Chapter twenty-three

Xoey's POV

I shifted my seat a little to the left and sat up right it.I laced my fingers in each other in a praying style and my eyes were fixed on the stage.

I watched as the audience cheered and my mom gave me a little hit on my shoulders and I smiled nervously at her.

My arms were trembling and I was really nervous even though I wasn't the one who was facing the audience.

The contestants,who also happened to be Dianna's peers modeled to the stage one at a time in their beautiful fashionable gowns,each smiling profusely at the audience.

My eyes scanned the faces of each and every contestant only to find out that Dianna wasn't here.

Where was she?

The host must have also realised it because she started to look at the faces of the contestants.

"Miss Cassman,we need you here now"

She spoke in the microphone and the audience started to exchange glances at each other as the room was filled with petty talks.

My mother on the other hand was looking confused.

"She came to school today.I know"

Her voice was trembling and her thighs were shaking.

"If anything happens to your sister I won't be able to forgive myself"She added,her eyes looking at me worriedly.

"Don't worry mom,I'll find her" I hurriedly got up from the chair and walked to dressing room for the contestants.

"You're not allowed to go in there.Contestants only" The security man barked,his arm extended across the door to prevent me from entering.

"Please" I begged

"No.I've been given strict orders not to let anyone but contestants enter" He said strictly

"Please Mister,I beg you.I'm sure my sis is in there please. She's only thirteen she could be in any harm at this moment. Please she's my one and only sister and I love her with my heart.I hope you understand. Looking at you,I can see you have a wife and kids.

The love you feel for them,that's the exact way I also feel for my sister. I love her with all my heart"  I said it from my heart,hoping he'd understand.

He removed his hands and said

"You're right.I do have a wife and kids and I know how you feel because I feel the same way for them.I understand the situation you're in.I'll allow you to go" He opened the door and I thanked him and rushed inside.

"Dianna!Dianna!"I called her. I walked to where a curtain was and I dragged it. I saw a bulge under a red sheet and I pulled it off, leaving it to fly and land on the carpet.

Dianna sat there,her face buried between her thighs, sniffing.

"Dianna" I called her but she didn't mind.

I sat next to her and tiltted my head to try and get a glimpse of her face.

I patted her back.I wanted to ask her why she wasn't on the stage but seeing her in this stage,I decided to shut up and let her do the talking.

"Sis,I can't do this anymore" she began, her voice shaking  and rough.

"Why?" I asked eargerly.

She sniffed and coughed before she answered " It's all Dylan and Beatrice"

"What?! You mean your crush or the the guy who you told me he likes you too?"

She lifted her head at last.Staring at me where her blood shot eyes.

I cupped her face in my hands

"Dianna how long have you been crying" I asked her but she removed her head from my palms.

"I don't know. I lost track of time"

"What about Dylan and Beatrice?" I sparked the topic up again and she looked at me and answered

"I thought he liked me. He told me he thought I was called Beatrice that's why he gave me the peanut butter and on top of that I overheard him telling his boy- friends that I wasn't even pretty" she said, drawing her eyes away from mine.

I couldn't belive my ears.I opened my mouth to talk but she started talking again.

"Beatrice is popular and rich and has the killer looks. Do you know what else I saw?" She asked angrily

She turned to look at me and she continued" I caught them kissing" She gritted her teeth and her hands were in fists.

"Calm down sis, Everything Dylan said was right"

She looked at me with a bemused expression and I continued

"You're not pretty, you're beautiful.You know, there's a big difference between the two and besides he doesn't even  deserve you"

She smiled at me and stood up with vim.

"Thanks sis,Dianna is back" she raised her fist and pulled me from the floor.

"Come help me do my makeup 'coz I've got a peagent to win" she said with vim and pulled me to the dressing mirror whiles she settled on the red cushion stool.

That's the Dianna I know. The stronger one, not the crying one.

I have to admit that I don't  know to apply makeup but when I finished applying the makeup,she looked much more beautiful.

"Open your eyes,sis"

Dianna opened her eyes and looked at herslef in the mirror She squealed and hugged me and she couldn't stop asking me if the girl in the mirror was her.

"I love you sis,you're a face changer"

" No problem sis, now go out there and let your inner beautiful shine"

She smiled at me and hugged me tighter before straightening her red silky gown and running off in her black heels.

I was somehow grateful to Ida for buying these clothes for her and I was also proud of myself for doing my first makeup.

It was only then that I realized makeup changes the faces of people.

I went back to my seat and smiled at my mother while the audience cheered.

Dianna was modelling and waving at the audience.

They were almost about to announce the results when Dianna showed up. She rolled her eyes at Beatrice and turned her head  to face the audience with a fierce but confident look and smile.

The host watched Dianna with amusement as she modelled on the stage.

"Miss Cassman I see you've come back" One of the judges said.

The host handed the mic to Dianna and she spoke in it

"Yes I've come back" She said and grinned at her.

"Ok then Miss Cassman your  first question- How do you feel in your skin.

She grinned and answered boldly

"I feel great in my skin because I'm me and I will not try to be like anyone else because they say so and that's what I want everybody out there most especially girls to feel. I want them to feel great in their skin because we are all perfect in our own special way. Don't try to change yourself because no matter how you change yourself, people will always judge you"

The last line was what I told Dianna when she brought home the peanut butter and she told me she'd  give me the best speech of the year award.

Remember?

Everyone clapped and the judges were impressed too.

"Last question Miss Cassman. What will you do if you were given a huge sum of money, will you help the needy and poor, if yes give reason or you'd keep it to yourself,if yes give a reason for your answer"

Dianna took in a deep breath and answered

"I'd help the poor and needy because not everybody gets the opportunity to live a good life- having quality education,good drinking water and freedom. We all live once and the little things one does gives hope. Thank you"

After sitting here for a couple of minutes the host said she had the results.

".... and the winner for this beauty peagent is... is.... Miss..... Miss.... Dianna Cassman"

Balloons were realesed on the stage and decoration shot up from the corners of stage.

The female judge placed the crown on her head, gave her bouquet of roses and put a paper with Miss Beauty  2020 across her torso.

After,she was given a cash prize of 3,000 and a full schorlarship for a year.

Beatrice was the 1st runner up and Amy was the 3rd runner up and they were presented with their prizes too.

After the buffet service, Dianna hugged mom and I.

"Thanks mom, Thanks sis  for being there for me"

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I hope you like this chapter.Don't worry if you find it boring,I've got lots of other ideas to fit in this book.

❤