Off Key

"Were there any hot chicks???"

(Blaire POV)

I couldn't see the audience at all, with the spotlights glaring into my eyes and everything, but I could tell they were upset. They began to boo and the world blurred around the edges. My breath became shallow and my legs turned into jello as I realized what Kelly was beginning to say.

She was turning me down. She wasn't going to let me be on the X-Factor. She was saying no.

 My mother was right...

"I just don't know if we should have an American voice where it's not needed. I don't really know yet if I can see it working and I don't want you getting hurt later on..."

Simon scoffed and encouraged the boos to become louder. They did. They began to chant my name as they pumped their fists in the air, and I had the strangest urge to laugh. That kind of thing only happened when you were famous. Not auditioning for a TV show to become famous. Simon found the audience similarly humorous and turned to Kelly.

"You hear that?"

The chanting became louder somehow, my head pounding with the noise. I could barely follow the conversation as my head throbbed as if a hammer was going through my temples. And was it just me or were the lights getting brighter and brighter by the second? God, it was so bright...

Kelly chuckled and nodded. "Yeah, I hear it loud and clear." She looked over to me and despite the fact that my entire singing career lied in the hands of this women, I couldn't help but notice how tired I was. How long had I slept last night? 3 hours? 4? C'mon Kelly, just send me home, so I can sleep.

"Blaire...don't let me down okay?" She asked me sweetly and I nodded, barely registering what she was saying. "Blaire Ortiz...it's a yes for me."

Suddenly, I felt like reality punched me hard in the gut and I couldn't breathe. Tears began falling down my cheeks and I laughed despite the rising panic in my chest. I muttered a few quick thank you's and ran off stage, needing to sit down. It seemed like the cheering didn't fade away no matter how far I walked away from the stage, looking desperately for my three best friends. I felt as though I wasn't exactly in my body, rather I was watching someone else running around disoriented. Even though I could feel my throat constricting with each frantic step I took, I couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of happiness and pride.

I did it. I fucking did it.

 (Kristen POV)

"Kris, where are you going??"

I pushed open the heavy metal doors and looked frantically for the correct hallway to go down. Frustrated, I turned down the hallway closest to the room I was just in and I prayed it was the right one. It wasn't. I groaned loudly, alerting a few men leaning against the wall eating sandwiches, and I ran down the other way. I turned the corner sharply and ran headfirst into Kenzie, making both of us fall to the ground rubbing our foreheads in pain.

"That...looked...really painful..." Eva whispered, her hands over her mouth.

"Are you okay Kenz?" I asked, standing up.

"Just peachy. Now will you please tell me where you are going?"

"We," I corrected, helping Kenzie off the floor and taking hold of Eva's hand, "are going to find Blaire."

"What? She's on stage! We don't even know what what's-her-face told her and we don't know if she-" Kenzie began.

"Shh. Okay, I saw the way Blaire was fidgeting. We need to be there with her." I sputtered out, distracted. Why were there so many halls?