Chapter.20- Jesus, Mary, Joseph And The Wee Donkey!

A chapter dedicated to FiftyShadesOfTimmy for the beautiful cover. Thank you! Check out their cover store and they're an amazing graphics designer you won't be disappointed!

Twenty: Jesus, Mary, Joseph And The Wee Donkey!

Time in New York flew by quickly. I blinked my eyes and in an instant night had become morning, and tomorrow had become today. The hours rushed past, without compassion for my enthusiasm.

It was Saturday---the mightiest day of the week which was overwhelmingly superior.  Because Saturday mornings are all about spending this sacred day sleeping in until you couldn't sleep anymore and waking up late because it's the weekend because you went to bed in the wee hours of the morning. But today was like one of those mornings---a great opportunity for kids (if you had any) and pets to sneak into your bed, while you're trying to fall back asleep, and they jump over the bed and kick you in the face.

What I meant to say was: it was the day of the ICCA Finals. It was finally here, and we were all equally jittery and on the edge of our seats, but Rachel was on another level of anxiety.

Rachel Oh, ordinarily incredibly bold and as cool as a cucumber--- it'd take a lot to intimidate her or make her nervous, but today the poor girl was a nervous wreck and as pale as the sheets in the hotel bedroom. She looked frazzled and so out-of-order. Like a cat on hot bricks, she couldn't stand the pace since there was a lot of pressure on her right now.

It was going to be her solo-- of course, she's had her solos before but today she'd be performing one of her original songs. At first, she was incredibly excited but later she'd asked one of us to sing. So, after a unanimous agreement, we told her that it'd be reasonable for her to sing.

"Let's go, girls! It's time to leave." Charlotte notified as she walked back inside the room, and like obedient little children, we were off to the venue.

I've been to New York thrice, the first time I was here was when I was twelve--- on vacation with my parents, and the other two times were for the ICCA'S. This place never ceased to amaze me, it truly was fascinating!

We walked to the Beacon Theatre from the NYLO, it was only 3 minutes long, and the view was fantastic! Buildings raced each other in a quest to touch the soft blue afternoon sky and people littered the streets and sidewalks. The atmosphere was upbeat and fast-paced and everyone and everything was moving fast. Yet so different when you looked at Central Park, it was like crossing the border into another world. Skyscrapers replaced real trees that stood tall--- tall enough to completely block out the other buildings, they rose as giants that seemed to reach endless heights, I could see people bustling around talking on their phones, some laughing and some sipping on their Starbucks.

We arrived at the Beacon Theatre, which was a historic three-tiered theatre building. I lifted my head to view the huge glossy letters with a beautiful font, Beacon Theatre, and under it advertising an event with the ICCA Saturday 7 P. M.-- that'd commence in a few hours. We made our way inside the building, reaching the backstage that led to the dressing rooms and it was bustling with people walking around frantically, communicating on their earpiece, doing last-minute checks---making sure the lights, sound system and microphones were working properly whilst some others arranged stuff here and there. It was chaotic!

***********

The loud chatter of the other groups backstage did nothing to calm us down, everyone was a bundle of nerves, running around doing last minute things, some touching up their hair and makeup. We still had a few minutes left before the event could commence. We made sure to warm up, go over a few things one last time until we were all sure that we weren't going to screw it all up.

I was sat on a chair, massaging my temples to ease the headache I was currently experiencing. I went to bed pretty late last night. And that was because I'd been overthinking about the hairpins I'd received and of course stalking Caleb on his profile. I'd accepted his follow request and followed him back, which had led to a late-night chat with him. I went through the chats exchanged between us.

"How'd you get my number?"

"The Quartermaster," he'd replied cheekily, making me roll my eyes.

Unsurprisingly, I knew that it must've either been my Mother's doing or Carter's because they're both his crazy fangirls. Curious, I asked him why he created an Instagram account now.

"My manager and PR team told me it's required for publicity, plus, everyone has an account these days and I want to keep up with the current times," he'd replied.

