Breathe. Just breathe.
Ember forced herself to pull in one long, slow draught of cool air after the other, rolling her neck and shoulders leisurely, forcing her body to release some of its tension.
The sweet violin music of the contestant before her did little to ease her nerves. It was good. Really good. This was what she was up against.
For as long as she could remember, Ember had wanted nothing more than to be standing where she was now, just steps away from the stage, moments away from the audition that could change her life and practically guarantee her aspirations would become reality.
Any normal person would think the scholarship audition would be the first step of many, but Ember knew who she was, had confidence in her drive. She'd made it this far by herself, even with her critical disadvantages. She knew for a fact that all she had to do was make it in, and then nothing could hold her back from sharing her passions with the world.
This is what I was made for.
The clear, haunting melody rose, peaked, and drifted to a flawless close, and the contestant before her was met with a small smattering of applause from the dozen or so sponsors and school judges.
After a hurried thank you from the panel, echoed by the performer, the latter was ushered off stage and, just like that, Ember was face to face with the most important moment of her life so far.
The determined brunette shook out her arms one last time, bouncing on her toes as she made sure her high ponytail was fastened securely and her flats were laced tight.
You've got this. Breathe.
"Next contestant!"
Ember grabbed her sliver of velvet and passed her flashdrive to the young woman who greeted her at the curtain, informing her that there was just one track on it, so all she needed to do was plug it in.
The petite redhead smiled warmly and walked her onto the stage, introducing her to the judges.
"Miss Ember Rhodes, age 19, Junior. Will be performing a contemporary dance routine to her own piano and vocals."
The five judges nodded, taking in Ember's simple tight white tshirt and black leggings with very little interest.
"...blindfolded." The woman grinned at Ember at the sudden rapt attention of the prominent figures seated in front of them, before stepping behind her and helping the contestant secure her scrap of black velvet snugly over her vision.
Ember held herself still as she listened intently to the reassuring girl's retreating footsteps and the muffled click of her track being plugged in. The auditorium was heavy with silent anticipation as the wealthy voyeurs leaned forward in the seats, eyes fixed on the girl standing, statuesque, in front of them.
Soft, pure, liquid, notes flooded gracefully into the waiting quiet, and the last of Ember's tension melted quickly away as she let the music flow through her, moving her along the empty stage.
Her audience was forgotten, and she gave herself up to the passion beating through her body, keeping perfect time, matching each note as the music rose and fell, the soundtrack to the emotional story she told her spectators with each spin and leap and collapse upon the stage.
Too soon, the music she had so passionately prepared drifted to a soft, lilting close, and she was left kneeling on the stage with her head in her hands, her breath the loudest thing in the room.
She was met again by silence, and her nerves spiked back full force, her confidence long forgotten. She clambered less than gracefully to her feet, fingers fumbling and pulling strands lose from her ponytail as she untied the blindfold.
She bowed quickly in the direction of the judges.
"Thank you for this opportunity ladies and gentleman. It's more than I could have hoped for."
Without waiting for a response, she hurridly exited the stage left, breathing only once she was back on the other side of the heavy curtain.
She was shaking terribly, and she hated herself for it. No matter how many hours she labored, how hard she worked, she knew she would never beat the crippling anxiety that pounced without fail whenever she stood unmasked before an audience. Such cruel irony, for whatever powers that be to give her this passion, this drive, this talent, and no means to share it without being reduced to a nervous wreck.
"Here's your track." It was the redhead again, smilingly warmly, knowingly.
"Stage fright, huh?"
Ember laughed desperately as she pocketed the flash drive. "I feel like that is such an understatement I don't even know where to begin."
The other girl winced, sympathetic, before her beautiful smile graced her face again.
"You couldn't tell. During your act, I mean. It was beautiful. So beautiful. Did you write the piece yourself?"
Ember smiled softly, starting to feel her nerves retreat again.
"Kind of. It was based off of a tune my grandfather used to sing to me. But I could only remember a few lines, so I built the rest of the piece around it."
