Rise To Stardom - Chapter 26

Chapter 26: Fourth Episode Airs!
In a house with a family of four, a young chap, about the age of fourteen, exited the kitchen with a big bowl of popcorn in his hands.

“Hey Trix! We’re about to watch the new episode of Rising Voices! You gonna come down or are you still moping over your second heartbreak in a year?” he bluntly called out to his elder sister.

“Okay young man. That’s enough from you!” the father who was sitting on the couch in the living room reprimanded while the mother simply sighed and got up from the couch.

She had been sitting just beside her husband.

“Spare your sister will you, Bryan?” she directed a reprimanding gaze to which the chap nonchalantly shrugged at in response.

Ruffling her son’s hair as she walked past with a sigh of resignation, she headed upstairs to her daughter’s room.

Knocking on the door, she gently said;

“Hey baby. It won’t do you any good if you keep sulking over Billy. Besides, he was an absolute jerk and you my dear, are a sweetheart. Good on you for not giving in to his advances”

Realizing she wasn’t answering, the mother gently opened the door and entered the room, proceeding to sit on her daughter’s bed.

Trix on the other hand, was wrapped in her blanket like a spider webs’ cocoon.

“I really thought he liked me for me. But he was just like all the others. Only after my body…” she spoke from beneath her blanket, her sulky voice muffled.

“And you did the right thing by not giving in to him. Your body’s a temple darling and it needs to be treasured. Trust me, someday, a nice young man who would be willing to treat you right will eventually come along. Just don’t give up on love okay” the mother gently said in response.

Listening to her mother’s advice, Trix felt a bit better and then unwebbed herself from the blanket and proceeded to hug her mum.

“Thanks mum. You’re the best” she said with a weak smile to which her mother replied while gently rubbing her back.

“Anytime baby. Mummy’s always gonna be your number one cheerleader”

“The show’s about to start!” Bryan then called out again and this time, Trix was willing to go down with her mum to watch the show as a family.

Since the show always aired on Sunday nights, it had become a thing for all of them to watch the reality show together as a family.

Making their way downstairs within seconds, Trix lightly hit her brother on the head first as an act of revenge before she then settled in between of her parents on the couch.

All three chuckled for a while as Bryan complained about his sister’s actions but soon, the family eventually turned their attention over to the large TV screen.

Currently, the show was once again giving a brief overview of how the blind auditions would work.

‘I do like the blind auditions theme a lot. It feels really innovative and fresh. But I’m still looking forward to the Lily and Steven’s performance the most…’ Trix thought to herself and soon, the auditions began.

Considering the show would be edited in a way to show the contestants however they wished, Steven’s performance actually came in after about two contestants had already been eliminated despite him actually been the first contestant to have blind auditioned.

The family of four genuinely enjoyed his performance and from there on, the performances of June’s, Katie’s, Helena’s, Joe’s and even Paxton’s were shown, each enjoyable in their own right.

But still, none had come close to Steven’s level.

As the family kept watching, Kyle’s audition then came up and at first, they were all a bit stunned by the young man’s stellar makeover that greatly highlighted all of his handsome features.

But the moment he started singing, that was the moment the family felt like they were watching a performance that really, really came close to Steven’s.

🎸🎶

Broken heart with smudged up make-up…

🎸🎶

Trix especially, was so moved by the song that it felt as if all of the lyrics were being directly sung just for her.

🎸🎶

Mirrors her fragile heart unhealed…

🎸🎶

As invisible strings extended over from the TV to reach out to her and her entire family, the young lady resonated with the song so very much.

‘It’s almost like he completely understands and accepts how conflicted we feel with heartbreak…’

🎹🎶🎼🎸🎤

Tell her she’s a beautiful soul,

‘Cause she needs to be loved…

🎹🎶🎼🎸🎤

And just like that, his performance continued till it ended as he got a rousing cheer of screams, whistles and applause from the audience.

