Author retains all rights to this original work of fiction.

Wednesday, March 28th 12:13 AM
Tyler slowly moved the arm, then leg he had slung over my body as we cuddled while coming down from our sexual highs. The warmth of his skin on mine was mesmerizing to me and I wondered if he felt anywhere near the same as I did. I watch him sit up, look back at me, and smile, "I wish I could stay longer, but Dana will probably think I got abducted or something ridiculous like that... I'm sorry, I should probably go."

I reached for his arm and gave it a little squeeze, "Sure...," I replied quietly, almost as a question. I didn't want him to go, but I was happy it didn't feel like he was trying to run out of here right after we'd finished. We'd been laying next to each other for at least thirty minutes and during that calm there were a few kisses, some touching, and a comfortable silence. My mind was running on overload and as much as I wanted to talk about what had happened, what it meant to me, how I wanted to see him again - we just held each other silently and that probably spoke volumes. Could he sense how I was feeling?

Tyler stood and went about getting dressed. He had such a nice ass, OMG, what a nice ass! He looked back at me while pulling his pants up, "You okay?"

Was I okay? Are you kidding me?! I was better than okay... "Wish you didn't have to go...," I said at a whisper, "Will I see you tomorrow?"

He smiled, "It's already tomorrow... I'm sure we can work something out."

I crooked my head towards the alarm clock on the nightstand - 12:15 AM - Augh... I needed a shower and I needed to be asleep! I would need to be up at 6:00 AM to get a quick bite to eat and then meet Bill at 7:30 AM in lobby for my half-hour final rehearsal at 8:00 AM. Augh, augh, and augh... Right now, the competition meant far less to me than the opportunity to meet Tyler again and repeat what we'd just enjoyed together. Well, minus the bondage like head-lock thing. After the fact it was a bit scary, but exciting also - I suppose. I hadn't processed it entirely, but I would probably mention it was a bit uncomfortable and ask we skipped that kind of thing next time. Would he be disappointed in my not wanting to play so rough? Would there even be a...

"Come here you...," Tyler said after dressing, reaching his hand out toward me. When I took his hand he pulled me gently to a standing position, then hugged me tightly. I felt his hand roam over my soft giggly ass, squeezing firmly causing me to grind my body into his. He leaned in to kiss me and after a few seconds pulled away, "Thank you for not being too mad at me..."

I looked into his eyes, "Please don't tell Dana about this..."

He replied quickly, "Ah, yeah - don't need him kicking my ass...," he chuckled.

There was one last peck on the lips, a soft gliding of his hand over my chest, and a light playful slap of my ass. I walked him to the door, hid behind it as he left, and as soon as the door shut I felt very alone. It was tomb quiet, but my mind was racing. Where had all my inhibitions gone? I just had sex with a man I barely knew. What the hell!

Augh... I could beat myself up twenty ways to Sunday, but I need to get to sleep! Go, get ready for bed, get ready for a big day - today! I'm sure I'll see him later... I hope...

Wednesday, March 28th 7:48 AM
Bill started talking as soon as we met in the lobby, I smiled a lot, but didn't add much. Him and Charles enjoyed the Blue Man show last night and had an amazing dessert in the MGM Grand on the way back to the hotel. I was dying to tell someone about my night, but I didn't want a lecture about how I needed to be on my game for the competition. Last night was certainly not me staying focused on being ready for tonight. I yawned unexpectedly, "You didn't sleep well?"

"No, I slept deep, just didn't get enough sleep...," I replied, enunciating the word 'enough' like he was in on what had happened. Augh! Stop! Hold your tongue...

"Oh, well you better get some down time before tonight. You ready for this," he asked concerned.

"As much as I can be, I guess... Wish you were playing for me though - I don't have a good feeling about Brian..."

"He's a pro Brea, he'll deliver - you'll see...," he said trying to encourage my doubts away.

Wednesday, March 28th 8:10 AM
It took a few minutes to get settled into the first song. Mike dialed up my levels for 'Toxic' and as soon as Brian began to play I had to stop him. Something wasn't right, didn't sound right, and I asked Mike to check - he did and Brian began again. Okay, that's more... I got the first line out and had to stop again, "Something isn't right with this IEM (In Ear Monitor), can we switch it out," I asked Mike.

"Sure... Hold on...," Mike replied. He came on stage, unhooked the IEM I was wearing and plugged in another.

I adjusted them in my ears as he watched, "I'm really sorry, it just didn't sound right..."

"No problem Breanna, we want this to be right, so whatever it takes. We got you...," he smiled and patted me on the back to let me know I was ready to go.

