chapter Fourteen: That unfamiliar feeling

Nervousness was something that wasn't spelled out in her dictionary. But today, she had woken up with it spread out before her. She paced about in the room really really worried and was feeling giddy then sat down to calm down.

It was the date planned for the defence. She had rehearsed her points and went through with her work various times. She felt like there were knots present in her belly and she felt really uncomfortable with that.

*What now? A panick attack?* She asked sarcastically.

*Want one?* She just sighed and ignored.

She knew the order of things by heart and now she didn't know why her fingertips were this cold and sweaty. She first thought it was some kind of drop in temperature but she realized it was just her being freaking nervous. What the hell had happened to her?

*It can't be happening to me no* 

*Of course it's happening to you.*

She couldn't still get rid of the eery feeling. She cursed the guy who ever created such a feeling worst of all the one who gave it a name. If she ever lay hands on them, she will ugh... Beat the hell out of them. If only it will help in reducing the dizziness she's feeling. 

She took huge gulps of air and breathed in and out to calm herself and thanks to the heavens she felt calmer and got up from her bed to get herself ready. She had taken a bath when she woke up but she decided to go in for another one because she thought she would look fresher, after all she won't get faded, with her skin already being pale enough.

She took her bath, dressed very professionally with utmost care, did her makeup, very light and natural but good enough to be charming. What else was left to do? Oh yeah last minutes reviews.

She got headsets and put on a slow painful music and got her files. She recognized the words so well for she had seen each one of them at least a zillion times. She even checked for errors if any but there was none. She hummed along the melody in her mind and she was so concentrated and it just came naturally to her.

After one last rehearsal, Liza went to the mirror and stood there. Looking at her reflection who stared back blancly at her. 

*You can do this*

*Yeah I know I can.*

*Tsk...tsk... You need to...*

A sound  came and interrupted her self-to-self conversation. She saw it was Alex.

"Hey Alex. Whatsup. I was just having the pep talk of my life y'know? Getting familiar with this thing called nervousness. I feel so rigid, dizzy, uncomfortable and the best of all is that I am so angry at myself for feeling all these feelings. But know what?? I'm gonna overcome them..."

"Shut up." Screamed Alex. She burst out laughing because she was at the doorstep and now was wondering what devil stole the carefree Liza she knows. ''Would you mind opening me up?" She laughed harder.

"Wait you're here?? Coming straight away." She dashed for the door and hug Alex tightly after closing the door.

'' I...can't...breathe...'' Alex managed to say

''Oops sorry." Arranging invisible creases on Alex's cloths. " Oh my you look good. Where's Greg?"

" Couldn't come, but he send his regards. He said he will be there if he finishes his business earlier. ''

''okaay. Please be my audience." She pleaded.

"No problem. Show me what you got girl. '' Alex said.

As Liza took her file to start the very last rehearsal. She started with the self presentation, greetings and politeness and all the stuff. She imagined Alex's face every where and a million eyes glued on her. She spoke with relatif calmness and gesticulated while not forgetting to look Alex in the eye since she will have to do so with the members of the jury.

''I think we should be on our way don't you think? If they leave you behind now?"

" Yeah let's go." She kept the files in her brief and they stepped out.

The drive was quiet but comfortable since Alex let her collect her calm. She let her friend gather it all till the last ounce she had.

''We're there. Time to get in." Alex's eyes widened and she asked " what about our sexy fish?" 

" What fish?" 

"The teacher of course. How's he doing. Don't tell me he let you off so easily. To poor he didn't insist, at least you got better without him. But how's he. Will he be there?" The question rang a sudden bell in Liza's mind and realisation dawned on her that he won't be there to watch her.

" You're stressing me out with all theses questions. No he won't be there. He hasn't been there for the last six weeks. He travelled because he had some urgent matter to attend to but will be back for the next academic year."

" So he won't be there today? Tsk-tsk. What a waste. I'm sure he would've been proud of his student. His favorite one at that."

"Please do not overload things."

"Whatever. Out of my car." They both laughed at her sudden bossiness and headed out to the hall