Overrated | The Voice France / MIKA & OC

5.1 - Live 2. Level Up

The next day I wake up with a strange feeling. Like I'm a hero of some video game and I've just leveled up. Everything seems different and yet very simple, and the more this day goes on, the more I feel this change.

- Congrats, - Karen greets me when we meet in the block, - You deserved it, for sure.

She's still talking about the show, right.

- Why thank you! - I reply cheerfully, - You did better, though. I didn't have any doubts you'd stay.
- Same thing about you!
- Really?

- Yeah, sure, - she agrees, - Though you sounded a bit too... Hysterical, if you ask me. Overacting is what you're the best in, no kidding. You'll be great in musical comedy.

- I'll consider it, - I reply, resisting to add "I guess" and succeed in it.

Musical comedy, huh. I haven't even thought of it as an option.

***

A staff member approaches me during breakfast.

- The staff is concerned about that accident you had during your performace yesterday, - he tells me, - We know it wasn't a part of the show. If you think that your injury might be serious, you must report it and take care of it as soon as possible.

I look down at my bruised and scratched knee. It looks scary, but I'm pretty sure it got worse when I was a kid. The last thing I want to do is bother anyone with a child's injury.

- It's superficial, - I tell him, - Nothing to worry about. But thanks for your concern.

He doesn't like what I said, but he leaves anyway.

I watch him go when I receive a message from Mika. Now was there any reason to delete his number if he doesn't delete mine?!

So, he says this:

Katy Perry - Unconditionally.

P.S. I'm shooting new video. 13:00, [name of the place that doesn't say anything to me]. Other talents will be here too. Bring your friends, I need them all!

M.

So Flori was right.

As for the music piece... Katy Perry? Really?

- Have you heard this song? - I ask Gaspard who, I feel, has creeped up to me and clearly is looking at my phone behind my shoulder.

- Yep, - he replies, - It's crazy hard. Want to hear it?

He plops down next to me and gives his phone. And my first thought when I get to the chorus is - holy crap, is Mika mad? It's too hard!

But first seeds of worry are quickly crushed by another thought, much more exciting - it's so, so beautiful! If Mika picks mainstream, he always chooses something special. And if he thinks I can handle this piece...

- But it's not really well-known, - I say, and I just can't help thinking, - Maybe Mika's planning to kick me out, like Emily.

- Maybe he is, - Wizard agrees, which is not the reaction I expected to hear, - But come on, it's so epic! I suspect that he's just challenging you. You know, to put you out of your comfort zone.

Looks like I just have to trust Mika this time.

Gosh, can't wait to work with him again. I already miss him.

Which is quickly fixable!

Andy and Justine said that they're staying in Paris for one more day, so I decide there's nothing wrong with taking them to the shoot.

While we make our way to the mysterious destination, girls read me a full report of the previous night:

- There were several hundreds of tweets under the hashtag #WonderAlice, - Andrea says, reading from her phone, - Sounds not cool, but most of them are about your fall.

- Yeah, that was a shitty fall, - Justine confesses, and immediately gets a punch from me, - Hey, what have I done? We all know you can't walk on heels!
- It's not my fault, they made me do it!
- But you still managed to keep your make-up, Panda-eye.

- You girls finished? - politely asks Andy, and then continues, - So. Half of your followers say you at least became more confident, and it's quite obvious. One guy said something poetic, like, "your voice has a straight connection to your heart", and "you sing like you tell a story".

- A heart that sings, huh, - I remember Mika's words about his talents.

- Yeah, that's what they say! - Andy agrees, - Are you happy? Because now I'm gonna read what your haters think - ready? - they say you were "overacting", "psychotic" and "lame". Sounds cool, huh? Also that you're an amateur, you ruined the song and they wonder why Mika is still keeping you in his team.

"Because I'm commercially good and Mika wants to win" - I remember Emily's words, and add to myself: Or because Mika is not indifferent to me. Can't tell what's worse.

- You enjoy watching me suffer, - I hiss at her.

- Don't blame me, I'm just doing what Justine told me to do! Besides, I can't tell that you suffer that much, - she replies, then looks at me carefully, - What do you think about all this, really?

- Really? - I try to listen to my feelings, and have to admit, - I like it, to be honest. I never had haters before. It's so exciting!

Girls stop walking and stare at me like I'm mad.

- The hell? - Justine asks suavely, and turns to Andy for help. The latter joins her:

- Is it you, Alice? The girl whose worst fear was to someone think something bad of her?

- Well, yeah, - I shrug, - Don't see anything wrong with it.

And then I see that Justine's special look, which appears only when she's about to do something crazy.

- Andy, I think aliens abducted our friend, - she declares, - Grab her, she's dangerous!

Andrea happily agrees to help, and before I can so something, they grab me, "sac of potato-style", like my mom says, and continue walking carrying me like this, with Andy holding my feet and Justine holding my arms. I try to resist first, try to call out to their conscience - you know, people are watching - but then give up, let go of it all and just start loudly singing the X Files theme, scaring the passersby away.

- Why aliens? - I ask Justine then.

- I showed her 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' on our way here, - Andrea replies, - She was... Very impressed. And bored all these days, because you're the only one she can harmlessly mock. She's just making up fot all the lost time.

- And you?

- What - me? You're just really fun to embarrass.

- Need some help? - we hear familiar voice from behind, and girls immediately drop me on the ground. Can't blame them, I knew this would happen.

- Hi, Mika, - I stand up, and try to brush myself off, - You're just in time! You grab the one on the left, I take the one on the right, or they're gonna stand like this all day.
Mika inspects the girls, not quite sure if it's a joke or I'm serious. Then it gets to him:

- Oh, so these are your friends who I should thank for having you in my team?

- Yep. This is Andrea, and this...

I introduce Andy and Justine to my coach, and Mika - to his credit - behaves as friendly and careful as he needs to get the girls out of their star strike. And just 10 minutes later, when we reach the destination, they're talking like they've known each other for a long time. That magic power of Penniman to take a whole room full of strangers and make them friends.

- What's the place? - I ask Mika, as we enter the building. He shrugs:
- It's not special, just a huge empty hangar. Quite a good place to build a set from nothing. More important is what we're gonna do there. And that I'll leave to the director, who, I believe, is already there.
- And who is the director?
- One of my good friends. I really hope you'll recognize him.