It's cold today. There is a light breeze blowing outside, causing leaves to float in the air. The sun is shining brightly down on Cheryl's house. The house is quiet. Almost too quiet. Last night we all sang in front of Cheryl and Will.I.Am. I thought yesterday was nerve-racking, today is even worse.

I didn't sleep at all last night. I was tossing and turning in my sheets all night. Around three in the morning, I realized I wasn't going to fall asleep. I ended up getting on my laptop and checking my Twitter. I have a couple thousand followers now. That's a big change from my old one hundred followers.

I glance over at the clock on the table next to my bed. Ten in the morning. I should probably get up and get dressed. Today we find out the three that are going through. The rest will be going back home. Off the show completely. I have this terrible feeling that I will be going home.

I crawl out of my bed and trudge to the bathroom. I shut the door behind me quietly, so I don't wake up Cher. I walk past the mirror and stop when I see my reflection. My dark brown hair is in a tangled mess. My eyes are red and puffy from me crying so much last night. I shake my head at my reflection. I look like a mess. Good thing there are no cameras around.

I turn on the hot water in the shower. I should have grabbed some clothes before I came in here. Oh well. I take a quick shower because I want to be able to eat some breakfast before the camera crew shows up. My shower only lasts about seven minutes which is a new record for me.

I make sure my towel is wrapped tightly around my body, before stepping out of the bathroom. Cher is still curled up on her bed under all of the covers. I really hope she is feeling better today. She really thinks she screwed up her chance of going through. I think everyone in the house feels like we are going home.

I pull on a pair of bright blue skinny jeans and match them with a grey v-neck shirt. I tuck the shirt in my jeans. I clip my black and white striped suspenders to my jeans. I narrow my eyes at my outfit in the mirror. I need shoes. I go through my shoes that I brought with me. There is no way I am wearing heels. I am way too clumsy for those things. I decide on wearing my black high top converse. I check out myself in the mirror. This is as good as it gets.

I sneak out of our bedroom without waking Cher and head down the hallway to the stairs. All the doors are closed shut. They are either sleeping still or already downstairs. I jog down the stairs and to the kitchen. Rebecca and Kate are at the kitchen table eating some breakfast.

Rebecca glances up from her eggs. "Morning, Carter."

Kate spins around in her chair to see me. "Sleep well?"

"Oh yeah. It was great." I reply, sarcasm dripping in my voice.

"I don't think anyone had a goodnight's sleep." Keri strolls in the kitchen with her heels clicking against the wooden floor.

"I think Cher did." I comment, grabbing some Apple Jacks from the pantry. "But that's probably from the Tylenol pm she took last night."

I set the cereal down on the counter and grab a plastic bowl from the cabinet next to the fridge. Keri hands me the milk from the fridge. I smile at her as a thank you. I pour some Apple Jacks in my bowl. I'm not that hungry, but I know that I should eat something.

"When does Cheryl talk to us?" Kate asks, sipping from her mug.

I put away the cereal and milk, before sitting down at the table next to Rebecca. "We don't know yet." I answer.

"I don't want to go home." Kate whines.

"No one does." I comment, eating a spoonful of cereal.

"You shouldn't be worried." Kate sets her mug down on the table and stares at me. "You will definitely go through."

I snort. "Yeah right. After what happened last night I truly doubt it."

Kate's gaze softens. "What happened?"

I move my cereal around in the bowl and frown. "I sang last night and they didn't say anything. Not even a smile. Just a thank you. That's it."

"That doesn't mean you'll go home." Rebecca attempts to comfort me.

I glance up at her. "We all know what it means when they don't say anything."

"That's true." Annastasia struts in the kitchen in a pair of four inch heels. "When the judge's don't say anything to you it means.." She runs her hand across her throat.

Now I feel even worse than before. I stare down at my now soggy cereal. So much for eating. These nerves are getting to me.

"Annastasia!" Rebecca scolds at her. "We are all nervous as it is. You don't need to be making everyone feel worse."

Annastasia shrugs. "I'm just being honest, but I'm sorry for making you worry more Carter."

"It's fine." I mumble.

A loud clap causes Rebecca and I to jump in our seats. Dermot O'Leary steps in the kitchen with the camera crew behind him. The camera guy moves the camera around the room to show all of the girls. I push my bowl of cereal away from me.

"Well, most of you girls are here. Here is how today is going to go. At twelve you will all go in separate rooms. When it is your time to see Cheryl, I will come and get you. When you find out if you go home or not, you return back to your room to pack. Stay in there until I come up to get everyone who is leaving the house to go home. Got it?" Dermot looks at each of us.

Less than two hours. That is way too soon. I'm not ready for this.

The camera crew and Dermot starts to leave the room, but suddenly stops. "Oh, no using electronics until we say you are allowed to." Dermot says, mostly to me.

