The Heartbreak Factor - Part One

Chapter Three.

As I sat backstage waiting for my name to be called, the wait seemed as if it went on for eternity. Each time they announced more acts to go through to see the judges, I hoped that my name would be read out just so I could get it over and done with - and each time they announced more acts to go through to see the judges, I was disappointed. They were calling us through separately in category groups to the stage. The boys were called first, then the groups and now the over 25s; we were next. It broke my heart to see all the acts come back through after the judges had revealed their future in the competition to them. Most of them were devastated and only a rare few were overjoyed. That’s when it hit me; that’s when I realised how much I wanted this. I only really auditioned as my dad had always loved my singing voice when he was around and mum had pestered me into signing up for it on my 17th birthday last autumn. Before I was just going along with the flow and doing what everybody wanted me to do, but now I actually wanted this more than I have ever wanted something in my whole life – well, not ever, but it was in the top 3. I wanted to show people that I’m not just the little nerdy Sammy Jones who lives for studying for A-Levels; I wanted to be somebody and I wanted to make people proud of me.

 “Would all contestants in the girls category please make their way into the auditorium?” a man with a clipboard announced.

As soon as he said it, the backstage room turned from deadly silence to a commotion of chaos. I wasn’t nervous anymore; I was just anxious. I couldn’t wait any longer to find out whether or not I had got through. My head was filled with doubt but my heart was filled with hope. I knew I had to stay positive and hope for the best, but looking around at all the other girls who were in the exact same position as me made me doubt the possibility of getting through. I followed the herd of other girl contestants as we headed onto the stage, holding hands with each other for moral support. I could tell by the looks on Gary, Nicole, Tulisa and Louis’ faces that they hated this part just as much as we were dreading this part. We lined up facing the judges in silence.

“First of all congratulations on making it this far, you guys should be so proud of yourselves,” Nicole said, sympathetically. “But there is only six places at judges’ houses and we had to make a decision.”

I wanted them to just skip to the point. This wait was unbearable.

“The first girl through to the judges’ houses is,” Nicole began. 

My heart was racing. “Please let it be me. Please, please let it be me,” I pleaded in my head.

“Amy Mottram,” Nicole smiled.

I looked over at Amy who was overwhelmed. After thanking the judges, she walked off the side of the stage leaving the rest of us to find out our fates.

“The second girl to go through to the judges’ houses is,” Louis said followed by another huge pause. “Lucy Spraggan.”

After five of the six remaining places left at the judges’ houses were revealed, I knew I wasn’t going to go through. The majority of the girls had already begun to tear up as we all knew there was only one place left.

“The sixth and final girl to be going to the judges’ houses is,” Gary announced.

This pause seemed to last forever but it didn’t matter. We already knew that the chances of our name being called out were next to nothing.

“Sammy Jones.”

I stood in shock. Did they really just call out my name? I looked at Gary in astonishment. My name? Did they have me mistaken for somebody else? It surely couldn’t be me. I couldn't believe it. I'd got through? How? Why? What? 

“I’m sorry girls, but for the rest of you, your journey ends here,” Tulisa said.

I looked over at the other girls who were breaking down in devastation.