[rewritten]
Here is the next chapter!
Enjoy!
*Please Read The Author's Note*
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Julie's P.O.V
It was nearly six o'clock in the afternoon when we were allowed to leave the arena. I was starving and ready to go back to my hotel by that time. I did not feel like listening to these people talk and laugh over absolutely nothing. I just wanted to go back to my hotel room and relax.
Though relaxing might be hard, being that tomorrow morning the judges were telling us who got through and who didn't. I was a little nervous about it, especially being that I don't feel like my solo song was the best. I regret singing that song, I feel like I should have sung something stronger for my voice. But it was too late now and all I could do was wait and see what would happen tomorrow. I was excited, though nervous.
The buses took us back to the hotel and I met up with Ivy to sit with her. We didn't talk much on the ride back to the hotel, I just put in my headphones and tuned out the rest of the world. The sun was low in the sky, though it hadn't set just yet when we pulled up to the hotel. The buses let us out and it was a crowd of people trying to get into the hotel. I heard people talking about having people get together on the top floor - the last room that' checked out for us - but I tuned it out. I'm sure that nobody really cared for me being there and I really didn't want to go. I just wanted to sleep or eat, probably both.
After riding up a full elevator, I started to make my way to my hotel room. I had no idea where Ivy was, but I'm pretty sure that she was somewhere with people that I did not want to be around. I walked into my hotel room, just as my phone began to vibrate in my back pocket. I pulled it out and smiled when I saw my aunt calling me. I kicked off my high heels as I answered the phone.
"Hey aunt Catherine, what's up?" I asked, gathering my hair to pull it over my shoulder.
"Oh nothing much Jules, but what's up with you? How is boot camp?" She asked. I moved to sit down on the bed, thinking of her question. Boot camp was good. It was a bit lonely, but it was nice. I was learning some stuff and tomorrow we would start doing some dancing techniques, which made me a little nervous. I was a pretty good dancer but I wasn't the best.
"It's going good..." I said, pulling my bottom lip between my teeth. "It's a bit lonely, but it's good nonetheless. How's everything back in Colorado?" I asked.
"The same old. Why is it lonely in boot camp? Aren't you making friends?" She asked.
"Not really. I don't see the point of being friends with them if I'm trying to beat them. I don't want to have to be upset when any of them leave, or even if I do. I just don't see the point." I said, shrugging my shoulders though I knew she couldn't see me.
"Well what's the point of making friends when you're going to die anyway." Aunt Catherine said.
"Huh?"
"Oh sweetie, don't let that fear hold you back from making friends. You live in a world were technology is blossoming! You'll be able to keep in touch with the friends you make on the X Factor. Yes, it may suck when you have to say goodbye, but you shouldn't let that hold you back." She said.
"You're too wise for your age, you know that?" I said.
"Age is but a number Julie, never forget that."
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The next morning I decided to take my aunts advice. She did say some valuable stuff, I did need to make friends. I really shouldn't let the fear of saying goodbye hold me back. Besides, if I do get through past the judges home and into the live shows, I need to make some friends. I can't spend those weeks in total isolation, it'll drive me made.
I've got to admit, it was pretty funny to see Ivy's reaction when I sat with her and her friends earlier this morning. She must have thought that I was going to spend my time by myself, like I did yesterday. But I was trying really hard to make friends - despite the stupid conversations that they were having.
But eventually, Mark stood up on a table stage and started to speak. "Hello everyone, if I can have your attention please. Alright, so we are going to call you up to go into the theater. The rest of you, please wait patiently, as it will take a while to get through a hundred and twenty. Thank you." He said.
The conversation begin to fill the room again, that is until Mark started call people randomly by their names. I swallowed the nervous lump in my throat. This is what it comes down to. If I make it through this first step then I am one step closer to making it the judges houses. I just had to get through this portion of the competition. One step at a time...
"Julie Willows." Mark announced. My stomach grew tight with nerves as I slowly got to my feet. I felt Ivy grab my hand in encouragement and I smiled down at her before I started to head towards the doors that led to the stage.
As soon as I pushed through the doors I could feel the tension in the air. There were about fifteen people inside the room. I didn't recognize anyone that was here, except for that long haired Beck guy that was handing out water bottles with that annoying girl yesterday. I went to stand next to a tall guy and turned to face the judges, who were sat at a table at the bottom of the stage.
I felt myself growing hotter at the nerves I felt. Sweat began to form under my arms and on my hands. This was even more nerve wrecking than when it was with my audition. I wanted this so bad... I just wanted to get signed to a label and start making music. I want people to listen and to love my music, the way I love so many artists. Music has changed my life completely and I want to change someone's life with my music. I just want a chance.
