T
HE
first four weeks of the competition went much smoother than Corey would have predicted. For one thing, they were all extremely busy, and the days seemed to fly by. The elimination rounds were stressful, but Corey knew that both Jimmy’s and his performances were strong. They were stronger than several of the other contestants, and it was no real surprise to see some of the others get voted off.
It got scary after they got down to the top eight, and Corey started to feel as if any one of them could be voted off. As he watched some of the other performers, he began to realize that this really was a competition. They all were very talented, and all it would take was a single screwup to ruin everything.
Corey stopped worrying about Reuben. He did have to deal with him that one night every week when he offered his critique of Corey’s performance, but for the most part he was complimentary. He continued to degrade Jimmy, but the audience had grown used it, and Reuben’s snarkiness had little impact.
Each week when Dylan announced the results of the nationwide vote, he’d begin by forming a group which he called the “Bottom Three.” These three were the lowest vote-getters for the week. At the end of the show, he’d bring the Bottom Three center stage and inform one of them that they didn’t make it through, and he’d tell the other two that they were safe.
So far, neither Corey nor Jimmy had been in the Bottom Three. Corey was relieved to learn that once again he was safe and had avoided elimination. To his horror, though, Jimmy was announced as one of the Bottom Three.
It was just like the first week of the competition. The same fears washed over him, and he sat there literally trembling.
Please let Jimmy be safe! Oh, God, please.
Thankfully, Jimmy was indeed safe, and made it through for at least another week.
“I
F
I
made it into the Bottom Three, that means there’s a chance I could go home soon,” Jimmy said.
The two of them were in bed together. “Jimmy, don’t say that. Big deal, out of eight people, you came in third from the bottom. You had a bad week. Your song choice didn’t really fit you, but you’re super popular. Have you looked at your website lately?”
“I try not to look,” Jimmy said. “I got to stay focused on this here. I can’t go worryin’ about what people are sayin’ on the Internet.”
“I’m just saying, you have a lot of fans, and they’re gonna keep voting for you.”
“Well, I just hope I can make it through next week. Mama and Charlie are coming. It’d be real disappointing to be voted off in front of them.”
“I’m so glad they worked it out so that Charlie could come too.”
“Did you call your mom?” Jimmy asked.
Corey shook his head. “Megan said she won’t even answer her phone.”
“Really? I hope she’s all right.”
“Well, I guess I’ve become kind of a celebrity at home too. Every week they have big parties at the bowling alley where they watch
Superstar
on the big screen, and then everyone votes for me afterward.”
“Aww, that’s kind of sweet.”
“Yeah, well, Mom apparently got tired of people calling all the time and unplugged her phone.”
“Call her cell phone, then,” Jimmy suggested.
“She has a cell, but only uses it in the car for emergencies. She’s really old-fashioned when it comes to technology.”
“Sounds like my granddad.”
C
OREY
was awakened the next morning by the phone. “Hello,” he said, his voice groggy from sleep.
“Mr. Dunham, there is a gentleman here to see you. He says he’s from the prosecutor’s office.”
“Oh… okay, wow. Um, does he want to come up to my room, or am I supposed to meet him downstairs.”
“He says he will come up.”
“Okay, give me like five minutes… uh, please.”
Corey hung up the phone and turned to Jimmy. “Quick, get up. The prosecutor is here to see us.”
About ten minutes later, the three of them were sitting in the living room.
“This is going to be a tough case,” Mr. Roberts informed them. He was a slender man with gray hair. “Jameson is going to have a team of defense attorneys, and this whole thing’s gonna be a media circus.”
“Will we have to testify?” Corey asked.
“At some point, if it goes to trial.”
“What do you mean,
if
it goes to trial?” Jimmy asked. “Why wouldn’t it?”
“Jameson has a lot of money. Often in these cases, the molester will offer a huge cash settlement to the victims to keep them quiet. Without their testimony, we have no case.”
“Even if you subpoena them?” Corey asked.
“If they recant their testimony, there’s no point.”
“That sucks!” Jimmy said.
