|50| • Amelia
I was incredibly nervous as I made my way through the sea of ecstatic people.
My once dry palms had softened from the amount of sweat that moistened them, and my eyes refused to make it to others' gaze, I just smiled and ducked through until I was inside the auditorium.
Clutching the handle of my shoulder bag, I tried to control my breathing.
This wasn't the time or place to have a panic attack.
I was alone.
I had to do this on my own. Why didn't I tell Abel to come to support me?
Or Binta? Goodness, did I really think I could manage this all on my own?
My throat felt as though it was contracting from how dry it was, pursing my lips, I counted to ten and again.
"I'm fine." I huffed to myself, a wave of dizziness hitting me.
I was here to live my dream, not to freak out and run off.
I was a step forward, I wasn't going to take two back.
"Hey, darling are you okay there?" I didn't know the voice was directed at me until I felt a pair of cold hands cup both of my shoulders.
Flinching, my hands immediately pushed the taller figure away, trying to create space between us.
When my hands connected with a firm chest, my eyes widened, realising what I'd done.
He was only trying to help!
"I'm sorry!" The tone of my voice rose an entire pitch, holding my bag, I bowed my head, about to scurry off but the hand held me in place.
A laugh sounded from the figure, "Hey, it's okay.
My bad. I'm the one who suddenly touched you.
" Hesitating, I turned around with my eyes paired on the marble tiles.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to shove you. A-and yeah! I'm alright."
"Are you sure though?"
Taking a deep breath, I finally looked up to see the owner of such comforting and curious words.
He was a foot taller than me and dark-skinned.
The man had a slender yet muscular figure, his chiselled chin covered with strokes of beard.
I stumbled back seeing as he stepped closer.
When he noticed this, he didn't move any closer, he just held his hands up in surrender.
"My bad, but...you're okay now right? You seemed to be having a panic attack or something.
" He smiled sheepishly, itching his neck before placing them on his waist. Oh, he noticed.
How embarrassing.
Forcing a smile, I nodded.
"I'm fine now, thanks. It's just...they're a lot of people here.
" I didn't know why I let that part slip from my lips but somehow I thought he'd understand.
The man nodded, "Yeah, I understand. There's no need to be freaked out though. Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. My name's Raul." As he said this, he grinned, extending his arm but it wasn't for a handshake, it was for a fist bump.
This made me stifle a giggle. "I'm Amelia! Nice to meet you, Raul." I fist-bumped him with a genuine smile. I guess he understood I was still nervous. Raul cheesed, nodding his head. He had a boyish charm about him, even though I was sure he was older than me.
"How about this, Amelia? Let's stick together, I'll introduce you to some of my friends. Would you like that?" My ears perked up at the mention of this. The last thing I wanted right now was to be alone, nodding my head, I tried to tame my giddiness. "If you'd be so kind."
Raul winked, giving me his elbow, when I looked down at it inquisitively, he nudged my shoulders with them.
"Think of me as your chaperone. So you won't get taken away by the sea!
" His voice sang his words animatedly. I covered my mouth, giggling.
What was with him? I hardly met people this playful anymore.
Everyone seemed to be worrying about one thing or the other.
Shrugging, I interlocked my hand in his elbow.
"Thank you, kind sir."
Having him as support made me feel a tad more confident, I wasn't pushed around as much because Raul easily manoeuvred through the crowd, being taller than me I guess it was easier to see where would be a better place to pass.
"Amelia, where are you coming from?" He asked when we reached a place that wasn't so crowded. Still interlocked in his arms, I said "Well, I'm from downtown. It's not too far from here actually."
"Downtown? That's a good three hours."
Right, it slipped my mind that I was coming from Evie's place so the journey was rather short. I smiled softly, "I had someone take me here, I'll be staying with them if I get into this school."
"If? Or you mean when." He nudged me with a smirk, "I want to believe you know your stuff when it comes to baking." Raul said, giving me an expectant gaze. Feeling shy, I rocked the ball of my feet.
"You don't?" A slight frown came across his face.
"N-no it's not that. I do! I've been practising almost every day." Perhaps I was just nervous, people here seemed way more talented than me. Raul continued to study me with an expression I wasn't sure of. He hummed, patting my palms.
"You need to be confident in your skills, darling."
I blushed and nodded my head in embarrassment. Great, even he knew I wasn't as confident and we had just known each other a little over ten minutes ago. I was about to thank him but a voice bit me to it.
"Raul! Geez man, we thought we lost you for a second!
" It was a masculine voice, and soon after a buff guy came into view.
He was light-skinned, sprinkled with orangish spots on his body, and his hair consisted of blood-orange curls.
Feeling shy, I moved closer to Raul, seeing more people come towards him.
"Dude just disappeared. One minute I was talking with him, the next I was speaking to a ghost, looking like a creep!" A feminine voice seconded, the voice loud and firm. The girl was honey skinned, her shoulder-length dreadlocks dyed blue. She had a beauty mole on top of her plump lips.
"Right? Oh...who is that pretty little one in your arms?
He managed to catch a little girl in his traps already.
I have to give it to you man—" The boy with the spots said, a cackle coming after.
Oh, he was talking about me? My cheeks heated up, trying to move away from Raul. He didn't catch me in any trap!
Raul turned to face me, dropping his arms on my shoulders. "C'mon guys, don't say it like I'm some kind of player! I saw how nervous she looked and went to help." The two, who I assumed were his friends looked at each other with a smirk before nodding their heads.
