What Are You So Afraid Of? [Harry Styles]

Chapter 5

Jez looked at her refletion in the mirror. Candice had said that for her last song, she couldn't go for her planned 'bad-ass' look. Both Haz and Jez agreed that the song was too important for it, and so Candice dressed her in a white-lace knee-length dress. The sleeves were pulled back and there was a thin white belt strapped around her waist; Jez couldn't help but admire the floral detail towards the hemline of the dress.

Candice pulled back Jez's hair into a tight bun so that all her hair was out of her face and her dark make-up was taken all off and redone to look clean and fresh.

"You're too good to be working on a seasonal TV show," Jez said to Candice with a smile.

Candice smiled back, "Well, if you win, they might let me be your full-time stylist."

Jez turned to face Candice, "Seriously?" she asked with disbelief.

"It's only a possibility," Candice shrugged, "they might decide that they want a completely different image for you, in which case they'll hire someone else." Candice shrugged and pulled her dark hair back into a ponytail.

Jez sighed, if she won, she would want Candice to be her stylist- the woman was a genius!

"Jez, you're up," Haz said, poking her head through the dressing room door.

Jez took a deep breath; it was a big song. "Wish me luck," she said to Candice as she walked out.

"Good luck!" Candice shouted after her.

By the time Jez got to the stage Ryan was already off. The lights were off, too, but as soon as the music started she knew the smoke machines would, too. She rolled her eyes at the thought; it was so dramatic.

The music started and Jez gripped the mic in her hand; she was really nervous. She started singing, hoping the emotion would come through in the words she sang. She thought the lyrics were perfect, considering her situation on the show.

"The hearts I have touched will be the proof that I leave, that I made a difference and this world will see: I was here. I lived, I loved. I was here, I did- I've done." She belted out the lyrics, wondering how she was capable of it at all, considering that her voice never used to go that high before.

There was a brief moment of silence and Jez took the opportunity to breath; she did it to steady herself, singing this song made her knees weak.

Once she got to the end of the song, she smiled as she sang the last line, "I was here." She really hoped that no matter what happened after tonight that people wouldn't forget that she went through this. She certainly knew that she wouldn't ever forget this experience.

It was quiet for a moment, and she actually forgot that she was on stage in front of thousands of people for a while. But then the cheers broke through her peaceful silence and she jumped in shock. She stood there awkwardly for a while before thanking the crowd and leaving the stage.

When Jez got backstage, she was confronted with a red-eyed Haz. She stared in shock, "Haz, what happened? Is everything okay?"

Haz nodded, "Yes, you idiot."

Jez pulled her eyebrows together, "I don't understand."

Haz shook her head and pulled her friend in for a tight hug, "You are so going to win."

A few minutes later, Jez and BELLA were standing on stage with Ryan standing in front of them, "Okay, everyone. You've heard both acts perform tonight and all I can say is: wow. The people standing on stage with me are truly talented and it's been an honour to go on this journey with them.