I'm walking into a makeup shop with my three friends: Jaz, Louisa, Ana and me. We've been bezzies forever!
I step inside and see the rows of cool, fancy, sparkly gear. I browse, humming GRL ugly heart- my favourite song.
"Imogen, what do you think of this shade?" Ana offers me her tanned wrist, with swatches of silver shadow. It contrasts with her milky brown skin and looks lovely.
I'm struggling to find the right shade- but suddenly I see a gorgeous, pearly, sparkly pink. It is beautiful and, when I swatch it, it looks nice with my pale white skin. I start humming a new song, Timber by Ke$ha.
Then I change again, when I'm looking for the price of the eye shadow. I appropriately sung price tag.
"That's good," commented Jaz.
"Erm... No, it's not!" I reply. I am a horrendous singer- I know- but I still sing and hum whenever I get the chance. It's fun.
Suddenly, I feel like there's someone behind me. I whip round and come face to face- well, my face to his chest- with a very tall boy. He is intimidating. Very.
"Um. Hi?" I ask, confused.
He takes a hand through his... Lovely... Black And blonde hair. He is very cute.
"Hey. I'm Jason. Simon Cowell's niece's stepbrother."
"W-wow... ok."
Then I realise how bad that sounds.
"Yeah, I know," he laughs. "I know him pretty well. He's ok. Anyway, I'm sort of talent spotting for him, and I heard your humming.."
"Oh, no! I'm an awful singer!" I shake my head. "No way."
"Cmon, you're beautiful!"
I stare at him.
"I mean, your voice is." He blushes.
"But not the rest of me?" I tease.
"Oh! No! I- I didn't-"
"Hey, only joking! Don't take it personally. I'm a joker!"
He nods.
"But really, you have a great voice. If you could just... Come to this?" He hands me a small piece of card. His phone pings and he checks the screen. "Sorry... got to go. Hopefully see you there?"
The card is a beautiful shade of gold and is edged with silver. It's patterned with a vintage Paris pattern.
It's very pretty. The sort of thing you keep forever in a box under your bed.
Simon Cowell's talent assessment
1.45, 5th November 2015
Phoenix Studios, NYC
Contact details below
I sigh. Could I go?
"Imogen! What are you doing? What's that? Who were you talking to?"
Ana ambushes me.
"Nothing. Nobody. I'm just-"
She has pulled the card from my hand. Best friends are like that sometimes...
"OMFG!" Squeals Ana. The shop assistant glares.
"That's amazing... you are going, right?"
"Lets talk outside." I say. The others follow. Ana shows them all my card, for which I suddenly feel overprotective and snatch it back.
"It was Simon Cowell's niece's stepbrother."
I explain. "Talent spotting. He heard me humming."
"And he- oh wow! Imogen! You lucky duck! You have to go!"
"No." I say firmly.
But of course, they absolutely will not shut up until they have me talked round. It is too much of an amazing opportunity to miss. And, if for nothing else, I have to see that boy again...
•
I turn up in the car with my Mum- and, of course, Jaz, Ana and Louisa.
I 2% really excited and 98% chronically terrified.
"You will rock!" They tell me.
I am ushered by a red haired woman into a small, black room with nothing but a stool and a microphone. One wall is glass, and through it I see a bearded dude with a mic clipped to his ear. This is so surreal and cliché. His mouth is moving but I hear nothing. Suddenly he notices me, grins and presses a button in front of him.
"Hi, I'm Jake. You're in a soundproofed room- we can't hear you unless you are right in front of that mic there-" he points, "and you can't hear me unless I press this. See?" He takes his finger off and keeps talking but I can't hear.
"Now, if you could sing for us- whatever you like, love... And do it into that mic."
I nod and sit down. I clear my throat and lean in to the microphone.
"Maybe I'm just crazy,
Maybe I'm a fool,
Maybe I don't know how to love but-
Maybe I do.
Maybe you know more than me but-
This much is true,
This little heart and brain of mine sayin'
We're through with you."
Pause, deep breath.
"I wonder does it blow your mind,
That I'm leaving you far behi-I-ind
And I wonder does it stop your heart to know,
You're not my sunshine,
Anymore."
I stop. I breathe.
"Ok you're pretty
Your face is a work of art,
Your smile could light up NYC after dark
Ok you're cover boy pretty
Stamped with a beauty mark
But it's such a pity a boy so pretty
(So pretty, so pretty)
With an ugly heart!"
I finish, breathing heavily. I look at Jake.
"Wow!" He says. "Girl, you have got talent!"
A figure emerges behind him. A figure I instantly recognise as Simon Cowell!
"Wow, Imogen. I'm impressed. Would you like a to discuss a potential signing?"
"Yes!" I scream. "Thankyou so much!"
"Thank you." Says Simon. "I have a feeling you could be the next big thing."
My heart soars. "That's... amazing. Thank you."
I walk slowly out of the room, feeling like I'm walking through clouds. I am immediately ambushed by Ana, Louisa and Jaz (obviously.)
"WELL?" they scream.
I laugh. "Oh, you know. I was signed by Simon Cowell, blah blah. Want to go get a coffee?"
They start squealing and I am enveloped into an unbearably tight hug.
"Good news, then?" Its a familiar voice.
I turn around slowly and see him. I suddenly realise I don't know his name...
"Simon Cowell's niece's stepbrother. Well I never." I laugh. "I've just been signed!"
"That's amazing!" he grins. "I'm happy for you."
"Thanks," I flush. "Er... I'm sorry. what's your name?"
He laughs. "Hadyn."
"Hadyn... thank you for changing my life."
YOU ARE READING
Celebrity Short Stories
Random**EDITED A series of short stories about celebrities including one direction and Simon Cowell, each a unique and different fanfiction from the mind of a lunatic not to be found anywhere else :)