"I'm Kaji, what's your name?" The girl with the blue dreadlocks introduced herself confidently, a hand placed on her hip and the other stretched out to me. Come to think of it, she looked oddly familiar. Her pouty lips and almond eyes resembled someone I knew. Smiling, I shook her hands.
"My name is Amelia! I-it's nice to meet you." Darn, why did I have to stutter? She didn't seem to mind, she shook me with a grin.
"And I'm Arnold." The guy said, waving his arms with a big smile. I waved back shyly. "Nice to meet you, Arnold."
"These are the friends I was telling you about." Since I wasn't expecting them to come so soon, I wasn't as nervous anymore. Keeping a smile on my face, I played with my fingers. "And don't mind them, I'm not a player," Raul whispered the last part to me, tapping my shoulders.
I chuckled.
"So you're all here for the application?" How was it that all his friends knew how to bake? I couldn't imagine having that! It would be so much fun. Arnold nodded, ruffling Kaji's hair as he bent to her height.
"Yep, we all bake. The trio bakers!" Arnold said as Kaji snorted, swatting his larger arm away.
Raul laughed, folding his arm. "We decided to do something spontaneous, practised for a few more months and signed up," Raul explained with a small smile.
They must have been loaded! In the name of doing something spontaneous, they were going to pay thousands of dollars.
"You should open a bakery after this." I heated, giggling as Kaji looked at me with wide eyes, snapping her fingers. "That's what I was telling them! But Arnold says—" Before she could finish, Arnold finished her sentence with his fingers pointed up.
"Opening a bakery isn't a rash decision one makes."
These two were adorable! Like siblings! Kaji rolled her eyes, putting out her tongue while Arnold did the same. I felt Raul's hand go on my shoulders again, weighing me down slightly. "You know, Amelia, sometimes I feel like their awkward third wheel. Should we ditch 'em?"
I stifled a giggle. "No! That would be mean." He pouted, making it hard for me to refuse a second time. Thankfully, Kaji spoke up, squinting her eyes suspiciously.
"Hey! I heard that! And shut it, you just want Amelia to yourself." I blushed, narrowing my eyes. Raul raised a finger in surrender. "Guilty as charged."
"Hey Lia, let's stick together okay?" It was Kaji that spoke, a friendly smile on her face.
I felt giddy on the inside at the fact that she considered me closer than a stranger.
It felt nice to have some people to rely on for company.
I nodded, trying not to seem so eager. "I like the sound of that! "
"So no one gets evicted, okay!?" Arnold voiced out, crossing his arms against his chest. Feeling more energised, I nodded my head.
"Okay!" We all said surprisingly in unison, a giggle leaving my lips right after.
I really hoped we would all make it, so they would be my culinary mates! And hopefully my friends too.
"Chef Gaston is entering!" A voice announced and the hall got silent, our attention immediately turned to the entrance, before I could ask if we should go closer, Kaji nudged Arnold and grabbed my arms, pushing through the crowd until we got to a favourable spot.
The door opened and a slender man clacked his shoes into the auditorium.
His posture was everything, his head angled up to the point that he wouldn't see me if I was any shorter.
So this was Chef Gaston. His salt and pepper hair was elegant and slicked to the back.
Chef Gaston was attired in a buttoned-up dress shirt and bow tie, a pair of black slacks complimenting the entire look; his starched apron being the icing on the cake.
Goodness! He looked more majestic that the photos I'd seen on the internet. Glancing at Kaji, I saw that she shared the same interest, her lips slightly parted.
Chef Gaston made his way to the podium with confident strides, when he got on top where he could see every one of us, he rose an eyebrow, taking the microphone from the handle.
"Why hello, home cooks."
That was all it took for the audience to start clapping and squealing.
His voice was firm as he looked. There was a bit of kindness to it, his lips twitching in a smirk before disappearing.
He held his hand up and the silence soon came through the doors once more.
I peered my eyes on the man, Chef Gaston.
Seeing him alone was enough for me, I could be asked to go home and I'd still be giddy!
"I want to be the first to personally welcome you to my culinary school. My dear home cooks, welcome." Chef Gaston exclaimed into the microphone, holding my excitement, I giggled within myself. This was really happening!
"You must all be excited, I can tell by the beam on your faces. But! Let me also be the first to tell you that more than eighty per cent of you will be gone."
As he said this, my excitement died down and was replaced with anxiousness. I felt Kaji tense up when he said this as well. As Chef Gaston observed how quiet the crowd had gone, he chuckled. "Now c'mon. No need to be sad. It's just the survival of the fittest."
As he explained the rules of the nomination, my heart began thudding faster. There were going to be three stages, we would all make something of ours, then something of his. When he was done, he smiled. "Let's begin."
Kaji nudged me, cocking her head over at the other guys, when we reached where they stood, she huffed. "Guys, remember what we said. No one gets evicted." Arnold muttered, running his hands through his orange-red hair. The three nodded, my and Kaji's arm were still interlocked.
"You too, Amelia," Raul spoke, snapping me from my thoughts.
"We still have to become friends, so don't get evicted, alright darling?"
My cheeks heated at his words, he wanted to become my friend. Looking over at the three of them, I nodded, feeling more confident that when I walked into the auditorium. "Alright." I agreed, taking a deep breath.