My Red Thread

Hollywood Week! (I)

Chapter 3: Hollywood Week! Knockout Rounds (Part One)

I think I aged a million years in Hollywood week. I think aged 100 years from the performance days alone. I wonder if I had gray showing at the end of my performance.

Anyway, after Riley and I received our tickets, we road tripped to Hollywood. Since we lived in Texas, it was probably a two or three trip. I was still in disbelief that I was on the show, much less Riley singing along with me. She wasn't better.

"Is this really happening? This is joke, right? Clearly they're joking."

Being filmed about everything was a little weird at first, but now I forget they're even there.

I was still having mixed emotions about this whole thing. I guess the shock still was getting to me. I hope I get far in the show.

Once we got to the location, sign in and, no surprise, more paper work. Joy. After that was all done, we had to do more interviewing.

The people on the show had all the contestants enter a theater. The first thing I noticed how vast the theater was. There was maybe over 2,000 seats.

"You're going to be performing here when you win." Riley whispered to me.

We took our seats near the stage. We were told to wait until someone came on stage with farther instructions.

"What do you think happens now?" Riley asked.

"I dunno," I replied. "If I remember correctly, I think this were we do single and group rounds. This is make or break for us."

A figure began to emerge on stage. It was Ryan. He introduced the show and the judges onto the stage. We all cheered and applauded. Ryan explained what we're going to do.

"We are doing knockout rounds," he began. "Each of you will come on in groups, sing one sing-a cappella style. The judges will talk, then decide who will continue. The others, it's the end of the line. Let's begin. When you hear your name, please come up."

I had no idea what I was going to sing. I needed a good song to show of my voice, but what? Think Alex, think. What shows off your voice? Okay, I think I got it.

"Do you know what song you're going to sing?" I asked Riley.

"Sing by My Chemical Romance." Riley said.

"Choice song. Bold." I commented

"I like my alternative rock music," Riley shrugged. "Do you know what song you're singing?"

"Permanent by David Cook." I answered.

"I haven't heard that song since..." her voice trailed off, quivering a bit at the end.

"I know, I know." I said, bitting my lower lip.

We sat listening to the other contestants sing their songs. The songs ranged from Fall Out Boy to Carrie Underwood to Beyoncé and Jay-Z. Some were crazy talented, others needed to choose a different path. The judges were becoming more stern with their feedback. They were cutting more and more people with every group.

"I heard they're going to have to continue this into the next day"

I looked at Riley, but she was fumbling with her phone. "Did you say something?"

She looked at me, confused, "Say what? Did they call my name?"

"Look to your right, genius."

I noticed a Asian girl sitting next to me. Filipino maybe. Her long dark brown hair came midway down to her back, her bangs came to her eyebrows. She had a tiny, but lean physique. How long has she been sitting there?

"Are you talking to me?"

She rolled her eyes at me, "Yes, you blue eyes. Name's Noelle."

"Alex."

"As I was saying; I heard they are going to continue into tomorrow. There's so many of us here that the can't possibly finish in one day. We just have to wait and see."

"I'm already nervous enough. I don't know if I can wait another day."

"If we can make it through this week, then we can make it through any other week."

The producers called more names on the stage, "Noelle Chandler."

"That's me," Noelle said. "See you later. I hope you make it to groups."

"Thanks, you too. Good luck."

She smiled and waved. I watched her walk on stage with a group of other contests. She decided to sing Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) by Kelly Clarkson. She was actually better than expected. The rest of line sang their songs and awaited the news. Out of the seven in the line, only Noelle and two other guys made it through.

After Noelle's line performed, it was announced that the rest of us were going to go tomorrow.

Great...just great. She was right.