Grace P.O.V.

The morning sun peaked through my curtains as I slowly opened my heavy eye lids. Today was the day that could make or break my future. My dreams have always been to be a singer but I've never had the right opportunity. So today I'm trying out to be on the TV show called X Factor. For the past two months I've been planning for this moment, but now it was so surreal that it is actually happening. Then again it was now or never.

I climbed out of my puff ball of sheets and rushed to the bathroom to take a relaxing morning shower. By the time I finished showering it was only 6:30 and you didn't have to be at the set until 1:00 in the afternoon. I quickly moisturized my face and flipped my soaking wet hair up into a towel before I headed for my closet. I had already planned an outfit for this event but I made sure it didn't make me look like I was trying too hard. The outfit was made up of dark denim skinny jeans, a form fitting white V-neck shirt, and a vintage brown leather jacket that had just the right cut; so it didn't look to boxy. After that I returned to the bathroom and let down my hair down from my peach colored towel. My hair is a dark chocolate brown color with some natural caramel undertones. I've never really liked my hair color only because the rest of my family has extremely shiny black hair. Since my hair was still wet I put on my make up next. It only took a couple seconds while I swiftly brushed a light pink blush on and nude eye shadow. I did also put on mascara and lip balm. Finally my hair had air dried long enough so that my natural waves were visible so I just keep it the way it was and let it flow down past my chest. Lastly, I clasped my locket necklace around my neck that I wore every day. I had a picture of me and my mom who passed away three years ago when I was fourteen.

I bounded my way down the stairs to see a banana and cup of milk waiting for me on the island counter top. I'm not much of a breakfast eater. I looked up to see my brother cooking himself some eggs on the stove top.

"Morning Travis," he quickly turned around obviously he didn't notice I was there before.

"Hey Grace, are you ready for your big day?" I gave him the "what do you think" look and he just chuckled in response.

"Have you talked to dad?" I was hoping he had called earlier this morning when I was in the shower.

"Yeah, he said that he can't make it today because duty calls, but he wishes you luck." Of course he wouldn't be able to take one day off of work for his daughter. Ever since mother died he has been non-stop working trying to support our family, even though my dad makes good money anyway.

"I wonder what he will buy me this time." Every time my dad can't make it to a school event or birthday party he always sends me and Travis expensive gifts. Acting like that makes up for it. My dad is an international heart surgeon and is always on call. He is never home, always staying at a hotel in whatever country he is in at the time. That is why my older brother takes care of me, he is twenty-one so he can go to all my school meetings and sign permission slips.

"It better be a good gift because I don't think he can make up for missing the most important day of your life," Travis patted my head before climbing the stairs to go get dressed.

"Grace hurry up it's 12:00, we have one hour to get there!" Travis yelled up the stairs at me. I ran down the stairs pulling on my tan ankle boots and balancing my bag on my shoulder.

"Sorry, I was just practicing my song one more time."

After a half an hour car ride, Travis finally pulled up to a big concrete building that had loads of people standing outside with numbers taped to their shirts. I could feel my pulse quicken and my confidence probably drop to 2%.

"Hey don't freak yourself out already, wait till your next in line to do that," Travis said while a cheeky grin plastered across his face.

"Thanks for that." I glanced back at the lines one more time before I headed over to the table where you sign in and get your number.

"What's your name?" the lady at the front desk sternly asked, she obviously didn't waste time.

"Grace Parker."

"Your number is 218; you probably won't audition until around 3:00." And that was it; I just walked off and tried to find my brother in the crowd of overly dressed girls and cocky looking guys.

The wait was almost unbearable because it gave you so much time to second guess yourself and think about how much more talented all the other people in the room have, compared to you. Finally a voice yelled out the magic number and it would now be my turn.

"Good luck, I'm sure you'll win them over with just your smile." Travis stared after me as I opened the big wood doors.

I was greeted with the faces of Louis, Simon, and Cheryl. They didn't look to imitating, but not that friendly either. The sweat started to build up on my hands and my legs started to feel like jelly.

"What's you name dear?" asked Cheryl.

"Grace Parker." I really tried to smile and not in an awkward way.

"How old are you?" Louis questioned.

"17."

"And what are you going to sing for us today, Grace?" Simon eyed me down and I felt my eye twitch.

"I'm going to sing 'Beautiful' by Christina Aguilera."

"Okay let's see what you got."

I breathed in deeply and then just let the lyrics flow out of me and then when I reached the chorus I just let myself go, but making sure to not let my voice crack when it came to the higher notes. When the song was coming to an end I could feel the heat rise to my face because I didn't want them comment badly about my singing.

"You have great range of vocals with a little more work you could really be amazing," Louis started off.

"Your voice really suits you because it's not all high pitched and girly, I definitely love your whole image," Cheryl commented.

"Well, it was a good song choice and… you actually really impressed me." I could not believe what I was hearing from Simon, it was almost like I was imagining all of this.

"We all agree it's a yes!"

"Thank you so much, this really means a lot." I thanked all of them before I sprinted out the door to tell my brother the good news. My dreams might actually come true.