Without Reason (Colton Dixon and Sam Woolf Fanfiction )

Chapter One •• Olive

People always told me I was a good singer, I'd heard it a lot throughout my life. It never really meant anything, useless comments actually, considering I knew I would never take up a job in the music industry. Not just because I didn't want to, but because I wasn't aloud to. My sister didn't exactly give me much freedom since I was still young. She didn't give herself much freedom either to be honest, but I understood why in her case. My family, in this case, my sister and mother, weren't what someone would consider normal. I seemed to be the only stable one in my family, and it was one of the more horrible parts of my life, but not the most horrible. These thoughts raced through my fifteen year old brain as I stood in front of the glass mirror whose surface was tattooed with sticky notes, pictures, and ticket stubs. My room wasn't necessarily the cleanest room in the house, but it was clean enough to fit my needs. My sister, on the other hand, had to have everything in a certain place, or else it was messy.
Whenever I'd still owned my iPod, my charger had broken, leading me to have to borrow hers. In the end, whenever I'd sworn to myself that I'd returned the charger to its rightful place, I almost had my head ripped off for going in her room in the first place, and for not returning it to its place. The smooth glass reflected back at me my image, which honestly, did not look horrible. At school, boys weren't attracted to me, but one or another occasionally told me I looked nice. Today, though, I'd actually tried.
My flowing, brown, wavy hair fell around my shoulders. My tall, but skinny figure was dressed in a pair of dark, denim, jeans that hugged my legs tightly. A simple white v-neck covered my top, and black boots rested on my feet. American Idol, today was the day I was going to audition for American Idol, and so was May. I prayed that it wasn't too much for her to handle, because I didn't know what it would do to her mentally. I wouldn't know how to help her. Mom would, because mom went though this. "Olive, breakfast is ready!" She hollered from downstairs. She actually sounded normal today, to my great surprise. I opened my mouth before hollering "Coming! Hold on a second!" I twisted the end of one of my strands of hair, thinking about what the future of today could hold. I'd barely been able to decide what I was going to sing for my audition, but when the time had come that I had decided, I knew it was the best choice for my voice. "Olive! Food is ready!" I flipped my hair behind my shoulder, and with one glace at myself with my deep brown eyes, I turned away and started down the hall.

•••

"Good morning, little sister," May said with a real smile on her face as I entered the kitchen. Something was definitely wrong. "Good morning," I replied, raising my eyebrows at her. I slid onto one of the stools that sat in the kitchen and leaned down on the counter, keeping my eyes on her as she placed a plate loaded with potatoes, bacon, and eggs in front of me. "Feeling excellent today?" I inquired, shoving a fork into the small pile of cube potatoes. She shrugged, sitting down on the stool that stood across the bag from me. "I just feel like mom would want us to be, well, remotely happy." I wasn't going to argue. I liked seeing my sister happy for once. "Yeah, I wish she was here." May sighed, heavily and I wished that I kept my mouth shut. "Olive, I'm sure she does too, but she couldn't help it. I can't help it either."
I nodded, keeping my head down. "Why am I auditioning for this? I'm not good at singing, and the song I learned, it's not my best. I'm going to screw up and I'm going to have to come back here and watch you on TV." May crossed her arms, a smirk dancing on her lips. "I'm actually in a good mood today, don't ruin it by being negative."
She paused, regarding me thoughtfully. "Olive, I love you which means I would never lie to you. You are a beautiful singer, you are certainly going to make it through, and not watch me on TV here. I'll probably be kicked out because of mental illness." She was joking about the mental illness part, but part of me knew that was a possibility. American Idol probably didn't want an unstable person on their stage where she could have a meltdown at any moment. "You sing better than me," I protested, "you obviously will make it farther than I will." May rolled her eyes. "Olive, you know I can't argue with you on that subject. I zone out when I sing, and I can't hear myself. I'm auditioning because you said I should, so quit complaining." May gave the greatest pep talks sometimes. "When's Satchel going to be here with Madeline?" I asked, curiously, trying to change the subject. Satchel and his little sister, Madeline, were May's best friends, and had been since I could remember. "They'll be here once Satchel's done helping his dad. And I swear to god, Olive, please do not call Maddie that, she hates it." May spoke, finishing her breakfast and putting her plate in the sink. "Since we're on the topic of best friends, when's Mason going to be here?" I hated how she said his name like we were dating. He was my best friend. I shrugged "I don't know, he said he'd stop by sometime before we left." I put the last spoonful of eggs into my mouth before passing the plate across the bar to her and wiping my hands on my jeans, ignoring the fact that could possibly be leaving streaks down the sides of the dark fabric. "You packed?" She questioned, shoving the plates and abandoned silverware into the dishwasher before clicking the front door shut and twisting the dial to start the first cycle. I nodded, standing up from the cushioned stool. I traced my eyes along the pants, noticing that nothing had stuck. "I'm ready, when are we heading out?" She surveyed the kitchen, as if checking for a single speck her nervous hands could wipe a towel across. "Soon as your boyfriend comes along, and I get to say goodbye to Maddie and Satchel." I rolled my eyes as May's phone started to ring. It was no surprise that her ringtone was Wasted by Carrie Underwood. That was her audition song. "That's Satchel now,"she remarked before hitting answer. I toned out her conversation as I quickly cleaned up the living room a bit, making sure everything was in order. "Okay, I'll see you in five minutes. Love you, Satchel." Satchel and May were absolutely, without a doubt, just friends they always said I love you to each other in a brotherly sister way, but it sorta creeped me out. "Why do you guys always have to say I love you to each other? It's not right." She didn't say one word to me, obviously ignoring my question. She stepped out of the kitchen and went to move down the hall, her steps becoming quieter as her feet stepped down the hall. "I'm getting dressed, Olive! Let Satchel and Maddie in whenever they come, please and thank you!" I resisted the urge to roll my eyes, and planted myself on the couch. I kicked my black boots off, not wanting to wear them until I had to. I stretched my legs out across the couch, leaning my head back and closing my eyes.