I'd even asked him about the strange name he'd chosen for his account. He'd said, "That's my middle name. Me Mum calls me Maison/Mason because I take after my Grandad and I prefer being called that rather than Caleb! Because there are so many Masons in the football circle, I chose to go by Caleb."

That'd led to some more late-night chats that'd continued into the wee hours of the morning. Someone sat down across from me, raising my head slightly, I saw Rachel smiling.

"You alright?" Setting my phone on my lap, I asked her with concern.

"I feel much better after talking to my Grandmother. I'm going to Rockapella the house!" She made a peace sign and pouted.

I felt genuinely happy for her. She looked so confident and the old Rachel was back. "Well, that's lovely! I'm---" My phone chirped, signalling a text message.

It was Caleb!

I'd saved his name as S.F. because it implied silly footie and possibly sexy fish...?

S.F: water you doing?

I had to read it twice before I could finally understand his pun rather than mistaking it for a spelling error.

Me: Looking at the other side of my eyelids and... answering stupid questions:) x

I added an X at the end just in case it seemed sarcastic and rude.

S.F: I sea you're not a fan of dry humour.

Me:  I don't know water you docking aboat. I'm a fan of dry humour but not pour jokes x

S.F: fine, I shell stop this. I won't sand any more messages!

Me: stop being a beach!

S.F: water you saying? I thought you had a bubbly personality like a river but you're just a real drip! X

Me: And you're shallow like a pond! x

S.F: Dam! I don't want any commocean. Let's settle this argument.

Me: Where? At the Supreme Quart?

S.F: Dam it! You're current! Ayyy still looking at the other side of your eyelids btw?

Me: yes, just checking if the levator palpebrae superioris muscles are good, turns out the palpebrae are spreading the tears and other secretions on the eye surface to keep it moist and my blink reflexes are adequate.

S.F: Spiffing! Has your competition started yet?

Me: Nope, still got 30 mins! What're you doing?

S.F: Texting you obviously...🙄and I've just arrived at training. Sea you later! See what I did there?

Me: shore, but did YOU see what I did there?

SF: Shell yeah! TTYL. Good luck! xx

Me: Sure. Thanks xx

I stared at the screen for chat bubbles to appear but they didn't.

"Who're you texting?" Rachel leaned forward, but I backed out of the chats. "Is it Kayden? Oooh--- don't turn around but Clapton's coming over!" She stage-whispered.

"Who?"

Twisting her lips, she looked over my shoulder with narrowed eyes. Then I felt a tap on my shoulder, I turned my head around like an owl but it looked like I was doing an exorcist head spin.

"Eric! Hey!" I grinned. He was with his group.

"Hey, Becca! Or do you just prefer Becky or...?" He trailed off.

"Rebecca's fine," twisting my lips I told him.

"Cool! Just making sure you're attending the after-party," he said looking at me expectantly.

"Erm... I think we are?" I quickly glanced at Rachel who was busy admiring her nails.

"Oh, not that one, it's a special afterparty one that's super exclusive and I'm inviting you girls," he emphasised. "Don't say no because we've still got to a lot of things to discuss." He added quickly.

"Hahaha, you're still narked about that?" I quirked a brow as my lips twitched.

He rolled his shoulders and cracked his knuckles. "I'm ready and I've got a lot of things to say to defend myself tonight." One of the lads tapped his shoulder, Eric turned around, spoke in a hushed tone and nodded his head, then turned back to me. "Sorry, I gotta go, I'll see you at the party, yeah?"

"We'll see." I mused.

He narrowed his eyes at me. "You're worried that I might win," he challenged.

"Whoops, you caught me." I gave him a cheeky grin.

Last night whilst chatting, he'd informed me that he was currently pursuing a postgraduate course in pre-historic archaeology and informed me that his area of expertise was palaeontology and anthropology but kept confusing me with his ancient hominoids talk.

Confused, I asked him if he was interested in paleoanthropology or was he just being as confusing as Ross Geller from Friends who frequently spoke about human evolution as if it were interchangeable with an already broad field of vertebrate palaeontology. Despite his love for dinosaurs, he spoke of cave people, it was utterly confusing with his interest in such a large field.

