Author: SkyTate19

Title: Reluctant Idol

Summary: After being raised by only his father since he was 4, Bridge now has a new obstacle ahead of him: gaining the respect of his high-school classmates! Can he gain their respect by his hidden singing talent and maybe even find some true love? Find out!

Chapter 5

While he was walking backstage, Bridge could see other people auditioning in front of the "Fabulous 3". Many of them didn't pass, many passed but with only two votes.

He reached backstage with Syd, and found himself in front of many people: some of whom were waiting for their turn, others who were crying, maybe because they didn't pass.

He sat down in the first place he found free, Syd looked at him and sighed "Stop it. You're making me nervous".

He looked at her confused, "Stop doing what?"

"Thinking that you're going to make a fool of yourself!" answered the exhausted woman.

Bridge let out a small laugh and nodded. At that moment, two guys walked upto Syd and started flirting with her "Hey gorgeous. How you doing? And who is the kid next to you? Your son?" asked the first one, laughing.

"Yeah kid! You're too young to be here. Go home!" the second added.

Bridge wasn't listening to them; he was used to this. Everyone talked to him like this.

Suddenly, something that he never predicted happened. Syd stood up and looked at the first guy, "What's your name?"

"I'm Wes and this is my friend Lucas. Nice to meet you" he said smiling.

Syd smiled evilly. In a second, her knee hit Wes's most precious place, sending him on the ground in a fetal position.

She then looked at Lucas, "First of all, I'm only 21, so I'm a little young to have a baby. Second, if you mess with one of my best friends, you are gonna pay for it! Are we clear??"

Lucas only nodded, frightened by the petite girl. With that, Syd grabbed Bridge's hand and dragged him away, calling to the two men over her shoulder, "It was a pleasure to meet you!"

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After some walking, they found another place near a beautiful woman and a men who, Syd assumed, was her fiancé.

The woman looked at Syd and grinned, "You're officially the bravest girl I ever met. I'm Jen and this is Cole."

Syd smiled, "Well, I can defend myself and a friend! By the way, I'm Sydney and this is Bridge".

Bridge nodded shyly as always. At that moment, Syd's number was called and so the woman took her guitar and her cowboy hat and headed for the stage, leaving Bridge in safe hands. At least that's what she hoped.

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Syd arrived in the center of the stage and Simon rolled his eyes saying, "Oh God… another country girl."

Syd grinned, "Don't worry. I'll surprise you… I'm gonna sing – Jolene – by Dolly Parton"

Paula nodded, "I already like you, girl! But we have to hear you so… whenever you're ready"

Syd took a big breath and started rocking the country melody with her guitar.

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene,
I'm begging of you please don't take my man.
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene,
Please don't take him just because you can.

Your beauty is beyond compare,
With flaming locks of auburn hair,
With ivory skin and eyes of emerald green.
Your smile is like a breath of spring;
Your voice is soft like summer rain,
And I cannot compete with you, Jolene.

And I can easily understand,
How you could easily take my man,
But you don't know what he means to me, Jolene.

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene,
I'm begging of you please don't take my man.
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene,
Please don't take him just because you can.

She finished the song and she saw Paula cheering madly for her. Then Randy talked, "Well, well. It was only ok. I preferred you mostly in your first audition. But I want to see if you can do better than this so I'll give you a chance. Yes for me"

Syd smiled happily and then Paula spoke "Of course is a yes! I hope that what you sang wasn't reality for you"

The girl laughed at her comment and shook her head. Then, without looking at her, Simon only said "You're lucky you go two yeses, because it's a no from me."

The crowed bowed him, but Syd was ok with it. She thanked everyone and left the stage.

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Syd reached Bridge and she saw that at least he was saying something to Cole, "That's a start" she thought.

When he saw his friend approaching him, Bridge jumped up and ran to her, "that was fantastic! You're fabulous!" he said happily.

"Thank you! But that was nothing!" With that, Bridge's turn came and he headed for the stage and his destiny.

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He set in front of the small keyboard that he had requested for his performance and looked into the crowd to find his best friend: he saw Sky nodding at him. He nodded back terrified and looked at the judges "H-H-Hi"

Randy was the first one to talk "I was hoping to see you. I was so impressed at your audition that I couldn't wait to see you again! Whenever you're ready, you can start"

Bridge nodded, shaking as a leaf. He tried to stay calm as he started playing the melody and after a small intro, he started singing

Another summer day
Is come and gone away
In Paris and Rome
But I wanna go home

Maybe surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel all alone
I just wanna go home
Oh I miss you, you know

And I feel just like I'm living someone else's life
It's like I just stepped outside
When everything was going right
And I know just why you could not
Come along with me
But this was not your dream
But you always believe in me

He was building up confidence, and everyone could see it.

Let me go home
I've had my run
Baby, I'm done
I gotta go home
Let me go home
It will all right
I'll be home tonight
I'm coming back home

He finished the song and looked around in "Shy Mode". After a moment of pause, everyone in the crowd exploded with applause. Even the judges stood up to cheer the boy.

He was in tears; no one ever cheered for him. Simon then said, "It's obvious that it's a multiple yes. You can go now."

Bridge nodded and ran off the stage into the arms of a happy Syd.

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After the first round, only 90 people were left. The producers were going the divide them in group of three.

Syd, Sky and Bridge went out that night to celebrate their first successes. Bridge was lost in his thought.

Sky saw him and said "Bridge? Are you with us?"

Syd laughed, "He's thinking about his life as the new American idol. He is so going to win this show!"

Bridge was shocked, "It's a long way before saying this. Maybe America will vote me off the first night. If I make to the top 12, obviously…"

"Are you kidding? Don't talk nonsense! Let's eat or we are never going back to the hotel. Stupid curfew..." said Syd and they started to eat while talking about their life. Bridge got back to his thinking routine.

Was he really good as anyone said?

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Another one is done? Is it still good or I'm making some stupid story? Please let me know!!

The songs are:

"Jolene" by Dolly Parton for Syd's turns

"Home" by Westlife for Bridge's turns (thanks to Tina for this suggestion!)