The Spotlight

Chapter 8

I take a deep breath, my heart pounding, as our group steps onto the stage. The bright lights are blinding, and for a moment, I'm disoriented. As my eyes adjust, I see the judges sitting before us, their expressions unreadable. Then Nicole leans forward, a warm smile on her face.

"Hello, everyone! How are you feeling today?" She asks, her voice friendly and encouraging.

I open my mouth to respond, but Trisha beats me to it.

"We're feeling fantastic, Nicole!" she chirps, her voice sickeningly sweet. "We've had such a wonderful time working together."

I force a smile, biting back the urge to roll my eyes. Wonderful time? It's more like a nightmare.

"That's great to hear," Nicole responds, her gaze sweeping over our group. "And how about you, Riley? How was the experience for you?"

I swallow hard, feeling Trisha's eyes boring into me. "It was... interesting," I manage, my voice sounding strained even to my ears. "We all brought different ideas to the table."

Gary raises an eyebrow, clearly picking up on the tension, but he doesn't comment. Instead, he nods toward us. "Well, let's hear what you've prepared for us today."

The opening notes of "Never Enough" from The Greatest Showman fill the air, and I close my eyes for a brief moment, centering myself. This is it. This is my chance to prove myself and show that I belong here.

I open my eyes and begin to sing the first verse, my voice soft and controlled. The lyrics flow from me, each word carrying the weight of my dreams and aspirations. I can feel the judges' eyes on me; their attention is focused solely on my performance.

As I finish my part, I step back slightly, making room for Trisha to take her turn. She steps forward, a determined glint in her eye that makes me uneasy.

"All the shine of a thousand spotlights," Trisha belts out, her voice overpowering and harsh. "All the stars we steal from the night sky..."

I wince internally at the volume of her voice. It's too much—far too loud—for the beginning of the song. I can see the judges' expressions change, their brows clinching slightly at the sudden shift in tone.

"Will never be enough," Trisha continues, her voice growing even louder as if she's trying to drown out any memory of my performance.

I glance at the other members of Double Vision, seeing the same discomfort I feel reflected in their eyes. This isn't how we rehearsed it. This isn't how it's supposed to sound, even with the last-minute changes.

The girls from Double Vision take over, their voices blending beautifully as they continue the song. I feel a moment of relief, grateful for their steady performance after Trisha's overpowering display.

Liam steps forward next, his rich baritone adding depth to the song. I watch as Gary nods approvingly, clearly impressed by Liam's control and tone.

As we move into the chorus, I take a deep breath, preparing myself. This is where we're supposed to come together, to blend our voices into something magical. But as soon as we start, Trisha's voice cuts through the harmony like a dagger, her volume drowning out the rest of us. I try to adjust and find a way to balance our voices, but it's impossible. She's determined to be heard above everyone else, and the result is chaotic.

I can see the judges' faces now; their expressions are a mix of confusion and disappointment. Louis leans over to whisper something to Tulisa, who nods grimly in response. Nicole's encouraging smile has faded, replaced by a look of concern.

As we continue through the song, I feel a sense of desperation building inside me. This isn't how it was supposed to go. We're falling apart, and I don't know how to fix it.