I know! Long time! It was time for me to update this Manga style story . I put it in the rotation. ~ enjoy! S.K.

Chapter 1

The sunlight streamed through the curtains as Tori paced nervously in the living room. Today was the day of the big showcase at Hollywood Arts, and her sister, Trina, was positively buzzing with excitement. Tori, however, had never thought much about Hollywood Arts until now.

Trina emerged from her room, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. She clutched a small bottle of herbal gargle, proudly holding it up.

"Look, Tori! I got this amazing gargle from that shop in Chinatown. It's supposed to make my voice sound incredible!" Trina said, grinning from ear to ear.

Tori raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure that's a good idea? It looks kind of... old-fashioned."

Trina waved her hand dismissively, taking a swig from the bottle. "Come on, it's just herbs. What could go wrong?"

She swished the liquid around in her mouth before spitting it out. Her excitement was palpable as she started getting ready for the showcase, not noticing that her tongue was beginning to swell.

The backstage area was abuzz with activity. Tori was helping Trina with her costume adjustments, trying to focus on making everything perfect. Suddenly, Trina's confident chatter turned to muffled, panicked sounds.

"Tori... I don't feel right," Trina said, her voice barely intelligible. She tried to speak clearly, but her swollen tongue made it nearly impossible.

Tori looked at her sister in alarm. "Trina, what's wrong?"

Trina frantically wrote a note on a piece of paper and handed it to Tori. The note read: "The gargle. My tongue is swelling!"

Tori's heart sank. The showcase was just minutes away. "Oh no, Trina! What are we going to do? You can't go on like this!"

Trina's eyes were filled with desperation. She pointed to the stage and then to Tori, her message clear: Tori had to perform in her place.

"But I... I don't know your song. I wasn't planning on—" Tori started, but Trina's determined look was unwavering.

Andre, who had been rehearsing with Trina, walked over, noticing the commotion. "Tori, we don't have time to waste. Trina's ready to go, but we need you to step in. Just follow the music and do your best."

Tori felt her anxiety spike, but seeing Trina's pleading eyes and Andre's urgent expression, she knew she had little choice. "Okay, okay. I'll do it," she said, her voice trembling.

Tori walked onto the stage, her heart pounding in her chest. The audience was buzzing with excitement, the spotlight glaring down on her. She took a deep breath and tried to steady her nerves.

As the music began, Tori started singing. Her voice shook at first, but she soon found her rhythm, pouring her heart into the performance. The audience seemed entranced, their applause growing louder with each passing moment.

In the midst of her performance, Principal Eikner, who was sitting at the front, watched with keen interest. As Tori finished the song, the audience erupted into applause, and Tori felt a wave of relief and exhilaration.

Tori rushed off stage, her heart still racing. Trina, now back to her usual self but still with a slight tinge of embarrassment, rushed over to her sister, hugging her tightly.

"You were amazing, Tori! Thank you!" Trina said, her eyes glistening with gratitude.

Principal Eikner approached, a broad smile on his face. "Tori Vega, that was an impressive performance. You've got talent and courage. I'd like to extend an invitation for you to join Hollywood Arts."

Tori's eyes widened in shock. "Join Hollywood Arts? But I wasn't even planning on—"

Principal Eikner interrupted with a warm smile. "Sometimes the best opportunities come when you least expect them. Think about it, Tori. You have a place here if you want it."

Tori looked at Trina, who was beaming with pride. She felt a mixture of excitement and uncertainty but also a spark of possibility.

"Thank you, Principal Eikner," Tori said, finally allowing herself to smile. "I'll definitely think about it."

But she knew she would say yes because being on stage had been the most exhilarating thing she had felt in a long time. Of course she was going to move to Hollywood arts.