The auditorium smelled faintly of dust and polish, the stage lights flickering as the teachers prepared for auditions. Students filled the seats, chatting excitedly about roles for the upcoming school festival. It was supposed to be fun — but for Hannah, it felt like walking into a lion's den.
Her palms were slick with sweat as she clutched her music sheets. "I can't do this," she whispered, her voice trembling.
"Yes, you can." Sara squeezed her shoulder firmly, her eyes steady and reassuring. "Don't sing for them. Sing for yourself. Show them who you are."
Hannah swallowed hard. She wanted to believe it. She wanted to believe she wasn't the weak, pathetic girl Emily painted her to be. But when her gaze swept across the room and landed on Emily — poised gracefully in the front row, her lips curved into a mocking smile — her courage faltered.
Lina leaned close, whispering, "Don't look at her. Look at us. We're right here."
Hannah took a deep breath, forcing her eyes away from Emily. Her friends were waiting backstage, nodding at her. For the first time, she let herself lean on them.
The auditions began.
Several students sang or performed short monologues, their voices filling the auditorium. Applause followed each act, polite but unenthusiastic. Emily, of course, dazzled with her performance — a flawless rendition of a classical piece that left the teachers nodding in approval. She bowed gracefully, soaking in the admiration.
Then came Hannah's turn.
Her steps were unsteady as she walked onto the stage. The whispers started instantly.
"Why is she here?""She can't even talk without stuttering.""This will be embarrassing."
Her throat tightened. She froze in the middle of the stage, staring at the microphone. For a terrifying moment, she thought she might faint.
Breathe, she told herself. Sing for yourself.
The first note slipped out, trembling like a bird with broken wings. A few students chuckled. Heat rushed to her face, but she forced herself to keep going.
Then she saw Sara in the front row, nodding gently, her lips silently mouthing: You can do this.
Something inside Hannah shifted.
The next note came stronger. The melody steadied. Her voice, soft but rich, began to rise above the whispers. The auditorium quieted. Slowly, her fear dissolved into the music, every word carrying the weight of her pain, her longing, her hope.
By the final verse, her voice soared, clear and powerful. The silence that followed was deafening.
And then — applause. Real, thunderous applause.
Hannah's eyes widened as she blinked back tears. They weren't laughing. They were clapping. For her.
She bowed awkwardly, her heart pounding, before hurrying backstage where Lina and Sara enveloped her in hugs.
"You were amazing!" Lina squealed."I told you," Sara whispered with pride. "That's the real you."
But not everyone was pleased.
Emily's nails dug into her palm as she forced a polite smile. Inside, she seethed. Hannah — fragile, pitiful Hannah — had stolen the spotlight, if only for a moment.
Unacceptable.
As the teachers deliberated, Emily quietly slipped out, her mind already working. She would not let this stand. If the festival became Hannah's triumph, it could undo everything Emily had built.
She needed a plan.
The results were announced later that afternoon. Hannah had been chosen for one of the lead singing roles.
Gasps filled the room. Some were surprised, others envious, but Hannah could barely process it. Her knees felt weak as Sara squeezed her hand.
"You earned this," Sara whispered. "Don't ever doubt it."
But Hannah's joy was fragile, overshadowed by the glare she felt from across the room. Emily's eyes were cold, sharp as blades.
It was not over.
That night, Emily sat at her desk, her phone pressed to her ear.
"She won the audition," she said flatly.
On the other end, Grace's chuckle was soft but cutting. "Of course she did. Audiences love underdogs. The fragile girl who finds her voice — it's a story everyone wants to believe. But stories can be rewritten, Emily."
Emily's lips curled. "Then I'll rewrite hers. On stage."
Grace's voice dripped with approval. "Good. A public fall from grace is far more devastating than whispers in the dark. Make sure her moment of triumph becomes her downfall."
Emily hung up, her mind already racing with ideas. A costume "accidentally" ruined. Music swapped at the last minute. Or perhaps a carefully timed rumor to turn admiration into mockery.
She smiled coldly. "Enjoy your moment, Hannah. It will be your last."
Meanwhile, in her small bedroom, Hannah lay awake staring at the ceiling. Despite the joy of the audition, fear gnawed at her. She knew Emily wouldn't let this slide.
But when she thought of Sara's unwavering eyes, Lina's laughter, Daniel's quiet support, and Adrian's steady defense, she allowed herself a small smile.
For once, she wasn't facing Emily alone.
The festival was coming. And this time, Hannah wasn't just surviving. She was ready to fight.