One of the guys in the group, a blond dude sporting a hip-hop getup but known for his rock vocals during tryouts, was especially antsy.
Having been overlooked by the big-shot agencies, he was under the wing of a lesser-known outfit.
His spirits had taken a hit since the previous night.
Restless, he began to pace, his patience thinning by the second.
âWhere on earth is she? Reckon sheâs left us high and dry? If sheâs given up on us, she could at least have the decency to tell us!â he exclaimed.
Tom Rivas couldnât contain his exasperation any longer, slumping to the floor in defeat.
He grumbled, âJoining her team was a mistake.
Even if Iâd been kicked out during the auditions, it would have been better than this public embarrassment.
The netâs buzzing with ridicule about us.
Why are we even still here?â
Brucie Armstrong, sitting nearby, flexed his muscular arms beneath his sleeveless shirt.
He wasnât as wound up as Tom, but his low spirits were palpable.
He remarked, âUnless a miracle occurs, weâre likely the first ones out.
Did you see the others at the auditions? How do we even stand a chance?â
As the groupâs spirits dampened, Woodrow tried to interject some optimism.
âThere might still be a stage meant just for us.
We canât lose hope now.
Better to try and fail than not try at all.
Giving up now means weâve truly lost everything.
â
Tom gave a derisive snort, looking at him with thinly veiled contempt.
âReally? You two can barely face a camera, and now youâre giving pep talks?â
Caught off-guard, Woodrow struggled to respond.
Tomâs disdain for the brothers was evident as he continued to mock, âThinking of winning, are you? On what grounds? Your shrieking voices? Or those clumsy dance steps that look like a chickenâs?â
âHave you even got a clue about comedy? Keep your ill-informed comments to yourself,â Franklin defended, quickly escalating the exchange into a full-blown argument between him, Woodrow, and Tom.
In the midst of the heated debate, Brucieâs voice cut through the noise, his irritation evident.
âEnough with the shouting! Whatâs the point? We shouldnât even be here.
The blame is on whoever picked us.
â
The tension in the room was palpable as Tom continued venting his frustrations.
Agitated, he exclaimed, âShe dragged us here at the crack of dawn and then vanished.
I couldâve spent my time better sleeping.
And last night, I looked up her company, this âLandon Media,â Iâve never heard of it! Probably just some dubious front using us as a facade.
â
From his perch on a nearby couch, a young man named Jim Woden, distinguishable by his weary eyes and single eyelids, had silently observed the escalating dispute.
Finally, he couldnât hold back.
Offering a cold stare, he challenged, âYou werenât griping when you secured your positions yesterday.
What good does shouting do now? If youâre so discontented, just leave.
â
Tomâs ire was now directed at Jim.
Hurling his script aside, he charged towards the exit, eyes blazing.
âYou know what? I will!â
But as he reached for the door handle, it swung open from the other side.
A breathless Ariana entered, immediately apologizing.
âIâm so sorry for the delay.
The vocal coach the program arranged had an emergency, so I had to find a suitable replacement.
â
Before she could elaborate further, a man stepped into the room behind her, leaving everyone in a state of shock.
Recognizing the newcomer, eyes widened in astonishment.
âIsnât that Julio Cugat, the esteemed vocal coach and composer from Melcorn?â