Eric, gobsmacked blinked several times when he'd heard what I'd said. Then he went on to poorly defend himself and Ross when I'd pointed out several flaws with Ross and his alleged career in palaeontology. So tonight he was going to redeem himself and I couldn't wait to see what he had in store for me.

Shaking his head, "I'll be waiting for your arrival, don't disappoint me," he said. But before he could leave, he yelled, "AYE TOWIE!" When he spotted Hannah arriving from the opposite direction. She whacked his shoulder and called him cantankerous and loutish chavster.

He was taking a piss at her when he correctly guessed that she was from Essex. Stating that he couldn't miss a strong accent like hers and that he loved and watched TOWIE when he was studying abroad in Essex for a year. Hannah was a typical Essex girl with her blonde hair, tanned skin and heavy makeup. He didn't stereotype her though, only said that the sexiest girls are from Essex. Hannah had yelled saying that TOWIE had ruined Essex and that the girls in real life are nothing like that from the show.

I then turned back and caught Rachel rolling her eyes and sighing in relief. "What's the problem?" I scowled.

"Him-- Eric." She pointed out in Eric's direction. "Can't boys take no for an answer? Like, some boys think just because you're being friendly they can---"

"Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the wee donkey!" I cut her off. "He doesn't have any ulterior motives. He's aware of Kayden and my relationship with him. He just wants to be friends with me and I know where to draw the line, Rachel. I know you're looking out for me and I'm grateful for that, really, but he's a nice lad," I said exasperated.

"Oh!" She blinked. "I thought he was being a tit. I'm sorry," she said apologetically.

Last night after the Riff-Off we'd communicated for some time, Eric knew I was currently in a relationship with Kayden Adams, he was surprised at first and couldn't understand why we hadn't made it official yet. I didn't give him any sort of explanation, but he was understanding either way.

"Too bad I thought we had real chemistry between the two of us," he pointed out between the two of us then tutted when he nodded towards the picture of Kayden. "He's hot though, you've done well for yourself." He winked letting me know he was joking and I rolled my eyes.

I'd asked him if he was in a relationship and he'd told me he was currently ready to settle down with someone. He'd been single for the last two years after he'd broken up with his girlfriend from high school. He went on to say that he would never flirt with a woman who's taken. So, he only wanted to just be friends and he seemed like a really nice lad.

The minutes passed by quickly and before we knew it, it was time for the competition. We were finally prepped up, our makeup and hair done. We'd decided on a red and black theme for our set, it was our usual colour. The show finally started, I could hear the crowds cheer when the EMCEE's appeared on stage.

"ARE YOU READAYYYYY?" Gary yelled into the microphone.

The crowd chorused an uproar of YES!

"Gather your belters, drum up your beatboxers, tighten up your harmonies, and get ready, because you are in for an amazing ride!" Caroline piped up next. She looked radiant with her flat-ironed auburn hair and makeup. The crowd went wild when the first group's name was announced.

We were standing backstage watching the groups perform, I took a small sip of water from my bottle and looked around.

"You must be a minimalist piece of music," a very familiar baritone voice spoke behind us and everyone groaned. I cringed and nearly spat out my water.

"Why?" Emma asked as soon as she'd whipped her whole body around.

"Because I keep seeing you everywhere." He smiled at her. Like a genuine smile as if his feelings for her were very sincere.

Emma's face lit up like millions of stars in the night sky. "You've got a toner for me haven't you?" She placed her palm on his jaw.

"I'm not even going to deny that, babe! Not right now but yeah!" He winked, his grey eyes glinting.

Those grey eyes reminded me of Kayden who was currently MIA.

Blaze leaned down and kissed her softly. "Good luck out there, I'll be cheering for you," he gave her a soft smile.

"You better!" She leaned up and gave him a quick peck on the lips. Then she asked him about his performance and they continued to speak.

I looked up just in time to see a man approaching us, he was well built and was wearing a tight black t-shirt that emphasised his muscles. He looked like he was from NXT and looked like he could snap my arm in half. "You're up next, and here are your microphones." His voice was soft yet feathery. We took our microphones and gathered around just in time to hear the other team ending their set and the crowd cheering.