I hummed a few warm-up exercises, now that sounded better. I turned to Brian, "That sounds better, wanna go?"

He nodded and the intro sprung from the piano and I began singing, "Baby, can't you see... I'm calling... A guy like you should wear a warning...," I looked towards Bill watching from center auditorium and he held up two thumbs. It was the confidence I needed to plow through the rest of the song.

As Brian played the last haunting notes I smiled, turned toward stage left and gave Mike a thumbs up. When Brian stopped playing I walked over to him and gave him a hug, "That was perfect," I said, hoping I didn't sound too neurotic with the encouragement.

"Cool, think I'm set. By the way, you nail that song like you just did and you'll be in the finals. Not trying to play favorites or anything, and trust me there are some amazing singers, but you are in a class of your own..."

I was stunned by the compliment and hugged him again, "Thank you so much Brian..."

He stood and headed off stage as Mike was in my IEM, "You ready for your next song?"

I held up a finger indicating I needed a moment, then walked to the edge of the stage where Bill was waiting, "How was it," I asked.

"Good, a bit more gravelly than usual don't you think? Your throat bothering you or something?"

"No, not really," which was a lie. I had woke up with a sore neck and a bit of a sore throat. I tried to get ahead of those issues with Advil and warm chamomile tea when I woke up and more tea with breakfast.

"If you say so... Watch your breathing. You got this...," he said finally. I'm not sure he believed me about my throat, but I wasn't going to get into any details he didn't need to know about. I'd be fine by tonight - I hoped.

In my IEM I heard Mike, "Hey Brea, you got about eight minutes - you ready for your second song?"

"Sure, let's go...," Bill nodded, knowing I was being talked to from back stage. I watch him head toward center auditorium as I returned to the classic condenser style microphone that had the retro look I wanted for both songs tonight.

The void of vocals music began and on cue I began singing...

Wednesday, March 28th 8:33 AM
"How was that last take," I asked.

He looked at me a long moment, then placed his fingertips gently at my jaw line, "Sing Aaaaa, Bbbbb, Oooo...,"

I did as requested, not even questioning the request. When done I asked, "What?"

"Something doesn't sound right, you sure your throat isn't bothering you?"

Augh! "Maybe a little, but it's nothing. I'll be fine by tonight..."

He looked at me concerned, "You should have skipped this final check Brea. Your vocal chords could have gotten unnecessarily strained. You were dialed in yesterday and if you had told me before going in there you were having throat issues I would have said to skip this session. Seriously..."

Bill looked disappointed, "I'm sorry, I don't think it's that bad..."

"There are going to be some trained ears listening to you tonight and if you're not at one-hundred percent it's going to be obvious. Tea, Advil, limit talking, and do not practice anymore today. You know what you need to sing inside and out Brea, save yourself for tonight...," he paused, "Then after the show, no alcohol, limit talking, in bed early, repeat tomorrow... Breathing, focus, and save yourself for the shows."

I respected everything he was telling me and expected no less from him. It was a bit uncanny he could tell something was off with my voice. I hadn't thought that my voice was off because of last night, but now thinking about the gagging and severe coughing I did while choking on Tyler's... Yeah, that pretty much has to be the reason for the difficulties with my throat and with my voice, "I understand... Thank you Bill for being here for me and believing in me..."

"We love you Brea... You can do great things with that voice of yours, I think this competition will prove that to you. Now, go get some rest. No arguments young lady..." he said smiling and giving me a hug before he headed off toward the casino to find Charles...

Wednesday, March 28th 8:46 AM
I had just finished going to the bathroom when my phone jingled. I swiped the lock and saw it was a text from my mom - 'Through security, should be at the hotel by noon. Going to grab some coffee. Excited to see you. Love you.'

I texted back, 'Let me know when you arrive and I'll come down to the lobby.'

Mom: 'OK.'

I set an alarm for 11:00 AM, plugged my phone in, and set it on the nightstand before pulling the comforter back and climbing into bed. I was wearing just a t-shirt and footie socks, and the coolness of the sheets made me shiver. The AC was on low and droning, so the cool air and numbing sound would put me out pretty quickly. I laid there on my back in the dark thinking about last night, about Tyler being inside of me, about how he didn't rush, about how one day it would as natural as breathing...

Wednesday, March 28th 11:00 AM
The buzzing of my phone vibrating on the nightstand combined with the awful alarm music had me feeling around for the phone. When I found it I swiped the alarm 'Dismiss' icon and set the phone down. Augh, my mouth was dry and when I swallowed that desert in my mouth tasted like stale cooked broccoli or something just as gross. I did another test swallow and my throat was still sore. Shit...

