You Come Along Because I Love Your Face

Gabe emerged from the limo, and gave a quick nod to the wave of paparazzi that came flooding towards him. Behind a long barrier that extended all the way to the studio, many fangirls and fanboys alike screamed his name. His two burley bodyguards waddled closely beside him as he entered the building. After wandering around the studio full of cameras and crew, Gabe finally found his way into the audition room. Sitting on two chairs on either side of a large one were Ryan and Pete, Gabe’s fellow judges. He took his place in between them, and fixed his shirt.

“So, how are we today, gentlemen?” Gabe asked, and discreetly shot Ryan a cold look.

“Alright,” Pete responded nonchalantly.

“Fine,” Ryan replied. “Found a girlfriend yet, Gabe?” he smirked, and raised his eyebrows tauntingly. Gabe, being the single 35 year-old that he was, always got teased about this by Ryan.

“Found a better job than me yet, Ryan?” Gabe shot back. Gabe was the lead judge on the hit show, America’s Best Singer, while Ryan and Pete were practically the extra judges. He got paid more, and was far more popular than both of them combined. Pete couldn’t care less, but Gabe knew this got under Ryan’s skin. Their hatred for each other had been sparked by Ryan’s jealousy.

“Okay,” the camera man’s voice boomed over Gabe and Ryan’s bickering. “We’re rolling soon. Get ready.”

Ryan, Pete, and Gabe straightened their postures, and crooned their necks to see the first contestant walk into the room. A guy wearing thick glasses and a suit took his place in the middle of the room. He had messy, brown hair, and didn’t try to hide the huge grin he had on his face.

“Hi!” he said, full of energy. “I’m Brendon Urie!”

“Hello there, Brendon,” Gabe welcomed him.

“Yeah, hi!” Ryan added. “Tell us about yourself.” Gabe and Pete shot Ryan a questioning glance.

“I’m twenty-three years old,” Brendon began.

“That’s one year younger than me!” Ryan exclaimed, excitedly.

“Wow, awesome!” Brendon giggled, and adjusted his glasses. “Umm… my birthday is next year… I like The Babysitter’s Club… I hate cocaine…”

“Y-you what??” Ryan sputtered.

“Uhg, I knew I would get judged for liking The Babysitter’s Club! Why is everyone so mean to me??”

“Oh, no!” Ryan jumped up from his seat. “I was talking about the cocaine thing… but… uh… nevermind. Why don’t you sing for us, Brendon?”

“Okay, here’s a song called Lying Is the Most Fun a Boy Can Have Without Taking His Clothes Off. It’s dedicated to you, Ryan,” Brendon winked, and launched into song.

“Oh, hohoho!” Ryan giggled once Brendon finished singing. “I’m all hot and bothered now.”

“Ahem,” Gabe cleared his throat. “You have a great voice, Brendon. I think you deserve to make it into the next round.”

“Me too,” Pete agreed.

“As do I!” Ryan added, and winked.

“Oh my god! Thank you so much!” Brendon squealed, and pranced out of the room.

“And… cut,” the camera man stopped rolling, and left to go get a drink of water.

“Ryan!” Gabe scolded. “What was that??”

“What was what?”

“Flirting with a contestant! You know judges can’t have any kind of relationship with contestants!”

“Come on, Gabe. It was just a little fun…”

“Wait, what am I saying? It’ll be better for all of us if they just fire you…”

“Guys,” the camera man snapped. “We’re on in 3, 2, 1…”

The next contestant strolled onto the center of platform. He was chubby, and had the best sideburns Pete had ever seen.

“Name?” Gabe asked.

“Patrick. Patrick Stump,” he replied, and rocked back and forth on his feet.

“Age?”

“Twenty-five.”

“Any interesting facts about yourself?”

“Uh… no.”

“Perfect!” Pete exclaimed. “Uh. I mean. Sing.”

“Okay, here’s a song I like to call Get Busy Living or Get Busy Dying.”

Pete applauded once Patrick finished singing.

“This guy needs to make it through!” he exclaimed.

“Ehh… he’s pretty good. I agree,” Ryan said.

“Well, congratulations, Patrick. You’ve made it to the next round!” Gabe announced.

Patrick’s face lit up, “Wow! Thanks!” he scurried out of the room, only to be replaced by a girl who possessed, possibly, the most annoying smile the judges had ever had the misfortune of being greeted by.

“Name…?” Gabe questioned.

“Demi,” she sniffed.

“Age?”

“18.”

“Anything interesting about yourself?”

“I bang rockstars. And I’m hardcore.”

“Oh. Well. Okay. How about you sing, then?”

Demi cleared her throat, and broke into song.

“So, what did you think??” she asked, after she had finished.

“Uh… it…” Gabe tried to think of an appropriate word.

“It sucked. Buh-bye,” Ryan completed the sentence, and pointed towards the door.

“Uhg, you all suck!” Demi cried, and stormed out.

The camera man stopped rolling once more, but soon started up again. A boy that looked no older than sixteen then entered the room. He had wispy, brown hair, and an adorable smile. He wore jeans and a shirt that looked impossibly tight, and carried an acoustic guitar. Gabe felt his eyes widen—unintentionally, of course. Never had he seen a contestant so beautiful. And moreover, he was underage. He was underage; now, was that actually a good thing?

“N-name?” Gabe couldn’t help but stutter.

“My name is William Beckett,” Gabe thought an angel had just spoken. William’s voice was so… calming. He couldn’t wait to hear him sing.

“AGE?” Gabe blushed after he realized he had practically shouted that, with a demanding, and almost hungry voice to it.

“I’ll be fifteen next February,” William replied.

“You’re a young one, huh?”

“I guess,” William looked at his feet. “I think I’m mature for my age, though.”

“Oh, really now?”

“Yeah,” William played with a lock of his hair.

“Interesting facts about yourself?”

“I like tea.”

“Alrighty then. Show us your voice, William.”

“This song is entitled After the Last Midtown Show,” William began to strum his guitar, and sang the first line of the song. Gabe couldn’t help but feel a bit turned on by William’s performance.

“Uhg, brilliant!” Gabe cheered, once William ended the song with a long note. “You’re in! I don’t care what the other two say.”

“Eh, doesn’t matter anyway. He’s in,” Pete said, baffled by William’s talent.

“Eee! Thank you!” William walked back outside. Gabe didn’t take his eyes off of him until he was completely out of view. Damn, Gabe thought, I need to get to know this boy.