"Listen up, ladies," Charlotte turned towards all of us and we gathered around her. "Let's not get distracted and not let those other teams be disrespectful especially the Toners and let them penetrate us---"

"Let's not use the word penetrate right now, please," Emma said cheekily looking at Blaze suggestively. I nearly choked on my spittle.

"I have the utmost respect for you girls, and I'm definitely not trying to distract you," Blaze added looking offended.

"---because it means they have control over us and let's try not to be a bloody dis-aca-appointment," she looked at Emma the entire time she made that speech.

I could understand why she'd say that because Emma seemed distracted and she looked madly in love with Blaze, she'd met him not even 24 hours ago and they were both acting as if they'd been together for over a decade, I was a tad concerned myself about them--- especially Emma, wondering how she'd make this work when we'd leave New York.

"Alright I'm so bloody scared, I don't feel like I'm part of the group right now," Emma whispered.

"You paid the registration fee, won many Championships, so you're one of us," I assured her.

"Okay," Rachel spoke up rubbing her palms together. "There's going to be a lot of people out there, some haters and some jealous thinking that: Blimey the most original and talented one is Asian!" Rachel gave the girls a pep talk before we could take the stage. She means well, but perhaps her inflated ego occasionally came off misunderstood sometimes.

"Aca-scuse me?" Emma gasped looking outrageous.

"Aca-believe it!" Rachel replied with so much of sass.

"Just so you all know I'm the hot one," Hannah added.

"Errm... I'm pretty sure I'm the hot one." Nicole said as a matter-of-factly as she flipped her box braids.

"What I'm trying to say is... we're a bunch of ethnically diverse, most parts talented and equally beautiful women. And people are expecting for us to deliver some Grammy-worthy performance and by God, we're going to deliver it and blow their minds." Rachel interjected.

"Ladies we know that the competition is stiff and we're brainstorming ideas on how to beat the other teams. However, let's not sit the mentally strenuous stuff out, by citing our beauty." Charlotte rolled her eyes.

"How are we going to compete with them? Look at them," A very familiar female voice said with distaste. "Their team is like a heated mess. Ordinarily, they're messy, but now what was once messy is now even messier, with them fighting like silly buffoons stating who's hotter."

"I'll be the judge of that and declare you lot as collective hot mess bickering for validation." Poppy, one of the Trollops snorted.

"What did you say?" Hannah stepped forward.

"Ehem," Brian stepped forward with an equally intimidating stance and began explaining, "in the best way she knows how, which, frankly is not very good, I'm going to explain in layman terms that you-- the Wrecking Belles are, is and forever will be, for lack of a better explanation, are a hot mess. At least it sounds like that's what she meant."

Hannah was quiet, but grinned. "You called us hot!"

Brian cut her off. "Darling, the actual statement was you're one big hot---"

"Shhh," Emma shushed him raising her hand. "Darling, I'm only going to focus on the positive today, thank you very much!"

"Can we just move this thing along before it drives us all round the bloody bend?" Katerina, of the Trollops said in response.

"Ugh! You Trolls should just consider retiring already, nobody likes you, please just retire!" I sneered.

"You wish you gorgeous specimen, now I'm gonna go rest my neck, it's sore from looking down at you," Brian, who was tall as a tree, waved at us and left. "And stop generalising, the aca-gods wouldn't like that," Brian called out over his broad shoulder, whilst the rest of the Trolls followed him.

"You Trolls can't even kick our arses let alone win this Championship! We will blow minds with our performances every time we're on stage that's why we're the defending champions! Please take our advice and just go live under the bridge because that's where Trolls reside." Nicole spat but grimaced. "Dear God, we can't even utter proper comebacks. Just give me a day's time to think of some and I'll come up with proper ones." She cried as she buried her face in her hands.

"Normally remember this, a person will hate you for three reasons: firstly, they see you as a threat, secondly, they hate themselves and finally, they want to be you." I threw her a pitiful look and squeezed her shoulder.

