The boys on the aisle moved their legs out of her way to let her back to her seat. Most gave her words of encouragement or pats on the back. If Stacey was really meant to be here, she would feel quite touched. The friendliness and comradeship she felt so far from these people despite them all being competitors was far beyond what she would expect from people clawing for fame and to reach the pinnacle of the entertainment industry.
"Don't fall asleep anymore, please," Ken whispered to Stacey after she had sat back down.
"Yeah," Stacey hid her red flushed face in her hands. "I'm so embarrassed."
"Yeah, well, you should be," Flail gave her a gentle nudge and grinned. "We were even feeling embarrassed for you."
"Thanks, guys," Stacey nudged Flail back, and fist bumped Endo and Ken.
"What Telea said is right," Beryl said when all the performances were over and the projected screen showed the leaderboard. "You should all be hungry and work hard to achieve your dreams and goals. You won't get anywhere by giving up early or by letting what other people say get to you. Stand firm by your beliefs."
Stacey wanted to roll her eyes. All teachers and mentors seemed to like to say the same things. She remembered her high school teachers pretty much said the same before she graduated. They all liked to be so wordy and repeat themselves and echo each other.
"Now is the time to build your support networks and build friendships that will last you a lifetime. You may not all stay in the industry, but you can all support one another to help each other through the tough times," Beryl said. "Yes, you are competitors now but then if you stay in this industry, you always will remain competitors and rivals. Friends and comrades in the same race and battle."
Stacey tried not to sigh. She could see some other kids listening attentively and others, like her, trying hard not to look bored.
"Good sportsmanship and professionalism is what will get you far. You'll need to build a tough mentality but still be aware enough to know when to lend your neighbours a hand. Look around yourselves," Beryl swept a hand across the stage. "These fellow trainees are not your enemies. Encourage one another and build each other up. Help to sharpen and hone each other. And never give up. Alright, Stacey?"
Stacey sat up very straight and nodded.
No. What? Why bring the spotlight back to her again? Really. Why? She didn't want to be a feature story. She didn't need the attention or scrutiny or people might see past her very thin and shaky layer of lies. She wasn't a great actor. Nor was she a great liar. If people kept looking at her, they might just see how she wasn't meant to be here at all.
"Are you still going to give up?" Beryl asked her.
Stacey wasn't sure if she could blush any harder under all the attention. Hopefully the foundation she was wearing would hide some of the colour. Except, she remembered that they had only put a very thin layer of foundation on her. So it was very likely that everyone could see just how ashamed she was feeling.
Stacey shook her head. She didn't quite trust her voice at the moment. It might squeak or squawk like an injured goose and then everyone would laugh at her.
"Say it out loud for everyone to hear," Beryl beamed.
"I'm not," Stacey heard herself squawk and wish she could just sink through the floor. Clearing her throat a few times, she finally managed to say in a passable voice, "I'm not giving up."
"Good," Beryl swept the beam of her smile across the room. "Why don't we say it altogether? Never give up. Never lie down."
The room shouted it back at her.
"Never give up! Never lie down!"
"How are you feeling now, Stacey?" Beryl directed the attention back to Stacey again.
Why, woman? Why can't you give me a break?
Stacey wanted to hide but couldn't. The boy in front of her had shuffled slightly to the side so that there was a clear view of her. Flail held her hand in support on one side and Ken did the same on the other. They may have been teenagers and at this age, Stacey remembered that most teenage girls and boys didn't want to touch each other unless they were going to become boyfriends and girlfriends, but in this case, that wasn't happening. Endo reached over to put a hand on her shoulder and then all the other boys around her reached out to put a hand of support on her as if to give her the courage to keep going and speak.
Under the weight of so many hands and so many eyes, Stacey could only give in and do what was now expected of her. For better or worse, whether she wanted to back out or not, she was only being given one way forward. She would have to commit to seeing this three month program through.
"How are you feeling, Stacey?" Beryl repeated the question again. "It's ok. You can be honest. We're all friends here."
"Warm, supported and uh," Stacey looked around at all the people around her who were also cheering her on, "kinda hungry. When's dinner?"
The entire auditorium burst out in laughter and multiple hands slapped Stacey on her back. It took some time for them all to calm down again.