Allen sat back on the edge of his bed, the phone still in his hand, the call with Brightest Star lingering in his mind. He had just spoken to one of the producers of the most popular singing competition show in the country, and they wanted him. It felt surreal, like something out of a dream, but here he was. One month. That's how long he had to prepare.
"One month to get my act together," Allen muttered, running his fingers through his hair. He stood up, pacing around the small, cluttered apartment, the sound of traffic outside creating a distant hum. His mind raced through all the things he needed to do, all the ways he needed to improve if he wanted to stand a chance against the competition.
He glanced at the guitar propped against the wall, the same guitar that had helped him go viral just a few days ago. The system was helping him, sure, but the truth was, Allen still had to put in the work. And right now, he had to make every single moment count.
He opened the system menu in his mind, reviewing his stats.
Vocal Talent: 4/10
Guitar: 3/10
Songwriting: 3/10
Charisma: 4/10
Appearance: 4/10
Intelligence: 5/10
And 650 showbiz points.
He let out a long breath. "It's a start," he said to himself, but knew he still had a long way to go. He was hoping to upgrade his songwriting, maybe push it to the next level, but 650 points weren't enough. Upgrading from 3/10 to 4/10 would cost 1,000 points—points he didn't have yet.
"Guess that'll have to wait," Allen muttered, a tinge of disappointment creeping in. But he wasn't going to let that stop him. His other stats were decent, but he needed to stand out. Brightest Star wasn't just about performing well; it was about connecting with the audience, about creating moments that people would remember long after the show ended.
His phone buzzed on the bed, pulling him out of his thoughts. He picked it up and saw a message from Sarah, his childhood friend and one of his biggest supporters. She was the kind of person who believed in him even when he didn't believe in himself.
"Hey, guess who just got invited to be on Brightest Star?" Allen typed quickly, hitting send before he could second-guess it.
Sarah replied almost immediately, her excitement evident in the rapid-fire messages that followed. "OMG WHAT??? YOU??? That's INSANE!!! When does it start? Tell me everything!!!"
Allen chuckled, her enthusiasm making him smile. He quickly explained the situation—how the show had seen his viral video and wanted him to compete in the upcoming season, which was set to start in a month.
Sarah's response came with a series of excited emojis. "Allen, this is HUGE! I knew you could do it. You've got this!"
The warmth of her words settled over him like a comforting blanket. He could always count on Sarah to be in his corner. And right now, he needed that.
"Thanks, Sarah. Honestly, I could use your help. Got some songs I'm working on, but I could really use a second pair of ears. You know, just to make sure I'm not completely losing my mind."
"Say no more," she replied, her excitement coming through even in text. "You know I'm always down to help. When do you wanna meet up?"
"Tonight?" Allen suggested, a part of him eager to get started as soon as possible.
"Tonight it is! See you at 7?"
Allen smiled at her quick response. Sarah had always been there, through every up and down. And even now, with the stakes higher than ever, she was ready to drop everything to help him out.
As the day wore on, Allen worked tirelessly on his music, tweaking lyrics, adjusting melodies, trying to find the perfect balance for each song. He knew that his songwriting skills needed improvement, but for now, he had to make the most of what he had. The system had helped him get this far, but his drive and passion would have to carry him the rest of the way.
By the time 7 o'clock rolled around, Allen had cleaned up the apartment just enough to make it presentable, and his nerves were starting to kick in. It wasn't the show that had him anxious—at least, not in this moment—but the thought of seeing Sarah again. They'd known each other for years, but lately, he'd started to notice things about her that he hadn't before. The way her laugh made his chest tighten, or the way her smile lit up her entire face.
He shook his head, trying to focus on the task at hand. "This is about the music," he reminded himself. "Focus."
There was a knock at the door, and when Allen opened it, Sarah stood there, beaming as always, with a bag of snacks in one hand and her laptop in the other.
"Alright, Mr. Brightest Star," she said with a teasing grin, "let's hear what you've got."
Allen chuckled, feeling a little less anxious now that she was here. "Come on in. I've got a few things I want you to listen to."
They spent the next couple of hours working through his songs. Sarah sat on the couch, listening intently as Allen played, offering feedback and suggestions as they went along. She had a knack for cutting to the heart of a song, helping him find the emotional core that would resonate with an audience.
"Okay, that part's really strong," Sarah said, pointing at a line in one of his songs. "But I think you can dig deeper here. What were you feeling when you wrote this?"
Allen hesitated for a moment, the vulnerability of the question hanging in the air. "I don't know," he said, plucking at his guitar. "I guess I was just thinking about... what it's like to want something so bad but be afraid of losing it before you even have it."
Sarah nodded thoughtfully. "That's good. Keep that. People will connect with that feeling. Just make sure it comes through in your voice when you sing it."
Allen nodded, appreciating her insight. As the night wore on, they laughed and worked through more songs, the atmosphere between them comfortable and familiar. But there were moments—small, fleeting moments—when Allen caught himself looking at her a little too long, or noticing the way she tilted her head when she was deep in thought.
At one point, Sarah leaned back on the couch, letting out a content sigh. "You're going to kill it on that stage, Allen. I just know it."
Her words, full of confidence and belief, made Allen's heart skip a beat. "Thanks, Sarah. I don't know what I'd do without you."
She smiled, her eyes meeting his. "You'd still be amazing. You've always had it in you. I'm just here to remind you."
There was something in her gaze—something that made Allen's pulse quicken. He quickly looked away, clearing his throat. "Well, I'm lucky to have you in my corner."
They continued working late into the night, and by the time Sarah finally gathered her things to leave, Allen felt a deep sense of gratitude for her friendship. But as he watched her walk out the door, a part of him couldn't shake the feeling that maybe—just maybe—there was something more between them. Something he hadn't been ready to face until now.
Shaking his head, Allen closed the door and leaned against it for a moment, letting out a long breath. "Focus on the music, Allen," he muttered to himself, but the thought of Sarah lingered in the back of his mind.
Before heading to bed, he pulled up the system one more time, checking his stats again.
Vocal Talent: 4/10
Guitar: 3/10
Songwriting: 3/10
Charisma: 4/10
Appearance: 4/10
Intelligence: 5/10
And 650 showbiz points.
He'd used some of his points on minor things—nothing major, but enough to keep him moving forward. He knew he'd need to earn a lot more if he wanted to make significant improvements before the competition. But for now, he felt ready. Or at least, as ready as he could be.
Allen placed his guitar back in its stand, climbed into bed, and stared at the ceiling. The pressure of the competition was building, but so was his determination. Tomorrow was a new day, and there was no time to waste.
As he drifted off to sleep, the image of Sarah's smile flashed through his mind one last time. Maybe, just maybe, there was something more waiting for him than just music.