Life Is A Rollercoaster (Ronan Keating / Boyzone / X Factor) fan fiction

Fifty One

As it happened the dress rehearsal was much more nerve wracking than the actual live show.

Once the audience, judges and camera crew were in place, I felt much more comfortable. It could have been the adrenaline, or it could have been that I knew Ronan was there rooting for me, whatever it was, I suddenly felt like I could do anything.

I was second on to the show after one of the groups opened.

This suited me fine, I didn't really want the dreaded first slot, but I was looking forward to watching the rest of the finalists backstage.

I heard the presenter introduce me. Unfortunately it wasn't Dermot O'Leary for some reason they'd not given him the job, and have given it to some presenter I'd never heard of before, Kate Thornton.

I stepped out from the sliding stage doors onto the smokey studio stage and began to sing. It was just like being up there on stage with Ronan and I loved every minute of it.

 It obviously showed.

Sharon, Louis and Simon the judging panel took it in turns to comment on each acts performance. As Sharon was my mentor, she went first. "Vicky" she said when the applause from the studio audience had died down. "I'm so glad you're one of mine. I get the feeling that you're going to go all the way in this competition"

"I have to agree with Sharon" said Simon. "Most people, naturally, are going to be very nervous coming on stage tonight. Now if you were, you certainly didn't show it. I loved your performance and I think, as Sharon says you're going to be one to watch"

I stood and stared at him with my mouth half open, before I realised I was on live TV.

Simon Cowell was notoriously harsh, and he'd just given me the biggest compliment ever.

"Vicky" said Louis, "I get the feeling that you're going to be even more famous than that boyfriend of yours"

He raised an eyebrow at Sharon, who looked embarrassed.

"If not more so..."

"I Er....don't know what to say" I said when Kate turned round to interview me, "except thank you"

"Ah, isn't she lovely. Ladies and Gentlemen, it's Vicky"

I walked off the stage and sat down in the green room to watch the rest of the show, and wondered if I'd even be here next week?

The concept of the live shows was pretty simple. The TV audience voted by telephone to 'save' their favourite finalists and ensure that they got to sing in the next show. 

The two finalists with the lowest votes got put in front of the judges who then had to 'save' the person they thought should be allowed another chance to compete in the following weeks show. The other person sadly, went home.

As I watched the other performances, I worried that I was going to be in the so called 'bottom two'.

Some of the singers I was up against were amazing. We all went back on stage in front of the cameras for the telephone vote result. "Guaranteed to sing against next week" said Kate, "In no particular order, are..."

There was a long pause, "Vicky!"

I looked at Kate stunned. I moved over to where we had been told to stand if we got through.

I couldn't believe it.