Chapter 1

PLANE RIDE AND ARRIVING

"I love you Ali, be safe and listen to Mr and Mrs Everest. OK, call me if you need me and take lots of pictures." Kathy said. "I will love you too." I replied,giving her a hug and picking up my bags to go to baggage then through security to meet up with the rest of the group. By the time I got through security it was 12:00 and we left in a half hour. I look around and find Mrs. Everest putting her daughter's hair into a braid. Mrs Everest I called walking up to her. She looks up with a smile, "Hello Ali, are you ready for the flight to New York,do you have gum and some dramamine like I suggested?" She said, I nodded and showed her both packs.

"Would all of the Choir students please find Mrs Everest for roll call and plane partnering." A flight attendant called. And so the roll call commenced and I was put with Mrs Everest and Daniela for the flight thankfully because we were such a big group of people we were able to book all of first class. We boarded not long after that and the nerves started setting in then and i started to shake."Ok Ali breath everything's going to be alright just take a dramamine and start chewing some gum you'll be alright" I thought to myself trying to calm down."Ali do you want the window seat… are you ok?" Daniela asked. I did not know whether to shake my head or say something so I just nodded and let her have the window seat so mrs everest had the aisle and i had the middle. After a few minutes Mrs Everest came back and looked at me nodded and handed me the pack of gum that was on the table in front of me. "We are about to take off, start chewing this buckle up and put your music on. I promise you will be fine."she said, sitting down and giving my shoulder a rub. She then sat back buckled up and grabbed a piece of gum from her pocket and started chewing. I must have fallen asleep not long after takeoff because the next thing I know , Danielas is shaking me awake saying we are about to land. I nodded and buckled back up rubbing my eyes and put my phone back in my pocket.

After the plane landed and we did another head check after going through security and getting our bags we got onto the bus that was ordered for us just like the plane tickets and hotel rooms they were paid for us we only needed to pay 150 plus money for spending. By the time we got to the hotel everybody was tired and hungry and ready for some sleep. We were staying at the hotel Pennsylvania. As we walked into the lobby we found out that our plane buddy and the people across from us would be our roommates. As it turned out we had the whole top floor of the hotel and each room had 6 beds and 1 half bath and one bath so there was plenty of room for everyone.

After everyone got changed and ready for dinner we met in the lobby only to find Mr. Everest talking with someone in a suit and they were both smiling. "Everyone i would like you to met Tony Stark he is the one who is paying for all of our travel and hotels he has graciously offered to take us all out to eat." Joel said smiling at us as we all clapped in thanks "alright well everyone follow me our ride is here" Tony said walking towards the door as we walked out a gasp slipped from my lips as well as many others there in front of us was 2 hummer limos we all separated into groups and before i knew it we were at a restaurant we were at keens restaurant i snapped a pic like a did at the hotel room to send to grandma by the time we were all done eating our steaks and fish a lot of us were yawning. As we got up to leave I was woken up by Joel and Tony when I tripped and was about to hit the floor only to realize I was hovering 3 feet from it Tony had grabbed my arm just in time. "Miss are you alright" Tony asked as joel started checking me for injures. "I'm fine, thank you for catching me." I said with a smile "I'm Ali, Ali Ryan." I said holding my hand out. " Ah Yes the secret Voice Joel was telling me about. "Tony said in a hushed voice with a smile. I blushed and looked down nodding my head. I said thank you again and left to go onto the hummers. As I got on the bus all talking stopped and everybody turned to look at me. "What happened Ali." Elijah asked. So I explained that I tripped on my heels and he helped me up. He wanted to know who I was and if I liked the trip so far, nothing much." I said then sat down. When we got back to the hotel I went into the half bath and got changed for bed. "Night everyone!" i called crawling into bed. "NIGHT" was the reply as i fell into a dreamless sleep.

I woke up in the morning to the groaning of the other girls getting out of bed to get ready. I grabbed my clothes and went behind the changing curtain that they had set up, after I got dressed in a comfortable pair of jeans, a tank top with jean jacket and walking shoes. After I straightened my hair, and threw some sunglasses on top of my head before I headed down to grab some breakfast before we left to go do our practice concert. After a quick breakfast of a bagel with cream cheese and coffee,I hurried to grab my jacket and purse off the back of my chair and got into the bus that had been ordered for us. By the time we got to the concert hall that used to be an old opera house we were early so we headed in to check out the place. It was huge! And so beautiful like walking back in time with its vaulted ceilings and marble deep oak wood with the carvings giving it a gothic feel. All i could do was look around in whole time I was looking around at the architecture I kept feeling like someone was watching me,like someone was standing right behind me even though no one was 'No Ali stop it dont make yourself paranoid just focus on what comes next.' That though alone made me feel a bit nervous for what I knew was coming up.

``OK, Guys let's start with our warm-ups then move to seasons of love." Joel said as he pointed me to the baby grand piano on the far side of the stage to do warm-ups. After we did seasons of love, I looked at Joel and nodded telling him it was time because I felt ready to let the rest of the group know about me singing the song and feeling somewhat comfortable about it. Joel nodded "Everyone so you all know that we have a song NEW MOON that we will be performing and how we had to choose a singer for it and how until now we kept it hidden due to wanting to be prepared as best we could, well that singer is Ali." He turned to me when he finished. Everyone started whispering to themselves, i could hear some shocked whispers."But she can't sing sir, she's just the backup pianist why would you give her the solo.''Cole said, looking bitter but was silent after a look from Joel. Mrs. Everest took my place at the piano and I stood next to it feeling nervous only ever having sung in front of Grams and Everest's. As well as Cole's comment made my stomach even more nervous. Taking a deep breath to steady my nerves as well as my breathing which had gone a bit fast.I nodded my head and Mrs. Everest began playing the beginning of the song. All my fear melted away after the first few verses as I sang, putting my heart into the song letting all the feelings I could into the song. When I finished it was dead silent, everyone was staring at me in shock, some had their mouths wide open. They could not believe that I really could sing let alone that well. They all stood up and started clapping and smiling and hollering before Joel made everyone settle down and resumed practice. Practice went by very fast, It seemed to only last 15 to 20 minutes when we practiced for 2 hours. And all the while I kept hearing that voice either saying how good I was or what we needed to change during practice. After practice we left and hit a local Pizzeria. It was delicious. I don't think ive ever had a pizza so cheesy or so delicious, definitely going to have to stop back before we left for more. I had a great time but I kept thinking about that voice I had kept hearing during practice that nobody else seemed to hear. I was wondering who it could be. And if I was going insane.'dear Lord I hope not.'