I threw the comforter off and instantly pulled it back on. Oh crap! It was cold in here. Damn it! I had to get rolling, so repeated the toss of the comforter and quickly darted into the bathroom - closing the door quickly and turning on the heat. I shuddered, then got the shower going... I could really use a thirty minute shower, but I didn't have the time. Before I removed my t-shirt I tossed three Advil in my mouth and took a sip of water straight from the faucet to get them down - please calm my throat I thought while looking at myself in the mirror as the steam began to form at the upper edges...

Wednesday, March 28th 12:08 PM
Mom had texted around 11:40 to tell me she had just landed. I hoped she didn't have all the issues Bill and Charles had getting off their plane. At 12:04 she texted again to say she was getting her bag and knew where to wait for the shuttle bus to the hotel. Instead of waiting in my room I decided to go and wait for her in the lobby.

When the doors to the elevator opened to the lobby there were police and security people milling about. I tensed up and looked around for some kind of issue. When I didn't see anything, I walked toward some chairs in the atrium area of the lobby and sat down watching the activity. I wondered if someone had been caught cheating in the casino or something. I was looking toward the front desk when I heard my name, "Breanna...," called out from behind me.

I turned toward the voice, to see Wyatt coming my way, "Hey Wyatt...," I said smiling.

"You see the protestors," he asked.

"No, I just got here. What happened?"

"Not entirely sure, but I guess a couple protestors got past security and began thumping their bibles and spewing a bunch of crap. A couple of them had enough time to unfurl a banner, if you can believe that. Someone said a fight broke out, there was a bunch of shoving, and finally the police reacted and took a couple people out of here... That's what one of the PBS people told me. Think they got it on film, so they're in a conference room showing the police footage."

"Oh wow... That's a bit crazy, huh?"

"Yeah, really is... What kind of rent-a-security does this place even have in place," he mused, then changed directions, "I don't know if you like the PBS aspect of this competition or not, but if you hang out here and they see you - they're going to rope you into an impromptu interview... I just escaped a short one," he said rolling his eyes.

"I'm just waiting for my mom, then I'll be out of here," I picked up a newspaper from the table beside my chair and opened it up - essentially hiding behind it, "This should throw them off my scent..."

"Yeah, well you've been warned," he said with a chuckle.

"Thanks, I appreciate that. Did you get a rehearsal slot this morning?"

"Just finished, well before the interview thing... You?"

"Earlier, think I'm ready. How are you feeling?"

"Pretty good. The band is pretty damn good, so I'm excited about performing with a crew that knows what they're doing for once...," he replied laughing, "My guys from home are pretty sloppy - good - but sloppy, especially after a couple drinks. We perform in local bars around Nashville, but it's a grind and certainly doesn't pay the rent..."

"Yeah, I only do the amateur scene in San Diego and I was worried about the guy on piano, Brian, not being able to deliver my arrangement - but today he was spot on. You have any trouble with your EIM?"

"No, no monitor problems. I like Brian, seems like a good guy..."

"Yeah, totally... I just want this first night to be over with. I hope to make it to the final, but I'm not counting on it. He said there were some really talented singers amongst us," I said hoping I didn't sound too worried.

"Yup, what Gary told me also..."

I looked confused, "Gary?"

"Guitar player, tall, nice looking, someone I wouldn't be opposed to meeting after the show," he said smiling, "Ya know, what happens in Vegas..."

"Mmmhuh, stays here...," I said smiling, while thinking - I'm all for that - but wouldn't mind some of Vegas following me home.

"Well, I'm out... Gotta see if my luck in the casino is holding, hopefully not drop too much in there. We doing the club thing tonight," he asked.

Shit! I needed to touch base with Blake. Augh... "I'm still working on that. Need to find my contact. I'll let ya know before the show," I replied.

"Okay... See you later..."

"Thanks Wyatt..."

He looked at me confuse, then nodded, "Better get that newspaper up - PBS on da' prowl...," he said laughing as he walked away, pointing towards the entryway to the conference rooms.

I pulled the paper up, hoping they hadn't seen us talking. I did not want to get interviewed again...

Wednesday, March 28th 12:21 PM
After a quick hug my mom asked, "You look like you haven't slept well, what's wrong?"

If anyone could see right through me, especially given my journey the past five years, it was my mom. I explained the grind had been pretty tough to keep up with and that I thought I had a sore throat. That last bit of disclosure got me a lecture and her rummaging through her purse for some crazy organic throat lozenges. I complained, but she gave me that 'I know better...' look and I just went with it - popping one in my mouth. Yucko! Mmmm, dirt flavored! Augh...

