[rewritten]
Here is the next chapter!
Enjoy!
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Julie's P.O.V
The response from our performance was amazing and I felt like I was on cloud nine. I love the rush of performing live and I can't believe that it's coming to an end. Well, hopefully not. I don't think that I can ever imagine not performing live again. I'm too used to it.
I believe that if we don't win the X Factor, the girls and I will be signed. The reaction to us has been unexplainable and I knew that people would want us to be signed. It would just be a matter of time before we were. Call my cocky or over confident, but I felt it.
"Alright, Julie come sit down. We've got to get your makeup done." Ben said. I nodded and moved to sit down, waiting for Ben to start my makeup. Caitlin was doing her vocal exercises with Gale and Liz was changing in the bathroom. Ben started on my concealer, making sure that I had that 'flawless' look. I closed my eyes as he did, thinking of our performances and where we stood in the competition.
I still cannot believe that we are in the finals. It feels unreal. Out of hundreds and hundreds of people, here I am. I'm with my best friends, ready to take the hearts of our voters. This night defines everything for us. Everything that I've done has led up to this moment. Nothing matters except for tonight. The only thing that matters is that we win the competition tomorrow, sing Just The Way You Are one last time, and then sign with Simon. It's going to happen, it has to happen.
"Oh my God, I can't believe you're wearing that." I opened my eyes at Caitlin's words, and Ben stopped his makeup to look at Liz. I turned around and looked at her, laughing loudly. She was dressed in your basic jean shorts that were bleached at the bottom, but her '1D' crop top steals the attention.
"Hey now," Ben said, defending his wardrobe. "Liz is a big fan of them and I thought that it would be appropriate. Also you're singing with them and I figured it would be funny." Ben said.
"It is hun." Gale said, "Now Caitlin, drink this."
"And you turn back around." Ben said. It took me a second to realize that he was talking to me, but I turned around to face Ben again. "Now let's try and get this done so we aren't rushing"
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I gripped the microphone in my hands as we faced the doors that would slide open and let us out. I was standing on the right side and Caitlin was on the left. Liz was standing in the middle and I could feel ther nervousness coming off of her. I reached over, squeezing her arm before I heard Khloe announcing our name. The crowd screamed loudly at the mention of us, and as soon as the song started they only screamed louder.
The doors slide open and we stepped out onto the brightly lit stage. Caitlin and I followed our routine and walked down the steps to the sides of the stage. Liz walked down the middle, right towards the center of the stage. I watched in awe as she brought her microphone to her lips, singing the first verse of the song.
"Hey girl I'm waiting on ya, I'm waiting on ya, come on and let me sneak you out. And have a celebration, a celebration, the music up, the windows down." She sang, backing up and letting Caitlin take center stage.
"Yeah, we'll be doing what we do, just pretending that we're cool and we know it too. Yeah, we'll keep doing what we do. Just pretending that we're cool, so tonight..." She sang.
The two girls started singing the chorus while I was doing the echoes. "Let's go crazy, crazy, crazy 'till we see the sun. I know we only met but let's pretend it's love. And never, never, never stop for anyone. Tonight let's get some and live while we're young."
We all began to jump as part of the routine, while Liz and Caitlin continued with the song and I backed them up. "Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh. Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh. Tonight let's get some." They sang.
"And live while we're young." My voice rang out as the music softened.
"Ladies and gentlemen," We all spoke up, looking towards the doors that were beginning to slide open. "One Direction." The crowd went insane and soon Zayn was singing.
"Hey girl it's now or never, it's now or never. Don't overthink, just let it go." Zayn said, throwing his arm around Liam. Zayn's usual solo was cut in half so there was enough that all the boys would sing evenly.
Liam smiled as he brought the microphone to his mouth. "And if we get together, yeah get together. Don't let the pictures leave your phone." He sang as Zayn song the small echo to it.
We were divided on the stage, half of us on one side and the other half on the other side. Niall was opposite of me, standing with Harry, Caitlin and Liz. I was with Zayn, Liam, and Louis. But I looked over at Niall, who was getting ready to sing his part.
"Yeah, we'll be doing what we do. Just pretending that we're cool, so tonight..." He sang.
Everyone started singing the chorus while I was doing the echoes once again. "Let's go crazy, crazy, crazy 'till we see the sun. I know we only met but let's pretend it's love. And never, never, never stop for anyone. Tonight let's get some and live while we're young."