Dang. He must have knew I was going to Skype Louis. I was hoping Louis would be able to calm me down some. Looks like that won't be happening now. I can't even call my mum. This day isn't starting off so well.

"I should go wake Cher up." I stand up and grab my bowl. I dump the cereal in the trashcan before placing my bowl in the sink.

"I'll come with you." Rebecca pushes away from the table.

Rebecca follows me out of the kitchen and through the living room to the stairs. Neither of us say anything, leaving a comfortable silence between us. Rebecca and I have grown quite close this week. I can consider her almost as a best friend. We're not as close as Cher and I, though.

I push open the door to see Cher still curled up in her bed. The comforter is wrapped tightly around her body only showing her head.

I walk over to her bed and shake her shoulder gently. "Cher?"

Cher mumbles something incoherent. A small smile appears on my face as I try again to wake her up. I shake her shoulder a little harder. Cher's eyes flutter open and then quickly shut.

"Come on, Cher." Rebecca says from behind me. "We have to be done at noon. It's ten thirty now."

"I have plenty of time!" Cher snuggles in her bed.

"Just get ready now. You need to eat something and take your medicine." I pull the comforter back.

Cher groans loudly. "Fine!" She opens her eyes to glare at me.

"How do you feel?" I jump on my bed.

Cher climbs out of her bed. "My throat still hurts, but not as bad."

"That's good." Rebecca sits down on my bed next to me.

"I still don't have a good chance of staying." Cher digs through her side of the closet for her outfit.

"You don't know that." Rebecca tells her.

"I screwed up." Cher walks in the bathroom. "I'm not going through." She slams the door behind her.

I fall backwards on my bed. I hate this. I hate this feeling of not knowing if I'm not going home or not. I hate not being able to Skype with Louis or call my mum. I just need to talk to one of them. I need to hear my mum tell me that everything will be alright and that I shouldn't be worrying. I want to hear Louis's voice. He is good at calming me down.

"I hope you go through." Rebecca speaks up after a long silence.

"It won't happen." I shake my head and stare up at the white ceiling. "I have this feeling that I'm going home."

"Don't be so negative. You have a really good chance of going through. All the judge's love you." Rebecca pats my knee in a friendly manner.

•

It's eleven fifty five. Five minutes until we all get separated into separate rooms. We have no clue of who is going first. No one will tell us. I guess they want us to be ready at any moment. I'm so nervous right now. I could be the first one to go. I'm not ready for this. I'm not ready to be told if I'm going home or going through.

Rebecca pulls me into another hug. I hug her back just as tightly. We are all scared for ourselves and each other. I've hugged everyone else except for Cher. I've wished everyone good luck. I know they need it.

"Two minutes left." A member if the crew yells out.

I step out of Rebecca's arms and hug Cher. "Good luck. I know you're going through. I can feel it."

"I'll see you on the other side." Cher jokes.

"Other side meaning we both got through." I say. "I hope so."

"Okay, go to your designated rooms. Dermot will come and get you when it's your turn." One of the workers usher us to our rooms.

I wave at Cher and walk down the hallway to my room I was told to wait in. I shut the door behind me. Now I wait. I could be first or I could be last. I sit down on the black couch against the wall.

I stare around the room. It's a light beige color with a few random pictures on the wall. A white fan is on the ceiling in the middle of the room. The carpet is a light cream color. There is the couch and a white table in the middle of the room. The room is rather bare.

After five minutes have passed, I realized that I'm not first. I wonder who went first. Maybe it was Cher. Or Rebecca? Maybe one of the other girls? Did they get through? Are there only two spots left?

I stand up and walk over the mirror on the wall. I stare at my reflection in the mirror. My hair is nice and wavy. I decided on not putting any make up on. I figured that I would end up crying it off anyways. I fix my suspenders and position them better on my shoulders. Maybe I should put my hair up. I gather my hair up in a messy ponytail. Nah. I let my hair fall back to my shoulders.

Okay, I must have not been second either. They should have put a clock in here. I have no clue what time it is. It may have only been five minutes. Or an hour. I have no idea.

This is a good way to make someone go crazy. I feel like I'm going insane by the second. There is no sound in this room except for my shoes when I walk across the carpet floor and my quiet breathing. It's way too quiet in here. Maybe there are little cameras in here? Oh gosh, now I'm paranoid.

How much time has passed? It feels like an hour. I must be the last one to go. I hope Cher got through. She deserves to go through even if she didn't exactly finish singing yesterday. Cher should be here more than me.

I flop back down on the couch. This suspense is killing me. I wish they would just come to my room already. I'm tired of waiting. Maybe I'll be the last person because it will be easier to tell me that I'm going home. They wanted to get the people that were going through first.

A knock comes from outside of the room I'm in. Wait. I take it back. I'm not ready. I'll just wait here for a little bit longer.

"Are you ready?" Konnie sticks her head in the room.

No! Definitely not! I was before you came in here.

"I guess so." I stand up.

"Let's go then." She opens the door to allow me to walk out.

