Timeless

Chapter 16

13th November 2012

While Mum's away at work, I get to carrying out my plan to keep my boyfriend around. I call the voting number a heap of times. And I mean a heap. I don't know what will happen when Mum gets the phone bill, but all I hope is that I'm not around to see it (or face the wrath).

I take a silly picture of myself on the phone and then tweet it with the caption, 'I've voted for @TheCollective12 Have you?? :-P'

I get some school work done, because I'm a model student, I paint my nails, I watch TV, I nap. Anything to make the day pass quicker. Then the time comes to get ready and go, and now I wish I could slow time down so I don't have to face the elimination night. It's very nerve wracking.

'Good luck babe. See you after the show :-) xo' I text Julian before running out the house and losing my wifi connection. Please Mum, please let me have a phone again.

Again I'm sitting with Julian's mum, the rest of his family gone home for the week until Grand Finals which are next week. Needless to say I am not the slightest bit interested in the performances of the guests, I just want to know if Julian is safe. The time comes - and they're not. I am close to having a nervous breakdown when I see that The Collective are up against Bella.

No doubt Bella is one of the favourites, and I really don't know which way this is going to go. I actually cry when The Collective sing 'Use Somebody'. That might be incredibly lame, but I can't help it. It's one of my favourite songs, and the way they've slowed it down and packed it full of raw emotion plays at my heart strings. Mrs De Vizio hands me a tissue - bless her!

Bella's good too, and that's a scary thought. Mel B completely throws me when she votes to save Bella! I never saw it coming. And now I feel sick, because Guy could vote either way. But after much deliberation, he sends it to deadlock. This doesn't make me feel any better, because who knows how the public is voting!

Luke gives his usual serious look, along with a simple ten word sentence dragged out over five minutes. I want to strangle him, tell him to hurry up, because I think I might puke or faint - both equally unimpressive actions.

"The Collective!" Luke yells.

Huh? What? I sit stunned. The Collective are going home? I think I'm going to cry.

"Avery! Avery they're through!" Mrs De Vizio cheers beside me.

What did I miss?

Mrs De Vizio spells it out as I sit there stupidly. "They just said The Collective are through to the final."

Now I'm uncontainable, jumping about with Julian's mum, squealing like an idiot. Of course our celebrations are short lived when we see all the boys crying. They all really liked Bella, but to be honest, I was always jealous of her. Julian posted a few pictures of them together, and she's so pretty and they looked so cute. I know that's petty, but it's the truth. Not that I don't trust Julian, and not that I don't think Bella is a great singer, but I can't help but feel that Julian could do a million times better than the drab looking girl in remission.

But enough of that. Julian has picked me, and he's here for another week, and that's all that matters. In usual X Factor show tradition, we head backstage and wait for the boys to be ready to see us. Julian rushes in, giving his mum a quick hug and a kiss, and then he's onto me. He wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me close, his forehead rests on mine. I bring my arms up to wrap around his neck. As we stand there, I can feel his body slightly tremble with each breath, a sign he has been, or maybe still is crying. After a few minutes, I feel him relax a little. We pull back and face each other, and Julian' hand comes up to wipe a tear off my cheek. I didn't even realise I'd been crying again.

"You were fantastic," I whisper, holding his face in my hands. Oh God, I hate seeing Julian's blue eyes look so sad, they make me want to punch anyone who's ever hurt him.

"Only one more week to make it through," Julian says, and I can't tell if he sounds relieved or even more scared.

"Whatever happens, it'll be ok." I try to sound assuring, but I can't. I don't know what I'm talking about - music or our relationship - or who I'm trying to convince - me or him.

I only hang around for five minutes before using Julian's phone to call Mum to pick me up. I don't want to bother Julian or his mum to drop me home - it seems like he really needs time with his mum and the boys.

Julian walks me outside while we wait for my mum. She won't be long, but he wants to take the time to be alone.

"I just don't think I'll have much free time this week at all," he says sadly.

I put on a brave front. "It's fine, I get it. We'll text, we'll call, do whatever we can, whenever we can."

"Come here." Julian pulls me into him, holding me tightly to his chest. He rests his head on top of my head, because I'm cuddled down into him. We stay like that for about ten minutes, and then Mum arrives.

I don't even know what to say to him. Goodbye? Have a good week? What? Instead we both opt to say nothing. We share a soft kiss and I get into the car, Julian closing the door behind me. I give him a small wave, and then watch in the side mirror until Julian disappears from sight.