My Dream I

Halle’s POV

"You've met Xavier," he remarked, "he can be annoying, but he’s a cool guy."

"So, are you guys close friends? You sound like you know him that much," I inquired with curiosity.

"Huh," he responded, handing me my ID. "Here’s your ID. I found it in the hallway this morning," he explained, extending it towards me.

"Thank you," I expressed gratitude, taking the ID from him. "It must have fallen when Xavier's fangirls hit me this morning."

A realization dawned on me as he handed back the ID. "So, that’s how you figured out my name," I noted, and he responded with a friendly smile.

"Good luck on your audition," he offered encouragingly, gracefully walking away.

My curiosity got the better of me, and I urgently called out to him. "Wait," I insisted, feeling a need to know more. "I didn’t get your name," I confessed, the words rushing out in an almost desperate plea.

He turned back to me, and with a soft smile that seemed to carry a hint of mystery, he shared, "I’m Jason,"he revealed, his voice carrying a warmth that enveloped me.

As he departed, the air around me seemed to hold the echo of his name, and I found myself smiling

As I stood there, lost in my thoughts, a familiar wave of excitement pulled me back to reality. Jenna was energetically waving at me, and I quickly made my way over to her.

"Halle, who’s that guy over there?" she exclaimed, pointing in the direction of Jason, who was gracefully walking away.

"He’s so handsome. Is he your boyfriend?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity, eager to dive into the details of my interactions.

"Boyfriend? No," I clarified, amusement playing in my eyes as I wondered about the sudden interest in my romantic life.

"Why’d you ask?" I inquired, genuinely intrigued by the turn of conversation.

"The way he looks at you?" she replied, her eyes giving me the classic puppy look that never failed to make me blush.

"So, you do know Xavier from E3," she continued, raising an eyebrow.

"Halle Rubio," a man's voice called out, interrupting our conversation. I recognized the name and ran towards the man standing in front of the audition room.

Jenna gave me an encouraging thumbs-up as I hurriedly fixed my ID, feeling the nervous energy building up.

I climbed the podium, my hands slightly trembling as I held the microphone, locking eyes with the three judges seated in front of me.

Fidgeting and panicking, I felt the weight of the moment. One of the judges reassured me, "Take your time. Have a deep breath. We’ll be ready when you are."

The enormity of the situation hit me. I'd never performed in front of anyone except Jessie, who wasn’t here to ease my nervousness.

As my mouth felt heavy and my chest raced, I considered leaving the stage. Just then, I saw Xavier walk into the room, and a surge of mixed emotions washed over me.

He had already changed his shirt, a vivid memory flashed through my mind - the moment when I tore Xavier's shirt, and unexpectedly, I burst out laughing in front of the judges. His grin in response played in my thoughts.

As the judges welcomed Xavier,he waved back at them and stood, his gaze fixed on me. Surprisingly, his presence brought a sense of ease, and my nervousness diminished.

"Go on, Miss Rubio," another audience member encouraged as I picked up the microphone. The keyboard intro started, and I began singing "This Is Me" by Keala Settle.

"I'm not scared to be seen, I make no apologies, this is me," I poured my emotions into the song, concluding with a powerful delivery.

As the final note faded away, for the first few minutes, everywhere was silent, and I could even hear my own breath, awaiting the judges' reaction.

Suddenly, the silence that followed my performance gave way to thunderous applause. I turned, and there he was—Xavier, clapping with genuine enthusiasm. His infectious applause was soon joined by other contestants, Jenna, and even the judges who were on their feet, acknowledging the moment.

As the applause resonated, Xavier's smile widened, and behind him, Jason stood, his eyes reflecting genuine admiration. It was a scene I hadn't anticipated, leaving me momentarily stunned.

Bowing down to the judges, I heard their words, "Thank you, Miss Rubio. We’ll get back to you." The adrenaline of the performance still coursing through me, I descended the stage to Jenna, who ran to embrace me.

"That was amazing, Halle! Your voice, OMG," Jenna exclaimed with infectious excitement as we exited the audition room, drawing the attention of everyone around.

Xavier approached, and I whispered my gratitude, "Thank you."

"Huh, I didn’t do anything," he said modestly, a sincerity in his words that caught me off guard. "You're an amazing singer. I now believe you didn’t come to Gleewood because of me," he teased.

Before he could continue, I looked up and saw Jason, running over to him. "Halle, that was amazing," he praised, his smile reflecting genuine appreciation. "That was perfect."

"I’m so scared," I confessed, my anxiety bubbling to the surface. "I hope I will get in. Gleewood Arts is my dream college," I shared, looking towards Jason for reassurance.

"Trust me, with that performance, you will get in," Jason reassured with a chuckle.

"I guess I’ll be going home now. I’m still panicking. I have to go," I said, bidding farewell to Jason and Jenna.

Stepping out from the grand entrance of Gleewood Arts, I I stood at the exit entrance, gazing up at a towering billboard adorned with Selena's radiant smile.She was my favorite musician who had also attended Gleewood before pursuing her career in Paris.. She was more than just a singer; she was a symbol of dreams, a beacon of hope for aspiring artists like me. As I stood there, memories of my childhood flooded back, dreams that seemed distant after the tragedy of my parents' murder. But Jessie, my rock through it all, always believed in me, reassuring me that one day, I would also grace the world's biggest stages, stand under the dazzling lights of Broadway, and clutch a Grammy in my hands.

With a renewed sense of purpose pulsating within me, I hailed a cab, eager to embark on the next chapter of my journey.