Playing fire with fire
Chapter 1
Bethany's pov
"Oh, and remember don't be nervous- there's no need to be nervous," my dad rambled for about the 500th time that day, "Dad I've told you, I'm fine! I'm not nervous (yet)." Luckily I muttered the last bit so he didn't hear it. "Well if you're sure."
"Yeah I'm sure. It's the girls that are more nervous than me," I told him.
Ok, so you're probably wondering who this arrogant over confident bitch is? Well I'm Bethany Palmer- Bethany, Beth, B whatever- and I'm part of a singing group called 'Bethalicious'. My two best mates, Paige and Honey, decided over a year ago that it would be cool to form a girl band with me, them, Felicity and Nicole. Then Nicole thought that it'd be nice to name it after one of us the suggestions were: The Honeybuns, The Flicks, Nic's Glitz, Paigeee and the Sexies or Bethalicious- and seeing as our group of friends was already known as Bethalicious they just thought it would be easier ( and they also said all the other names were ridiculers). So after a bit we went and played a few gigs and people liked us. One night we were at Felicity's house watching the X-Factor and she suggested that we auditioned; the girls all said that would be fab, but I wasn't convinced. It took weeks for them to convince me but finally Flick managed it. She was ecstatic! Straight away she got the forms out of pillow case; apparently she already had the forms before she had even asked us. So here I am at the X-Factor auditions trying to achieve their dream. But I don't get why I'm singing most of the song, why?
"Number 260394 your next," a stage hand called us to follow him. Right now we're going to do the interview with Dermot O'Leary. We walked through to the doubled doors into backstage. Dermot was standing next to the monitors with the family of the extremely good rapper! The brown haired girl was almost finished- 'it looked like Cheryl likes her' I thought, 'I wonder if they'll like us' I had loads of questions like that one circulating my mind; but screams joy interrupted them- the girl had one yes. Dermot came over to me, Flick, Honey, Nic and Paige, he asked us who we are and who's here to support us. We were waiting at the side of the stage, the girl had just got her fourth yes she ran off the stage and jumped into her Nan's arms. When she had finished hugging her family she came over to give me her microphone- I was the only one without one. She gave it to me and whispered, "Good luck!" I whispered back, "Thank you," she smiled then walked off. The stage hand started to count down from three infront of us as our que to go on.
THREE
TWO
ONE…..
And go.
Finally, we're on stage!
Cheryl says, "Hello pets, what are your names?"
To which Honey answers, "Hi! I'm Honey, this is Felicity," she says pointing to Flick who waves, "this is Nicole," who smiles then nods her head shyly, "that's Paige….." points to Paige, "….. and this is Bethany." Me and Paige say hi in unison with each other.
"We're Bethalicious!" Flick finishes for Honey.
"How old you all?" Cheryl questions sweetly.
I answered this time, "Me and Paige are 16 almost 17, Nicole and Felicity are 17 and Honey's 18. So we range from 16-18." I smiled, Cheryl returned my smile.
Her next question was, "What are you going to sing for us today?"
Nicole answers by saying, "Today we're going to sing Jar of hearts by Christina Perri."
"When your ready then girls," Cheryl beamed.
The music started to play and I started to sing.
I know I can't
Take one more
Step towards you
'Cause all
That's waiting
Is regret
Don't you no
I'm not your ghost,
Anymore
You lost the
Love,
I loved the most
Nicole was starting to sing with me now.
I've learned to
Live
Half alive
And now you
Want me one
More time
Everyone stated to sing the course now.
And who do you
Think you are
Running 'round
Leaving scars
Collecting your
Jar of hearts
And tearing love
Apart
Flick started to sing on her own
Your gonna
Catch a cold
From the ice
Inside your soul
Flick stopped singing and Paige started to.
So don't come
Back for me
Who do you think
With that Honey started to fade in to Paige's singing whilst she faded out gradually.
And who do you
Think you are
Running 'round
She had completely stopped singing and it was just Honey singing by herself.
Leaving scars
Collecting your
Jar of hearts
And tearing
Love apart
Your gonna catch
A cold
From the ice
Inside your soul
Nicole started to sing with her again.
So don't come
Back for me
Don't come
Back at all
Whilst Nicole was holding onto that last note we were harmonizing by singing
Who do you think you are?
2 times getting quieter then Flick sung it again when Nicole had finished her note.
We were finished! Some people started to clapping, but not many. It was time for the judges comments now Cheryl started, "Well pets….. it wasn't the best performance I've seen all day but your voices fitted nicely together."
Now it was Natalie Imbrulia's turn, "Girls, I agree with everything Cheryl just said. You need a lot of practise but you could good." We thanked her and moved on to Louis, "I'm gonna be honest with your girls- I didn't enjoy it, I don't think you can all sing."
Now it was Simon's turn, "I agree with Louis! It doesn't happen much but this time I do. Your voices don't go together girls because 4 out of 5 of you can't sing! You in middle, what's your name?" he asks pointing to me, "Bethany," I answer.
"Well Bethany you held that performance together, you have such a strong voice! I'd love to hear you sing again, but not the rest of you." I had mixed feelings rushing through me; shock, amazed, excited, happy and also sad for my friends.
"Thank you," I whispered into my microphone. Simon looked at the other three judges, Louis nodded instantly, Cheryl looked at me smiled then turned backed to Simon and nodded like Louis, Natalie was shrugging but then nodded as well Simon smiled then turned back to us.
"Girls," he stated, "You'll be pleased to know that I have some good news for you! But also some bad." We all waited anxiously to hear what the news was, "The bad news is that you didn't make it through to the next round. But the good news is that we want Bethany to audition again as a solo act this time." He stopped and smiled at me. "So what d'you say? You in?"
"Ummm…..Urrrrr….. Can I speak to my friends first, please?" I asked politely but confused. Simon simplely nodded. I turned round and we ended up in a huddle. "So? What'd you think? I'm not sure. Should I? what about you guys? What about….." Nicole hit me on the arm to stop me from ramberling.
"We'll be fine!" Honey reassured me.
"But, but it's your dream guys not mine." I told them.
"Well yeah. Of course we'd want to be famous singers, I mean who wouldn't? but that's not why we're here. We're here 'cause you have an amazing talent and we knew that you'd only audition if we told you it was our dream." Paige confesses whilst smiling.
"You did this for me?" they all nodded and beamed at me. "Thank you, but I'm still not su….."
I was interrupted by Felicity shouting in her microphone, "She's in"!"
I looked at her unsure.
"Don't worry you'll do great!" she whispered to me then winked.
"Stay Bethalicious," I said quietly to all of my best friends.
"Stay Bethalicious," they echoed back. Then we had a group hug. I turned round and repeated Felicity's earlier words, "I'm in!"