Last Dance

The contest was on, but there was not much we had to do. We were last up. We drew lucky ending up in the second half of the final, and apparently, the showrunners saved popular acts to end the show on a high. And boy, were we going to end on a bang. Marco was five positions before us—twenty-first, another enviable position.

Slowly, the other acts went up and performed. As we crept closer and closer to our turn, I began to feel a bit anxious. Marco reached over and grabbed my hand, and all my stress vanished.

Before long, even Marco left us, and the backstage grew quieter and quieter.

“Okay everyone. I want to say a few words.” I told my band.

“Right now?” Noah asked. He looked nervous.

“Yes.”

“Fine.” He agreed.

“Alright, I know the last few months have been wild.”

They all nodded.

“I just want to let you all know how much I appreciate you. Even you Jet.”

“Bullshit.” He retorted.

“It’s true, I value you. It’s a low value, and most of it is from your affiliation with Darcy, but it is a value nonetheless. So I umm...”

I had forgotten my really cool monologue. I couldn’t think of the right words to say.

“Okay, fuck it. Let’s give it our all, and let’s just have some fun.” I told them, and they all smiled.

It seemed they were all satisfied with this talk. That was not the pep talk they deserved, but it was the one they needed, or something like that. Let’s go with that.

We got the signal from the backstage crew. We were up. This was it—the final performance, and we had to give it our all.

We hopped on stage, and it was like nothing I had ever experienced before. The glowsticks, the cheers, the vague movements in the shadows of the crowd, it was next level.

The music started, and we rocked. Holy shit did we rock. I would be worried I blacked out, but the next thing I knew, I was sitting in the green room. And I wasn’t being yelled at. Everyone seemed to be ecstatic. Maybe it was a sign that I didn’t screw it up. Maybe, just maybe, I did a good job out there.

Marco strolled over from the Italian booth.

“Hi Marco, how did I go?” I called waving at him.

“You were amazing out there,” he replied.

“I was?”

“You were,” He confirmed.

“I don’t remember it at all, to be honest.”

“That means you were caught up in the moment,” he added.

“It’s kinda scary losing yourself in the moment to that extent though.”

I shivered slightly, worried that this would be my life on stage from now on.

“Well, it was perfect, honestly. The whole green room was going nuts.”

“Thanks,” I responded, though I must admit I felt a little embarrassed hearing him say this.

“You’re more than welcome to join us,” Stephanie offered. I could see a twinkle of mischief in her eyes.

“I would love to,” Marco replied with a smile.

“How’s Marco going to fit?” Noah asked.

“Why doesn’t Blake sit on his lap?” Luca suggested.

They couldn’t be serious.

“What are you waiting for?” Jet asked.

“You all are serious?”

“Why wouldn’t we be?” Noah asked.

I sighed. Alright, we shuffled around and just as I sat on MArco’s lap, one of the hosts came around with the cameras for an interview.

“Well, look who we have here.”

Why were the hosts here?

This wasn’t in the rehearsal. I knew there was a chance we would get interviewed, but I was hoping with all my might we wouldn’t. Especially right at this moment when I am sitting on Marco’s lap. I had to wonder if they were waiting for the optimal moment. I wouldn’t run it past them.

“I’m joined by the sunny love couple Marco and Blake.” The host commented.

I wanted to die.

People were squealing in the crowd.

I wanted to die more.

“Hello everyone,” Marco replied, waving to the camera and saving me from the embarrassment.

“How long have you two been dating.”

Marco was about to respond, but I knew this would be their easiest question. I wanted it.

“Seven years,” I answered.

“Seven years? Is that real, or are you making that up?”

I expected Marco to answer this, but he remained silent. I nudged him in the chest.

“It’s true. We’ve been dating for seven years now.”

“So you were dating well before Solstice?”

There were more squeals from the crowd. I could swear I heard some from the green room as well.

“That’s correct.”

“So your loving reunion is a loving reunion?” she asked Marco, noting his song.

He nodded.

The host focused back on me.

“You look a little red,” the host prompted me.

“You can see that through the makeup?”

Quick-witted, they responded.

“No, but thank you for confirming that you are blushing under all that gorgeous makeup.”

I wanted to die more than ever.

“Let’s go back to the stage for the final vote countdown,” the host motioned towards the stage, and the countdown for the final minute signalled. I suddenly remembered that I was supposed to be anxious during this bit. The anxiety hit all at once.

“Europe, stop voting now.” The judges called in unison.

“We have checked the results and confirmed they are valid. You are good to go,” Jano Olgarson declared.

“You heard Jano Olgarson. We have valid results.” The first host called.

“With that, let’s cross to Ireland.” the second one followed up.

The screen flashed to the first country, Ireland, which had an overly cheery presenter.

“Hello Europe, and good morning Australia. These are the results of Ireland.

I gazed upon the scoreboard. We weren’t there. Well, it looks like we’ll start the night off poorly with the Judges.

“Ireland gives our twelve points to...”

There was a pause for suspense. We all leaned in.

“Australia.”

─── ༻ ☼ ༺ ───

End of Chapter 40