Chapter 22
Matt and Willow met backstage and immediately reconnected. They didn't realise how badly they had missed each other during the last ten weeks. As soon as Willow saw Matt she broke down in tears and he immediately ran to her and pulled her in close to him and held her. "Why does everything bad happen to me?" Willow sobbed "I don't know Wills, but as soon as you win this show, I'm not letting you out of my sight" Matt replied as he wiped away Willows tears "Matt, I'm sorry. For everything" she said quietly "I know you are baby, I know" Matt replied, as he felt her hug him back, Willow feeling safe once again.
Dean had finished his duet with Bruno Mars on stage, receiving his first standing ovation from the judges. Brooke had already done her duet with Rihanna and Willow was putting the finishing touches to her outfit for her duet with Kristen Chenoweth before heading for the stage. "Brooke, you killed it out there" Willow said as her friend returned to the dressing room "you guys sort things out yet?" Brooke replied as she looked at Willow and Matt. "Not yet, but we have agreed to go see a councillor when we get home" Matt replied as Polly knocked on the door "Willow, you're up next"
"Welcome back to the show everyone" Jeremy said, "We've had three performances from Dean and Brooke and now it's time for our final contestant to sing for the final time before the votes close. Singing Defying Gravity from the Broadway show Wicked, please give it up for Willow and her partner Kristen Chenoweth!"
GLINDA:(spoken) Elphaba - why couldn't you have stayed calm for
Once, instead of flying off the handle!
I hope you're happy!
(sung) I hope you're happy now
I hope you're happy how you
Hurt your cause forever
I hope you think you're clever!
ELPHABA:I hope you're happy
I hope you're happy, too
I hope you're proud how you
Would grovel in submission
To feed your own ambition
BOTH:
So though I can't imagine how
I hope you're happy right now
GLINDA:(spoken) Elphie, listen to me. Just say you're sorry:
(sung) You can still be with the Wizard
What you've worked and waited for
You can have all you ever wanted:
ELPHABA:(spoken) I know:
(sung) But I don't want it -
No - I can't want it
Anymore:
Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
I'm through with playing by the rules
Of someone else's game
Too late for second-guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It's time to trust my instincts
Close my eyes: and leap!
It's time to try
Defying gravity
I think I'll try
Defying gravity
And you can't pull me down!
GLINDA: Can't I make you understand?
You're having delusions of grandeur:
[ Lyrics from: lyrics/w/wicked/defying_ ]
ELPHABA: I'm through accepting limits
cause someone says they're so
Some things I cannot change
But till I try, I'll never know!
Too long I've been afraid of
Losing love I guess I've lost
Well, if that's love
It comes at much too high a cost!
I'd sooner buy
Defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye
I'm defying gravity
And you can't pull me down:
(spoken) Glinda - come with me. Think of what we could
Do: together.
(sung) Unlimited
Together we're unlimited
Together we'll be the greatest team
There's ever been
Glinda -
Dreams, the way we planned 'em
GLINDA: If we work in tandem:
BOTH: There's no fight we cannot win
Just you and I
Defying gravity
With you and I
Defying gravity
ELPHABA: They'll never bring us down!
(spoken) Well? Are you coming?
GLINDA: I hope you're happy
Now that you're choosing this
ELPHABA: (spoken) You too
(sung) I hope it brings you bliss
BOTH: I really hope you get it
And you don't live to regret it
I hope you're happy in the end
I hope you're happy, my friend:
ELPHABA: So if you care to find me
Look to the western sky!
As someone told me lately:
"Ev'ryone deserves the chance to fly!"
And if I'm flying solo
At least I'm flying free
To those who'd ground me
Take a message back from me
Tell them how I am
Defying gravity
I'm flying high
Defying gravity
And soon I'll match them in renown
And nobody in all of Oz
No Wizard that there is or was
Is ever gonna bring me down!
GLINDA: I hope you're happy!
CITIZENS OF OZ: Look at her, she's wicked!
Get her!
ELPHABA: Bring me down!
CITIZENS OF OZ: No one mourns the wicked
So we've got to bring her
ELPHABA: Ahhh!
CITIZENS OF OZ: Down!
