SIX - One Direction

3

The days after her audition felt like some kind of dream. Alex made her way through each round, and every one was tougher than the last. Every performance brought fresh nerves, new criticisms, and another chance to see just how far she could push herself. She'd spend hours rehearsing, doubting herself, wondering if the judges might've cocked up letting her through. But each time she stepped on stage, she remembered exactly why she was there.

In the early mornings, she'd call her family before rehearsals, buzzing to hear their voices. Her mum would remind her to stay true to herself, to sing with the same heart she did at home. Her dad, always the practical one, would tell her to look after herself, make sure she was eating and sleeping, and to not let the stress knock her about. Jordan would just tell her to keep having a laugh, saying she'd never get moments like these back, so she'd better go all out.

As she moved through the rounds, she made mates with some of the other contestants. They all shared the same late nights, running on cups of tea and pure grit. In the girls' category, she hit it off with a lass named Rachel, who was pure energy and confidence. Rachel had this proper infectious laugh and an attitude that could light up the whole rehearsal space.

One afternoon, while they were on a break, Rachel turned to Alex, looking at her thoughtfully. "You really don't get how good you are, do you?"

Alex blinked, caught off guard. "What're you on about?"

Rachel chuckled, shaking her head. "You've got this... vibe when you sing. It's natural, y'know? People can connect to that, but you just don't see it."

Alex felt her cheeks go red. Compliments like that almost made her want to hide, but in the best way. She knew Rachel wasn't just being nice; there was a sincerity there Alex couldn't ignore.

"Ta," Alex managed, feeling a bit more confident but still questioning if she was really cut out for all this. But with every performance, she felt herself growing, her voice getting stronger, her stage presence starting to feel natural. For the first time, she started to think she might actually belong here—that maybe, just maybe, she wasn't completely out of her depth.

The rounds passed by, and with each one, she held her breath, waiting for her name to be called. Each time it was, a thrill shot through her, knowing she was one step closer to something that once felt impossible.
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