The Blue Room- After the First ShowThe contestants sat around in the blue room at the studio, it was sort of like a holding area lounge affair…and where all of them had waited to go on after getting ready in their dressing rooms. It was a fairly high charged atmosphere but the production crew kept everything under control.
Ellie was more than a little relieved when her mobile rang.
“Dad!!” she gasped,
Red’s voice on the line was a huge comfort to her..
“Are you all right sweetheart? You were fantastic Love….we’re so proud of you…”
Ellie moved away from where her competitors were chatting ….
“Oh my god Dad I was petrified”
“Well it didn’t show…ahhh…hold on…Noosh is trying to rip the phone off me…speak to your sister a sec will you “
Ellie chuckled as Noosh squealed down the phone…
“Oh my god!!! You were great…really really….and I love the song…and um…do you think you can get the Rice Brothers autographs for my friend Shelby? And Pete’s for me…god he’s gorgeous…”
Ellie heard her Dad prise the phone back off her sister……
“Hello Ellie? So yeah….are you OK now? What are you doing tonight?”
Ellie glanced round the room.
“Some of them have already gone back to the hotel, we’re just having a cuppa and then I think we get chaperoned over to the hotel too in a minute.”
Ellie went quiet….
“Listen kiddo….you go hang out…if you want to chat to me later, just give me a call…don’t worry about what time…if you need me , I am here ok”
Ellie felt tearful again and so quickly composed herself and went to sit with the others.
Ellie sat down in a spare seat between Denise and Louis; they were busy chatting about how their careers would take shape after the contest…
“So Ellie….do you have any particular plans for after the show?”
Denise asked… “Ellie shrugged, “Gosh I don’t know…I haven’t really thought about it…I was so amazed to get this far anyway..”
“I am seriously looking into an album…maybe a tour after the Star Factor tour at least…my agent is negotiating some time for me at a really great studio” Louis explained…
“Uh huh…” nodded Denise, “I just have so many songs lined up..double albums worth for sure…..you really don’t have anything set up Ellie?...you really should have an agent..”
“I’m just enjoying the experience really…I try not to think to far ahead” Ellie admitted.
Cindy Anne chuckled and flicked her hair back…
“Wow…seems a silly approach..everyone knows this show can open doors…like so far beyond singing…I have my people looking into a fragrance, clothing line…workout video…I mean SOME of us can pull it off better than others……”
She gave Ellie a slightly superior look.
“Really, I don’t mind..I’m happy to just be this far into it…I miss my family and stuff…” Ellie said quietly, feeling more and more foolish listening to everyone else talk about sponsorship deals and TV appearances.
Gradually the others were collected one by one till only Ellie and Cindy Anne were left.
Ellie was pacing round the room waiting for a text back from Sam when Cindy Anne walked over to her.
“I have to hand it to you Ellie” Cindy Anne sneered as she spoke…Ellie turned to face her…
“What’s that?”
“This goody two shoes act of yours…..in this for the experience? Come on! That’s so obviously fake…..people are going to see you for what you really are…you wait and see…” Cindy Anne ranted at her.
Ellie recoiled, totally unprepared…”Wh..What?”
“You’re so weak…you aren’t going to last…its not just about the voice..don’t you realise that they can enhance everything in the studios these days? That you hardly ever sing live? It’s all miming..anyone with half a brain in this business knows that…..you are so out of your league it’s not even funny…..”
Cindy Anne’s eyes glittered; she was clearly enjoying this …
Ellie felt so alone…it was true , she did feel out of her depth….she was so stressed already , and Cindy Anne could tell Ellie was vulnerable…….
“You are never going to make it to the end Ellie….you don’t belong in this contest…I wonder who you slept with to get this far…….”
Cindy Anne’s Chaperone called from just outside the door….as Ellie burst into tears, Cindy left her parting shot……
“And by the way…that dress is gross…you just looked like a dog….”
Cindy Anne left with a satisfied smirk on her face.
Ellie wanted the ground to swallow her up, right there..alone at last she sobbed into her hands…
A text from Sam arrived…it was just what she needed to prompt her into taking a deep breath and drying her eyes.
She walked towards the window and watched the city through the drapes, trying to hold on to thoughts of those she loved back home…who loved her and believed in her….for them she would not let the Cindy Anne’s of the world beat her down.
A voice behind her startled her a little….
“Excuse me? Miss De’Vill….I am so sorry I’m late..”
Ellie turned round to find a drop dead gorgeous hunk looking at her with concern….
“Miss De’Vill? Are you OK? You look upset…”
Ellie was taken aback…about the last thing she expected to be confronted with after her run in with Cindy Anne was someone like this
She nodded and smiled a little
“Um yes…I was er….missing my family you know…big night and all that”
The man smiled back,
“Of course…my name is Brett, and I’m your chaperone for the course of the finals….”
“My what?.....er sorry” Ellie could feel her cheeks burning…..
“Your chaperone, bodyguard..whatever you want to call me really,” Brett explained,
“All finalists have one of us to look after them at this stage in the proceedings…why? Did you maybe want someone else? It’s not a problem if you don’t feel I’m the right person…”
Ellie cleared her throat.. “Um no no..I think you will …er…you will do “
She blushed deep crimson..
”What I mean is …oh god sorry…what I mean is that I am cool with you looking after me…..er are we going to the hotel?..I mean not staying there in the same room or anything….are we?”
Brett suppressed a grin
“No I shall be next door, just page me if you need me…..now if everything is in order shall we go?”
Ellie turned and walked out into the foyer determined not to say another word till
she’d had a cold shower and at least 12 hours sleep.