Page 141 of Disharmony

The spotlights plummet the rest of the stage into darkness, leaving only him and his bandmates illuminated, while dramatic music plays to build tension. I’m already counting down the seconds until this moment will end. I’ll be able to see Dad and Brick again.

“The winner of a place in Popstarz is…” Damon tears open the envelope, glances down at the paper, and hands it to Levi to read.

It’s the first time Levi’s spoken this evening, and he announces in a flat voice, “Tiffany Lockhart.”

The audience claps along wildly. No surprises there. Tiffany sang her part perfectly, and she’s exactly what the judges are looking for. She gasps in bewildered surprise, but I see through her bullshit acting.

“I can’t believe it,” Tiffany gushes as cameras zoom in for the close-up she’s been waiting for.

This is the outcome Jacqueline and McCallister wanted. It was inevitable. The Lockets surround Tiffany, jumping up and down and shrieking hysterically.

All I need to do is stand here a little longer.

Grit your teeth and get through it, Ash.

“And Ashley Cooper!” Levi’s voice rings over the applause.

I almost fall backward as a spotlight finds me in the line-up.

What? Did he really say my name?

I look at Levi, who stares back at me in shock. His eyebrows arch as he looks down at the paper again, then over to the judges. Tiffany and the Lockets freeze in the middle of their celebrations as the cameras return to the panel.

“In a surprise twist of events, the judges felt that two artists are worthy of competing in the show!” Jacqueline says. “We’re just thrilled at the results. Tiffany and Ashley will also be pleased to hear that our Camp Harmony mentors, the Lionhearts, will be guest judges on the show next season.”

Jacinta and Jin are speaking to round off the show, but I don’t catch what they’re saying.

Fuck.

This can’t be happening…

This can’t be real!

Me? On Popstarz? But I sang metal.

The Lionhearts go to Tiffany to shake her hand.

“That’s a wrap,” a crew member shouts. “We’re off air.”

Cookie, Leila, and the twins race onto the stage toward me. They scream with excitement as they wrap their arms around me in a group hug.

“You did it, Ash,” Cookie squeals. “I knew you would.”

I look at my four friends and stammer, “I don’t understand.”

“Aw, look, she’s in shock.” Leila nudges Conor playfully then winks in my direction. “You can thank us properly later.”

My friends move to the side, so the Lionhearts can congratulate me. It’s the first time I’ve seen them since last night, and I feel like I should say something, but my head is spinning.

The three of them seem as stunned as I am at the judges’ decision.

Levi steps forward first.

“Congratulations, Ash,” Levi says. He holds out the card with the results. As I go to take it, he holds on and leans in closer to whisper in my ear, “Split your heart open, invite the darkness in, let it make you whole again.”

The card slips from our fingers and flutters to the floor below, but neither of us make an effort to pick it up. I meet his intense stare, then look past him to Zach and Damon.

Those words…

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