"Wow ladies, look at that. The audience are on their feet for you" Christy said excitedly, before adding "I think that we should go straight to Idina for her comments" "Willow, Kristen and I know this song very well as we both performed this song together for many years in Wicked, with you playing the role of Elphaba, like I did, and I have to say, you were absolutely phenomenal tonight" Idina said, a huge smile on her face as Simon asked "Idina, you won a Tony for this show did you not?" "Yes I did Simon, back in 2004" Idina replied , as Simon added "Well I have to say Willow, I think you totally outshone Idina, you blew me away with that performance. I'm speechless" "Randy, do you have anything to add?" Jeremy added, having walked on stage a few moments earlier, as Randy replied "the only thing I have to say is, Willow, you're a superstar. That's it" "Kristen, how do you think Willow did?" Christy asked "She's amazing. She's just an absolutely stunning girl with a phenomenal voice" Kristen replied as Jeremy interrupted "Well, we've heard all three finalists sing their hearts out, but only one can win. You have 45 minutes left to vote for your favourite, the numbers going along the bottom of the screen right now. Join us again in one hour to find out who is going to be crowned your X factor champion"
"Baby, you killed it out there" Matt said as Willow entered the dressing room after what could have been her final performance. "Matt, I was shaking so bad out there. I've never felt so nervous than I was before singing that song" she replied, adding "this is gonna be the longest 60 minutes of our lives" looking at Brooke who nodded in agreement. They weren't wrong either. The first fifteen minutes went by quickly as Willow had visits from Amy, Adam, Jeff and Nevaeh. Brooke's family had flown in from Texas to see her perform. After half an hour, Amy, Adam, Jeff, Nevaeh and Brooke's family left the dressing room to return to their seats, leaving the two girls and Matt in the room. After a few minutes there was a quiet tap on the door, which Brooke answered. "I'm looking for Willow" a familiar male voice said "is she here?" "Yeah, she's here. I'm guessing that you're Eric" Brooke replied as Eric entered the room, and spotted Matt and Willow kissing. "Eric, what are you doing back here?" Willow asked, surprised that her dad had come to see her "I just came to wish you good luck" he said, "Willow, I know you can win this. You've been absolutely amazing tonight. Does this mean that you are together again?" "Thanks Eric, we are working towards it. Gonna go see a councillor when we get home" Willow replied "Well I'm glad that everything has worked out for you" he said, as he headed for the door, Willow blurted out "Eric, Molly's here tonight. She spoke to me earlier and whatever her and Dean plan on doing, they are doing it tonight" "Willow, I know I've hurt you in the past. The things I've done to you cannot be forgiven, but I will say be careful around them tonight" he said, heading out of the room, followed by Matt fifteen minutes later, leaving the two girls to get changed into their final outfits of the evening, Willow in a turquoise one shoulder mini dress and Brooke in a similar white ensemble. Polly came five minutes before the show was due to go back on air, "Good luck hun, not that you need it" Brooke said, hugging her friend, "same to you" as they headed back to the stage.
"Welcome back to the X factor. Where we have three very nervous celebrities backstage, each wanting to know who our winner is" Christy said "so let's bring them out" as the three contestants made their way onto the stage. "Now only two of our contenders can battle it out for the honour of being crowned our first champion" Jeremy added, being passed an envelope "our first celebrity in the top two is WILLOW" he announced. Willow being totally shocked at being announced as the first one into the top two, didn't feel Brooke hug her and say congratulations. As she walked off stage to prepare to sing her final song, Jeremy announced that third place went to Brooke, leaving the two exes to battle it out. "Willow, make sure you beat his ass, after everything he's put you through" Brooke said, coming off the stage as there was a short commercial break. "Don't worry Brooke. I intend to" Willow said with a smile, ready to go out at sing for the final time. "Just before the break we found out that Willow and Dean are our top two contestants. They each have one more song to sing, which will then be released as our winners song" Christy announced "our phone lines have reopened and votes from earlier in the show will count towards crowning our first ever champion" as Jeremy added "singing Euphoria, for your votes, it's Willow"
Why, why can't this moment last forevermore?
Tonight, tonight eternity's an open door...
No, don't ever stop doing the things you do.
Don't go, in every breath I take I'm breathing you...
Euphoria
Forever, 'till the end of time
From now on, only you and I
We're going up-up-up-up-up-up-up
Euphoria An everlasting piece of art
A beating love within my heart
We're going up-up-up-up-up-up-up
We are here, we're all alone in our own Universe,
We are free, where everything's allowed and love comes first,
Forever and ever together, we sail into infinity,
We're higher and higher and higher, we're reaching for divinity.
Euphoria
Forever, 'till the end of time
From now on, only you and I
We're going up-up-up-up-up-up-up
Euphoria An everlasting piece of art
A beating love within my heart
We're going up-up-up-up-up-up-up
Forever we sail into infinity,
We're higher, we're reaching for divinity...
Euphoria, euphoria
We're going up-up-up-up-up-up-up
Euphoria...