The family also had a good laugh when Kiara gave her first few comments and even Trix, had a lovely smile bloom on her features.

And then, the part where Blake asked how long he had been working on the song came up.

– – –

“I presume this is something you’ve been working on for a long time?”

“Yes. Four to five years give or take.”

– – –

The moment Trix and her family heard that, they all individually had different responses.

A mild gasp escaped from the mother’s lips, a muttered ‘impressive’ came out of the father’s mouth, a small wow escaped Bryan’s mouth while Trix, just stared on, stun-locked and in awe of Kyle.

Eventually, after a few more pleasantries between he and the judges, Kyle soon left the stage and Lily’s performance came up a few minutes later, clearly far better than even Steven’s and Kyle’s.

The part where her voice suddenly jumped perfectly between octaves especially, had shocked the whole family and all of them asides Trix, cheered just as loudly as everyone had done in the audience when her performance ended.

The family, not expecting such a sensational episode though, were even more invested in the show now more than ever.

As a result, they excitedly looking forward to the next episodes!

But for Trix, the moment the snippets of the backstage interactions and group interviews after the performances came up, her eyes were solely glued to Kyle, her gaze akin to that of someone whom had already become a fan of his.

­– – –

“You said you’d been working on the song for about to four or five years? Any details on that?”

“Well… It’s one of those song ideas you have in your head for a long time but you never really plan to sing it to the world. Kinda like those conversations you pen down in your diary you want no one else to read.”

– – –

‘So down to earth…’ Trix thought to herself, her heart beating rapidly as she kept watching the rest of his interview like someone cupid struck with an arrow.

She was, obviously and unequivocally, smitten at the moment.

_ _ _

“Say Kyle, would you be willing to give me composing classes? I can pay.”

“How much are we talking exactly?”

_ _ _

“He’s so quick-witted too. And what’s with that charming grin!” Trix’s eyes brightened up like fireworks, her entire mood uplifted to high heavens as an infectious grin spread on her lips.

Eventually, the interview section with him in it ended and the young lady couldn’t help but have a twinge of sadness surface in her mind.

She really wanted to hear more about Kyle, especially with just how soothing his voice was whenever he spoke.

There was also a certain hint of maturity to his mannerisms that was quite hard for her to place a finger on but nevertheless, she wished the interview had lasted longer.

Immediately the episode ended though, she instantly went online to search for the young man’s social media handles but much to her disappointment, there was not a single social media handle of his asides a ViewTube channel that was simply named Kyle Kestis.

Unknown to Trix though, she wasn’t the only one who was genuinely disappointed by this as many other young ladies around the world were in the exact same predicament.

* * *

“That’s Kyle right? That’s really him right?! How the hell does he look so fucking good?!” Cassie asked her friends.

Shock and utter disbelief were evident on each of their faces and they were still unable to process what they were watching.

Eventually, after about thirty more minutes of being unable to tear their gaze away from the TV screen, the episode ended and a small wave of silence descended into the room.

Although Haley had been reluctant to watch it at first due to her brother already being eliminated, her friends had cajoled her into watching it regardless.

Considering they all hadn’t watched the previous episode, they had just been expecting the usual performances, strongly believing that either Lily or Steven, or quite possibly Katie, Helena or Joe would steal the show.

What they had not been expecting however, was the blind auditions theme and even more than that, the immense upgrade of Kyle’s visuals and just how immensely good his diaristic song was, enough that it gave all the top contestants a run for their money.

Considering all five of them, despite their obviously questionable personality traits, had at least experienced a few heartbreaks at some point or the other in their lives, the song had also really touched them.

“He looked so lively and charming…” Jennifer muttered to herself while Betty blurted out without even controlling herself.

“And hot too!”

“Y’all better not give me that look because you know I’m right! That’s was a freakin’ heartthrob right there!” she immediately defended herself when they all directed surprised gazes at her.

They all knew she was absolutely right and no one in their right minds among them could refute that.

