I feel way too nervous, as I check myself in the mirror by the stage. The students from Utah are currently onstage, being questioned by the jury. I didn't know I had to answer such personal questions at this competition. The same lady from yesterday hands us our microphones again. I play around on the hemm of my new blouse. It's cute but not really what I usually wear. It's white and has a good amount of cleavage but in a way that it looks modest. I paired it with a pait of black skinny jeans any some black Doc Martens, just because I felt like heels would be too much. The kids from Utah get off of the stage and we go up next. Niall has the remote for the presentation again. Today, we show pictures from our project that we haven't shown yesterday. We have some from the band rehersals and some from our parents.
"Hello, Mr Horan and Miss Tucker. What would you like to show us today?", the blonde woman behind the jury table asks.
Niall opens the first picture, showing Mere and Justin laughing at Niall doing a goofy face during a practice. He was mocking how I look when I play bass.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Today, we want to present some photographs that really mean a lot to us and show wholesome moments feom our everyday life. We know that our project might not be the one with the most impact politically but maybe we can change something emotionally for some of you", Niall begins.
I stand by the monitor, pointing at Niall's face on the picture.
"I took this picture during a band practice for Homecoming. It shows Niall and two of our dearest friends, mocking me playing my bass. I know that it seems like a pretty random picture but when Niall pulled that face, Mere and Justin had the time of their life. They cried of laughter. This photograph shows the most wholesome moment I ever experienced in my life. It's not the huge funny jokes that count and seem relevant. Even, joking around with your friends can make someone's life brighter. That morning, Mere and her boyfriend had a fight. They almost broke up, yet, such a small mocking joke could make her forget about the bad and laugh for a few minutes."
Niall changes the picture, going on with his photograph of his mother doing his sisters hair in the morning. He explains the story and lets me continue with my picture. It goes on and on until we reach our final picture, which I took and explain. But, when I'm finished, Niall doesn't quit with our ending but opens up another picture. It's one of me, woking on the project with my head in my hands, tears rolling down my face and a coffee in front of me with my laptop. Wait, I forgot this was in there. We didn't speak about putting this in the presentation. Yes, it was in the project but not this presentation.
"And for our last picture, I decided to end it with a small message. This picture shows Violet in our local café, working on our project to give to our teacher. She had a rough day and nothing was working her way. The SD-Card wasn't recognized, Photoshop cept crashing, the edited pictures would be deleted, her brother had just found out something, her mother was working too hard, her grades were dropping, no one could seemingly understand her and lastly, it was her father's death day. Although. She seems like a wreck in this picture, she got herself together and continued working because she has a passion. The passion for working hard and earning everything in the world, the passion for doing what she truly loves. I sat in that café, wondering, how she did that. How did this 5'4 girl with a passion for music and photography dig herself out of such a large hole and keep going? It is because she has the feeling of being the best person she can be. People with this personality trait usually are the best people you can surround yourself with. They don't give up. They work hard and try to earn the most of everything. That is what I call an everyday hero. If we all could just take an example from people that can get their life together, this planet wouldn't be such a shit show. Our plea is for you all in this room to take an example and not be happy with doing the bare minimum. Excell at the things you love and don't let anything bring you down. Thank you", Niall ends his small speech, making everyone in the room stand and clap for us.
There are people hollering for us, shouting how amazing we are. When everyone settles down, the jury starts giving around the microphone. A young woman takes it and looks directly at me.
"Excuse me, Miss Tucker, I have a question for you", she speaks up, "What do you want to do after high school? Will you go into the arts or social sciences?"
I lift the microphone to my mouth.
"I have been thinking about this question a lot actually. About three months ago, I wanted to become an engineer... Today, I have to say that a career in the arts would be an amazing path for me. My path might lead to Graphic Design and Photography. I'm very open-minded and I like to branch out of the normal "Oh, I want to do Journalism" mindset that most females with a passion for photography have", I answer.
The judge nods, thanking me and giving the microphone to someone else. An older man takes it.
"Mr Horan, how come your photographs are almost edited in the same style as Miss Tucker's?", he asks.
That's a good question. Maybe, because I edited them all.
"Well, sir, Violet and I are a great team. She actually taught me how to edit my pictures and we decided to have similar effects and filters to have a clean slate and a good aesthetic for the eye. We didn't want to have pictures that stuck out too much. Our concept was to keep it pretty similar", Niall answers with a slightly shaky voice.
The microphone goes to one last person. It's a young man. He looks friendly.
"Question for both: Is it possible that you both disliked each other before the project and while working on the project you grew a liking towards each other?"
