SIX - One Direction

2

The air in the waiting room was thick, buzzing with nerves, excitement, and a good bit of adrenaline. Alex sat off in a corner, trying to steady the tremble in her hands, mumbling the opening lines to "Riptide" by Vance Joy under her breath. She'd picked it because it always made her feel safe, but right now, she couldn't remember a single bloody word.

The room was rammed with other contestants, each one in their own little world. Some were quietly rehearsing, others whispering to family or mates, keeping it low to not wind anyone up. Alex tried not to stare at anyone too long, but she couldn't help noticing their intense concentration, their quiet little rituals before heading on stage. She wondered if they all felt as rattled as she did, if they all had a voice in their head hissing, "What if you cock it up?"

She pulled out her phone, scrolling through her family's texts. Her mum had messaged her just before she'd left: *"Sing from the heart, love. No matter what happens, we're proud of you."* Then her brother: *"Knock 'em dead, Harman! Show 'em what you're made of."* She chuckled at that and took a deep breath, their words calming her nerves, if only a smidge.

"Alex Harman?" A voice called out, pulling her out of her thoughts.

Her turn.

Her legs felt like jelly as she stood, but she made herself move, gripping the strap of her guitar case for dear life. The walk from the waiting room to the stage felt like it went on for miles, her heart thudding louder with every step.

And then, suddenly, she was there, under the blinding stage lights, facing the panel of judges. She squinted slightly, taking in the familiar faces she'd only seen on telly. Simon Cowell sat dead centre, face unreadable, flanked by two other judges watching her with interest.

"What's your name?" Simon asked, his voice calm but a bit on the sharp side.

"Alex Harman," she replied, surprised her voice hadn't wobbled. She managed a small smile, ignoring the butterflies going mental in her stomach.

"And where're you from, Alex?" asked the judge to Simon's left, leaning forward with a friendly expression.

"Bradford," she answered, her fingers clenching round the neck of her guitar.

Simon nodded, his expression still hard to read. "And what are you going to sing for us today?"

"'Riptide' by Vance Joy," she said. The familiar words grounded her, and she focused on her breathing, blocking out everything but the feel of the guitar in her hands.

When Simon nodded, she took a steadying breath, closed her eyes just for a moment, and began to play.

The familiar chords filled the silence, and as she began singing, her nerves started to ease. She let herself get lost in the song, the music seeping into her bones. Each word, each note took her somewhere else, a place where it was just her and the music.

By the time she finished, she'd almost forgotten she was even on stage.

She looked up, heart hammering, and saw the judges smiling. The judge to Simon's right leaned forward, clapping his hands. "I proper loved that! You've got a lovely tone, and solid control."

The other judge nodded in agreement, flashing her a warm grin. "I could listen to you all day, Alex. You're a natural."

Alex felt her cheeks flush, barely able to believe what she was hearing.

Then it was Simon's turn. He leaned back in his chair, sizing her up. For a long moment, he didn't say a word, and her heart sank, nerves creeping back in.

Then, at last, he spoke.

"You know, I wasn't sure at first," he said, gaze sharp as ever. "But there's something... different about you. You've got something that makes you stand out. With the right guidance, I reckon you could be very, very good."

He glanced at the other judges, then back at her. "It's a yes from me."

"Yes from me too," the other two judges chimed in almost immediately.

Three yeses. She'd done it.

Alex could hardly wrap her head around it as she stumbled off stage, floating on air. Her family's words echoed in her mind, and for the first time, she actually believed them. She was in.

Whatever came next, she was ready for it.