-Author's POV-

Madison awakens the next morning with anxiety, for once, she's nervous. She's nervous for many reasons, but one reason stood out the most; the fear of disappointing her parents haunts her. She doesn't want to be a failure, especially not in front of successful business gurus.

She sighs and turns off the deafening alarm clock tearing away the peacefulness that once lingered in the master bedroom. The teen gracefully slides out of the large bed and ready's herself for the day. Her mind swirls with a million thoughts, she's still upset with Cheryl being her mentor. The wishing and longing for Simon to be her shadow died instantly when she locked eyes with the pop star.

Truth be told, she didn't trust women. She never did, and it was all due to her past. The past of her mother giving her up as a child always taunts her regularly. For as long as she could remember, women were always taken out of the picture. The only woman she ever trusted was her mother, but even she didn't have her trust entirely.

She drags the expensive luggage carelessly through the corridor, and down the stairs, hitting each step with a loud thud.

"Look whose up" Connor greets his grumpy daughter. Madison was never a morning person, and boy did her parents know it.

"Yeah great, I'm up, amazing, you don't have to say that every time I wake up!" She groans whilst dropping her bags by his feet and walking past the chuckling father. He was used to her attitude and he secretly loved how cheeky and sassy she constantly was.

"Are you's going to drop me off?" She asks with hopefulness, although, she knew they wouldn't be dropping her off. It doesn't hurt to ask again. She thinks to herself.

"I'm sorry sweetheart, your Mum's getting ready and she's going with me to a very important meeting." There he goes again with that damn word. She mentally shakes her thoughts away and gives him a smile, busying herself with a cuppa.

"Jeffry should be here shortly, please don't get into any trouble while you're there, and also, enjoy yourself." He gives her a kiss to the forehead, and a quick hug. Madison mentally sighs at the affection, she wishes it could last longer, she wished many things, but the one thing she always wished for repeatedly was her parent's time and attention. It's all she's ever wanted.

"I don't think I'll make it past the judges homes to be honest" She doubts herself.

"Oh don't think like that, you'll do amazing. Hey I've got an idea" He speaks with enthusiasm, she stills her movement and gives her father all the attention she could possibly project.

"What?" she replies with a girly giggle.

"If you don't make it past the judges homes, you can always come sing for me at the office.. I'll even pay you." The teen rolls her eyes with a huff.

"Not funny" Madison gives Connor a thump to the chest as he continues his loud cackle.

"I'm just letting you know, there's always a future at The Harris Corporation." She shakes her head and sips her tea, trying to hide the small smile growing behind the cup.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I know we're late again!" Clara chooses this moment to storm into the kitchen, hopping on one foot as she unsteadily slips on her other heel.

"We've still got about ten minutes, go on and say your goodbyes. I'll be out in the car" With another kiss to Madison's head, Connor sees himself out of the house; the distress evident in the teen's body language and facial expression.

"Why the long face?" Clara asks, she takes Madison's chin delicately into her hand and forces their eyes to meet.

"I wish you's were coming.. I'm a little nervous." She admits, and for the first time, she wasn't admitting her worries to Jeffry. She hoped for some sort of comfort from her Mum.

"Oh it's nothing but a little fun," Clara begins, only breaking Madison's heart. "This is just a little bit of a game for them, don't take it too seriously" It wasn't a game to Madison, and she wondered if this was her dream, or if it was the longing for her biological parents to catch a glimpse of the teen beauty.

"It's more than that Mum" She groans and forces her chin away from Clara's touch.

"Well don't get upset if this doesn't work, I don't need you moping around the house. I've just told you, this is a bit of fun; don't go getting your hopes up. Just, enjoy it while you can." Madison forces the tears to cease from being announced in front of her mother's presence.

"Nothing but a game" She repeats the older woman's words with a fake smile, quickly turning around and finishing up the now cold cuppa.

"Exactly, so just play the game, and if you lose, then it's just another day. Don't take it too personally, there's a lot of talent out there.. you might not be the best. Just remember, you're still a star to us." She nods, although, the words don't comfort or mend a single part of her soul.

"Alright, I better go. Call us when you've landed or when you get the chance" With a half ass kiss, the mother hurries out of the door - leaving the teen in an empty mansion, all alone, with the privacy to breakdown.