I grabbed the handle to her suitcase after she was done getting her room and we turned toward the elevators, that's when I noticed Blake walking through the lobby, "I need to talk to that guy... Can I meet you in your room," I asked my mom hastily.

"Of course honey. Who is that," she asked.

"His name is Blake Schultz. He's..."

She interrupted me, "The stalker?"

I had told her the story about Blake recruiting me for the competition and was now regretting the use of the word 'stalker' to describe any of our interactions. Grrr! "No... It's more like he was oddly persistent and I over reacted..."

"I think I'd like to meet him..."

"Mom...," I was glaring at her, "Do not embarrass me..."

"When have I ever done that sweetie," she asked knowing full well I could come up with a list of incidents if she really wanted me to.

"Augh... Mom, please...," I was pleading now and felt juvenile.

I watched her raise her hand to wave and I snapped my head towards where Blake was a moment ago - no longer there. And there he was, almost upon us, and smiling... How did you get over here so quickly?!

"Breanna... Hey, good to see you. This must be your mother," he asked.

"Oh, hi Blake... Yes, this is my mom," I turned toward my mom with a worried look on my face. Don't embarrass me I thought - trying to send that thought to her via a woman's telepathic thought process or whatever...

"So nice to meet you Mrs. Calloway...," Blake said, extending his hand to shake hers.

"Likewise... Please, I'm Denise, Mrs. Calloway is reserved for my dentist and stock broker, a few others...," she said smiling.

Blake chuckled politely at her little joke, which I'd heard a number of times and with all types of professionals she interacted with - doctors, employees, mayor, etc. "You excited for tonight's show Denise," he asked.

"Oh, I am... I've been watching Brea sing since she was this tall," she held her hand out about waist high, "She will give the competition a run for their money."

Augh! MOM! Please stop! I smiled feebly at Blake, "I'll do my best mom... No pressure," I rolled my eyes at no one in particular.

"You'll do fine," Blake said looking at me, then turning to my mom, "We're excited to have Breanna here... What are you ladies up too? Did you just get here Denise?"

"Yes, just got checked in. Think we'll probably grab lunch, any recommendations," my mom asked.

"I'm partial to the 'Little Cayman'. It's just past the casino there," he pointed down a hallway across the lobby, "Here...," he pulled out his phone and dialed a number, "Hey Cass... Blake. I'm sending a couple VIP's over," he paused to listen, "For two... Breanna Calloway," anther pause, "Yes, tab that for me... You're the best. Thanks..." When he finished he put his phone back into his suit jacket, "Okay, Cass has a table for you ladies. Feel free to order whatever you would like to eat and drink - we'll pick up the tab. I really like the blackened Red Snapper, but if you don't want seafood you can't go wrong with the Jerk beef tips."

"Thank you Blake," my mom said, "You didn't need to do that..."

"My pleasure... Anything else we can do for you?"

I don't know why I felt so nervous, but this was my chance to ask Blake about getting a group of us into the club tonight. Augh! Breathe... "I, I meant to try to get with you last night about something... I was hoping to a, get a table in either of the clubs tonight... After the show... Like for twelve of us?" I sounded like I had no confidence, sheepish, and more nervous than I expected. I looked at my mom and she was giving me a puzzled look. What?!

He thought about it for a second, "Not a problem, but it'll cost you." The confused look on my face must have spoke volumes because he didn't wait for me to question the 'cost'. "One drink, later, my treat," he finished his friendly ask.

What the hell was going on?! Between my mom's looks, which I hoped Blake hadn't picked up on, and my inability to speak - aka 'nervous school girl syndrome' - this meet up with Blake wasn't going as I expected it would. I was reeling a little, trying to catch my bearings, process his ask... Before I could speak, my mom said, "Brea's got a sore throat, Blake. Alcohol is probably not on her list of beverages to consume the next couple days...," she paused to look at me, "Right honey..."

Both of them were looking at me, say something! "Yeah, I probably should stay away from alcohol..." What was my freak'n problem?! Why couldn't I speak with any confidence?

"Not a problem, the bar menu has plenty of non-alcoholic options. We gotta deal," he asked.

"Sure..." What was I going to say, 'No!' "Guess... I'll look for you in the club after the contestants 'Meet and Greet' after the show..."

"Perfect. Well, you ladies enjoy lunch. I have to check on a few things... Nice to meet you Denise. Hopefully see you ladies tonight in the club later..."

Mom replied in kind to the 'Nice to meet you...' and Blake turned and headed towards the conference room area. We headed toward the bank of elevators in silence and entered the middle one in the bank of five. Alone in the elevator mom gave me a look. "What," I asked.

