Finding My Voice

~5~

//A/N//: i spent most of last night looking up how the voice works lol. also my sad playlist is absolute perfection <3. again my grammarly rlly hates me rn. sis is freakin out.

my dog doesn't know how to aim :/ x  -   s

...

I almost trip up the stairs of the stage due to the shove that I had received. When I'm done I will let ginger have a piece of my mind for sure. I slowly walk to the center of the stage where I was told in the darkness. I can feel the eyes of so many people watching my every move and that is completely nerve-racking.  I look up at my surroundings and read the names of the four chairs in front of me. 

Kelly, Chance, Niall, and Blake.

Which one of you will pity me?

I'm brought out of my thoughts as the intro to my song starts playing. Well, shoot. Here we go.

My feet are aching

And your back is pretty tired

And we've drunk a couple bottles, babe

And set our grief aside

My voice comes out a little shaky but I don't think anyone can notice. Either that or they assume I'm just using a lot of vibrato. 

The papers say it's doomsday

The button has been pressed

We're gonna nuke each other up boys

'Til old Satan stands impressed

'Kay so far so good. I'm definitely doing better than I thought. My nerves aren't really getting to me as much. Probably a good thing that it's still dark. 

And here it is, our final night alive

As the earth burns to the ground

Deep breath, here comes the harder part. I look off-stage to find Casey and Tom standing there with smiley Carson Daly. All of them have smiles, and Tom gives me a thumbs-up. Casey looks like she's about to cry. Oh boy. Let's do this for her.

Oh boy, it's you that I lie with

As the atom bomb locks in

Oh boy, it's you I watch TV with

As the world, as the world caves in

 My voice flows easily through the high notes, and I close my eyes. I hear the crowd cheering faintly. I'm trapped in the music, nothing else matters. My voice softens as I begin the next verse.

You've put your final suit on

I paint my fingernails

Oh, we're going out in style, babe

And everything's on sale

I open my eyes and find that I got two chair turns - Kelly and Chance. My eyes widen as I turn slightly to look at Casey. Her tears have gone down as she's smiling at me. Maybe I am good at singing after all. As shocked as I am I keep singing, only now with a slight smile on my face.

We creep up on extinction

I pull your arms right in

I weep and say goodnight, love

While my organs pack it in

And here it is, our final night alive

And as the earth burns to the ground

I watch in shock as Blake suddenly presses his button. Kelly and Chance are still watching me - Kelly lip-syncing to the words and swaying. Three? I got three? What the hell is happening right now? What if I got all four? Just the chorus left. C'mon, girl. I close my eyes once more and just sing for my sister.

Oh boy, it's you that I lie with

As the atom bomb locks in

Oh boy, it's you I watch TV with

As the world, as the world caves in

When I open my eyes again, I see Niall's smiling face. He turned. I got four chair turns! I'm so happy right now I could give ginger a kiss! Of course, I won't though. Gross. I smile and look over at Casey and Thomas in shock. Thomas is jumping at least two feet in the air, pumping his fists. And Casey. Casey has the biggest smile and is crying a river. 'For you' I mouth. She just nods and goes to hug Tom. 

Mr. Smiley, Carson Daly is walking up to me. "Good job," he says as he gives me a little side hug that I find a little weird but I'm too happy to say much. 

"So, that was amazing! Would you mind telling us a little about yourself?" Kelly asks. Kelly. Clarkson. What is life? 

"Uhm, I'm P-Pyper  Williams, I'm 17 years old and I'm from Richmond, Virginia," I breathe out. Unable to speak due to the amount of shock I'm feeling.

"17? Wow. I wouldn't have guessed, you seem a lot more mature for your age." Kelly says laughing a little while looking at her fellow judges.

A hand is put on my shoulder, and I'm directed to Carson who is standing next to me, "Four turns! Pyper, amazing job! Now, judges, what do you have to say to Pyper here?"

I look back at the judges, awaiting their responses. This doesn't feel real. This should be Casey. I listen as Blake starts to speak. 

...