•••

I jerked awake to the sound of someone pounding their fist on the front door. I quickly swung my legs over the edge of the couch, shaking the sleepiness out of them as I stumbled to the door. I clutched the doorknob with my right hand before turning it and pulling the door open. I grinned before jumping forward into his arms "Mason!" I exclaimed, wrapping my arms around his neck. "Hey, Olive," he said, hugging me back, "you seem to be in a good mood. How's May?" He said the last part in a whisper. I let go of him and stepped back. I could hear laughter from down the hall, so I was guessing Satchel and Maddie let themselves in like always. "She's actually doing pretty well. Better than what I've seen in a few months." Mason smiled, his stunning smile. "That's good. I bet she's happy about that too." I knew she was. She hasn't had peace and quiet in years. It must feel really good. "May, Mason and I are going up to my room! Just thought I should inform you!" I yelled down the hall. "Okay," she replied, "Be a good boy, Mason! I like you, don't mess that up!" Mason grinned. He has always liked my sister. "Oh, you know me, May! I'm just a teenage boy that's going up to your younger sister's room! Nothing's going to happen!" I rolled my eyes and grabbed his wrist, dragging him down the hall to my room. Once inside, I motioned for him to shut the door behind him. As he did so, I placed myself on the bed, and he sat in front of me. We sat in silence for a moment, but that was okay, because we didn't need to talk to be comfortable around each other. "I'm gonna miss you, Olive."
Mason finally spoke, keeping his brilliant blue eyes on mine. I shook my head "Don't say that, there is no point, Mase. I'm not going to get through, and then I'll be right back here with you, where I started." He raised his eyebrows at me. "You seriously think you're not going to make it through, Olive? Really? You and May are both beautiful singers with great potential. If the judges don't send you guys through then they're a bunch of idiots that don't recognize talent."I leaned back on my bed, crossing my arms. "I'm pretty sure Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez, and Randy Jackson know talent. They sent through a lot of good people on season ten." I almost smiled as Mason thought of a comeback. "But they also got rid of great talent, like that guy that had a Mohawk or the rocker dude." I had to agree with him there. The performances I've seen of them were actually pretty good, but they sent them home. The judges knew talent, though, and they knew what America would like. "Then Mason, there is the appearance factor. I mean, think about it. Name one girl our age who prefers a guy on that show that isn't attractive. Chris Daughtry, he was, and still is, one of the best singers I know, but he wasn't getting young girls votes, because he wasn't good looking. James Durbin, David Archuleta, Carrie Underwood, and Kelly Clarkson. That's the kind of people the majority of the audience votes for, Mase. What about me, on that factor, hmm Mason? I'm not going to get voted for, looking like this. May, yes. Me, I really don't think so." Mason scoffed. "Really, that's what you're using against me? Appearance? What's wrong with your appearance? You're stunningly beautiful, you have a great personality, and you can sing. What more could America want?"
Why wouldn't Mason understand that America wouldn't like me? I wasn't interesting or anything. "They could want May, Mason." Everyone's going to love her." Mason looked at me with doubt in his eyes. He sighed before closing his eyes, "Olive, they aren't going to want to vote through a girl with a mental problem." I stood up, as if I was building up my defense. "Mason. Don't say that, she's going to do fine." He kept his mouth shut, and didn't say a word. I focused on my reflection in the standing mirror to keep from looking at him. "You are going to do fine, Olive. Maybe May will too, I was just stating what could happen, not what will happen." I turned my attention to the door as it was slowly pushed open, making a quiet creaking noise. Satchel popped his head trough the crack and smiled at me. "Time for you to head out, Ollie." Ollie, he knew I hated that nickname, but over the years that he'd been friends with May, it had somehow stuck. I looked back at Mason and he stood, making his way to me in a few long strides. Without me even having to say a word, I was wrapped into his arms. "I'll see you soon, okay?" He whispered into my ear. I forced a weak smile and glanced my eyes at the door, not leaving his grasp just yet. "I'm going to audition for American Idol." I mumbled, as if the sudden realization was just then settling in.