"Why does the stage have to be so dark?" I complain, clutching Matt's arm.

"They don't want the audience to see what is going on." Matt explains. "Be thankful that you're not in heels."

I look down at the floor only seeing a little bit of my purple high top converse. Everyone is wearing the color purple and denim. My outfit consists of dark wash skinny jeans with a tank top that has a few ruffles around the neckline. Hannah gave me a light washed denim button up shirt. I left all the buttons opened.

Hannah styled my hair for about two hours. She teased it like crazy. My hair is really curly, too. I was unsure about this style at first, but now I love it. It's different. Hannah said that this style fits the song I'm singing tonight. I'm not sure how a hair style can fit a song choice, though.

"Thanks for helping me." I stop in front of the little platform that I'm supposed to stand on.

"No problem." Matt grabs my hand and helps me walk to the top of the platform. "Good luck."

Matt releases my hand and walks back to his position. I stare out into the audience. They can't see me, but I can see them. All the lights on the stage are off. It's almost pitch black up here. I can only see a little bit. I would have fallen on my face if Matt hadn't helped me out here.

"Psst!"

What was that?

"Psst!"

Am I hearing things now? Maybe I'm going crazy.

"Psst!"

What is that noise?! It seems like it keeps getting louder and louder.

"Carter!"

It knows my name! Wait. What is it?

"Who's there?" I whisper, glancing over my shoulder.

Why does it have to be so dark? I can't see a thing. What if it is a rapist? Or someone here to kidnap me? Did Louis sneak out here?

"Carter! It's Cher!"

Oh. That makes more sense. Why would a rapist be out here? Or Louis? He has to get ready for our performance in a few moments. Why do I have such a crazy imagination?

"What?" I whisper back to her.

"I just wanted to say good luck." Cher whispers.

I turn my head in her direction. "Thanks! Good luck, too."

The lights on the stage slowly come back. I turn my head back to face the audience. I grip my microphone in my hands. Here we go. All of the lights come on and I see Cher, Rebecca, and Treyc on their own platforms. Cher is on my left side and Rebecca and Treyc are on my right. The music to Forget You starts playing. Cher shoots me a smile as the four of us start to dance a little on our platforms.

"I see you driving around town with the girl I love and I'm like forget you." Pajie sings behind us. Matt and Aiden are on either side of him.

"Yeah! I'm sorry I can't afford a Ferrari." Cher dances to the music.

"But, that don't mean I can't get you there!" Rebecca sings her part.

I take a deep breath. "I guess he's a Xbox and I'm more atari." I smile at the audience.

"But, the way you play your game ain't fair." Treyc sings after me.

"I pity the fool who falls in love with you. Yeah." Matt walks forward with Paije and Aiden.

"Oh, shhh. She's a gold digger just thought you should know." Aiden stares out into the audience.

"I got some news for you, yeah!" Matt dances along to the music.

"Go run and tell your little boyfriend." Paije sings, walking over to where Treyc is.

Matt stands in the middle of the space between Cher's platform and mine. Aiden stands in the middle.

"I see you driving around town with the girl I love and I'm like forget you! I guess the change in my pocket wasn't enough. I'm like forget you and forget her too!" The seven of us sing the chorus. "Said if I was richer, I'd still be with ya. Hah. Now ain't that some shh."

Rebecca Creighton walks out on the stage with Belle Amie. "I know that I had to borrow."

Belle Amie sings all together. "Beg and steal and lie and cheat."

Liam sings his part. "I pity the fool"

"Well, I got some news to you!" The guys from One Direction sing.

Louis steps forward. "Oh, I really hate you right now."

Matt sits down on the first step of my platform.

"I see you driving around town with the girl I love and I'm like forget you! I guess the change in my pocket wasn't enough. I'm like forget you and forget her too! Said if I was richer, I'd still be with ya. Hah. Now ain't that some shh." All of us sing together.

Mary "Baby, baby, baby, why'd you want to hurt me do bad."

John "I tried to tell my mama, but she told that this one's for your dad. Yes, she did."

Wagner makes his entrance. "Why? Why? Why?"

