In. Out. In. Out.
None of them could deny it: This week had been their biggest challenge yet. For a few it made them, for the rest, it broke them in one way or another. So, as the top ten contenders looked at the three mentors who stood in front of them, none of them could justify why they should be saved, or know with any certainty that they wouldn't be walking out the door by the end of the night.
And that was the scariest part.
The mentors stood in silence, scrutinizing each face, looking for some clarity. But there was none. Robert cleared his throat, clasping his two sweating palms together.
Here it goes.
"So everyone, this week- Fearlessness- was definitely a challenge. Some of you rose to it, but some fell behind. You got your first taste of glory two nights ago, and tonight, it might be your last."
Ollie felt his face go red. He was unbelievably nervous.
Everything I dreamed of, everything I strived for and worked hard to achieve could be gone with six words. He thought, feeling himself stiffen up and his heart miss a beat. Jack caught his gaze and give him an unsure smile, but Ollie couldn't tell what Jack was so apprehensive about. Jack aced this week; he didn't make one mistake throughout, and he's scared? Ollie shakes his head and looks down at his feet. Robert started announcing who was top of the callback list- Jaia obviously- then he started reading out everyone's names, Emily second and Jack- shock horror- third. Ollie tried to smile in his direction but failed, feeling hopeless.
Not long now, glad I packed my bags.
After Jack left the stage, he was followed by Ace, West and Pierce, leaving Ollie, Chesney, Cindy and Penny shaking. Cindy's hands brushed over her face as she tried to avoid crying.
This week was one of the best of my life, but for all the wrong reasons. How could I let myself forget what I'm fighting for? This isn't just a job, it's a chance to change peoples lives. I can't let that go. Ever.
Ollie puts his hands on his head and leans back, shifting his weight from one foot to the other with nowhere to run.
I should have known, I was never a fighter. I was too nieve, let my feelings take over. I just hope Chesney's okay.
Chesney wasn't okay. Already, tears were falling from her eyes and she felt stupid, embarrassed.
Why? Why did I do that to myself? Let some cheap love story fueled by alcohol get in my way. I want to be a star and this might be my last shot.
Penny was trying desperately to stay strong, but a single tear slipped down her face and fell onto the floor.
This couldn't be any worse. I'm against my best friends for life and just screwed up the whole week for myself. Nikki was right, I'm not a diva. I'm not an actress, a singer, a dancer. I've shown this week that I'm nothing, and I'll spend the rest of my life regretting the fact that I let people get in the way of my dreams.
"Ollie, you're here because, although you did brilliantly in the booth, you lacked spacial awareness in the shoot and didn't portray the confidence we expected from you when it came to your costume." Ollie nods, agreeing, taking it all in. Because, what can you say?
"Penny, you're here because...uh..." Nikki stutters, trying to get the words out. "You weren't a diva, to be blunt. You didn't take risks and it really put you at a disadvantage this week. Honey, you know I love you, but this week? You weren't remotely fearless." Penny sniffles and nods, wanting the ground to swallow her up.
"Cindy, you repeatedly messed up the choreography in the studio and in the shoot and lacked confidence, just as Ollie and Penny did, which is why you're here." Cindy nods, kind of relieved that her comment wasn't that bad; she expected worse.
"Chesney, with you, it was all about confidence and constantly falling on your face in those big-ass shoes" Zach states, making Chesney let out a light chuckle. "You were doing so well!" He stresses, seeing how young the twenty-four year old looked. "But this just wasn't your week."
"So, Chesney, Cindy, Penny and Ollie, you are our bottom four. Three of you will be performing for Ryan tonight, and one will be safe and through to next week. Penny, Cindy-" The two girls look at him, their stomachs doing sommersaults. "You're in the bottom three."
