Why Not Us

Bailey's POV

The past few days have gone by in a flurry and it was now the night before the first gala. Bailey lay in his bed staring at the ceiling, he hadn't been able to see the mystery boy since Sunday. He wished tomorrow night wouldn't come and the past week had been a dream. A part of him didn't want the curly-haired boy to be a dream though, and he was looking forward to hearing him sing tomorrow.

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Bailey was being ushered to the ballroom to look at the decoration after they were finished setting up. The place looked fine to him and the staff were relieved. He only had three hours until the gala started at seven. Bailey felt nervous about the event but was continuously getting paraded around the palace for things to get his approval and it made him exhausted by the end of the two hours.

He rushed up to his room for the last hour, not paying attention to any of the portraits on the walls surrounding him to change into his dark green velvet suit. Once the last button was done he was led to a separate room in his parent's wing to get his makeup done with his mother. The room was a dark red with a few portraits from the past generations of the royal family. He looked at his mother who sat in front of a bureau in a matching dress with someone doing her makeup.

"Hey darling," She said smiling at him, "Are you excited?".

"Ah of course" He agreed, " Just a little nervous too,".

She patted a seat next to him, "I was too for my first official gala,".

He nervously smiled back and then they sat there in a peaceful silence. When his small touches of cover-up makeup for his few blemishes and fixes to his hair were done he realized he still had a quick fifteen minutes. He took those few minutes to rest, then went downstairs to be greeted by his parents before they had to make their entrance to the ballroom. The servants at the doors signaled for them to walk forward. He took an anxious breath and fidgeted with his tie for a moment before doing as he was told.

His parents walked closely behind him as they walked through the opening doors. When they stepped through everyone turned and looked at them, studying them closely. The doors closed behind them and everyone gathered around a table at the edges of the ballroom to watch the choir's performance. The people on the stage started to harmonize and the still-mysterious boy in his matching green suit started to sing.

"Whatever happened to the funky race

A generation lost in pace?

Wasn't life supposed to be more than this?

In this kiss, I'll change your bore for my bliss," He sang with a smile

"Let go off my hand and it will slip on the sand if you don't

Give me the chance to break down the walls of attitude

I ask nothing of you

Not even your gratitude," And he kept smiling, then their eyes met.

"And if you think I'm corny, then it will not make me sorry

It's your right to laugh at me

And in turn, that's my opportunity to feel brave," They smiled brightly at each other.

Bailey's mother leaned over and whispered, "The soloist's name is Tanner. He was recommended by a wide variety of people,". He liked the name, Tanner, it fit the boy well. All Bailey could say was, "He has a nice voice,". Now he had a name for the mystery boy he was always smiling at. Before he could catch himself, Bailey's lips were curved up like a child, and when Tanner noticed he did the same.