"Trolls snark and whine, undermine and belittle. Counter that nonsense with loud, clear messages to the contrary. You know my therapist always said that being the bigger person means you're always surrounded by small people, so we're going to the bigger person here and ignore you and just challenge you on stage. Let's go girls!" Audrey flipped her platinum blonde hair and turned around.

"Oh, and by the way, beware of the lightings wouldn't want Thor with the hammer to destroy you lot using his thunder hammer, now do we?" Emma sneered. And all of us cringed.

So much for being the bigger person...

"Be gone negative energy!" Nicole waved and flailed her arms around. "Just like Taylor Swift said, Shake it off, ladies! Haters gonna hate, hate, we're just gonna shake it off."

"Let's go!" Charlotte said and put her hand forward as we huddled around her and put our hands forward, did our chant and stepped on stage.

Gary declared into the microphone. "Next up on stage are the beautiful belles from the UK. Give it up for the WRRRECKING BELLES!" Gary declared boisterously.

The stage darkened and then spotlights turned on one by one, my heart throbbed. The whole place was quiet, I counted to three and we began our medley.

"I got a new vocation

It's my absurd creation

You give me love, and I

Can give you forms of recreation

In bonus level mode

I shake the skin and bone

I'm far too crazy

Wanna see your favourite episode?---"

First, Lauren had her solo and she began by singing Eat them Apples by Suzi Wu.

We then sang Hey Mama by David Guetta.

"You beatin' my drum like dum di di dey

I love the dirty rhythm you play

I wanna hear you calling my name

Like hey mama mama hey mama mama (Hey)

Banging the drum like dum di dey

I know you want it in the worst way

I wanna hear you calling my name

Like hey, mama mama hey mama (Hey)---"

"With an Eve and Adam

You get up and at 'em

I'm gonna eat that apple

I'm gonna eat that apple!"

Charlotte then transitioned to Burnin' Up by Jessie J. Then Rachel joined her and sang her original song Playing With Fire.

She was on fire, she was so immersed in singing the song, it was soulful and I could feel everyone's stunned expression as she poured out her heart into the song. I was so proud of her, she was confident yet so vulnerable.

It was raw. Exposed and touching.

We ended our set, the entire auditorium roared with cheers. Then we huddled backstage.

"Woohoo! That was one saucy performance, y'all," Gary uttered, then, "I'm being told that it was an original song and that's the first time in Acapella!" He was impressed.

"Now let's move on to the next group, please welcome the Nor'easters!" Carol announced.

"Oh, my gosh! Oh my goodness me! That was unbelievable! I cannot believe I survived through that without losing consciousness!" Rachel looked like she was going to pass out. We laughed still reeling from the adrenaline rush and the high.

"You girls were awesome... ly horrible. I hate you. Girl power!" Katerina huffed and walked away.

We stared after her, but Emma exclaimed, "That was dogs bollocks! Group hug!" And we came together for a group hug.

-----------------------------

The super-exclusive party hosted by Eric was well... invitation only and the queue to the party was already as long as the unemployment line. Eric even told us the password and we were trying to get in, but fortunately for us, they'd let us jump the line and got inside the warehouse without waiting. It was so cool. And we felt like royalty.

The warehouse was full of people, had shitty lighting that'd give anyone a headache, there was a bar lined up at the far end of the warehouse, a few good looking leather sofas, chairs, and a foosball table stood on the other end of the warehouse, one could get a whiff of cigarettes and alcohol mixed with various perfumes. The heat inside was stifling and I wanted to get out as soon as I'd stepped in. It was like a bloody sauna in here. Emma had already found Blaze and the rest of us weaved through the crowd of alcoholics.

"If it ain't the Champions!" Eric teased. I lifted my hands up as we strutted towards the group, just in time when DJ Khaled's All I Do Is Win started blaring through the speakers. I belted out the lyrics.

We'd won! Four times defending champions and I was so elated. It was all thanks to Rachel!

"Well, no surprise, after all, the frontrunner throughout every season takes it. Quite impressive, really." Gary grinned.

"Mhmm, indeed! Rachel's a promising young woman. TALENT WON!" Nicole, who was already down to her second cup of Dark and Stormy slurred.

