Rise To Stardom

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

The following weeks were spent working during the week and practicing for my audition when I got off. Chandelier was the song I chose. More like, the song Aubrey's followers chose when she posted an announcement video and asked to leave suggestions in the comments.

Weeks ago, I was a nervous wreck. Scenarios in which I freeze under the spotlight, all eyes on me triggering a panic attack or me throwing up all over the front row swirled around in my head.

Now, with the support of my admirers, I felt like I could do it. Admirers, not fans. I wasn't quite famous enough for those, but having these admirers was enough for me. This may sound foolish, but the best part of the auditions was that they were being held locally in New York City.

Buying an airline ticket to Los Angeles would be too spendy and all of the money earned at the restaurant had to go straight to paying dad's medical bills. He wasn't doing well at all. He'd been sleeping all day and he could barely get a few words out before being interrupted by a coughing fit.

Tears sprung to my eyes at the thought of him only having months left. He hated hospitals, as he should. So that meant, it was only a matter of time until he was sleeping on a hospital bed in his room attached to machines. The sound of his heart monitor would be inescapable every time I entered the room.

My manager was willing to let me keep my job in case I didn't make it all the way through because he knew paying for dad's medical bills was my number one priority.

My guitar, gifted to me by my father on Christmas, was perched on my lap. My fingers were strumming the melody of Say You Won't Let Go by James Arthur, Aubrey's favorite love song. I was glad that she pushed me to sing here for the first time that night.

If I decided to stay home and cry over sad movies, none of this would've happened to me. I wouldn't have been more confident in my talent or be one day away from facing my fears on live television. Aubrey was FaceTiming dad with the camera facing me so, even in his physical state, he could still be there for me.

When I sang the last note, silence permeated the air. Dad was wiping a lone tear that was in the middle of sliding down his cheeks. Aubrey wasn't the only one unable to control her emotions. Her face was bright red as water was leaking from her eyes.

Suddenly, the crowd stood up and erupted in a deafening applause. Some of the girls were cheering and the men were whistling, creating a red blush that made its way in my cheeks.

The applause died down as I stepped off the stage, but before I could reunite with Aubrey and my dad, my path was cut short when a guy stepped in front of me.

Judging by the sharp jawline, I would say he was about our age. He was towering over me at, at least, six foot which wasn't hard to do considering I was the shortest in my family. He must've gone on a vacation recently with his sun-kissed skin that was in juxtaposition to his ocean blue eyes.

"Hey. I'm a huge fan of yours. I've been watching your video on repeat everyday for weeks." It was adorable how nervous he was. A red hue was invading his cheeks as he scratched the back of his neck. This was unprecedented territory for me. I was half-expecting him to be talking to someone behind me, but his eyes were trained on mine.

"Thank you. That video was actually... never supposed to get out like that, but..."

"But I'm glad it did."

I couldn't get my hopes up. The odds were that he was one of those sleazy men that was going to try to hit on me. He had to be acting nervous to trick me. I wish Aubrey was here to help me get away, but she was still talking with my dad. "Why? Because you never would've seen my breasts?"