(Eva)
Damon was dating Selena. I was crushed. I couldn’t believe that he could like her. She was one of the most awful people I had ever met. Why had he acted like he was interested in me if he was dating her? I had actually fallen for it. I felt sick inside but determined to pay attention to the gorgeous man next to me and enjoy the night. I could think about Damon tomorrow. My stomach felt sick despite my resolution to have a good time. I drank some deep sips of my champagne to settle my nerves. It was the most delicious kind I had tried so far. The DJ made an announcement just then that the karaoke performances were going to begin.
I turned to Mason, my mind made up. “Do you think they will let me sing?” I asked.
“Are you a singer?” he asked surprised.
“I’m not sure if I’m good or not but I want to sing,” I told him. And I did want to sing. I felt upset and used and I needed a distraction. Mason pressed a button on the table that I hadn’t noticed. Immediately a leggy platinum blonde waitress wearing almost nothing showed up to the table.
“Can I help you with something Mr. Shaw?” she asked, batting her eyelashes.
“Tell your manager that he’s going to have a new singer in the lineup,” he said, gesturing to me. The waitress flicked her eyes at me, a frown passing over her face before she quickly covered it with a fake smile.
“Of course, sir,” she said, walking quickly away.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Mason asked.
“I’m sure,” I answered nervously.
“What are you going to sing?” he asked.
That was the question. I didn’t know very many up to date songs since I hadn’t been allowed to listen to music at the Anderson’s house. There was one song that I had heard on my first day in the city though that I knew well enough to sing since it was on the radio constantly. “I think I’m going to sing “Issues” by Julia Michaels,” I said after a moment. Mason’s eyes lit up.
“That’s a fucking awesome song,” he exclaimed.
Just then the manager came hurrying to the table.
“You want to sing Eva?” he asked me. “I’ll put you up after the next singer if you’re ready,” he said.
Mason moved off the bench so I could get out. Selena had dragged the guy who had come to the table off somewhere with her so it had just been him and I at the table for awhile. Mason held out his hand and I grabbed it as we followed the manager down the stairs to where the stage was. A singer I recognized as someone famous was stepping on the stage. I began to get panicky. What the heck had I been thinking? I hadn’t even been able to sing in the shower since Mrs. Anderson would have barged in after hearing me and beat me to within an inch of my life if I had. I was probably awful and was going to embarrass not only myself but also Mason if anyone knew he was with me. He would probably leave and act like he didn’t know me after this.
Just then Mason smiled at me encouragingly. I took a deep breath. I was in a new city, starting a new life. I might as well take a chance. I didn’t know almost any of these people except for my team and most of them hated me already anyway. The singer on stage finished up her performance and walked off stage, the crowd screaming and cheering at her as she left. I squeezed Mason’s hand and then let go, walking up the stage.