“Are you aware if Jameson is molesting any other boys at this time?” the prosecutor asked.
“We don’t know. We haven’t heard from him… other than on the show.”
“Okay, well, I think the best course of action is to sit on this for a few more weeks. We’ll wait until the end of the season and arrest him after the last show.”
“But why?” Jimmy asked. “You know he’s guilty. Why don’t you go after him now?”
“Because of the media. It would be just crazy right now, and it wouldn’t be good for either of you. You would be right in the middle of what the media would label as a scandal. Just concentrate on finishing out the competition. During the last week of the show, we will issue an injunction preventing Jameson from leaving the country.”
“But then he’ll know….”
“Yes, and he’ll most likely gather a team of defense attorneys. That’s why we don’t want to move on this until right before we’re ready to make the arrest.”
“And what about Corey in the meantime?” Jimmy asked. “You’re leaving him a sitting duck.”
“No, if Jameson makes any more moves on Corey, call me right away. We’ll intervene. Hopefully that won’t happen.”
“I don’t like it,” Jimmy said. “Reuben could show up here at Corey’s room any night, and he’d be defenseless.”
“Don’t you share this room with him?” Roberts asked.
“Not officially.”
“Well, I suggest you stay here as often as you can.”
Corey smiled as he looked over to Jimmy.
At least now we have an excuse. We have to sleep together by order of the cops.
T
HE
next week, both Corey and Jimmy made it through easily, with neither being in the Bottom Three. Their schedules started to become busier because in addition to the competition itself, they were required to make numerous media appearances. On some days, they interviewed on talk shows. They were featured in television commercials. Jimmy made an appearance on
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
, and Corey was on
Ellen
. Corey’s very existence changed. He was no longer able to be anonymous. He couldn’t so much as go out for a burger or visit a shopping mall.
For three more weeks, they continued to sail through in the competition, and there were then just four contestants remaining. The two other contestants were a male and a female, and Corey knew that in all likelihood it would be a male contestant who was voted off. He feared it would be either him or Jimmy. After this week’s show, the three remaining contestants would be sent home for four days. These homecomings were a trademark of the show. Huge events were planned, including a parade and an enormous concert.
Corey honestly was not overly excited by the prospect of returning home. He had no idea how his mom and sister would receive him. The whole thing would be awkward if none of his family even showed up. He did want Jimmy to get his big homecoming, though. He knew it would mean a lot to him. He was already a hero in his hometown. It would be just devastating for Jimmy to be voted off at this stage and not get his parade.
The four contestants stood together on the stage, locking arms around one another’s shoulders. No matter which of them went home, it’d be sad. Corey had grown to love his competitors—though none as much as Jimmy—and he knew it would be tough to say goodbye.
“Dim the lights!” Dylan declared dramatically. “Jimmy Sawyer, you sang ‘We Danced’. Raymond felt it was your best performance yet. Krystal said you gave her goose bumps. Tyler said it was a beautiful performance and that you owned the stage. Reuben felt you fell flat. But what did the American people say? With a record thirty-two million votes, Jimmy Sawyer, you are…
safe
! You’re headed back to Kentucky for a grand homecoming and a final victory lap before our big finale.”
Corey’s heart soared, thrilled Jimmy had made it.
“America,” Dylan said, “this is your Bottom Three this week. Two of these contestants will go on. All three of them will go home after the show tonight, but only two will return to compete next week.”
He then went through the recap of each of their performances, once more paraphrasing the critiques they’d received from the judges. “Elaina Covey, you are safe!”
Corey’s heart pounded in his chest. It was down to just him and the other contestant, Curtis Wang. Curtis wrapped his arm tightly around Corey’s waist as they stood there, and for a moment Corey feared he would pass out. “Corey and Curtis, only one of you is going through to the next round. The other has reached the end of your journey on
Choosing
America’s Next Superstar
. Corey Dunham… you’ve made it through! You are safe! I’m sorry, Curtis, you did not make it.”
Corey immediately turned to Curtis and pulled him into a tight embrace. They were both crying. “Congratulations,” Curtis said. “You really deserve it. You’re one of the nicest people I’ve ever met.”
