Rise To Stardom

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

After the applause died down, I held my breath in anticipation for Carson's vote. He hadn't said a thing since I stepped foot out here. If he wasn't standing and clapping after I was done, I would've thought he hated it.

The sad look turned back into his famous blank stare and his mouth remained shut for a few seconds. He finally leaned in toward the mic and put in his vote.

"Yes."

My stomach dipped. The audience was screaming, but the noise faded into the background as I tried to process what was happening.

I looked at Aubrey for confirmation that this was real and her wide, teary eyes with her hands over her mouth was enough proof. All I could do was thank them profusely before running off the stage and into Aubrey's arms.

My heart was pounding against my ribcage because even the vital organ couldn't believe this wasn't a dream.

"Your dad is gonna be so proud of you," Aubrey whispered into my ear. Hearing those words opened the floodgates.

I was staining Aubrey's butterfly-sleeved top, but she didn't seem to care. She held me tighter in her arms and allowed me to sob onto her shoulders for as long as I needed to.

I don't know how many singers stepped on and off the stage before she broke the silence. "Remember to mention me when you accept your first Grammy award."

I couldn't help but chuckle. "You'll be the first person I thank. I wouldn't have made it this far without my best friend." I pulled away and we watched the rest of the performances. We were off to the side so we didn't have a clear view, but we didn't have to to hear their talented voices.

The anxiousness that had been weighing on my guts for the past twenty four hours immediately relaxed. I was going to be able to spend the rest of the day in peace knowing that my first performance for the judges was over.

That is, until the next one. For now, I can revel in my victory. After this group was finished, we returned to the waiting room where it looked slightly emptier. Not just because we were gone, but because the last group already went home.

Aubrey ran straight for her purse that she forgot to take with her and sighed in relief when she found her laptop still inside, clutching it to her chest.

"Hey, look," I bent down and picked up her book. "Looks like your porno book survived too."

She wore a fake grin. "You mock, but this..." she snatched the book from my hand and pointed to the cover picture. A boy and a girl were gazing lovingly into each other's eyes with his hand cradling her face. "...could come in handy one day."

I cringed when she winked at me. No one should have the image of their best friend going at it with someone in bed, naked. Yet, here I am. I shook it out of my head before I threw up this morning's omelet.

She draped an arm around me and guided me to the elevator I tumbled through earlier. "I need to make calls. We got some celebrating to do."

The ride to the restaurant was a lot smoother than before. We spent it calling everyone we knew and telling them about how well the audition went. When we got to Liam, Aubrey was blushing the whole time.

It made me wonder if something happened at the party that I missed. I made a mental note to ask her about it when she hung up. Aubrey then raved about meeting Carson in person and how he was the whole reason I got to audition even after I was late.

As impossible as it sounded, I'd completely forgotten about my pre-show encounter with my first celebrity crush. His voice saying my name, him remembering me from the video and the electricity zapping through me when his hand touched my shoulder.