Penny's POV
I knew it. It wasn't exactly rocket science. The mentors didn't like me and I knew it. They spoke to Chesney so sweetly, and all I could think as I saw her was 'GROW UP'. She's the oldest and should be treated as such. She can take it! She's not a little kid, she's TWENTY FOUR YEARS OLD FOR CHRIST SAKE. I love her, but it's not fair how much hate I'm getting because I function differently to the norm. I just hate it. I hate them. But I need to prove them wrong. I need to, HAVE to show them what they need to see and steal the show. Because the curtain can't fall on me yet. I'm not ready to take my final bow.
Cindy's POV
I can see Penny's mad, and I feel myself shrink back slightly, afraid. I'm afraid. Afraid of what's to come, of how I'll cope if I'm against one of my best friends. I'm not expected to go anywhere in this competition and I know it, it's obvious. I'm the space-filler, the extra, the spare. God, I'm such a spare. Being here, in this competition, really changes your perspective of yourself. It makes you see yourself how others see you, and I'm seen as the sad, sad little girl who is too scared to take a chance and be brave. I'm the girl who nobody routes for or cares about, because I'm just... meh, average. I want to have one of those cool inner monolouges where I change my tone and talk with determination about how I'm going to change, but I can't tell a lie. I can't change, and that's the problem. I try to shut off these negative thoughts and turn back to Robert.
"Chesney..." I see her breathe in and hold it. Her pupils are small and her eyes are bloodshot from her nervous tears. Ollie stands, his facial expression neutral. His eyes tell it all. He wants it so badly and is hanging on to any last strand of hope he can get, but is certain that he's not good enough to scrape through this week.
"You are the third person in the bottom this week."
And that's when everything changed.
Ollie's POV
I should be happy. I just survived another week. But I just have this longing feeling of home, and family and my... son. I miss him so much. I guess, a tiny part of me wanted to go home. I leave the stage and blindly snake through the corridors like I've done hundreds of times before, and walk into the complex, where I'm met with a group hug. And all I can do is cry, and wonder how much longer I'll last.
"So, girls, this week will be a bit... different. It's your last chance to show how Fearless you are and impress us. For this last chance performance, you'll be doing a good old fashioned Diva off." Penny clenches her fist in the air and whispers 'Yes' while the other two just keep looking ahead, paralysed with fear and worry. Penny was much more confident than them, so she was at teh advantage.
"You're all going to sing for us, now." Then Ryan and some other glee writers and past glee project contestants saunter in, mumbling to each other and showing their hollywood smiles.
"These are the most fearless glee project contenders of their time, and now, they're here to decide where to place you. Give it your all. Any words of advice?" Ryan calls, and scans the group.
"Uh, hey guys. My advice for you is just be confident and do what feels right, even if you think it looks stupid. Just go for it and... have fun!" Aylin says, her voice high pitched. Ryan then turns to Abraham on his right.
"Heya, I just suggest, like Aylin says, to go all out and don't take no for an answer. Be sassy and strong, don't back down if you think someone's better than you, outshine them."
Alex takes his seat and looks up to the bottom three onstage.
"My biggest advice is be yourself. No one's better than being you so just show us how awesome you are"
Ryan nods and signals for the music to start. The piano man begins the opening riff and Cindy giggles, pulling herself up straight and taking the opening note from Penny.
Cindy:Well...
You know you make me wanna shout
Chesney:Kick my heels up and
Throw my hands up and
Throw my head back and
Penny:Come on now
Don't forget to say you will
Don't forget to say, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Cindy:I still remember
(Shooby-doo-wop-do-wop-wop-wop-wop)
When you used to be nine years old
(Shooby-doo-wop-do-wop-wop-wop-wop)
I was a fool for you, from the bottom of my soul, yeah!
(Shooby-doo-wop-do-wop-wop-wop-wop)
Cindy:I want you to know ([Chesney:] I wanna know)
I said I want you to know right now, yeah! (Chesney: I want to know)
You been good to me baby (Chesney:Good to me baby)
Better than I been to myself, ([All:] hey! hey!)
