Falling For You (Treebros)

Chapter Twelve: Portrait of a Girl

The audience applauded.

"Now, for our first entrant, Jeremy Heere!" With that, he walked off the stage.

Evan cheered as he saw Jeremy walk on with confidence.

Jeremy took a deep breath and the music started playing.

There is a swelling storm,
and I'm caught up in the middle of it all,
and it takes control
Of the person that I thought I was;
The boy I used to know.

Evan grinned. Jeremy sang beautifully.

A few minutes later, Jeremy sang the last line, smiled, bowed, then walked off the stage.

"Jeremy! That was amazing!" Evan exclaimed quietly as Jeremy walked past.

"Thanks, Ev!"

"Next up, Chloe Valentine!"

***

There were a lot of amazing acts. Alana was currently on stage, singing Lifeboat from Heathers beautifully.

Soon, she was finished and Mr Howard walked back on stage.

"Round of applause for Alana Beck!"

People in the audience were applauding and cheering, including Evan.

"Now, Evan Hansen!"

Evan took a deep breath and walked on stage, the lights shining bright on him.

He walked up to the mic stand and looked at the figures in the audience.

He closed his eyes for a second, then opening them.

He looked at the front row, and Connor's blue and brown kaleidoscope eyes met his blue eyes.

The music started and Evan began singing, continuing to look at Connor.

Portrait of a girl,
canvas of ages.
The stage is hers,
demure and practiced beauty,
holding all enthralled.
Portrait of a girl,
object of rumour.
A pose at play,
they say,
'She's fairest of them all'.

Connor was right. Evan felt much better looking at Connor. It was like no one else was there.

Paint her in,
one colour ends and one begins.
Brush away what's stray,
add the finishing touch.
The rapture, cold as a pearl,
now the portrait has captured the girl.
Now the portrait has captured the girl.
Painted illusion,
she plays her part,
she sees that she's a work of art.
Paint her in,
watching one colour end 
and one begin.
Brush away what's stray,
there's disguise in her eyes.
Add shadows that dance across her skin,
block the doubt that cries out within her.

Connor was grinning at Evan.

Stripped bare beneath all the layers,
would you recognise the girl lying there?
Sought after and trapped like a pearl,
now the portrait has captured the girl.
Now the portrait has captured the girl.
Daring you to fall,
fairest of them all.

Evan finished the song and the audience was silent for a moment.

Oh, god, he thought. I was horrible. They hated it.

Then the audience erupted in a chorus of applause and cheering.

Connor was smiling with pride.

Evan smiled, took a small bow, and ran off the stage.

He felt someone give him a huge hug, and saw that it was Alana.

"Evan, you did so well!"

"Thanks, Alana! So did you."

"That was an amazing performance from Evan Hansen!" Mr Howard cheered. "Now, for the final performance, Michael Mell!"

***

"Can all of tonight's performers come to the stage, please?" Mr Howard announced.

Evan walked onto the stage and stood next to Mr Howard. He looked out to the audience and shared a smile with Connor.

"We have an announcement from the judges as to who's moving on to the next round." Mr Howard said.

The three judges in front of the stage stood. Evan hadn't even noticed them; he was focused on Connor.

"Thank-you, Mr Howard," the first judge said. "I am Natalie Johnson."

"I'm Christine Canigula," the second judge announced.

"And I'm Max Garcia," the third judge said.

"Now, we've seen so many amazing performances tonight," said Christine. "And here are the ten who are proceeding to the second round. Please step forward if your name is called." She picked up a piece of paper and cleared her throat. "Isabel Smith."

A girl stepped forward, ecstatic.

"Alana Beck," Natalie announced.

"Michael Mell," Max said.

"Jeremy Heere."

"Jackie Gordon."

"Lily Jackson."

"Jake Dillinger."

"April Martinez."

"Chloe Valentine."

"And last, but not least, Evan Hansen."