Finally, we went on stage in front of the judges. I was glad to see that Bill had a decent appearance today. His hair was brought back on the top of his head with gel, he still had a dozen piercings all over his face and ears, a black leather jacket with spikes on the lapels, matched mittens and a leopard shirt underneath. I dare even say he looked pretty cool today.

"Hello girls! How are you ?" Dieter asked.

"We're all nervous." Oksana said as she was the first to get her microphone.

"Don't be. What are you gonna sing?"

""Price Tag" from Jessie J."

"Again?" We heard Mateo sigh.

Yep, he just said it. Take that, girls.

"So let's start!"

I felt my stomach sink in my shoes when the music started behind me and the intro seemed to last forever until I automatically brought the mike to my mouth:

"Seems like everybody's got a price

I... la la la la la la…"

I saw the judges stare at me in shock and I turned to look at the others, begging for help.

"Lola, what's wrong?" Bill said in his own mike as the music stopped.

I was suffocating with tears when I said with a strangled voice:

"I don't remember the lyrics."

"Do you have a text?" He asked.

"Right there." I pointed at my chair in the backstage.

"Can you take it?"

His question surprised me but I wasn't the only one. Dieter, standing next to him, angrily turned at him:

"You can't ask her to do that!"

"What, do you want her to go on with "lalala"? Then let her take her notes!"

The fact that he stood up to the great DSDS-God Dieter Bohlen with such a strong determined tone would have left me standing there, flabbergasted, if I hadn't been running for my notes during this time. Martin also left his spot to take his.

I took a deep breath and released the pressure on my chest. Unfortunately, the intro started again before I had the time to set an imaginary horizon. Even though I had my notes now, I still had to stare in front of me so the cameras would get my eyes. I raised my head again and they automatically set on the only fixed point they could find: Bill's own. The lyrics flawed perfectly, my part was done. Now it was Martin's turn. He also failed but the music didn't stop. Tom and Mateo looked at each other and laughed when he couldn't reach the highest note. Oksana remembered all her part, which was then ruined when she realized she was starting Julia's, who sang her lungs out. But even she gave up and poorly ended humming, with no notes to help her. It was a pure nightmare; we were just standing there or walking hesitantly from left to right like drunken sleepwalkers, hearing the judges' cruel, cruel sneers.

"It's just not working!" Tom said to Mateo, who frantically nodded.

Statement of the freaking century.

The silence that took place after the song ended couldn't be any heavier.

"Thank you, that'll do." Dieter finally said. "We'll see you later."

That was it. When I saw the three of my group walk off the set with their head bowed, I just couldn't stand it, as I remembered the guy I saw at the casting who was comforted by his girlfriend and in the same state as my friends were in this very moment.

"Wait!" I said. I hadn't moved an inch since Dieter plainly sent us backstage. "Maybe we can try once again with another song?"

The words "What are you doing?" were on all faces when I said that. Even I had no idea what crossed through my mind. It was hope –or rather despair- of course, but it was stupid because I had still no copies of the lyrics of "Apologize" and I was the only one who knew the lyrics.

The poptitan Dieter stared at me, amused:

"You have another song?"

I looked at him, all hopeful:

"No. That won't be necessary."

These words sounded like lightning that opened the clear blue sky and struck me right through the roof of the studio. I slowly, coldly, wearily turned around and walked to join the others sitting on a white couch, all in tears and hugging friends or other candidates in front of the cameraman who just wouldn't leave them, no matter what happened.

Only later would I see -in front of my TV-set- what the four men were saying, remaining on the set alone that day.

"I think the French can sing." Tom said as they were debating.

"No." Dieter bluntly replied.

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes, and it's a shame she cannot go through." Tom insisted.

"Cut it out, Tom. We all know you're saying that because of your brother."

"No, I'm not."

"Yes, you are."

"If it hadn't been for your stupid notes!" Julia yelled at me, her make-up barely ruined –thand god it was waterproof- but her eyes all red and her face contorted with painful sobs. "I can't believe I tried and worked my ass off so it would turn into shit and be channeled in the whole country! My parents will see that! My friends! My grandparents! Do you know what it means?"

"I'm sorry." was all I could say. "The song just wasn't for me. But maybe they'll reconsider…"

"Do you think?" She cut me short, hope showing in her tears-glistening eyes.

"Bill, this is a big mistake…" Dieter discouragingly replied.

But Bill ignored him as he talked to the staff who came on the set:

"I'd like to hear the French again. I really think she can do something good."

"I'm sorry, we need Mr. Bohlen's approval." One of the staff-member said.

Bill turned at him with a pleading look, which made Dieter sigh after a while:

"Alright. One more song. Bring them back. But I'm telling you," He said as he came closer to Bill when the cameramen went back to work: "If she goes through, I won't miss her when she disappoints me. I will show no mercy."

When our names were called, we were only half-expecting a miracle to happen and went all quiet when we were brought back onstage in front of the jury.

"Lola," Bill said and looked at me. "you can sing again."