"Hello everyone, it's nice to see you again." Simon finally broke the silence. "I'm sure that you are all nervous. And you know, to be honest, this was a very hard decision for us. You see, all of you are very talented people. Many of you can hold notes and control your voices amazingly, but we've only got sixty slots to fill. So it's a hard choice." Simon said.
"You all having something to offer, and no matter what happens today or tomorrow, or next week or even from a year from now, don't give this up. Singing is a passion and it's clear that all of you have that passion. But a passion for music isn't the only thing that can keep you here." Demi said.
"Simon, would you like to do the honors?" Brittany asked.
Simon let out a sigh and leaned on the table. "We're putting you through." He said. I let out a sigh of relief and leaned forward, putting my hands on my knees to support the weight I couldn't any longer. I was being put through, that's all that mattered right now.
I was moving on to the next part of boot camp. I was so much closer to getting to the judges homes. The amount of relief I felt was amazing and I felt as if I could breathe again. I couldn't help but grow excited as I thought of what was next to come. It was silly to jump into things but God, I couldn't help it. I couldn't help but plan out how my life would go if I won this competition.
Before I could plan too ahead, we were directed to leave the leave the stage. I felt like I was on cloud nice as I walked through the doors and into the main area that all the other contestants were waiting in. When I looked out at the crowd of people that were waiting to be told if they made it through or not, I felt so much better. They all looked worried but I saw them in a different light. I saw them as potential friends - it was weird. But I kind of liked it.
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An hour after getting through to the second step of boot camp, the amount of contestants that had originally been in boot camp was cut in half, leaving sixty contestants left. We were all gathered in the theater, sitting in the seats that were in front of the stage. The judges had long gone, most likely going home to sleep after the stressful day they had.
It was quiet in the theater, everyone was mourning the loss of the friends they made that were sent home. I would have expected the air to be full of excitement but no, they were upset. I was overjoyed, I couldn't care less about the people that were sent home. I guess that not making friends paid off in the end.
"Hello everyone, congratulations on making it this far everyone." Mark said, "So we are moving on to the dance portion. We'll be dividing you sixty up into two groups, A and B. You'll also be paired up for the second singing task, which will take place tomorrow. The judges will watch your dancing this afternoon, after our break so lunch. So get busy everyone. You'll find your pair up on the table over there, as well as the dance group you are in. Group A, you meet on the stage to learn the choreography and group B will meet at the seats. Thank you." Mark said.
People began to move all over the place, though it wasn't nearly as crowded as before. With half the acts gone, it was just a small sixty people left. We had all managed to make our way to the table, and I was standing behind a girl with pink hair who I did not know.
"I hope I get paired with you Caitlin." The girl said. I rolled my eyes.
"Yeah, me too. Though I doubt it." The pink haired girl - Caitlin - said.
I tuned out their conversation, annoyed by the bubblegum pop aura she gave off. I finally was able to see who I was paired up after another minute or so, and I saw that I was paired up with an older girl named Denise. It took nearly forever to find her, being that you had to keep asking people if they knew who the person was.
But finally I found the short, dark haired girl and we sat together to watch group A dance. We were also placed in group B for the dancing routines. We were sitting up close to the stage and I watched as the thirty people were taught the dance steps.
I didn't recognize anyone up there expect for the annoying Liz girl, though now she didn't seem annoying. In fact, it was pretty funny. She seemed so lost right now. She was following along to the dance steps just fine, it seemed like she had some dance history. But she wasn't confident in it and it was quite comical to watch. I felt bad for her and wanted to go up there and tell her to have more confidence, but she was my competition and I did need to take her down to get to where I wanted to go.
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I hope you liked the chapter. I worked pretty hard on it so I hope you like it.
Oh and lmao I totally lied before. I THOUGHT that the boys would be coming in in about four chapters or so but I messed up on my dates. We've still got a little while to go so I don't think they'll be in until at least chapter 20-25. Unless I do a chapter about what's going on over there... we'll see though. I've got so much to jam pack into the chapters with the girls, it might make things hard. BUT I PROMISE THEY WILL BE IN SOMEWHAT SOON
Please VOTE and COMMENT my lil' Gummy Worms ilysm
~ Amanda xx
—Picture on the side is of the boys because I feel bad for them not being in the book yet. Oh and yes, Zayn will still obviously be in here since this takes place in 2012.
P.s. Oh and am I doing a good job of not making this carroty? I know that in 2012 carrot jokes were still pretty 'in' but I want to keep that away from the book since carrot shit is annoying to some people.