Chapter 1

Let's start this off by me telling you a little about myself. My name is Andrea LaRee but most people just call me Andi. I have blonde hair cut into a swing bob and really green eyes. Growing up my parents called me the green-eyed monster because everyone else in my family has blue eyes. I am 5'6. I would love to tell you I have the body of a model but that would be lying. You see I don't consider myself fat but I'm not skinny either. I'm fluffy. I'm 19 years old. I'll be 20 in February. I'm from Texas and grew up in a small town near Dallas. Oh and one more thing, I just made the first round on the X-Factor.

"I can't believe you get to sing in front of Simon." My best friend Danny said as she chugged her third can of red bull.

"I know right it's so cool he's going to be on the American X-Factor this year" I said excitedly.

"Oh what if you get to meet One Direction. Don't lie you know you love them, no matter how much you say that you don't." She said giving me one of those looks she gives when she knows I'm lying about something.

"Ok Ok your right I like their music and it doesn't hurt that they are all kinda cute to. Oh and British." I said

"Yeah you got to love those accents." She said then we both busted out laughing.

"Wow its so surreal you know. I mean if you told me a month ago that I would be singing in front of the judging panel on the X-Factor I would have called you crazy. I can't wait really. I want to go to boot camp so bad I can taste it." I told her as we walked into the mall.

"My goodness we haven't been in this mall in ages. It sure has changed a lot." Danny pointed out as we walked through the doors. She was right all the stores we used to shop at were gone and replaced with more high-end names. Which really isn't a big deal to me considering that's what imp going to be wearing if I make it to boot camp.

"Yeah well its not so bad really. Anyway I can't believe they moved boot camp to Texas this year instead of California." I told Danny still wondering in my head why they did it in the first place.

"I know but on the bright side I get to see you throughout the show all the time instead of weekly phone calls like it would have been." She said making a very valid point as well. We walked around the mall for a few hours. I ended up getting a few shirts from Abercrombie and Fitch as well as some new make-up from MAC. Our last stop was Zombies where I proceeded to buy about 10 pairs of TOMS because they are the best shoes on the planet and you can never have enough. Once we got done shopping we headed back to the hotel I was staying in so I didn't have to drive 3 hours to get to auditions the next day.

I woke up the next day feeling very excided to the point I couldn't stop humming and smiling all morning. I tried to wake Danny up by jumping on the bed and when that didn't work I poured a glass of cold water on her face. Let me tell you that woke her up. We had two hours to get ready and be at the audition point, which was taking place in the Cowboy's Stadium right down the street. We both got up and got dressed. Danny just wore a pair of sweats and a t-shirt since she wasn't the one auditioning. I on the other hand wore a pair of light pink chinos with a navy blue and white striped quarter sleeve shirt, and black TOMS. I straightened my hair and put my make-up on. We had 20 minutes to spare when we showed up at the stadium. We walked into the room the contestants were supposed to wait in. There were a lot of people there with their parents and sibling but it was just my best friend and I. My mom and step-dad wanted to come but they are semi truck drivers and couldn't get any time off and imp an only child to no siblings. We sat in that room for about two hours and then it was my turn. Danny came back stage with me where she would watch and wait. They announced my name and I walked on stage with my head held high

"Hello Andrea." Simon said.

"Hi guys," I said trying to sound very confident but failing miserably.

"What are you going to be singing for us today?" Brittany asked me.

"I'm going to be singing Skin by Sixx AM." I told them hoping I had made the right song choice.

"Well let's hear it." Simon told me. I signaled for the music to start and when it came time for the first note I gave it all I had and then some. I was getting close to the end of the song and decided last minute to spice things up a bit. I look the last verse and went up an octave. It was a big leap but somehow it worked. I finished the song and put the microphone at my side as I waited for the judges to decide my fate.

"That was very good and I liked how you went up at the end even though it doesn't do that in the original song." L.A. Read told me.

"I agree that was a very gutsy thing to do. That's what it takes to be in this industry. Being able to make last minute decisions and making them work." Demi told me. At this point I was swelling with pride but at the same time scared to death.

"I love your voice it's very unique and also you have a very good vocal range for a female vocalist." Brittany told me. Finally it was Simon's turn to speak.

"I agree with everything everyone else has said, but I also want to point out that your vibrato gets in you way a little bit but I think that is something you can easily get over with some training." Simon told me. My ego was a little hurt but I didn't expect to get rave reviews from everyone especially Simon.

"Let's put it to a vote. Reid?" Simon asked.

"I'm going to say yes."

"Demi?"

"Yes."

"Brittany?"

"Also a yes."

"This show is about learning to come into your talent and how to control it. I think you have a good chance in this competition. You have four yeses." Simon told me.

"Thank you guys so much you won't regret this." I told them as I ran off stage right into the arms of my best friend in the whole world. We walked back into the main area and by my face everyone could tell I'd made it. I got tons of congratulations and then we headed back to the hotel. I got ready for bed since it was already pretty late. Tomorrow was the beginning of boot camp because this was the last day of auditions. I was so excited yet terrified at the same time because this was the time I was going to meet everyone else who made it and see who my competition was. I was ready and I was going to give it everything I had.