My Red Thread

The Winner Is...

Chapter 12: The Winner Is...

I was stoked to get to go back to Hollywood with my Idol family. I was especially excited to see Riley and TJ again.

The weeks went by to the finale. The singers came down between Riley and Ethan. I guess people like the couple together on stage.

The top ten had to rehearse for the opening. We sang a medley of songs. The producers asked Unorthodox Detox to rejoin for a come back.

The four of us got back together and discussed our songs. The producers said we could sing two songs.

"We should sing Locked Out of Heaven by Bruno Mars." Noelle said as she scrolled through her phone.

"I, for one, think we should sing On The Floor by Jennifer Lopez." Riley said.

"Don't you think that's a little risky? I mean she is a judge." I commented.

"No, it's not like the performance counts towards votes. Plus the winner has already been decided by that time." Riley explained.

"Riley has a point," Ethan said. "We should just have fun with it."

We spent the majority of time practicing our many songs. I had a difficult time keeping track which song came at what time. Don't get me started on the dance moves.

The live finale rolled around, everyone was running around and flipping out. People were fawning over Ethan and Riley to make sure they were relaxed. I was standing against the wall, people watching float in and out of sight.

"Mind if I join you mate?"

I looked over and Lord behold; it was TJ.

"Uh, yeah, go ahead." I stammered to say. My mouth suddenly felt dry.

TJ laughed, "Heh, it's nice seeing you again. How've you been?"

"Same old, same old. But people have been recognizing me more."

"Same here in my hometown of Fairfax, Virginia. Guys and girls have been offering me dates, but I've been turning them down."

"Why is that?"

"I told them I had my eye someone." TJ said. He winked at me as he patted me on the back. He walked back into his place in the audience.

Oh my gosh. Did he just imply...no.

"Too cute."

I turned my head to see a smirking Riley, her arms crossed.

"How long were you standing there?" I asked.

"Long enough." She said. "You like him?"

"I don't know, maybe."

"Get some." Riley laughed. She ran off to her make-up chair.

I looked over at her and she was gesturing things about TJ to me.

Suddenly I felt a small pair of arm tightly wrap around my stomach.

"Alex!"

I looked down and it was the little girl from the park. I bend down said, "Hi, I remember you. You're my biggest fan ever. What are you doing here?"

"I'm really sorry. My little sister can get away from me sometimes." I got back and Logan and his mom were running up toward us. "Oh hey Alex."

"Hey Logan, so this is your sister and mom?" I said.

"Yeah. It's mainly just us. My dad isn't really around much. We bond over the show" Logan said.

"Oh my gosh...I already met your family without realizing it." I said.

"Huh?"

"Just a few minutes before I met you, your sister came running up to me. Your mom came afterwards." I explained.

"Two minutes until we're live!"

"We better take our seats. Thank you again for the tickets!" Logan's mother said.

Riley, Noelle, and Ethan made their way next to me. I asked, "You guys ready?" The three nodded. We took our places as we came back from break.

Ryan introduced us. The music started playing, coursing through my veins. The cheering of the crowd fed my adrenaline. I carried out each note of Locked Out of Heaven in synced with the group. My moves flowed flawlessly into the next, matching and complementing the others.

I started having a flashback when Riley and I would sing and dance to this back home. I began losing myself in the song and memory. I voiced my solo, the audience cried out in cheers.

We went straight into On The Floor. Smoke creeped onto the stage as the intro began. The four of us paired of to dance in duets for this one: Riley and Ethan, Noelle and I. Whenever Riley would sing some parts, her face would get close to Ethan's, as if she was about to kiss him. Then they would dance together again. The crowd erupted in noise once we were done.

Riley and Ethan were asked to stay on stage for the results.

"And the winner of season 13 of American Idol is..."

I held my breath.

"Riley de la Rosa!"

Balloons fell from the ceiling. Air canons shot confetti. Tears stream down Riley's face as she embraced Ethan. The judges and Randy Jackson came up and congratulated her.

Riley stood in front of the mic, "I would like to thank the judges and Randy for this opportunity. I would like to thank God for allowing me to be here with you all. I would to thank all my duckies who voted for me. I would like to give a special thanks to Alex; for inspiring me to keep living, and seeing the good in me, even when I couldn't. This one's for you!"