[rewritten]
Here is the next chapter!
Enjoy!
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Liz's P.O.V
"I've got to admit, that was probably the most fun I've ever had on stage. I loved how it was all so..." I trailed off, trying to find the words.
"Overdone?" Julie asked.
I laughed, nodding my head. "Yeah, that's it." I said as I looked in the mirror, checking to make sure that I looked alright. I've been doing this for the past few minutes, trying to calm the nerves that I was feeling inside my stomach. Butterflies were everywhere and I felt like throwing up because now was the time.
All the contestants have performed, One Direction have performed as well as Pitbull, and now there was ten minutes left of the show and the winner was going to be announced. I kept having to take deep breaths in order to calm the nerves that I felt. I wanted to win this so badly and I'm willing to do anything to have it. Too bad that's not how it works.
I ran my hands down the front of the dress, smiling softly when I felt the soft fabric against my hands. I was wearing a strapless mint green dress that fell to about mid thigh before flowing out in ruffles. It was the prettiest dress that I've ever seen and I wish that I could keep it forever. It was so gorgeous and I was lucky to be wearing it, if I'm being honest.
Julie's was also strapless, however it was a royal blue with black dots across the top and a few on the skirt part of the dress. Caitlin's was pretty as well, it was a soft pink color that matched her hair. Silver wrapped around her waist and around the one shoulder strap. They were both really, really pretty dresses, but my favorite was the dress that I was wearing.
Caitlin grabbed one of my curls gently, pulling it straight and watching it recoil. I laughed and moved her hand away from my hair. Having people touch my hair was this weird thing I had, and I hated it when people touched my hair. Caitlin only rolled her eyes at me.
"We should probably head out. They are going to call us any second." Caitlin said. I nodded and took her sweaty hand in mine. Caitlin's nose scrunched up in disgust and I laughed loudly before taking Julie's hand. She didn't seem to mind my sweat and with good luck hugs from Ben and Gale, we were on our way to the stage.
Meeting up with One Step was a little awkward, being that Caitlin and Marty were not on speaking terms. They were both pissed at each other and I'd assume would be staying that way for a while. It was a bit upsetting, being that we were pretty good friends with them. I wondered if it was going to be awkward every time that we were around each other.
Someone grabbing my arm caused my attention to turn from Josh, who was telling Julie and I something, to Niall. I smiled and moved aside, creating a bit more privacy for us. Looking up at him, I couldn't help but smile. His face was a bit red from performing Kiss You and although I'm pissed that I missed it, I was glad that he seemed to have had fun.
"Hey, I just wanted to wish you good luck. Although you won't need it, you girls are going to win." Niall said.
"Yeah, I really hope so. I still can't believe I'm here..." I said, shaking my head a little bit.
"Here with me or here in the finals?" He asked, smiling at me.
"Both." I said as Jay Cee El was called. I swallowed the lump in my throat and licked my lips. "Alright, I've got to go. You'll be coming to the after party tonight, yeah?" I asked.
" 'Course. Now go win, love." He said. I blushed and nodded, tucking a piece of hair behind my ears.
"Oh and by the way," Niall called out to me as I walked away, "You look really fit in that dress." He said.
I blushed even more as I giggled the most annoying giggle in the world, before fully turning away from him and walking towards the girls and boys. Simon was standing between the two groups and smiled when he saw me. I joined them, standing next to Caitlin so that she was in the middle.
Letting out a breath of air, I heard Khloe announce us and Simon. The doors slid open and flashing was the only thing that I could see. I felt my hand being taken and then I was being pulled on stage. I felt like I was going to fall because of my nerves, and my heels were not helping at the moment.
Khloe started talking, but I couldn't hear over the sound of my blood pumping. I was beginning to grow dizzy with the nerves that I felt, and I wanted to sit down. But I couldn't until after the show, as the winner or the loser. It all depended on right now.
A video of Evan began to play on the big screen, reminding me that there would be a small clip of the three finalists before the winner was announced. They were only about thirty seconds each, and it was quickly over. Although I will admit that it was weird as hell to see myself up on the big screen, almost as weird as it was to be in the news last week. Was that really only last week?
"And now that we've seen some of the three finalists greatest moments, we've got to find out who the winner is. To start things off, the contestant in third place is... Evan Peterson!" Khloe said.
My mouth opened a bit and I felt terrible for the blond that I called my best friend. I wanted to go and hug him because of it, but I stopped myself before I could. I knew that it would make Niall uncomfortable and I didn't want that, so I stayed in my spot. I would tell him how sorry I was tonight, but hopefully Niall will be with me so he doesn't worry. I don't want to make him feel like that.
Evan and Brittany were off the stage quickly and Khloe's attention turned to Simon. "So Simon, two of your contestants are the two remaining contestants. How does it feel?" She asked, holding the microphone out to him.
"You know, it doesn't feel good. Both of these acts are great as a band and amazing people individually, it's hard for me to even think of choosing between the two. They both deserve to win, but in the end it's down to the voters of the show." Simon said.
