Just One Audition (A One Direction Fanfiction)

Chapter 3

I didn't know what to do the next morning.

I am off of AGT, so I had to leave that hotel room fast. I quickly packed my bags with a tear falling down my cheek and got dressed into a sweater that swallowed my tiny body whole and a pair of cropped leggings. I walked out of my room sheepishly and felt a pair of hands on my shoulders.

"There you are sweetie, I was just about to wake you up. Come now, we are going to the limo. There's many paparazzi and a whole lot of fans out there, so wipe that tear off your face. Yes, I see that tear, I know you have been crying, but you have to smile honey. Smile for the show. You're the star, they're your audience, you need to show them that their visit was worthwhile." Cindy's voice was as loud and rushed as always, maybe even more confusing now that I have a pounding heart and ringing ears. Limo? Fans? PAPARAZZI? This was all supposed to be over. I LOST! I didn't get the Vegas show, I didn't win the competition. Why are they bothering with me? I know I have a fairly large fanbase, but I certainly didn't think that they were going to follow me after I lost the show.

But Cindy, as usual, was right. After I got out of the extremely small elevator, cameras were being shoved in my face. Questions were being thrown at me, asking how I felt about losing and what I was going to do now. I wanted to scream back, shout in their face about how terrible I feel that I lost and that I didn't have a hell of clue as to what I was going to do next, I'm 15 for God's sake, but I didn't. I smiled politely and pushed through the large men without saying a word.

At least the fans were nicer. They were lined up outside the hotel building and around the limo. They were shouting, yes, but they were shouting words of encouragement and support, saying how they'll always stay fans through it all. I stopped for selfies with a few and laughed and joked with a few others, but apparently I was on a time limit and needed to be somewhere. Where did I need to be? What even happened? I'm still half asleep, it takes me awhile to wake up, but I want answers.

"What the hell?" I exclaim to Cindy as she closes the limo door. It's just us two in the back seat, she's riding backwards and I'm forwards. "Sweetie, oh sweetie, the contract worked out! The record deal went through! You're going to be signed with Simon Cowell, we're going to his office right now to sign the contract! Oh sweetie, just imagine!" Cindy threw her hands in the air and I couldn't help but smile. Me. On Simon Cowell's record label. I knew since the third round of AGT that this was a possibility, but I pushed it to the back of my mind. All I cared about at that time was winning, but now that that's over I can focus on my real career.

Hey, maybe losing wasn't so bad after all.

We pulled up to the intimidating building and walked through the glass doors. Up the glass elevator we went, all the way to the top floor. The elevator ride was too long for my comfort, and I tried to focus on anything but passing out from the cramped space. I looked around me. To my left was Cindy, typing away as usual on her phone, then stopping to sigh, then going back to typing again. Next to her was Tim, my bodyguard, who seemed on edge and fidgety. Then to my right was Tori, the young assistant to Cindy, who always dressed with an edgy style and didn't seem to care about anything. Today she had her long black hair slicked back into a high ponytail, wearing ripped black jeans and a band tshirt slipping off her shoulders. I think she's 18, only three years older than me, but she could be a supermodel.

My thoughts were interrupted by the dinging of the elevator indicating that we made it to the top floor. I let out a breath I didn't even know I was holding in and walked out with Tim hovering behind me.

The office was all silver and white, just like the lobby. Simon sat behind a long black desk with a Mac computer to his left. "Hello, Emily" He surprised me with a smile and a hug, then gestured for me to sit in one of the chairs he had set up in front of his desk. Cindy sat next to me, and for some reason it gave me a sense of comfort.

"Well, first of all, I am so sorry about America's Got Talent. I thought you were a shoe-in. You have such an amazing talent, sometimes I'm happy I live in England just so I won't be blamed for kicking off all the great talent America is blind to see on these competition shows." Simon throws his head back laughing, an action that startled me into a polite laughter as well. "Well, I do like to say that everything happens for a reason." I flash him a smile and hope that it was an appropriate time to speak.

"Well let's hope that is true darling. Now, let's get started. We are happy to welcome you to Syco, and are overjoyed that you are joining. We give you your own management team, stylists, so on and so forth." He pulled out a contract too heavy for me to hold.

"Does that mean Cindy wouldn't work with me anymore?" I say as I begin to sign. I wanted to do this. This is right, this will give me a true career.

"I believe that she is with America's Got Talent's agency team, is that correct?" He looked to Cindy and winked, wait did I see that right? He winked quite flirtatiously and grinned showing all of his teeth. I whipped my head to Cindy, whose cheeks were bright pink. I have never seen her flustered before, let alone embarrassed. "i do, Simon." She kept her smile bright and her eyes alive. This is weird. This is way too weird.

I coughed uncomfortably as I kept signing, hoping to break them out of their trance. They kept staring at each other before Cindy finally broke eye contact and talked to me. "We'll still keep in touch, sweetie, and I know your management team very well. That is where I started before I branched off to AGT. I'll make frequent visits and make sure you're in good hands." She patted my shoulder as I continued to look down at the contract.

Ouch. It was a pang in my heart. The same pang I had when I said goodbye to my parents when I made it to the live rounds. The same pang I had when I lost the competition. It was the feeling of letting go of something you love. But I didn't love Cindy. She was controlling, annoying, and made me want to rip my long hair out. But I guess I didn't realize that at the same time, she truly cared for me and was the only person I trusted through my journey. I wasn't ready to let her go. I didn't want a new management team, I just wanted Cindy, I wanted familiarity.

"I'm going to miss you Cindy" I look up to her and see that her cheeks are that shade of pink again, but this time her eyes were alive with sadness, not love or embarrassment. "I'm going to miss you too, sweetie." She pulled me into a quick hug, quite awkward since we were sitting in different chairs, then let me go back to signing all of the paperwork.

I snuck a look at Simon, who was typing away at his computer and seemed to be waiting for something.

"Emily," Simon said abruptly as he looked up from his computer, "we have your first gig."

"Oh yay! Where will it be?!" I exclaimed happily.

"I think the word 'gig' is misleading," Simon looked me in the eyes intently, "it's more like a series of shows. A tour." A tour? Already?

"Okay..." I said uneasily.

"Harry just emailed me back, saying that they all watched your performances and agreed on my suggestion. We want you to open up for One Direction on their Where We Are tour."

And with that, I was dead.

{LOL WHAT. So yeah. This is like the chapter leading in to the real plot and such.

COMMENT WHAT YOU THINK YOU GUYS. I hope everyone enjoyed it. PLEASE VOTE AND GET THE WORD OUT THERE THAT THIS FANFICTION EXISTS!!!!

I MIGHT DOUBLE UPDATE TONIGHT BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL LIKE SLEEPING AND IM IN THE MOOD TO WRITE SO WE'LL SEE HOW THINGS GO!

I love you all and hope you have a wonderful weekend :)

xoxo E}