Matt stands up and reaches for my hand. Everyone sings along to the chorus. Matt helps me walk down the platform just like Cher, Rebecca, and Treyc. One Direction, Wagner, and Belle Amie walk forward to the front of the stage. I walk to the middle of the stage with Cher.

The song finishes and all of us stand there, waiting for Dermot to come out on the stage. The crowd stands up and starts clapping loudly. I will never get used to this feeling. I love the feeling of being on stage.

"That was the final twelve singing Forget You by Cee Lo Green." Dermot walks to the center of the stage. "After this commercial, we will have Paije Richardson starting off the night with Ain't Nobody by Rufus and Chaka Khan."

Once the show goes to a commercial, everyone steps off the stage to go to our own dressing rooms. Hannah is waiting in my dressing room with my next outfit in her arms. She hands them to me as I walk to the bathroom.

I'm in no hurry to get ready. I'm the very last one to perform tonight. It will be a whole hour until I get to sing. I don't really like being the last one to sing. It gives me too much time to think about how my performance will go. It makes me nervous.

My new outfit is pretty simple. I'm wearing a pair of black skinny jeans paired with a white tank top and a black leather vest over it. Hannah picked out a pair of red oxfords that have tiny black lines on them. I check out my outfit in the long mirror. My outfit is edgy, yet a little girly with the oxfords.

"Okay." I step out of the bathroom. "Makeup time."

Hannah does my makeup in less than forty five minutes. She fixes my hair in ten minutes, leaving me just enough time to run to the stage. My microphone gets clipped to me and I get handed my wireless microphone. Dermot is on the stage, introducing me to the audience.

Once I hear my name, I watch the lights on the stage dim. I walk out to the middle of the stage without tripping over my own feet. The microphone stand is in the middle of the stage for me. The stage is still dark so the audience can't see me. I place my microphone in the stand and take a deep breath. The music starts up and I tap my leg to the beat.

"Seems like just yesterday

You were a part of me

I used to stand so tall

I used to be so strong

Your arms around me tight

Everything, it felt so right

Unbreakable, like nothin' could go wrong

Now I can't breathe

No, I can't sleep

I'm barely hanging on"

As soon as I started to sing, a spotlight above me turned on. I grip the microphone in my hand.

"Here I am, once again

I'm torn into pieces

Can't deny it, can't pretend

Just thought you were the one

Broken up, deep inside

But you won't get to see the tears I cry

Behind these hazel eyes

I told you everything

Opened up and let you in

You made me feel alright

For once in my life

Now all that's left of me

Is what I pretend to be

So together, but so broken up inside

'Cause I can't breathe

No, I can't sleep

I'm barely hangin' on"

I grab my microphone from the stand and walk across the stage. The audience stands up and starts cheering even louder.

"Here I am, once again

I'm torn into pieces

Can't deny it, can't pretend

Just thought you were the one

Broken up, deep inside

But you won't get to see the tears I cry

Behind these hazel eyes

Swallow me then spit me out

For hating you, I blame myself

Seeing you it kills me now

No, I don't cry on the outside

Anymore

Anymore"

I stare out into the crowd, thinking about everything from my dad to Louis. I miss Louis. I hate not being able to talk to him. He's my best friend.

"Here I am, once again

I'm torn into pieces

Can't deny it, can't pretend

Just thought you were the one

Broken up, deep inside

But you won't get to see the tears I cry

Behind these hazel eyes

Here I am, once again

I'm torn into pieces

Can't deny it, can't pretend

Just thought you were the one

Broken up, deep inside

But you won't get to see the tears I cry

Behind these hazel eyes."

The entire building fills up with loud screams and people cheering. All of the judges stand up and clap. I lower the microphone away from my lips. I love the feeling of hearing the crowd cheer for me. It's an incredible feeling.

••••

Author's Note:

What did you think? Did you like it? Hate it? Unsure?

So, I was having a really good day because I'm most likely going to a concert. It's my favorite band Paradise Fears. They are absolutely incredible. Then everything went downhill about two hours ago. My best friend told me that I needed to lay off my attitude. I never thought I was mean. She thinks I am. That really hurt me. I know how it feels to have someone hurt your feelings. I would never want to do that.

Question...Do you have any questions for me? I'll answer anything as long as it's not too personal.

So, yeah!

Comment!