"Right. So now we've got Jay Cee El and One Step, waiting to be told who wins the X Factor. They all look nervous right now and I'm glad that I'm not in their position. And now, what we've all been waiting for, the winner of the X Factor is.... oh my God, the winner of the X Factor USA is Jay Cee El!"
It all went silent after those words slipped from her mouth. It seemed like everything was going in slow motion. Simon cheered and Caitlin jumped up. Julie's mouth fell open and I'm guessing that the audience cheered loudly. I couldn't hear anything, all I could do was watch. Time froze for me and I was left to watch as other's went by.
It wasn't until my knees gave out and I fell to the floor that time caught up to me and the sounds of cheering filled my ears. My dress piled around me in a heap as I wiped the tears from my cheeks, not having realized that I was crying. I felt an arm wrapping around my shoulders and I looked over, Caitlin's teary eyes staring back at me. Her lips curved into the biggest smile that I've ever seen and I couldn't help but laugh through my tears.
I was slowly brought back up to my feet and wrapped in a group hug between the girls and Simon. As our hug ended, I noticed that the boys from One Step had left the stage already. My heart broke at the thought of them losing, they really did deserve it. But this was my dream and now that I've finally got it in my hands, I was too selfish to let it go.
The microphone was shoved in my face by Khloe, and it took me a second to realize that she wanted me to speak. "Oh my God," I choked out. "I can't believe this.. I can't..."
"I think what Liz is trying to say," Julie took over, wrapping her arm around my shoulder. "Is that we cannot believe this. We're just three girls that were lucky enough to have this opportunity and to come out on top is amazing. We want to say a thank you to every single fan out there. Every single voter, or anyone that has every looked into us. To everyone that has voted and watched the show for us, thank you. Because we couldn't have done this without you all. We love you so much." Julie said.
"And now we've got the winners of the X Factor USA, for their final performance of Just The Way You Are. If we can get them to sing." Khloe said.
A microphone was forced into my hand and I had trouble catching up to what was going on. I couldn't stop crying and I have no idea how I was supposed to get through an entire song. But I knew that I had to try. After all, I had just won the X Factor. Singing another song couldn't be that hard.
Khloe and Simon cleared the stage and the lights faded, the music beginning. Julie was standing in the middle and she brought the microphone to her lips, starting the song. "Ohhhhh, ohhhhhh, ohhhhhh, ohhhhhh." She sang.
"Oh, his eyes, his eyes, make the stars look like they're not shinin'. His hair, his hair, falls perfectly without him trying. He's so beautiful and I tell him every day. Yeah." I managed to get through it fine, without sounding too bad, despite the fact that I was just crying.
"I know, I know, when I compliment him, he won't believe me. And it's so, it's so, sad to think that he don't see what I see. But every time he asks me, "Do I look okay?" I say," Caitlin sang from the other of Julie.
"When I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change. 'Cause you're amazing, just the way you are. And when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for a while. 'Cause, man, you're amazing. Just the way you are. Yeah." We sang together, harmonizing as well as we always do.
"His lips, his lips," Julie took over, "I could kiss them all day if he'd let me. His laugh, his laugh. He hates but I think it's so sexy. He's so beautiful, and I tell him every day."
I couldn't help but look over towards the side of the stage and my lips curved into a smile as my eyes met with Niall's. He had a smile to match and he looked so happy, happier than I've ever seen him in pictures or awards show, and I want to see him like that every day.
"Oh, you know, you know, you know, I'd never ask you to change." I sang, still looking at Niall. I knew that I should be looking out into the crowd but I just couldn't look away. "If perfect's what you're searching for then just stay the same. So don't even bother asking if you look okay, you know I'll say." I sang, smiling again when I saw the blush that covered his cheeks and how he looked down in a bashful way.
"When I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change. 'Cause you're amazing, just the way you are. And when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for a while. 'Cause, man, you're amazing. Just the way you are. Yeah." We sang together once again. I finally managed to look away from him and back towards the audience that was cheering so loudly.
"The way you are, the way you are. Man, you're amazing, just the way you are." Caitlin sang.
""When I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change. 'Cause you're amazing, just the way you are. And when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for a while. 'Cause, man, you're amazing. Just the way you are." We sang again, slower than the first and second time.
Julie stepped up, singing the last bit of the song. "Yeah."
The music ended and the crowd erupted into cheers. My smile widened and I felt like crying all over again. I felt arms around my shoulder and I looked over, smiling at Julie as she looked towards the crowd. I looked past her and saw Caitlin wiping away tears and waving into the crowd. I couldn't help but tear up again at the fact that I just won the X Factor. I couldn't believe it, and I couldn't believe that I was doing it with my best friends. Now I just have to wait and see what the future brings...
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Yay they won
Please VOTE and COMMENT my lil' Gummy Worms ilysm you have no idea
~Amanda xx
--Pic above is of their outfits
--Video on the side is of Just The Way You Are