You know you make me wanna
(Shout-wooo) Penny:hey-yeah
(Shout-wooo) yeah-yeah-yeah
(Shout-wooo) aaaalll-right
(Shout-wooo) aaaalll-right
(Shout-wooo) come on now!
(Shout) come on now!
(Shout) yeah, yeah, yeah
(Shout) yeah, yeah, yeah
(Shout) yeah, yeah, yeah
(Shout) yeah, yeah, yeah
(Shout) all-alright
(Shout) it's all-alright
(Shout) all-alright
(Shout) all-alright (aah)
Chesney: Now wai-a-ait a minute!
I feel aaaaaaallllllright!
(Cindy:OOOOOOOOW)
Penny:Now that I got my woman
All: I feel aaaaaaaalllllright!
Cindy:You know you make me wanna
(Shout-wooo) (Shout-wooo)
take it easy
(Shout-wooo) take it easy
(Shout-wooo) take it easy
Cindy:(Shout) a little bit softer now
(Shout) a little bit softer now
(Shout) a little bit softer now
(Shout) a little bit softer now
Penny:(Shout) a little bit louder now
(Shout) a little bit louder now
(Shout) a little bit louder now
(Shout) a little bit louder now
Cindy:Hey-Hey-A-Hey
(P+Ch:Hey-Hey-A-Hey)
Hey-A-Hey-A
(P+Ch Hey-A-Hey-A)
Hey-A-Hey-A)
(P+ ChHey-A-Hey-A)
Hey-A-A-Hey)
(P+ ChHey-A-A-Hey)
[All]
Jump up and shout now (wooo)
Jump up and shout now (wooo)
Jump up and shout now (wooo
Jump, jump, jump, jump and shout!
Jump, jump, jump, jump and shout!
Jump, jump, jump, jump and shout!
Jump, jump, jump, jump and shout!
SHOUT!
Chesney:Yeeeaaahhhh!
"So, what did you think?" Robert asked the group once the three girls had left the stage, smiling broadly.
"I loved how confident the blonde girl was uh, whatshername, uh..." Emily commented, her voice trailing off as she racked her brains.
"Chesney?" Marissa suggested, and Emily nodded, thankfully.
"Yeah her, she was awesome!"
"I liked her to, but the one I LOVED was Penny, she had style." Marissa reasoned and Samuel tapped her on the shoulder.
"Is it just 'cause she's a redhead like you?" He jokes, giving her a look. Marissa scowls.
"WHAT? ME? NO, I'D NEVER DO THAT. THAT'S COMPLETELY IRRELEVENT. I DIDN'T EVEN NOTICE THAT SHE WAS GINGER." She replied sarcastically, and Sam pushed her on the arm.
"I liked the other girl, she had power." Lily Mae says, and Lindsey nods.
"Me too! I loved her sass!" Lindsey laughed.
"I liked that Penny girl, she just completely nailed it. She's got a style and a determination that the other two genuinely lack." Charlie admits, and Aylin nods.
"She was good, but I like the Chesney girl better. She was just so... so..."
"Fearless?" Shanna says and Aylin beams.
"Fearless!"
"Oh god guys, don't start Charlie the naked lumberjack off again, I don't think I could stand him jumping off the wall-" Blake begs, head in hands. Just picturing the scene made him shiver.
"-IN HIS BOOTS!" Ali, Abraham, Aylin and Lily chorused, falling about on the floor laughing while Charlie sits, looking awfully proud of himself.
"Okay guys," Robert chuckled, reigning the group back in.
"Who was the weakest one there?"
"To be honest-" Mario starts, and everyone turns to look at him. "From what I hear, there wasn't a weakest vocally, but Cindy lacked passion."
"It's too close to call, I think they were all fantastic" Shanna replies, a lot of people murmuring their agreements.
"Looks like it's down to us then!" Zach groans along with Nikki.
"Looks like it is" Robert repeats, pained to admit it.
"Great." Ryan says flatly, wishing his job was easier. But nothing's ever easy.