"So happy for Rachel. Rachel Oh, keep winning and make history queen!" A very sloshed Caroline hugged Rachel.

"Thank you!" Rachel smiled. "Really, it wouldn't have been possible with my girls, if they hadn't pushed me to sing---" Her voice got a little shaky and exhaled loudly. "Anyways, I'm ecstatic!"

As time passed, people got even rowdier, drunker, the music was even louder and more people had joined the conversation, but most of the girls had scattered to either get drinks or dance with guys who'd asked them to.

I wasn't a huge fan of drinking and getting leathered, but I did feel like getting a drink to celebrate tonight's victory, so I  went to the bar and waited for 25 minutes to get myself a Vieux Carré, but by the time I'd gotten the drink in my hand, I'd lost interest in it after taking a single sip and instead watched people with mild interest atop the mezzanine where there was a window of sorts with cool air blowing through it. The day had been so exhausting and I was absolutely shattered, but my heart yearned for Kayden right now as I saw a few couples kiss. I missed Kayden.

I took out my cellphone and went to the chats exchanged between Kayden and I, it'd been so long since he'd replied, my fingers hovered over the keypad but I hesitated.

"Just text him!"

I nearly dropped my phone. Startled, I turned around and scowled at Eric who just shrugged and stood next to me. He leaned his hip against the bannister, hands inside the pockets of his jacket.

"I want to, but I don't want to seem like the clingy type." I ran my tongue across the front of my teeth, then looked down at the crowd then back at Eric.

Eric smirked. "Babe, if you were my girlfriend I'd find a way to put a smile on your face or make you experience some sort of ecstasy." He winked.

I crinkled my nose, but aware that he was only joking. "You know what, I'd rather be the clingy girlfriend and call Kayden."

He smiled. "Good girl."

"Wait a minute, is this a devious and dastardly way of yours to distract me...? Because you've nothing to prove..." I trailed off.

Eric narrowed his eyes. "Oh, I'll prove it like theorem alright. You wanna go now?"

"Sure," I smiled as he gave me a challenging stare.

"Let's go!" But I'd rather call Kayden, I thought.

Just then my phone lit up and began to vibrate. My tummy flipped. I felt excitement course through my veins. It was Kayden. I looked up at Eric, he was grinning, he then tipped his head as if to say that I should answer it. I smiled and in my haste to answer Kayden's phone call, I'd pressed the reject button instead.

I smacked my forehead. "Ah, bugger!" But he rang me back again and this time carefully I pressed the accept button and answered.

"H-hello," I croaked out. I cringed and cleared my throat.

"Hey, gorgeous!" Came his voice. I melted instantly.

Eric left to give me some privacy and I stepped outside where the air was cooler and a little cleaner.

The world felt like a better place after I'd heard Kayden's voice. I had a grin on my face when I rejoined the group. Some of them teased me, I didn't mind. The weight had been lifted off my shoulder. Kayden apologised, he said that he had something really important to tell me and I couldn't wait to meet him. He had his reasons and I understood.

But my smile dimmed when I got to know about Emma and Blaze's argument and how Emma had run off sobbing. I caught sight of Blaze drinking in the corner and felt bad for them.

I guess this is what it means to be nineteen. We're only nineteen and it's a good age to be carefree, it's hard sometimes because we have our concerns. We feel excited and pressurised to do things and think about the future. In between the twenties, that's how we feel.  Among ordinary days there's nothing ordinary. It's easy to talk about them but it seems like we're living it for the first time.

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Hey! How are you all doing? Hope you're all doing well, safe and healthy. Winter has officially begun and I AM SO HAPPY. It's time to wear your favourite sweaters and sit in the cosy corner of your room and watch some amazing shows and dramas. What shows have you been watching? Lemme know.

Drama suggestions: Doom At Your Service, So I Married The Anti-fan, My Room Mate Is A Gumiho, Hometown Cha Cha, Unforgettable Love, Move To Heaven, Hospital Playlist. Also, have you watched Squid Game and My Name?

As usual, please comment and vote. It makes my day! xx