The first thing I do upon waking is reach for my phone, my heart doing its familiar flutter as I check for messages. My conversation with Gary sits unchanged from the night before, his last message still unanswered. My thumb hovers over the keyboard, mind racing with potential responses, but I eventually lock the screen and set the phone aside. Better to leave it be.
Rolling over, I squint at the time: 10:30 AM. I have several hours before I need to be at Fountain Studios for my 3 PM rehearsal, but the butterflies in my stomach are already doing somersaults. Pushing back my duvet, I pad to my closet, pulling out a carefully selected outfit - something casual but put-together. I've spent more time than I care to admit planning what to wear for my first rehearsal.
The hot shower helps calm my mind down somewhat. It will be my first time seeing Gary since LA, since that moment when everything shifted between us. I take extra time with my hair, though I tell myself it's just because I want to look professional.
In my small kitchen, I go through the motions of making breakfast, though my appetite is nowhere to be found. The coffee maker gurgles companionably as I prepare toast, taking small bites between sips of coffee. My eyes keep drifting to my phone, still stubbornly silent on the counter.
Settling onto my worn leather couch, I pull my acoustic guitar onto my lap. The familiar weight is comforting as my fingers find their place on the fretboard. I begin strumming mindlessly, letting the melody flow without direction as my thoughts wander.
Will things be awkward between us after LA? Our text exchanges have been light, almost playful at times. Maybe we can maintain that easy banter in person. Or perhaps he's only responded out of obligation, keeping things civil between mentor and contestant. The thought makes my stomach twist.
The morning slips away as I lose myself in my thoughts and my music. When I finally glance at the clock again, I startle at the time. Carefully placing my guitar in its case, I gather my things and head out.
The Underground ride to Wembley is a blur of faces and noises. The familiar rhythm of the train helps steady my nerves, though they return full force as I emerge into the autumn air and walk the short distance to Fountain Studios.
The security gate at Fountain Studios looms ahead as I approach. Behind the glass window, a friendly-faced security guard brightens upon seeing me.
"Good afternoon, Miss Scott," he says with a warm smile.
I tuck a strand of blonde hair behind my ear, glancing at his name tag. "Good afternoon, Joe," I reply, managing a shy smile.
Joe chuckles, reaching for something under his desk. "You know, my little girl - she's eight - she won't stop watching your audition on YouTube. Must've seen it fifty times by now."
A blush creeps across my cheeks. "That's really sweet."
"Here you go," Joe says, handing me a lanyard with an X Factor badge. "Keep this with you at all times while you're in the studio."
"Thank you," I say, slipping the lanyard around my neck.
Joe picks up the phone, dialing quickly. "Yes, Riley Scott has arrived. I'm sending her through now." He hangs up and gestures toward the entrance. "You're all set, Miss Scott. Go right ahead."
As I walk through the gate, Joe's voice calls out behind me: "Hey, Miss Scott! Just so you know - my daughter and I? We're rooting for you all the way!"
The warmth of Joe's encouragement stays with me. The sound of distant music and voices grows louder with each step, and the reality of what lies ahead begins to sink in. This is it - my first rehearsal for the live shows.
YOU ARE READING
The Spotlight
CintaRiley Scott is a woman whose voice could move mountains, but her confidence has always faltered in the face of her talent. When her best friend Emily secretly enters her into the prestigious X Factor competition, Riley's life takes an unexpected tur...