"Am I the last one?" I ask her, following her down the long hallway.

Konnie turns to look at me. "Yes. All the other girls have seen Cheryl."

We stop in front of two white doors. This is it. I wish I was back in the boring room now. I would rather be waiting in there then knowing that I'm about to be told what will happen to me. I don't think I can do this.

"She's ready for you." Konnie nods at the door.

I stare at the two white doors unable to move. I'm scared. Konnie sets her hand on my shoulder and rubs in comfortingly. I look at the camera behind me and give a small smile. I open the door and step through.

Now I'm in a large room where Cheryl is sitting on a white couch waiting for me. The camera crew is off to the side recording the whole thing. I take a step forward trying to catch my breath. I can feel the tears filling up my eyes. No, I can't cry.

Cheryl stands up when I reach the couch. "How are you?" She smiles at me.

"Nervous. Scared." I whisper, afraid to talk any louder.

"Let's start then, yeah?" Cheryl motions for me to sit down.

I sit down on the couch with my body facing Cheryl. I take a deep breath to keep myself from crying. I would definitely be in the room again. This is a much worse feeling.

"I remember when you first auditioned." Cheryl starts. "You looked so nervous. Your reason for being there was definitely different. I didn't expect you to have been forced to audition. I'm glad you did, though."

"We were all surprised by your voice. It took a few seconds before you got into the song and really sang from your heart. You seemed quite shocked when you got all yes's."

I bite my lip and nod my head. I figure it's best to stay quiet and allow Cheryl to do all of the talking. I know I will start to cry if I start talking.

"Then bootcamp came. You did very well when all of the girls sang together. I was very proud of you. To be honest, you were one of the best dancers out of everyone. Even Simon agreed. When you sang by yourself I was impressed. You have such a strong and beautiful voice. I can tell you really love to sing." Cheryl continues.

"I know the last day of bootcamp was hard for you. You looked torn between wanting to be happy and being worried. I know that you are very close to Cher and Louis."

You have no idea.

"You know that I can only take three people with me to the live shows." Cheryl states. "You're beautiful. You're talented, but you need to have more confidence.."

This is it. Cheryl is going to tell me that I'm not going through. That this is the end of the line. I'm not good enough to go through. How am I supposed to tell Mum and Riley? I'm not going to be able to call them without crying. I'll never see Louis again. If I'm not going through then I hope the lads go through. They are all talented and deserve to be here. So does Cher. Her voice is different and she has a good chance of winning. They deserve to be here.

"I can help you with that. I'm taking you through." Cheryl finishes.

I knew it. Wait. She's taking me through?

"What?" I gasp.

"You are going through to the live shows." Cheryl grins at me.

Here comes the tears. I cover my mouth with my hand. I can't believe it. She's actually sending me through. I thought I screwed up.

"Thank you so much." I whisper as the tears start flowing down my face.

Cheryl leans forward and pulls me in a hug. I wrap my arms around her and start to cry. I can't believe it. I'm going through to the live shows. I did it.

"We will have to work on your confidence." Cheryl tells me.

"Of course." I nod. "Not to be rude or anything, but can I call Louis?" I ask, pulling back.

Cheryl chuckles. "Of course. Go ahead. Konnie should have your phone."

"Thank you!" I hug her once more.

I rush out of the room to see Konnie holding my mobile phone out to me. I grab my phone and thank her before running out of the house. I start to dial Louis's number while walking in around back. I notice Cher talking on the phone in the middle of the yard.

Did she get through?

I stop trying to call Louis and run out to her. I hear her talking go someone through the phone.

"I got through." She tells them.

I wrap my arms around her from behind. She drops her mobile phone on the ground in surprise. Cher spins around to see me. Silence comes from her phone. Did they hang up? Or are they not excited?

"You got through to?" Cher sees my smile on my face.

I nod my head and hug her again. "Who's on the phone?" I pick it up.

"The guys." She whispers. "They made it!"

"Don't tell them I made it yet." I cover the speaker. I want to surprise Louis.

Cher takes the mobile from my hand. "I'm going to tell you I got through again, yeah? And go insane." She pauses for a second. "I got through."

The lads cheer on the other side of the phone loudly. I laugh quietly at them. I miss them so much.

"Amazing. I wish you were here." Cher chuckles.

"Did Carter get through?" Louis speaks up.

Cher grins and hands me the phone. "Louis?" I talk in the phone.

"Carter!" Niall shouts. "Did you make it? Please tell me you did!"

"We made it through. Now you can't kill us!" Harry tells me.

"Shut up. Did you make it through?" Louis repeats.

"Yeah. I did." I answer him.

"YES!" Louis shouts as the other lads cheer loudly.

"Why did they cheer louder for you?" Cher jokes.

••••

Author's Note:

Well? What did you think? Tell me what you thought! Give me a long comment. You will make my day if you do. Or evening. But yeah. Comment below!