iAudition

The intervening week had flown by, with Melanie getting more and more nervous each day. She was thankful – today more than ever – for Carly, Sam, and Freddie. She needed their support if she stood a chance. Last night, however, certainly went a long way towards bolstering her confidence.

Carly had texted her in-between classes, saying that she and Sam had plans that night and to plan to spend the night at home, if at all possible. Melanie felt crushed. She had hoped to get out with Freddie the night before her life could – potentially – change forever.

She went through the motions for the rest of the day. She was in a rut and she knew it. She was running through song choices in her head. She'd decided what her strongest song was – the one she'd sing at the audition – the song she'd recorded in order to heal Carly's heart.

That night had, in fact, been magical. She came home to find that Carly had taken care of everything. She had told just the slightest white lie, simply so Melanie wouldn't suspect a thing. She came home to find that Carly had set the table for two – complete with candles and music – and left her a note.

Mel –

I hope everything is to your liking. It's time you get treated like the star I know you're going to be. Now we're even.

Love,

Carly

The night had been wonderful, with this morning starting off equally so. For the first time in her life, Melanie Puckett woke up having shared her bed with someone. It was the most magical experience of her life. She didn't doubt that all of this was by design as well. She knew, drifting off to sleep, that her life would never be the same again – nor did she want it to be. The last thing she knew for certain that night was that Freddie Benson's legs were intertwined with hers and that it was the most comfortable feeling she'd ever known. She fell asleep that night with her head on his chest, rising and falling with each breath. All was well.

THE KITCHEN, FIVE A.M. …

Melanie was dressed to kill – boots, black skinny jeans, and a brand new t-shirt, her own personal statement – a full two and a half hours before she could even think of walking through a set of arena doors and singing. She had to wipe the slate clean. She had promised Carly and Sam that she would repay them for everything they'd done for her.

The smell of fresh coffee could wake her sister from a dead sleep. She knew it would, followed in short order by a messy-headed brunette. This was Mel's form of payback.

Sam, usually the big lumbering ox of the family, shot around the corner like a woman on a mission.

"Coffee? Somebody make coffee?"

Melanie laughed. It was still true. The way to Sam's heart was through her stomach.

She shrieked.

"GAH! Dammit! Carly!"

She had just caught a glimpse of a still-shirtless Freddie Benson, busy at her stove, working on what appeared to be a cheese omelet to feed four.

"Carly!"

Carly, still wiping the sleep from her eyes, was just a few steps behind Sam, cranky as a bear.

"Jesus, Mama… Where's the fire? What's the matter?"

"Melanie… Naked Nub… What's he doing here?"

Carly laughed. Sam was taking this Freddie Thing a little bit too seriously.

"That's between Mel and me, honey… Let's just say I owed her, and besides, she could be away for quite a while. I thought he could give her… you know… a little… moral support…" She hoped her euphemism found its mark. It took a minute, but it sunk in.

"You mean…? Melanie Puckett! Family meeting! Now!"

"Honey, you're overreacting…"

Sam was flushed. She'd forgotten all about her coffee. Melanie wasn't even upset this time. All she wanted was to laugh it off.

"Melanie… Seriously… Why is he here?"

Carly cut her love off. It was far too early in the morning for this.

"Samantha! This is her big day, so if you must know, he's here because I invited him. I made plans for us to be out last night so they could have a romantic evening together, and told him he was welcome to stay the night. Melanie's allowed to make decisions about her private life, the same as we are. It's really none of our business what may or may not have happened as a result. She's your sister…"

For good measure, Carly used every ounce of feminine charm on Sam, simply to get her to drop it. She pulled her close and began nibbling on her earlobe. Sam Puckett melted like warm butter.

After a good twenty seconds, Sam turned to Melanie, apologizing to her the only way she knew how.

"So… who wants breakfast?"

LATER THAT MORNING, KEYARENA, SEATTLE…

Amazingly, Melanie wasn't nervous. She was there all on her own. Carly, Sam, and Freddie were waiting for her downstairs, win or lose. She wasn't superstitious, but if she was going to do this, she had to take at least a piece of Carly and Sam in there with her – such as it was.

Carly commented on Melanie's new t-shirt, only to say that she was touched. She knew it might make her unpopular with a few of the other contestants and perhaps a judge, but Melanie's reasons were her own, and Carly, admittedly, loved her for them.

She swallowed hard and opened the door. There, seated in front of her, was the three judge panel who would decide her fate. She had never been more intimidated. Here she stood – an eighteen year old blonde from Seattle – in front of three of the biggest names in music who had seen it all and done it all. All she could do was sing.

The first judge to speak to her nearly blew her away. He was by far the most noticeable, the front man for one of the most well-known rock bands of all time. He could hit notes that she, as a woman, would never dream of attempting.

"Melanie Puckett… Eighteen years old from right here in Seattle. So, what've you got for us this morning, Sweetheart?"

Under most circumstances, Melanie would have thought that being called 'Sweetheart' by a rocker in his sixties was sexist and demeaning. In this case, however, she took it as perhaps the most kind and gentle thing someone could say to her. She figured everyone was paying attention to her t-shirt, courtesy of the Human Rights Campaign. Chosen in honor of Carly and Sam, she wanted to wear the same message that she hoped to send at the top of her lungs. Love Conquers Hate. She answered him matter-of-factly.

"I'm going to sing 'Hallelujah' by Leonard Cohen."

He sat back in his chair, he hands behind his head. This was an ambitious song for even a seasoned veteran to attempt, let alone a teenage neophyte.

"Let's hear it…"

Melanie swallowed slightly and did what she did best.

"…Your faith was strong, but you needed proof…"

"…You saw her bathing on the roof…"

"…her beauty…and the moonlight…overthrew ya…"

"…She tied you to her kitchen chair…"

"…broke your throne and cut your hair…"

"…From your lips she drew…"

"…HALLELU…"

"…Hallelujah…"

"…Hallel..u…jah…"

The room went eerily quiet. The judges glanced, from one to each other. The judge seated on the far right, an accomplished producer, decided to take the lead.

"I'm sorry…"

Melanie was instantaneously crushed, but then he spoke again.

"I'm sorry, but you're going to have to go home. Start packin' for Hollywood… A thousand times, yes!"

Melanie now knew how Carly and Sam felt in the early morning. Her knees had turned to jelly. She barely was able to contain herself enough to walk out under her own power. She was on her way.