Read Online The Winner Takes It All (Love in L.A. Book 3) by Audrey Harte - Free Book Online
Authors: Audrey Harte
Tags: Contemporary
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to that. If you do not see your badge number on the schedule, congratulations. Your previous audition has guaranteed you a pass into the next round tomorrow. You may, however, choose to stick around… and I’d recommend it. Check out your competition. All of this is being recorded, and per the waivers you signed, any and all film can be used, so please remember that this is a family show, people. Keep it clean. Okay, that’s about it. I don’t know about you, everybody, but I know I’m excited. Are you excited?”
The contestants all cheered loudly, filling the auditorium with applause. When the noise died down, Kyle said, “Alright then, we will start in half an hour. Thank you,” and walked off the stage.
Everyone applauded again as ushers moved about the auditorium passing out schedules. As each contestant checked the schedule for their badge number, some people started getting up to do their last minute preparations. Those who were performing went to change into costumes and do last minute warm-ups. Those who were safe until the next round elected to stay and watch. So far, nobody was stupid enough to leave and not see the competition they would face. There were five million dollars on the line, and everybody seemed to be taking that fact very seriously. It made Annie want to throw up. To her, the money meant freedom and the chance to do something she loved for a living, but not at the cost of her sanity.
As she scanned the schedule nervously, her breath caught in her throat when she saw her badge number listed in the ten o’clock slot. That meant she had to be ready to go by nine-thirty. Glancing at Keri, she asked, “Are you safe?”
Keri shook her head as she stared down at the paper and sighed. “Nope, I’m down for two p.m.”
Erin said she was down for nine forty-five. Annie wasn’t sure whether or not she should feel nervous that Erin was going right before her. She’d never heard her sing before, so she had no idea how much a threat she was.
“I heard that there are a lot of vocalists and they’re making all of them sing today, and they are only going to keep four girls and four guys,” Keri said as she picked up her bag and stood up, then turned and waited for Annie and Erin to do the same. “So girls, let’s get ready and warm up those voices.”
Annie turned to lead the way out of the auditorium. She was already wearing what she was going to audition in, but she did want to touch up her make-up and do some vocal exercises. She focused on getting ready and tried not to think about walking out on that stage and facing all those people and singing. To her it felt a lot like having to strip naked in front of strangers. She was afraid she would mess up or be too boring and get booed off the stage.
As she stood in the ladies’ room, staring at herself in the mirror, she could hear Alex in her head, telling her to give it two hundred percent—all she had and more. Without a doubt, Annie knew that she was capable of giving a great performance… but was that going to be good enough? Swallowing hard, her hand trembled slightly as she tried to apply her mascara. Just breathe, she told herself. You can do this.
Belatedly, she wondered how Casey and his dance crew had fared. She checked her cell phone, and sure enough, there was a text from Casey.
Casey: Hey, we don’t have to perform until the next round tomorrow, but I am sitting in the center of the third row, ready to cheer you on. You can do it, princess!
Annie smiled with relief, knowing that she didn’t have to worry about him this round and could just focus on herself. She followed the signs that led her to the backstage area where she was supposed to wait until it was her turn to perform. First she was put in a greenroom with some other contestants for the first half hour, then she and Erin were both called to line up and wait “on deck” for their turn. Before Erin’s turn came up, Annie gave her a quick hug and wished
The contestants all cheered loudly, filling the auditorium with applause. When the noise died down, Kyle said, “Alright then, we will start in half an hour. Thank you,” and walked off the stage.
Everyone applauded again as ushers moved about the auditorium passing out schedules. As each contestant checked the schedule for their badge number, some people started getting up to do their last minute preparations. Those who were performing went to change into costumes and do last minute warm-ups. Those who were safe until the next round elected to stay and watch. So far, nobody was stupid enough to leave and not see the competition they would face. There were five million dollars on the line, and everybody seemed to be taking that fact very seriously. It made Annie want to throw up. To her, the money meant freedom and the chance to do something she loved for a living, but not at the cost of her sanity.
As she scanned the schedule nervously, her breath caught in her throat when she saw her badge number listed in the ten o’clock slot. That meant she had to be ready to go by nine-thirty. Glancing at Keri, she asked, “Are you safe?”
Keri shook her head as she stared down at the paper and sighed. “Nope, I’m down for two p.m.”
Erin said she was down for nine forty-five. Annie wasn’t sure whether or not she should feel nervous that Erin was going right before her. She’d never heard her sing before, so she had no idea how much a threat she was.
“I heard that there are a lot of vocalists and they’re making all of them sing today, and they are only going to keep four girls and four guys,” Keri said as she picked up her bag and stood up, then turned and waited for Annie and Erin to do the same. “So girls, let’s get ready and warm up those voices.”
Annie turned to lead the way out of the auditorium. She was already wearing what she was going to audition in, but she did want to touch up her make-up and do some vocal exercises. She focused on getting ready and tried not to think about walking out on that stage and facing all those people and singing. To her it felt a lot like having to strip naked in front of strangers. She was afraid she would mess up or be too boring and get booed off the stage.
As she stood in the ladies’ room, staring at herself in the mirror, she could hear Alex in her head, telling her to give it two hundred percent—all she had and more. Without a doubt, Annie knew that she was capable of giving a great performance… but was that going to be good enough? Swallowing hard, her hand trembled slightly as she tried to apply her mascara. Just breathe, she told herself. You can do this.
Belatedly, she wondered how Casey and his dance crew had fared. She checked her cell phone, and sure enough, there was a text from Casey.
Casey: Hey, we don’t have to perform until the next round tomorrow, but I am sitting in the center of the third row, ready to cheer you on. You can do it, princess!
Annie smiled with relief, knowing that she didn’t have to worry about him this round and could just focus on herself. She followed the signs that led her to the backstage area where she was supposed to wait until it was her turn to perform. First she was put in a greenroom with some other contestants for the first half hour, then she and Erin were both called to line up and wait “on deck” for their turn. Before Erin’s turn came up, Annie gave her a quick hug and wished
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