“Just us three, then?” he asked. She nodded. “Well I guess we gotta get going.” we followed him to the doors, Phillip and Heejun at our heels. The minute we got in, a guy was ushering us to the stage, placing us in a spot. People slowly filed in, each getting placed as they entered. Phil and Heejun were just a couple groups in front of us, and they kept looking back and making faces at us. Skylar got a major kick out of it, and stood there laughing uncontrollably. It eventually rubbed off on me and Colton, who started chucking along with her. But then they were telling us to shush and the groups were going up one by one. As they reached the front of the line, the judges addressed each member separately. In some groups, all made it. In others, none made it. In even others just one or two made it. I shivered. Sky, Maggie, and Brielle were four or five groups behind us, and they all looked slightly annoyed with each other. The group with the cowboy that I remembered from the first day went up, and both got through. Then there were two more groups and only one person made it. Then it was Phil and Heejun.
“Heejun, you are remarkable.” Jennifer addressed him, smiling, “You're through.”
Then just Phillip stood there, looking more nervous than I'd ever before seen him. I prayed that he made it.
“Why are you even standing there?” Randy paused dramatically, and I felt my heart drop, “Phillip Phillips you are obviously through.” I let out a deep sigh of relief, as did Colton. There were two more groups. One of them half the people made it, the other three of them did. Then it was our turn. We stepped forward and Colton found my hand, gently squeezing it.
“Skylar Laine.” Jennifer smiled. I was starting to realize that most of the time, Jennifer delivered the good news, “You have a lovely voice, and you are through.” She squealed in excitement, then gave me and Colton a hug.
“I'm sure you'll make it.” she smiled at us. I took a step closer to Colton, relieved that Skylar was through. I was starting to feel even more nervous as I watched her exit the stage and head slowly for the door.
“Colton Dixon.” was all that Randy said. Then he stopped, throwing me into a whirlwind of emotion. Colton had to be through. “I'm sorry to say....” I realized my fingers were numb from how tight we were squeezing each others hands, “You won't be going home to see your family for a while.” another deep sigh of relief.
He caught me in a hug, whispering, “I'll wait for you.” and then slowly sauntered towards the steps.
“Natalie Clarke. Natalie, Natalie, Natalie.” it was Steven talking to me, “You are so sweet and you have a beautiful voice to match. You are 100% through.”
Relief flooded me as I grinned and hurried to catch up with Colton at the bottom of the stairs. I practically hurdled myself into his open arms, hardly daring to believe that I was through. He gave me a gentle squeeze, then held me back to look in my eyes seriously.
“You should probably listen to me more often.” he suggested quietly, winking. A girl from a group behind us ran past, sobbing. “Seeing as I'm usually right.” I rolled my eyes, but smiled. The rest of the people from the groups between Sky and Maggie and us got through. I offered Colton my hand as Sky went up, looking nervous. I had my eyes on Maggie, who was shaking.
“Brielle, you are through.” was all Randy said. He had a funny look of his face. Something like disapproval. I wondered if it was the results that he wasn't happy with.
“Maggie you have a great voice, but we're going to have to ask you to come back next year.” Steven said. My heart dropped, and Colton squeezed my hand reassuringly. It wasn't right. Without Maggie, I wouldn't be here. It wasn't fair that she got cut before me. She nodded, looking down to her feet. She gave me and Colton a halfhearted grin as she passed, mouthing that she'd see us later. I nodded, giving her a sympathetic look that she brushed off.
Chapter Nine: The Catch
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