The question makes me look at Niall and let out a slight laugh into the microphone.
"That's exactly how it was. This project brought us closer", I answer.
"Art can connect people, any kind of art. It's quite funny because we connect through music and photography", Niall adds.
We are excused from the stage, so we give back the microphones and the remote to control the monitor. Honestly, I don't care, if we win. We dis the best we could. I mean, first place gets a safe college scholarship for any school they want. Second place gets a safe place in a Honors Program. Third place recieves a 400$ gift card for Nikon and a yearlong subscription to any editing program they want. I don't need any of that jazz because I had the time of my life here. We quickly find Mr Melroy and let him tell us that we did well before the last groups finish their presentations.
About three hours later, we get to go back onstage and wait for the final results. They start with 10th place and go down to the last two. We're already at 4th place and it's California, Arkansas, Vermont and us. Never in a million years would I have dreamed about this happening.
"And 4th place goes to... Vermont", the judge exclaims.
Niall and I give each other a look of shock. Oh my god. We're top 3. The judge continues, making us shiver in fear and excitement.
"3rd place goes to... Alabama", he tells us.
Niall and I look at each other and fall into each others arms. I hug him tight, as Mr Melroy also hugs us. We go up to the judge, recieve our small trophy and our gift and position us on the podium for 3rd place.
"And our national photography contest winner is... Arkansas!", he shouts into the microphone.
In the end, the best group one. Their presentation and project about pollution and sunsets around Arkansas was amazing. I loved it.
*****
"Let's have a fucking good time tonight, okay Tuscaloosa?", Matty Healy asks, making most of the people scream in agreement.
Niall stands behind me, as I'm pressed against the metal of the barricade to the stage.
"Okay, we just played one of my favorites on the new album, but don't you want to hear some old The 1975 aswell?", he asks, walking over to our side of the stage.
The crowd screams again. I quickly take a picture of Matty, as he smirks at the crowd being so responsive. Well, after that failed Coachella set they played, this has to be amazing.
"Let me think... Sex, no... The City, no... How about we give you some Heart Out?", he asks, causing me to gasp and touch my tattoo.
The whole crowd responds with screaming and shouting. I also shout with them. I hear Niall do it aswell. When they start playing the first chords, I lose my shit and start dancing. Niall, behind me, starts dancing, too. Matty walks around the stage, looking out at the crowd. He sings, making me belt the lyrics with him. The whole crowd sings, as my favorite song of them
plays.
"It's just you and I tonight. Why don't you figure my heart out? It's just you and I tonight. Why don't you figure my heart out?", I belt, probably sounding like a dying whale.
Matty sings his heart out, literally, making me the happiest person ever. When they finish the song, I cheer loudly for them. I love this band so much and this is the best birthday present anyone could have given me. I feel Niall bend down over me, kissing my cheek.
"You like it?", he asks.
I nod, leaning back into his hug. His hands are on my hips but when we hear the first notes of the next song, we lays his arms around my shoulders, swaying me from side to side.
"Don't you see me? I, I think I'm falling, I'm falling for you. Don't you need me? I, I think I'm falling, I'm falling for you", I cry, as I sing this.
Niall whispers it in my ear softly, his breath tickling me. Matty decides to sit down in front of us with his feet dangling from the stage. His eyes roam the front row. The security people around us are in deep concentration to see what will happen next. I don't care, as I sing with the band and the crowd.
"There are quite the cute couples here tonight. I wish you all best of luck and if this is your first date: Hey, I'm Matty Healy, this is The 1975 and we're your new favorite band", Matty speaks, standing up again.
Niall kisses my cheek, knowing what that juat meant to me. That was the craziest thing I ever experienced. The concert continues and Niall and I sing a lot more and dance and we even take some pictures and videos. Soon enough they play the last song which is Loving Someone. The rainbow stage lights start and I take a picture on my phone. I never want to forget this moment. They finish soon. As per usual, they throw out guitar picks and drumm sticks, so I catch a drumm stick and a guitar pick. Matty even personally hands Niall a guitar pick.
"Don't for get that you should always be loving someone! We're The 1975! Good night! See you soon!", Matty closes the show, as the band leaves the stage.
The crowd becomes uneasy and people start piling out of the building. Niall and I stay standing a little while because we wouldn't get out anyway and everyone's probably in the bathrooms and trying to get home. Good thing that we got our tour shirts before the concert.
"That was the best night of my life", I sigh, opening my purse and putting my guitar pick and drumm stick in there, so I don't lose them.
These will go into my memory box. After I finish putting my things away, Niall kisses me. What did I do to deserve to have him in my life?