3.
"Who is she?" they heard as Eddie walked into the room.
"Um.. her name is Loren Tate."
"She's the one Jake. I heard all the others but not that one and I can tell you she is the one. The lyrics are awesome and her voice is killer."
"You sure?" Jake asks.
"Yeah, where did you get it?"
"I brought it. Her mom and I guess a friend of hers showed up at my club today. They asked that at least it got heard with there being so many of them. The friend was the daughter of the surgeon who took care of my knee. So I thought what the hell, we could at least listen to it." Max said.
"I'm glad you brought it over Pop and again I'm sorry about today."
"No problem son." he said bringing his son into a hug.
"So we at least have to bring in four more to have the playoff. We will have each one sing at your dads club as planned and then we will pick the winner."
"It's her." Eddie says with a smile.
"Okay, okay, but we can't say that yet." Jake says smiling.
"I understand." Eddie says with a smile.
"Are you going to be okay to work with her?"
"Yeah, I mean, like you said, keep my walls up."
"Yeah." Jake said watching his friend. He just hoped it would all work out okay.
The next day at the office Kelly came in. "So what happened to the songs?"
"You will be happy to know that there are female finalists on it. In fact Eddie has already declared to himself who the winner is. But we still have to follow the procedures."
"Who was it?"
"Loren Tate."
"I knew it. She is the one I kept trying to get you to listen to and you didn't."
"Well remind me to trust you more often." Jake said with a smile. "It was a good call on your part and in fact we might have missed out if the girls mother hadn't showed up at the club and spoke to Max yesterday. He is the one that brought over the CD."
Kelly smiled largely and showed her excitement. "So when is it going to be announced?"
"Eddie will be here shortly and we will make the announcement live."
"Great."
"What exactly are we all doing here for?" Loren asked sitting at her kitchen table.
"We just wanted a girl day." Melissa states.
"Well that should be fun. Um.. though if you guys don't mind I would love to hear the finalist names on that contest."
"What contest?" Adrian asks secretly smiling.
"Oh you know the song lyric contest."
"The one you refused to enter?" Nora asks.
"Yeah. Look you guys I know you all think I could have won it but you are suppose to feel that way because you are my friends. But I know I could never be good enough."
"Well we will listen for you." Melissa says.
"Thanks guys."
Nora turns on the radio and they all listen to the DJ announcing that they would be declaring the five finalist after the next song. That song being one of Eddie Durans.
"I just love him so much." Loren says dreamily.
"Yeah, I mean he has to be one of the sexiest men alive." Melissa states with a smile.
"He's not the only one." Adrian starts to say and realizes she can't say anything yet. Nora looks up at her and smiles.
As the song ends they all sit closer to the radio.
"Okay all of you who are there waiting for this moment. We have Eddie Duran, himself in our studio right now and he is going to be giving the names of the final five. Once they have the names out there they are to meet at MK club at 7 tonight. There they will have to sing the song they wrote and the final decision will be given. So here we have it. Take it over Eddie."
"Hi all of you out there. It is a pleasure to be with you right now. I think I am as excited as you all are because this will be one of the songs on my next album. So are you ready?"
"Oh come on already." Melissa states excitedly. Loren looks over at her wondering what was up.
"Okay here we go. The first of the five finalist, Larry Stack, The second finalist is Randy Spartan. The third finalist is Steven Marsh and the fourth finalist is Rodney Abrams and the fifth and final finalist is...
"Looks like I wouldn't have had a chance anyways guys, they picked all males." Loren said.
"Loren Tate."
Everyone got silent in the room.
"Wait what did he say?" Loren asks.
"You were chosen sweety." Nora says hugging her daughter.
"But how?"
"We uh.. may have sent in a CD." Melissa says.
"Oh my God, Oh my God, Oh my God." Loren keeps saying over and over.
"Are you mad?" Adrian asks.
"Uh.. I don't think so. I'm stunned, I'm excited. Shit, what am I going to wear? What am I going to sing?"
"Well I will go to your closet now and find you something irresistible to them."
"And your mom and I think you should sing "Mars."
Loren let out a squeal and hugged all her friends and her mom. Then they set out to get ready, because all of them are going to the show.