An everlasting piece of art
A beating love within my heart
We're going up-up-up-up-up-up-up
Euphoria, euphoria
We're going up-up-up-up-up-up-up
Once she'd finished singing, to another standing ovation, Christy came over and started interviewing her "Willow, how are you feeling now that it's down to you and Dean?" "I just want to thank everyone who voted for me, I honestly thought I was going to be the first one voted off" Willow replied, as Christy asked "do you think you'll stay friends with any of your fellow contestants" "All of them. We have become like a family over the last ten weeks" she replied as Christy said "the number to vote for Willow is on screen now, ladies and gentlemen, for the last time please make some noise for Willow" As she made her way off stage, she saw Matt smiling at her, Nevaeh was waving her little hands at her as if she hadn't seen her in a month, Brooke was at the side of the stage, giving her a huge grin "you are so gonna win this thing Wills" she said excitedly "Dean doesn't stand a chance" and Brooke wasn't wrong. Dean's final performance was a mediocre version of Seven Nation Army by the White Stripes. Jeremy reminded the audience that they had just over fifteen minutes left to vote and introduced the first guest performer of the night, Rihanna, who was due to perform her new single. After she had finished performing Jeremy came back on the stage and asked her who she thought would win and her reply was Willow, which made Brooke all excited. "Brooke, calm down" Willow said "I'm nervous enough as it is" as Polly came to the dressing room and said "it's time"
Willow and Dean were waiting behind the stage doors. It was the first time they had been alone since, they slept together and this silence was making Willow feel extremely uncomfortable. "Hey Willow, good luck out there" Dean said with a wink "Yeah, you're gonna need it" Willow replied, as Jeremy finished introducing the former contestants, "and finally please welcome back our two finalists, Willow and Dean" he said as they walked onto the stage, to a thunderous applause and cheering. "Ten weeks ago we started with ten contenders, joined by an eleventh a few weeks into the show and now we are down to our final two" Jeremy announced as Christy joined him, holding the envelope with the winners' name in it. "It's the moment we've all been waiting for, it's time to announce the winner" Christy added, opening the envelope and showed it to Jeremy, "and your winner is..." he said, pausing to create suspense and tension, looking at Christy as they both announced "WILLOW"
Willow barely heard her name being called as winner when Jeff and Brooke ran over, hugged her and started congratulating her when Dean came over to shake her hand and gave her a hug "Can I talk to you after the show has finished?" He whispered in her ear as she nodded her head, as Jeremy pulled her away from everyone to ask her a few questions. "Willow, how do you feel now that you've been crowned winner?" he asked "oh my God, it's crazy. Like I said earlier I thought I was going out in the first week." she replied, her voice still full of surprise "Is there anyone you wanna thank before you perform your winning song once more? Christy asked "Everyone who voted for me. My family, my adopted parents Mike and Grace, my friends, you guys, the judges. Everyone at WWE for letting me do the show, and most of all I wanna thank Matt. He's been there for me since day one and I just wanna say, Matt I love you" she replied as Jeremy said "Willow, are you ready to perform one more time for us?" as she nodded and was handed a microphone by Christy, and everyone surrounded her, congratulating her. "Well that's it, Willow is our champion and she's just about to perform one more time for us" Jeremy announced "it's gives us just enough time to thank our contestants, our judges Randy, Idina and Simon and thank you for watching" Christy announced as Willow took to the stage for her final performance.
After her final performance, Willow met Matt backstage and was busy collecting her things when there was a knock at her door, it was Dean and he didn't look too happy. "Hey Wills, can we talk? In private?" he asked, reaching for something in his pocket "anything you have to say Dean you can say in front of Matt" Willow replied, "I'm sorry for all shit I caused in the house. I didn't plan on hurting you the way I did, but after talking to Eric..." he started to say but Willow interrupted him "WHAT? You went and spoke to Eric? When did this happen" she demanded, suddenly starting to feel nervous "it doesn't matter. What matters is that I finally get to end my misery" Dean replied, looking at the floor "Dean, you're scaring me. I've known you for a long time and this is the first time you've scared me" Willow said, her voice shaking, her hand reaching back trying to find Matt's, but failing. "I'm talking about this Willow" Dean said menacingly, pulling a gun from his pocket "Dean, what the hell are you doing?" Willow yelled as Matt stepped in front of her, as if to protect her. "It was never about hurting you Willow, but now I have the power to potentially end one of your careers" Dean said, pointing the gun between Matt and Willow, as Eric slipped in the door behind him. "Dean, you don't have to do this. But if you're gonna shoot someone, please make it me" Matt pleaded, "Matt, don't do it" Willow whispered, her hand squeezing Matt's tightly, making him turn to face her. "Willow, I don't wanna see you hurt any more than you have been in the last two years. I'd do anything for you, I love you" he said, kissing her forehead, before turning back to Dean. "Come on then Dean. Just do it" Matt said, closing his eyes, waiting for the shot, when he heard a bang, Willow screaming in his ear, followed by a thud. He opened his eyes to see Dean running from the room and looked for Willow, who was kneeling on the floor, tears flowing over her face, cradling the almost lifeless body, repeating the word "no" as Matt dropped to his knees and put his arms around her, when he heard a raspy voice "Matt, look after her for me" but before Matt could reply, Eric let out one last raspy breath as Willow let out a loud sob.
Eric Bischoff was dead.
Authors note: For Defying Gravity, Willow is Elphaba & Kristen is Glinda.