We all began to jump as part of the routine, though the boys of One Direction didn't follow what they had been told to do. Liz had said they wouldn't. "Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh. Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh. Tonight let's get some." They sang.
"And live while we're young." Harry sang.
"And boy, you and I, we're about to make some memories tonight." The girls and I sang together before stepping back to let the boys sing.
"I wanna live while we're young. We wanna live while we're young." They sang.
Harry, Niall, Caitlin and Liz all launched back into the chorus that had been split up. "Let's go crazy, crazy, crazy 'til we see the sun. I know we only met but let's pretend it's love. And never, never, never stop for anyone. Tonight let's get some and live while we're young."
"Crazy, crazy, crazy, 'til we see the sun. I know we only met but let's pretend it's love. And never, never, never stop for anyone. Tonight let's get some and live while we're young." Liam, Louis, Zayn, and I sang.
We all sang together after that, finishing the song in a harmony. The crowd was wild as the song started and I couldn't help but laugh. I crossed the stage to the girls, hugging them tightly. I could hear their laughter as our hug ended. The boys of One Direction thanked everyone, gave it up for the girls and I, and then made their way off stage.
The crowd was still going insane and I couldn't help but laugh more. Maybe Simon was right. I really hoped he was. Maybe we really did already win the competition.
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Liz's P.O.V
I took a deep breath as I stood in front of Mark, him telling me of the cues and handing me my usual microphone. The girls were at my sides, listening to the blond as he explained everything. I was nodding along to every word he said, but I wasn't listening that much. I was incredibly nervous for our next performance. It was our final performance and tonight was the night that decided everything. I wanted to win so badly and I would do anything to win. With this being our final performance, the pressure was on and it was heavy.
I've been in vocal rest for this particular song since Tuesday and I was ready to do it. With my family in the audience, I was ready for it. I was excited to sing and I was excited to be at the final. There was a lot of pressure, but I never want to forget this. This is my dream and I was finally living it.
"Alright," Mark said, "You're cue is after the break, I will call out your name like usual. You've got thirty seconds. Good luck girls." Mark said.
"Thank you." Caitlin said as he walked away. I took another deep breath, closing my eyes as I felt the nervousness overcome me. I was nervous, but I found that I worked better under nerves. Our dance routine was a lot different than what we usually do, but I was ready for it.
"Jay Cee El to the stage, Jay Cee El to the stage." We heard Mark call. I opened my eyes and looked at the girls before we walked out to the stage.
The dark stage was hard to walk across, but luckily for me I was closest to the side of the stage I entered on. There were large black crates that were covered with white silk. Rose petals were all around the stage and the crates, with white curtains hanging from above us.
I walked up the two steps so I was standing on the crate, and I put my microphone in its stand. I didn't have to stress about Julie and Caitlin doing it too, I already knew that they. As soon as Khloe announced our name for the last time tonight, the audience went nuts. Cameras flashed even more and I couldn't help the smile that appeared on my face.
Hearing the song beginning to play, I looked over at Caitlin. She was staring off the song by humming and then singing 'yeah', and the crowd only got louder. I then tried to find Julie, and as a single spot light lit Julie up, she began to sing.
"I can read your mind, and I know your story. I see what you're going through, yeah. It's an uphill climb, and I'm feeling sorry. But I know it will come to you, yeah." She sang.
I placed my hands on the cool metal as the light shinned on me, "Don't surrender, 'cause you can win, in this thing called love." I sang. The lights lit up as virtual rose petals began to fall on the screen behind us, while the girls and I sang the chorus.
"When you want it the most there's no easy way out. When you're ready to go and your heart's left in doubt, don't give up on your faith. Love comes to those who believe it, and that's the way it is." We sang, a smile curving my lips. I looked towards the girls, smiling wider at them.
"When you question me," Caitlin sang, the music still at a faster pace. "I don't know what to say, no. But it's plain to see, if you stick together, you're gonna find a way, yeah. So don't surrender, 'cause you can win, in this thing called love." She sang, holding the note out. She sounded amazing.
"When you want it the most there's no easy way out. When you're ready to go and your heart's left in doubt, don't give up on your faith. Love comes to those who believe it, and that's the way it is."
The music slowed down as the girls and I got off the crates, walking down towards the end of the stage. Me and Julie crossed paths, subtly fist bumping as we did. Julie continued her way towards the stairs at the end of the stage and Caitlin was on her way there, though on the other end of the stage.