After ten long weeks it all came down to this. Both Corey and Jimmy had made it through. In two more weeks, one of them might be America’s Next Superstar. Or it could be neither. But for now, it was time to head back home. For four long days, he and Jimmy would be separated. Although it’d be hard, he knew it was something that Jimmy would love. He was so close to his family, and Corey sort of wished he could just go with Jimmy back to Kentucky and completely forget about his own homecoming.
“I’m gonna miss you,” he whispered into Jimmy’s ear, later, as they cuddled in bed together for the last time before their departure.
“We’ll be back here before you know it,” Jimmy assured him.
“I’m glad you get to fly home with your mama and Charlie.”
“I’m sure there will be lots of people in Michigan waiting to see you,” Jimmy assured him. “Maybe you can talk your mama into coming back with you.”
“Maybe,” Corey said, unconvinced. “It’ll be nice to see Megan again, and Lanie.”
“And when you come back, I’ll have a surprise for you,” Jimmy said.
“What do you mean?” Corey smiled at him as he ran his hand across Jimmy’s smooth, hard chest. “I don’t want a surprise when I get back. I want it now.”
“Too bad,” Jimmy said, his expression smug.
“That’s not fair!” Corey protested, grabbing hold of one of Jimmy’s nipples and tweaking it.
“Hey! That hurts!”
Corey leaned over and kissed the exact spot he’d just tortured. “Please tell me now,” he pleaded, lapping Jimmy’s sensitive nipple with his tongue.
“No! That ain’t gonna work!” Jimmy bolted from the bed.
“Aw, come on,” Corey looked up at him with pouty eyes and a protruding lower lip.
Jimmy shook his head. “I said it’s a surprise. Deal with it.”
T
HE
biggest surprise of all was the crowd that greeted Corey when the limousine drove him into his hometown. About a mile outside of town, the police were waiting for the limo, and they escorted Corey into the downtown area. The chauffeur opened the sunroof, and Corey was instructed to stand on the seat so he could stick his upper body out and wave to the crowds. He’d never seen so many people in his town. There were thousands upon thousands lining the streets, all of them waving and cheering, holding signs in his honor.
“Oh my God!” he cried. He couldn’t believe it. The whole thing was absolutely crazy. It felt more like he was some kind of war hero than just a shy kid who’d entered a talent competition.
The limo drove him straight downtown to the big park next to city hall. A huge crowd had gathered, and a special path had to be cleared for the limo. They drove Corey right up to the steps of the band shell where he’d be performing. As he stepped out of the vehicle and climbed the stairs, all he saw was an enormous sea of faces. There were so many people there, all of them applauding, many shouting out how much they loved him. He suddenly was again overwhelmed by a wave of emotion. He nearly stumbled going up the steps, unable to see through his tears.
“Thank you so much,” he said into the microphone, his voice cracking. “I can’t believe you all came. I just can’t believe it.” He then turned, and saw his mother standing to his left. “Mom!” he cried. She stepped over to him and embraced him.
“I’m so sorry,” she said into his ear. “I’m just so proud of you, baby.”
He kissed her on the cheek and then pulled her once again into his chest. “I love you, Mom.”
“I love you too.”
His little sister Lanie was also there, and so was Megan. He hugged and kissed them, and then noticed some of his coworkers from the supermarket.
In spite of Corey’s misgivings, the homecoming had been a huge success. He felt so welcome and so proud of his accomplishment, while at the same time humbled by all of the attention.
Later, after all the musical performances and speeches, Corey went home with his mom and sister. Megan came over to the house as well. Corey was toting a box that contained an array of trophies and plaques that he’d been awarded. He got a key to the city, a gold-plated plaque from his employer, a framed letter from the governor, and a lot of other souvenirs from fans.
“Can you guys go back with me?” Corey asked. “You wouldn’t believe it. I’ve got a huge suite at the hotel. The show will also pay for your own rooms. I can bring my whole family if I want….”
“What about my job?” Corey’s mother asked.
“Mom, can’t they give you the time off for something like this?”