Not Alone

I left Stephanie's room, and I could feel the tears beginning to fall. I opened my door, hoping not to run into anyone. I just wanted to cry into my pillow. But it seemed this wouldn't be possible because as I ran out of her room, the entire crew was waiting for me.

"I summoned everyone", Luca commented.

I was embarrassed they caught me crying, but I couldn't do much about it now. I tried wiping some of my tears, but they continued to flow. I decided to just let it all out rather than fight it. Jane, Darcy, and Luca didn't hesitate; they quickly came up and hugged me.

"Oh shit, what's wrong?" Noah asked.

"Just based on your reaction, I'm guessing it's some bad news. Did our stage collapse or something?" Jet asked.

"If the stage is stuffed, I can dance more for the cameras to make up for it," Pete offered.

I had to shake my head. I couldn't answer all their questions at once—hell, I could barely answer even one.

"I was told I cannot spend time with Marco anymore," I responded, sniffling.

"Huh?" several of them responded at once.

"What do you mean?" Noah asked on behalf of the group.

I relayed what occurred in Steph's room.

"Fair Dinkum? That's Un-Australian," Pete said.

"If you want to walk, we will support you," Noah offered, and Jane nodded.

"No, I can't do that."

"Well, what can we do to help? Because that's fucked," Jet added.

"Whatever you decide, mate, we've got ya back," Noah tried to reassure me.

"Thanks, but being in Solstice is a dream. Besides, it's not just you guys; it's everyone. I can't let down the fans, and I want to win. We've got to do this."

"Alright, then, I guess we will just have to work something else out," Noah commented.

"We are here for you," Darcy signed, having gotten some additional context from Jet signing to her.

"There's no way we are letting them keep you apart." He added.

"I would do everything if they tried to keep me apart from Jane," Noah commented, cuddling up to Jane.

"And I you," Jane replied sappily, which made me feel even worse knowing I was barred from doing the same with Marco.

"Whatcha talkin' about?" A familiar, excited voice chimed in—the familiar Finnish Chaos Gremlin known as Aina.

"I've been banned from seeing Marco." I tried to say without crying but failed.

"Hmmm? How come?" she asked; her innocent response was almost endearing.

"They said our relationship would be distracting for both of us."

She paused for a moment before I think it clicked in her mind, "Oh, so when ya said ya already knew him back at the gala, ya meant ya were in a relationship."

When I was told to keep my distance from Marco, the purpose was to try and prevent as many people as possible from knowing. It seems like that had already failed miserably.

"Yes," I admitted.

She closed in on me and wiped my tears with her finger.

"Well, that stinks; I'd happily help ya out. My brother can help too."

"Thanks, but I don't know what I can do."

"What did ya delegation say? What were their terms?"

"That I can't be alone with him."

"Then how 'bout ya seein' each other not alone then?"

She said it like it was simple. Like it, Stephanie, the SCS, and the Government would just accept him hanging around me if the other members of the band were around.

"She implied it can't just be our two delegations."

"Hmmm? Then how 'bout ya team up with some other acts like us? That way, you can still see him." She suggested.

I couldn't believe how she managed to figure something out like that so quickly. But would anyone be willing to help us out? I mean, wouldn't everyone be focused on the contest? Would they have time to help the two of us be together?

"You'd be willing to help?" I asked, expecting her to immediately make some excuse.

"Of course, I already said I would." She replied with no hesitation

"Really? Thank you. It means a lot to me." I began crying like an idiot again.

"There, there." Darcy verbally added, patting my head as I cried into her shoulder.

"I don't know if my delegation would like it if we are caught scheming this," I added, having some extra doubts.

"It's fine as long as ya don't get caught. What they don't know won't hurt them."

I was beginning to think Aina was a bad influence on me. But then again, I was truly grateful for what she was doing.

"Do ya have anyone else who can also help with this?" Aina asked.

"I'm not particularly close to any other act. Maybe Marco knows some others."

"Surely ya know some others."

I thought about it, and I couldn't get rid of the image of Josh. But would he be willing to help us out? As part of the Big Five Plus One, he seemed almost in a different league from the rest of us mere contestants. Well, I guess Marco was part of that elite group, too, so perhaps he might. He seemed nice, after all.

"I had a chat with Josh William maybe he would be willing to help out," I commented.

Aina's eyes lit up.

"He's an angel. Cool, cool, I can chat with him if ya like. I'm sure he would lend ya a hand."

"That would be great, thanks."

"While at it, have ya thought of talking to Sofia? Pretty sure she is queer. She might help ya if ya ask?"

"Who?"

"Sofia, Romania's entrant," Noah commented. I'm sure my lack of knowledge of our fellow contestants pained him.

"Ah!" So Sofia was the Bubblegum Pop girls' name. I thought back to our awful encounter and sighed, "I think she hates me."

"Nah, if she's actin' cold to ya, then it means she regards ya as a friend?"

"Really?"

"I think so." She smiled.

I now felt much less optimistic.

─── ༻ ☼ ༺ ───

End of Chapter 25