The girl was clearly awed.
"That's honestly amazing. I'll be sure to pass that on to the panel. You didn't have classical composition listed as a talent."
Ember flushed. "I have trouble with it. I don't really consider it a talent. It's always a struggle, and sometimes I can try for days or weeks and get nowhere."
The other girl grinned. "Well, it's nice to know that you're not great at everything. I'm Hye-ji, by the way. Senior class."
Ember took her hand, smiling sincerely. "Nice to meet you. Maybe if I get in, we can hang out sometimes."
Hye-ji laughed. "I wouldn't worry too much about that. The judges were shocked silent. The only issue will be the sponsers fighting over who gets to finance your tuition. So yes, we'll definitely be hanging out soon."
Ember laughed out loud, the other girl's positivity contagious, and the two swapped numbers before Ember finally made her way back out into the real world.
Before she was even halfway home, her phone was buzzing in her pocket.
She fumbled it out and to her ear, recognizing the number immediately.
"Hello?"
"Am I speaking to a Miss Ember Rhodes?"
"Yes, this is she."
"Miss Rhodes, this is Dean Kim Ji Woon of Bangtan Performing Arts School. I was in attendance at your audition today."
Ember nodded avidly before realizing he couldn't see her through the phone.
"Uh, hi. Yes, sir. How may I help you?"
"Well, Miss Rhodes, as I'm sure you're aware, we here at the university usually take a few days to debate over the contestestants auditioning for our limited scholarships here at Bangtan, to make sure we select the most dedicated and deserving of students to attend our prestigious school."
There was a pause and another unseen nod from Ember.
"Yes. Yes sir. Of course."
"However, we've unanimously decided that, in your particular case, there was no deliberation needed. You will not be recieving one of Bangtan's supplemental scholarships this term."
Ember's heart stopped, despair spiking through her, causing her throat to tighten and block off any response she may have tried to force out otherwise.
She nodded again, numbly, blinking back the defeated tears threatening to spill over.
"Instead, we have decided that, due to your extensive talent in multiple categories, and our sponsers inability to decide who would get to finance your tuition, you will be attending Bangtan on a full ride scholarship starting this term, housing included."
Ember couldn't breathe. Suddenly she couldn't force her lungs to expand and drink in the precious oxygen her body knew it needed.
Is this real?
Her heart beat loudly in her ears, she could feel her pulse in her fingertips.
Is he serious?
She briefly pulled the phone away from her
face, double checking the number to make sure she was really speaking to the dean of Bangtan Performing Arts School.
"However, there will be some stipulations, of course."
She snapped the phone back to her ear.
"Y-yes sir. I'm listening."
"You know well, I'm sure, that you must take two general studies classes and visual arts class. Due to the nature of your scholarship, you will also be required to take Classical Composition, and to participate in our student-led Drama Society. Our model student Cho Hye-Ji has informed us that you would benefit greatly from both of these programs."
The tears started to fall then, thick and heavy, as Ember's heart swelled with gratitude for the girl she'd just met. Classical Composition alone was a three thousand dollar course per term at the university, one she never would have been able to afford, even on a supplemental scholarship.
Realizing the man was calmly awaiting some type of response, Ember cleared her throat, swiping at the tears that were catching the attention of passerby as she continued to nod frantically despite his being unable to see it.
"Yes. Yes sir. Thank you. Thank you so much. This-" her voice broke as she choked back a sob. "This is more than I ever could have hoped for. So much more."
"It's no more than a hard worker like yourself deserves, Miss Rhodes. So we'll be seeing you on the 12th? Term doesn't start until the 15th, but you should use the time to get used to the campus and your quarters, and it should give you time to move in any belongings."
"Gladly sir. Thank you, again. I'll be there."
"And Miss Rhodes?"
"Sir?"
"Thank you for auditioning for our family here at Bangtan. We have the utmost confidence that you will be an exquisite edition to the team."