felt like forever of me guessing and him constantly shaking his head 'no'. I really give up, there's no way I'm gonna find out, all I can do is hope that it's something great to do for my last day here with him in New York. But knowing Justin, I know it's gonna be great, maybe even more than great.
The car finally came to a stop and I couldn't help but grin in excitement, that excitement was soon replaced with a frown when Justin insisted on me putting on a blindfold. I groaned but put it on anyways.
"I swear if I fall, Bieber, you're gonna regret it" I threatened as I tried walking without stumbling while clinging on his arm the whole time.
"I can't feel my arm, I think I'm already regretting it in advance" Justin mumbled, but I heard him making me to mentally roll my eyes at how exagratting he could be.
He ended up carrying me bridal-style because I was walking 'slower than a snail'. Well, excuse me if I can't see, because some dummy made me put a blindfold on. Yeah, Bieber, you're the dummy...What's wrong with me? I'm freakin talking to myself.
"Maddie? " I heard him say.
"Yeah?" I said.
"We're here, you might wanna let go" he said chuckling slightly.
"Nah, I'm good" I said smiling and kept my arms wrapped around his neck.
"Maddie..." I could just see him wearing a blank face.
"Fine" I said giggling before finally unwrapping my arms from around his neck.
"Can I get this off now? " I whined touching the fabric on my eyes.
He didn't answer, he just took it off my eyes, I blinked a couple times before I was finally able to take in my surroundings. Shocked, surprised, amazed? I don't really know how to describe how I was feeling at the moment. I just looked around in awe as he was hugging me from behind.
"How did you get us in? " I asked still admiring the place.
"I have my sources" I heard him say cockily.
"Let me guess...you sneaked us in, didn't you?" I asked turning around to face him with a smirk on my face.
"Maybe" he said innocently with a one shoulder shrug.
"Justin! I've always wanted to come here, I've always wanted to stand on this stage...how did you know? " I asked grinning at him.
"I just know you more than you think I do" he said shrugging.
"Lets dance, shall we?" I said grinning and stretched my hand out for him to take.
"Without music? " he asked smirking, but took my hand nonetheless.
"You don't need music to dance" I smirked wrapping my hands around his neck.
We started dancing and this just reminded me of the time we danced together for the very first time. When he first came to the studio and we danced together, I still remember how we didn't stand one another, but yet danced and talked as if we knew each other our whole life. I've came here alot before, but I've never actually been on stage, I've always stood by the side of the stage, watching mom as she danced under the spotlight.
I've always wanted to be like her when I grew up, I always wanted to dance in Broadway infront of all those people, I wanted to dance under the spotlight.
"I used to come here when I was a kid and would watch mom as she danced under the spotlight" I said with my head resting on his shoulder.
"I've always wanted to dance on Broadway, under the spotlight" I added.
"Do you still want to do that? " I heard him ask.
"Yeah, that's been my dream since probably forever" I mumbled.
"I know you're gonna make it one day and I'll be sitting in the front row, when that day comes" he said making my heart melt.
"I know you will" I whispered smiling.
And just like that we continued dancing in a comfortable silence, it didn't matter that there was no music and it didn't matter that we probably shouldn't be here right now, all that really mattered was that we were together. I don't wanna think of what the future hides for us, all I can think of at the moment, is now and how beautiful now is.