Chapter 8: Outnumbered: The Analysts

The analysts were eating lunch in the break room when Elise blurted out, "Guys, I need your help."

"Is it a bad date again and we need to beat him up?" muttered Kelly, taking a spoonful of his yogurt. "Because only Trevor can do that."

Trevor chewed his burger, "Hey, why does it have to be me?"

"I don't know about physically hurting him," Ian said, over his instant noodles. "But we can attack him online."

Elise got up and threw the empty packaging of her chicken and rice meal. Then she stood in front of them. "No, it's not that and what do you mean 'again'? I've had some good dates." The guys looked skeptical but wisely kept quiet. She continued, "No, it's about Grace. She was chosen to represent their class in a carol singing contest."

"Aww, well done little Gracey" said Kelly while Trevor nodded.

Ian looked at her with narrow eyes. "So why do you need our help?"

"I'm so glad you asked," she said as she sat in front of them. "She needs an accompaniment and I thought that since you all play instruments..."

Kelly already shook his head. "Elise, I already told you I have stage fright."

"Please, guys, please..."

"I'm in" Trevor said. Seeing Ian and Kelly's "you-have-betrayed-us" look, he shrugged, "It's for little Grace."

Kelly conceded, "Okay, but I'm telling you, my anxiety is terrible."

"But you were okay when we performed at Isobel's place."

Kelly smiled shyly. "Yeah because it's just us, you know."

Elise nodded then turned to Ian expectantly. He sighed, "Alright, but how much are you going to pay us?" The other two analysts slapped him in the arm.

"Thank you guys for doing this!" she beamed. "Now that it's settled, we'd have rehearsals at Kelly's house since I don't want to receive noise complaints from my neighbors." Kelly groaned.

They prepared their instruments backstage while Grace received last minute instructions from her class adviser. The analysts observed the other contestants. The other groups have ten or more members. Some even looked like professional musicians. Ian exchanged a nervous glance with Trevor. It's intimidating.

Meanwhile, Kelly peeked at the almost full auditorium. He started breathing heavily, saying "Guys, I feel like I'm having a panic attack."

Everyone turned to him but Elise got to him first. "Kelly, look at me."

But Kelly shook his head and refused to open his eyes.

"Keep it together, Moran!" Surprised at her outburst, Kelly opened his eyes and pursed his lips. Elise was suddenly remorseful. "I'm so sorry. You see, this is for my baby girl." She pulled a chair for him to sit and looked him in the eye. "Come on, breathe with me - inhale." Kelly followed. "Exhale." They repeated the breathing exercise a couple of times.

"Thanks, I feel better now."

She nodded. "Remember, you took on a bank robber and survived. You can do this." She then left to check on her daughter.

The other two analysts tapped Kelly's shoulders in support.

Before their performance, Grace told them to huddle and place their right hands on top of another then yelled "Let's Go Team!"

The guys smiled at the little girl as they went on stage. Elise hugged her daughter and whispered, "You can do this, I love you," before getting her violin.

Grace stood centerstage and sang in her sweet and crystal clear voice while the analysts played their instruments. They won second place.

Elise gushed, "You guys are amazing! Thank you for doing this for Grace."

"Praise would get you nowhere, Taylor. You promised us pizza," teased Ian. They laughed then went to celebrate their win.

Notes:

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