Performance

"Who?" everyone asked in the same voice. she blushed. She contained her laughter well.

"Say it," Fred said. He was damn eager to know and confirm his thoughts.

Derek kept looking at her. He raised his brows.

Taaliyah laughed out loud. "Am kidding," she said. "Got you all did I not?" she let it out.

"Noway," Fred crosses his arms. He kind of felt sure about Taaliyah being in love.

"What?" Taaliyah asked him laughing loud. "Now the game is spiced up, see all looking very serious and eager,"

"It spiced up when Derek spoke the truth itself about watching porn numerous time, this did nothing but disappoint us,"

"Oh my Fred, I can only say the truth," Taaliyah said. "Come on man,' she went on and gave a quick glance at Derek again.

"You are hiding it," he said. "Am very sure about that,"

"Am not," Taaliyah shrugged. "Dear lord, you cannot say that,"

"You blushed," he seemed to have noticed her expression.

"Jeeez Fred," Taaliyah had no idea what to say back at him. 'Did he really catch me?' she wondered inside her head. 'No I should not let it happen,'

"All right, leave that, Taaliyah we should practice more, come," Derek rescued her. He was not comfortable with the topic. But inside him formed a volcano about to interrupt anytime. He wanted to know who she is in love with. He felt sure that she is hiding it too. He felt sad all of a sudden. 'Could it be really true?' he wondered in his own way. But she did not know that. He looked at her when no one noticed and began practicing again. They were doing well. Great infact.

********

********

The day arrived. The students rejoiced. It was finally the arts day soon after school reopened. A great start to the month of September. Every stage set was arranged for programs. Each classroom set as venue of various competitions. Decorated, students who are volunteers to keep the campus clean during the festival rush up and down and around the school. It was a great sight to see and Taaliyah was surprised to experience it in such an extravagant way.

"Paying good fee really shows does it not?" Bhoomi asked Taaliyah looking at her expression standing under the large willow in the middle of the campus, looking around then.

"Oh it definitely does," Taaliyah said and walked forward. She checked the notice board first to see which stage she and Derek have ti go register themselves and get the chest number.

"Taaliyah it's stage 1, main stage," Derek came running towards her.

"Wait.. Wh.. What? Main stage?" Taaliyah grew tensed the moment she heard. Programs in main stage are all cool program with large number of audience and she wanted none to be frank. But things turned out to be the opposite. And it was straight after the inaugural function.

Taaliyah's heart began to beat like a drum. She went frozen. Derek who took took her hand while standing on the backstage during the inaugural function was surprised.

"I will tell you something interesting after we perform," he said to her.

"What?" she asked curiously forgetting about her worry.

"Wait for an hour, you will know," he said. He smiled widely.

"Tell me now, it's too long, say," she urged him. He looked into her eyes for a moment. She began to look excited just like that in a moment. That was enough for him.

"You will see," he said. He was thinking of giving an attempt to find out who she loves in real. Because no matter how hard he could think, he never saw her spending a lot of time with a other guy which led him to confusions. Then he thought about a guy named Danny in the class who loves her but that is a secret among the boys and Taaliyah has no idea about it either.

While Taaliyah kept bugging him their name was called on the stage. But she was cool by them. They were wearing the school uniform itself.

Taaliyah got on the stage and felt her heart on the hand but she suddenly felt motivated and did not wish to let Derek down. She wanted to perform like their future depend on it.

The karaoke was turned on. It began. The rest was history.

"We don't talk anymore, we don't talk any more, we don't talk anymore like we used to do.." they began signing.

The whole hall applauded and cheered the two of them. Taaliyah's girl gang was literally over the top screaming their names loud.

"I just hope you're lying next to somebody who's..." Taaliyah sang her portion perfectly. "show up at the door, am just so afraid the I will be wrong.... don't wanna know if you're looking into her eyes...." Derek looked at in surprise and full of admiration. A talent no one ever knew existed in her. She sang passionately but he could not understand why she never took it out. Their eyes locked for a second.

"All is such a shame.."

"We don't talk anymore,"

They ended the song perfectly. It was great success. Everyone clapped and appreciated well. Principal got up from his seat and looked behind him, asking the student to calm down and keep silence. Principal then glanced at Derek. Flynn was also present getting ready for the performance but in solo category.

And a girl walked forward to congratulate the two. Somewhat around the same height as Taaliyah, but even more cuter and looking rich with her branded shoes, accessories and jewelry. Her smile that formed the dimple on the right side of her cheek.

"It was great Derek," she said and smiled. "Perform more," she said and looked at Taaliyah. She nodded at Taaliyah and she took off. Derek turned around and looked at the girl as she left. She had touched his hands and left something. He could sense the folded paper between his fingers. He gripped them tight and hid it from others. Taaliyah looked at Derek and the girls were looking at Taaliyah.