Music Star by Bethan Rees (best detective novels of all time TXT) 📕

The day of the performance, I was excited and scared. We had a sound check and a tour of the stage today.

I got up, had a fry-up as I had arose half an hour early. I'd gone to bed very early the night before. I got changed into casual clothes - my Nightcore shirt and Hollister jeans.

A limo picked me up and the girls called me over to them. Tanya was sitting with Olivia and Sarah. I sat on the other side of Sarah, next to Alex. We chatted about our feelings about the show.
'Mrs Daniels is going to meet us at the MusicPlex arena. For now, we'd better calm down and look forward to just having fun on that stage. I've seen it. It's MASSIVE.' Alex said.

We picked up a few more performers and then went down to the arena.

We drew up at the front entrance. A massive screen had the Music Star logo on it with TONIGHT - 8PM ON CHANNEL 4

. God, the entire country would be watching us. Our performances would be on YouTube. If we were in the top 5, we'd be known across the globe.

Mrs Daniels met us in the front lounge of the MusicPlex.
'Welcome to the MusicPlex! The first people up for a sound check is The Energy. The rest of you, follow Cynthia, this lady next to me, to your dressing rooms. Come with me, The Energy.' She carried a clipboard and led us to the stage.
'WOAH!' We cried.
'Yeah, pretty big stage, isn't it?'
There was a round zone where we came on, and a star-shaped platform at the end. The audience space was MASSIVE. In under 12 hours, this place would be full of people...

In the sound check, my voice didn't get any better from last time. I was so worried. Mrs Daniels gave me a reassuring look.

In the dressing room, we had a TV showing us what was happening on stage. One minute before the show, the stage went dark. The screen came on, showing a countdown.
'One minute to go, guys - until the world will know our names.' Alex said.
We talked until the 20 second mark. Mrs Dover sent me a text message.
Under 20 seconds to go. You'll be the last performers Best of luck, see you on stage! M.D x

Ten... I was excited.
Nine... I looked round.
Eight... I felt moderate.
Seven... Emmm....
Six... Okay...
Five... Worried
Four... Scared
Three... No!
Two... Oh God!
One... Help me...
ZERO!
The Music Star theme played. The show had begun.
Alice Derby and Gareth Clare came on.
'Welcome to Music Star 2013!' They cried. The audience cheered.
'Tonight, we are going to find our Music Star. A superstar act! High schools from all over the country have signed up to prove that their students have the talent to be a true star. Please welcome our first act from Welchester High... Samantha Pop!'

The acts rolled on through the evening. They were all very good.
'There's no way we're going to be in the top 5!' I cried.
'There is.' Sarah said. 'For now, let's have a bit of fun. PANIC TIME!'
We ran round, going 'AGHHHH!' It's a tradition for us during stressful situations (we do it in our heads in tests).

Mrs Daniels came in.
'What the heck are you doing?' She asked, laughing. We stopped. 'Anyway, you're on next. Come on.'
We were in our costumes. I felt sick. We walked down the corridors to the wings. Mrs Daniels held mine and Sarah's hands. Alex held my other hand. Tanya and Olivia held hands.
'Don't let fear get the better of you.' Mrs Daniels whispered to me. 'It's your chance to shine, my star.'

The act that was on went off.
'It's time for the final act of the evening. Please, give it up for Ravenwood High's group The Energy!' Alice Derby cried.
We took our positions. It started with my solo to introduce the medley.
(CREDIT TO NIGHTCORE AND THE ORIGINAL ARTISTS OF THESE PIECES - B.Rees

)

'Lost in the darkness,
hoping for a sign,
instead there's only silence,
can't you hear my scream?
Never stop hoping,
if you know where you are...
My boy thinks for sure,
you're always in my heart...

'

I sung it perfectly. I was astonished by the sound of my voice here. The music changed. Sarah started to sing.

'Dam dadi doo dam dam didoodi dam,
Dam dadi doo dam dam didoodi dam,
Dam dadi doo dam dam didoodi dam,
Dam dadi doo dam dam didoodi dam...

'

There was instrumental. Tanya started to sing. Sarah sung the last paragraph and the sung the last part together.