I jumped down onto the judges panel, surprising all the judges except Simon. It was his idea after all. I stepped on the small crate that planned to be put there, all while I began to sing the bridge of the song.
"When life is empty," I sang, standing on top of the judges panel. They all looked up at me, all while Simon was smiling. I kneeled down, poking Demi's nose as I sang. She laughed and jumped back, covering her nose. I smiled while singing, wanting to laugh but I couldn't. "With no tomorrow, and loneliness starts to call. Baby, don't worry, forget your sorrow," I rose to my feet, closing my eyes as I approached the part I had been put on vocal rest for. " 'Cause love's gonna conquer it all, all." I sang.
I knew the girls were walking down the steps of the stage, standing in front of the audience. I could tell with how loud the screams were getting. My eyes opened and I looked between Julie and Caitlin, watching as they touched fan's hands and continued singing the chorus.
"When you want it the most, there's no easy way out. When you're ready to go and your heart's left in doubt, don't give up on your faith. Love comes to those who believe it," I sang with them, moving on to hold the note out for an extended time. The girls continued singing the chorus while I sang the notes, but soon caught up to them.
"Don't give up on your faith," I sang as I finished the long note, echoing the girls in there song. "Love comes to those who believe it, and that's the way it is. That's the way it is, that's the way it is baby, don't give up on your faith. Love comes to those who believe it," I sang the echoes.
"And that's the way it is." We met together again to finish the song.
The crowd was going insane and I breathed out, laughing as I did. I couldn't believe that I had just done that. My voice didn't crack once and I felt like I was on top of the world. I knew that I could pull it off, and I'm so glad that I did.
I stepped off the judges panel, stepping onto the crate and then onto the floor, all while the crowd cheered loudly. I walked towards the stage, taking a step up so I was standing in the center. Julie and Caitlin were climbing on the stage as well, laughing over the time they had just spent with the audience. I felt envious, wishing that I could've done that with them.
Finally catching up to me, they stood on either side of me as we waited for the audience to quiet down enough for the judges to talk. It took a while but finally they were able to. Of course, L.A said nothing at first, shaking his head.
"You know," He finally spoke. "I am so glad that I don't have any acts in the competition right now. Because I would know that I totally just lost the X Factor." L.A. said. My smile widened and I jumped a little on the heels of my feet in excitement.
"This is really hard for me. I want you girls to win, I do. You're talented and you do deserve to win. But I think that Evan deserves to win as well, I've worked with him for a while and he deserves it just as much as you do. It's really hard and conflicting for me, but I'm sure that whatever the outcome is, I'll be happy." Brittany said.
"I'm glad that I don't have any acts right now either because I would totally toss them aside for you girls. I really wish I had you from the start. Gosh, you're just amazing. All your vocals just... and I can't even talk right now. That was amazing, one of my favorites of yours. But I can never pick a favorite. I cannot wait until I get to see you three on your own tour. I promise I will be in the front row." Demi said.
"You know, Brittany is on to something." Simon said. "I have two acts in the final right now. You girls and One Step. It's hard to pick between the two of you, but I know that my team has a better chance of winning. I honestly have no idea how the show is going to go tomorrow, but I'd like to think that I'll be signing you in just a few days." Simon said.
My smiled widened and I laughed, throwing my arms around the girls and bringing them into a group hug. My excitement was running wild and tonight wasn't over yet. We still had the after party. Unfortunately I won't be able to see my family during it, but I'll still be able to see them tomorrow morning.
The girls and I made our way off stage, and I saw my family sitting front row. I smiled and waved at them quickly before walking off stage. Julie grabbed my hand as soon as we were off stage, tugging me towards the dressing room. I laughed loudly, handing my microphone to Mark before taking Caitlin's hand and dragging her with us. I knew that I had to talk with Niall, but that would come soon enough. Besides, I needed to look amazing in order to really get to him.
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There's the chapter. I hope you all liked it. I can't wait for next. It's going to be a little on the short side, fair warning. BUT IT WILL BE IMPORTANT IG
Please VOTE and COMMENT my lil' Gummy Worms ilysm and it means THE WORLD TO ME WHEN YOU DO
~ Amanda xx
--Pic on the side is of their outfits
--Video on the side is of That's The Way It Is because we all know LWWY
--External link is what the boys looked like in this chapter :)