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THE AMERICAN DREAM |
Marissa's Melodic Moment (Chapter 1) |
This was sheer and utter madness. Marissa had been elbowed and jostled so many times, she was sure she'd be black and blue tomorrow. After a seemingly endless wait in line outside, they'd finally started letting people inside the building. Registration had been taken care of and now they had another wait until their number was called. People all around her were humming and singing softly but when their individual voices were multiplied by a hundred, the chaotic blend was starting to make her head pound.
She sat with Summer and was grateful for the distraction her friend provided. Summer had a ready comment for everything, from people's choice of wardrobe to their stunning lack of talent. Whatever this day would be chalked up to, it definitely wasn't boring.
So far, they had only witnessed one person come out of the double doors with a triumphant scream and waving a golden ticket. Each time those doors swung open, nearby heads turned in curiosity to watch the face of the person who emerged. Invariably, they were either in tears or pouting angrily.
Although they had been waiting for so long, Marissa wasn't ready when her number was called. She felt her palms begin to sweat.
"Go get 'em, Coop!" Summer called out, grinning.
Marissa smiled back weakly, her gaze travelling to Ryan. He grabbed her hand and placed a quick, warm kiss on her lips. "Good luck. You'll do great," he whispered in her ear.
As she turned to meet her fate, she heard Seth's distinctive voice yell, "Go Marissa!" Her heart thumped in double time as she entered the mystical doorway, the metallic clang of the doors behind her seeming to seal her in. At once, she felt the cool rush of air a welcome treat in the darkened hallway. While the waiting area had been air conditioned, the pack of warm bodies had greatly reduced its effectiveness. Even more calming was the total silence. All she could hear was the click of her heels as she followed the usher.
He stopped in front of a brightly lit room and waved her in. "Right through here."
Not trusting herself to speak just yet, she simply nodded. Stepping inside, she was greeted by the surreal sight of the judges themselves. She tried not to gawk and went to stand before them with a nervous smile. "Hi," was all she could manage.
"Hello. What's your name?" Simon asked.
"Marissa Cooper."
"And where are you from, Marissa?"
Good, a little conversation to break the ice. She appreciated that. "Newport Beach."
"Is that right? I have a friend that lives there. Very nice area."
"Yes, it is." She glanced at the other two judges but they were each looking at their notes.
"I don't suppose you're any relation to a Jimmy Cooper?"
She froze, returning her gaze to Simon who seemed to be watching her carefully. Why on earth would he ask her that? Unless... "No. Why?"
"My friend has had some investment difficulties and he's mentioned his name. I guess it must be a different Cooper."
"Must be." She switched to a different topic as quickly as possible, swinging her arms to and fro. "Anyway, you want to hear me sing, right? And here I am, ready to sing for you. Can we get on with it?"
Randy spoke up for the first time. "Yes, let's get on with it. What are you going to sing for us?"
"Can You Feel The Love Tonight," Marissa replied. Heaving a deep breath, she began warbling her little heart out. In her mind, she told herself she was doing a pretty decent job. She half expected to hear a gong going off, like in that old TV show her father used to watch. Her father the investment broker. But that didn't happen and the judges let her finish.
Relieved it was over and that she hadn't melted into a puddle, she waited to hear their thoughts. Randy's booming voice startled her, making her physically jump. "Man, I was feelin' it! You were a little shaky at first but you really pulled it off. I've always hated that song but you were better than Elton!"
Marissa couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Really? Thank you."
Paula was next. "You're a beautiful girl and actually, that wasn't bad compared to some others we've heard today. But I'm afraid it's not quite good enough. Sorry."
With bated breath, Marissa wondered what Simon would say. "Like Paula said, it wasn't half bad. At least it wasn't complete rubbish. But ultimately, it's not good enough for this competition."
"Oh, come on!" Randy complained, his hands waving wildly. "We're almost three quarters of the way through this day and we've only picked one person. One! She's got the looks and a decent voice. She even made me like that song."
"Well, I will say this for you," Simon conceded. "At least you look lovely in that dress. You wouldn't believe some of the God-awful outfits we've seen today. But I'm sorry, you won't be going to Hollywood."
"Oh, man," Randy grumbled.
Marissa had never even considered the possibility that she'd be chosen so she was hardly disappointed. "Thank you anyway. Especially to you, Randy. That meant a lot."
The big man tossed his pen down. "See? She's even polite. Okay, kid, thanks for coming."
Before she could turn to go, Simon had one more word of advice for her. "Oh, Marissa? Stay away from Jimmy Cooper. Don't let him handle any of your finances."
Resisting the urge to run, she left the room and re-entered the waiting area, glad to see her companions. They jumped up to meet her but immediately noticed her hands were empty.
"Sorry, Marissa," Seth stated. "Did they crucify you?"
"No, actually they were really nice."
"Was Simon as cute in person?" Summer asked, her eyes shining.
Marissa nodded and they both burst out in giggles. Her bout of laughter came more from the release of nervous tension. Now she could enjoy the rest of their time in the city. "So who's going next?"
"Me."
Ryan flashed her a quick smile but it more resembled a grimace. She could see the visible clench of his teeth. Taking his hand, as he had done earlier, she pressed her lips gently against his. Then it was her turn to murmur against his ear. "Just promise me one thing. Before this day is over, I want you to sing to me."
Although he wasn't quite blushing, he ducked his head in that boyishly charming way of his. She had to add one more piece of advice. "And whatever you do, don't mention Newport." At his questioning look, she hastily said, "I'll explain later. Good luck!"
With a jaunty wave, Ryan disappeared into the void to do his thing.
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