'When the morning come come,
I'm dancing like you're dumb, dumb,
And when the groove is high,
when dummies jump to sky,

if you feel the groove, groove,
the dummies have to move, move,
can you feel the beat, the beat, the beat,

You never tell me what is wrong
'cause now it's time to be alone,
let me love you everyday
so long you let the dummies play

Dance to the beat, dance, dance to the beat
Dance to the beat, dance, dance to the beat...

'

The music changed again. Olivia sang.

'Be my bad boy, be my man,
Be my weekend lover, but don't be my friend,
You can be my bad boy, but understand,
That I don't need you in my life again,

Would you be my bad boy, be my man,
Be my weekend lover, but don't be my friend,
You can be my bad boy, but understand,
That I don't need you again,
No, I don't need you again...

'

There was an instrumental, and then all four of us cried 'BAD BOY!'
There was another change in music. Alex sang.

'One night and one more time,
Thanks for the memories,
Even though they weren't so great,
He tastes like you only sweeter,
One night yeah, and one more time,
Thanks for the memories,
Thanks for the memories,
See he tastes like you only sweeter...

'

It was the final music change. We all sang.

'(Alex: WAKE ME UP!) Wake me up inside...
(Alex: CAN'T WAKE UP!) Wake me up inside...
(Alex: SAVE ME!) Call my name and save me from the dark...
(Alex: WAKE ME UP!) Be my blood to run...
(Alex: CAN'T WAKE UP!) Before I come undone...
(Alex: SAVE ME!) Save me from the nothing I've become...

'

We all shouted 'WAKE ME UP!' At the end.
We had a massive load of applause.

'What a performance!' Gareth Clare cried. 'How do you feel, Ever?'
'Tired!' I cried. The audience laughed. 'It was so hard - in rehearsal, I didn't get anything right. I'm astonished that I actually did it. We couldn't have performed tonight without Stacey Daniels - please come out, Mrs Daniels!'

After all of this, Alice said the voting details and that the lines were open and would close after an exclusive performance from Gabrielle Aplin. We went into the dressing room.

'Give it up for our acts!'
We all came out.
After saying the first 45 of the top 50, the acts in the 45 went off, leaving us with a few other acts.
They sent off the next three, leaving the top two. Us and Samantha Pop.

They let Gabrielle Aplin announce the winner.
'The winner is...'
It's not gonna be us

, I thought.
'The Energy!

'

Oh my Lord

, I thought. WE WON!

We got the trophy and performed our piece again. We got a bigger cheer than before.
'So, Ever - the first half of the £30,000 cash prize will be split between each of you, but what would you like to do with the other half?'
We had a group huddle and then decided.
'We're going to donate it to the Ravenwood High Music department, to get more kids into music.' I said.
'Congratulations! Now, for an EXCLUSIVE performance, 3 years since her Newbies Concert performance - Stacey Daniels!'
Mrs Daniels was in the spotlight.
I knew this song.
Another Club Penguin edit!
We were asked to sing, too.

'Get up party people
Haven't you heard?
I get a lot of distance'
For a little flightless bird
I'm a,
Crowned queen,
Of this funky scene
With my stylin' diva floww
And my ice cold beats.
Can I get a what, what
Can I get a who, where
At the coolest club around

The party starts NOW
When I walk in
Turn the music loud for an epic win
DJ K Dance in the house!
You ready to move
Cause I'm spinning the tunes
The party starts NOW
The party starts NOW
Let's begin the countdown!
Let's turn it up loud!
Come on, 5-4-3-2-1
The party starts now!

Aaaaw yeah!
I've got my boom box with me and I'm ready to spin
Turn tables and the microphone
In case you want to win
the party starts and you're still asking around
It doesn't start in 5 minutes!

The party starts now!

The party starts NOW
When I walk in
Turn the music loud for an epic win
DJ K Dance in the house!
Get ready to move
You can boogie down
Cause I'm spinning tunes
The party starts NOW ah ah ah ow!
The party starts NOW ah ah ah ow!
Let's begin the count down!
Let's turn it up loud!
Come on, 5-4-3-2-1
The party starts now!

'

(CREDIT TO DISNEY - B.Rees

)

We had another massive cheer.

At the dressing room, some of the acts came to congratulate us. A security guard came in to remove the acts.
'The Energy might want some private time, kids, so the party's over.'
'No it's not,' I said to the security guard. 'It's only just beginning...'