Haley on the other hand, slowly rested her back on the sofa she was on, her hands hugging her pillow as she thought to herself in a wave of regret, all of her disdain for the young man ‘seemingly’ vanishing into thin air.

Having being the one to have being in the closest proximity to him for almost a week when she kept making advances on him, it’s not like she hadn’t noticed the hints of something more eye-catching beneath his nerdy appearance.

But, considering she had just been obsessed with getting back with Seth, she had never really stopped to take his appearance in, much less the charming person beneath it all.

‘Did I maybe screw-up this time…’ she thought to herself as her friends excitedly began to discuss more and more about Kyle.

For the first time in a very long-time, Haley was actually pondering over the consequences of her action and how what she did might come back to brutally bite her in the ass.

* * *

On the internet, the people who had watched the new episode of Rising Voices had come out in droves to comment about their many opinions and thoughts regarding the episode.

Some on the other hand, just wanted to find someone to also gush with!

—

[Uptown Punk77: Ah!!! I have no idea who to even root for anymore this season! Most of these contestants are literal monsters!

Princess Peach: Does anyone by chance have a link to Kyle’s social media handles. I’ve been going absolutely bonkers since and I’ve not been able to find it!! Or should I just make a fan page for him?!

Milk before Cereal: @Uptown Punk77; I was literally in the same exact state you were but then, I saw the light. You’ve got this Steven!!!

Jon Sena: @Milk before Cereal; Are you sure about that?!

ChillFlix Addict: I was placed on an absolute rollercoaster from the beginning of the show till the very end! Even ChillFlix hasn’t fueled me with this much adrenaline in a while!

Pro_noobs: Steven, Lily, Kyle, Joe, Katie, Helena, June and Ryan! Potential winners this season!

MapleStudent076: Yo yo yo! Who the hell let Lily and Kyle cook?! Those performances were honestly the best in my opinion. Absolute fire!!!

Kuro_uzumaki: Kyle is possibly the kind of dark horse who could potentially win this show! Yes, I said it! Sue me!

WeDoABitOfTrolling: @Kuro_uzumaki; You must seriously have poor taste. Dude’s only been lucky so far.

Pro_noobs: @WeDoABitOfTrolling; Who hurt you bro?

M_P3rch: Haha! I so much love Steven’s and Lily’s banters. And now Kyle enters the fray. This is gonna be fun. (Grabs popcorn)

I’mBatman!: @M_P3rch; It was honestly quite fun to see their interactions, especially during the interviews. Wholesome yet competitive. I like that.

Mamma Mia: Please Kyle! I beg of you! Just release all of these songs once you’re done with the show!! [Needs To Be Loved] is that one song I feel like every lady needs to listen to at least once in their lifetime!

Trix Or Treat: @Mamma Mia; Resonated with the song so very much. I really wish I could have an audio version to listen to. It’d be really nice if he did release the songs after the whole show’s over. I’m now also rooting for him! Go KK!

Ana_MZ_27: This episode was truly an absolute blast to watch! Can’t wait for the next episode! Also, did Kyle hand over his jacket to Lily or did my eyes deceive me? Interesting…

Cruise_Shipper: @Ana_MZ_27; I noticed that too! During the interview, he was no longer wearing it and Lily was. My shipping senses are tingling!

Professor Thawne: @Cruise_Shipper; You’d better sink that ship faster than the scarlet speedster or I’ll do it myself! Can’t be having no sappy romance on my favorite show!

KanTakeAHint: Honestly, my expectations for this season have been met, and quite possibly, smashed right off the scales. I do wonder if the next episodes can bring the same level of hype.

Heavenascendance: Kinda sucks that next week will be a re-cap episode of the best moments so far when all I want is for the show to just continue on. But the contestants do need their well-earned break though. #Patiently Waiting.

JustLazin: This was a truly fun episode and all the contestants that advanced to the next round truly deserve all the credit they’ve gotten.]