"He likes you...," she said.

"No... He's just a nice man..."

"Okay...," she drug the word out, "How many others in this competition had their airfare paid for to get them here, get lunch paid for, get VIP treatment in the club..."

"Mom, all our meals and lodging have been picked up by the hotel for this competition. Getting lunch, he's just being polite. And honestly, the club thing - if we're any good tonight people will want to be around us to rub elbows with the contestants. It'll be a draw for his club to have us there. He's no dummy, he knows we're value added to this place... And did you hear what he said? He thinks you're going to be in the club tonight also. Don't read more than there is with him mom..."

She looked at me a long moment, then said, "So, he's not attractive at all..."

"Mom!" I started a little exasperated, "I don't know, I honestly he's okay I guess," I didn't give it a second thought and wished I could sway the conversation some other direction, "You know he's like ten years older than me, maybe more..."

"Nothing wrong with an older man Brea... Generally a little brighter than the younger ones," she said with a giggle.

"He's a nice man, that's it..." Please! I did not want to talk with her about men or whatever...

"Yes, a nice man," she pause as if she conceded my point, then added, "Who just happens to like my daughter..." I could see in the mirrored finish of the elevator doors she was smiling and trying to suppress a laugh. Augh! Mom's...

Wednesday, March 28th 6:49 PM
All the contestants had arrived at the theater to prepare for the show by 5:00 PM - not a single person was late. The first order of business was walking through the process for the evening - where to be, how to enter / exit the stage area, dressing rooms, food and drinks request, and hanging out in the 'green room' until called to be on deck as the next performer or waiting for everyone to complete singing their song. When everyone had finished singing, we would be paraded on stage for some pomp and circumstance, and the six finalists for the finale would be announced. The show would then be over, the audience would be invited to meet the singers, and we'd be paraded to a banquet room to mingle. Oh, and don't forget the PBS cameras will be running and catching all the action...

Because it took longer for the women to get made-up and there were only six makeup and hair stylists on staff tonight - we went through getting made-up in shifts. Dressing was a bit crowded and I got to share a room to get dressed with Michelle and Janet - both from my group yesterday. Wyatt got paired up with Dana and Jesse - the only three males in the contest. Everyone was dressing to impress - a few of the women were certainly taking their outfits to the Vegas show girl extreme, but most were in beautiful ball gowns and looked amazing. Then there was me in my Britney Spears wanna-look-like-her leather pants, black heeled boots, long black gloves, black wig, shawl, and leather black bra. If I wasn't intimidated enough before - these women looking as they did certainly knocked me down a few notches...

When I was dressed I made my way to the 'green room' and eventually sat next to Wyatt. He was dressed entirely in black - suit, shirt, tie, cowboy boots and hat. He looked like someone straight out of a country music video. Of course when I entered the room the seven others already waiting - either standing or sitting - didn't hesitate to 'check' my outfit out. Most looks were polite, but there were some judging pretty hard and I tried to not let it bother me - which of course was a battle I wasn't going to win. Breathe...

"Let me guess, Britney Spears," Wyatt asked after I sat.

"That obvious huh," I replied quietly.

"I personally love her and you look damn good if you don't mind me saying. You singing 'Toxic'?"

"Mmmhuh... What are you singing?"

"Putting a spin on the Eagles 'Hotel California'. Going to twang it up a little... It kills in Nashville, we'll see about here in Vegas...," he said smiling and appearing to not be nervous at all.

I really hadn't given it much thought, but I shouldn't have been surprised that some of these talented singers were going to go the creative route and spin a popular song to showcase not only their voices, but who they were as artists. I looked around the room and wondered what everyone else was singing. While getting dressed I learned Michelle was singing 'Black Velvet' by Alannah Miles and Janet was singing something by Carrie Underwood I wasn't familiar with.

"Everyone... Five minutes... I need Jenna - you're up first. Lisa on deck...," someone with headphones on was saying to the group milling about the 'green room'. Everyone watched him walk to a TV monitor, turn it on, and adjust the volume. It was a live feed of the stage, from the left rear side. So, we'd be seeing the back side of the singer and the audience - Oh God! From the look of the feed - the audience had packed their way into the theater... Augh! Nerves, not now... Breathe...

I watched as Jenna moved towards the door, with Lisa right behind her. They waited for the headphone wearing coordinator to exit, then waved at those waiting our turns. A couple people wished them luck - I was thankful I wasn't first and wasn't last. If the nerves hadn't kicked in fully to those waiting - that had just changed. You could feel the room tense up just a little... It was about to get very real, very fast...