Madison cries freely, and it was for the reasoning of Clara and Connor. All she's ever wanted was support, and words that were enough to make her heart flutter with love. That's all she's ever wanted, even in the most important moment of her life, they were still too busy to drop the distraught teen off at the airport.

"Stupid! Why are you crying!" She scolds herself and furiously wipes away her fallen tears. She was never one to breakdown, but they've pushed her to the edge, the feeling of being weak was foreign to her. Whenever the weakness streamed through her system she'd instantly fight it away, she was guarded, and protected herself from anyone and everyone.

The beeping outside brings her out of the angry bubble she'd created.

"About time!" She shouts aloud and throws on her rugsak in anger - dragging the suitcase behind her once again.

"You're going to make me late!" She snaps at Jeffry, he shakes his head with a sigh. Here we go again. He thinks to himself.

"Bad morning grumpy pants?"

"I'm not in the mood Jeffry! Just.. Drive me." She slams the car door and slumps against the leather seats with a scowl. Jeffry soon follows her, and does as he's been told. The SUV engine roars to life, the entire journey to the airport Madison's scowl never relaxes, in fact, it grew as they neared their destination.

--

Kimberley and Cheryl are being driven in the same route; every single contestant will be meeting her wife for the first time. Secretly, Cheryl loved nothing more than showing off the beauty that was always attached to her arm. Kimberley was clingy and needy, and of course, Cheryl adored her more for that. She felt wanted and important.

Even with the short distant drive, Kimberley still holds Cheryl's hand and lies against her with necessity.

"You're going to really love these girls babe" Cheryl speaks soothingly, her free hand strokes Kimberley's exposed forearm.

"I hope they don't mind that I've come along"

Cheryl laughs.

"Like they have a choice" They laugh. Kimberley shuffles closer, almost sitting herself on the Geordie's lap. It was never in Kimberley to cling the way she did, she's only ever had two partners, and even Justin never amounted to the way Cheryl allowed her to break every wall she's ever built.

"Reckon they'll like the south of France?" Kimberley asks.

"Yeah I'm sure they'll love it.. Question is, is me Kimba going to love the south of France?" Cheryl coos cutely, her free hand trails up to a blushing Kimberley's cheek. Last nights argument only drew the married couple closer in soul and emotion. They were more connected than ever.

"Baby," Kimberley giggles, "We've been there before" She rolls her eyes and nuzzles back against a smiling Cheryl's neck.

"Agh, can I be a bit honest with you?" The brunette speaks with nerves lacing in her Geordie accent. Kimberley isntanly sits up and looks at her troubled wife.

"What's the matter?"

"I'm so nervous like.. It's the first time I feel this way. I feel like this year is going to be my year, you know? But, I can't get this anxious feeling away from us. I feel like something is going to happen and I don't know if I should be worried" She rambles, Kimberley smiles at her uneasy wife. It was always Cheryl's gut instinct that scared the crap out of her.

"Your gut instinct is back again?" Cheryl nods in response.

"What's it telling you?"

"Something is going to happen-"

"Like what?"

"I don't know, and I don't know if it's a good or bad thing. Maybe it's just me gut feeling telling us we'll win it"

"Maybe that's it" They laugh lightly and settle back into each other.

"Don't be nervous baby, I'm going to be with you the entire time" Kimberley's reassuring words calm Cheryl instantly.

"Yeah, you're right."

--

Jeffry stops the car with a jolt, almost flying Madison straight into the passenger seat in front of her.

"What the f!ck man!?"

"Sorry! This car just stopped suddenly." She groans and falls back in the leather seat with an annoyed huff.

"You know, you being in a rotten mood isn't going to make them come."

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Well, we don't have much time to talk. We're here.. Come on, out you get." Rolling her eyes, she climbs out of the car and notices the other contestants being kissed and hugged goodbye, and she was sure it was by their parents. Unlike her. She also notices Cheryl and her wife making their way into the busy airport, she quickly looks away once she notices Cheryl looking at her.

"Aren't you going to hug me?" Jeffry asks with a chuckle, he hands the rugsak over to her, along with her case.

"Yeah whatever" She sulkily falls into his arms, he squeezes the teen with the affection she desired, and he knew she loved nothing more than a sweet cuddle. Cheryl watches the scene curiously, inside and out of sight as she nosily takes in every movement between Jeffry and Madison.

"What are you looking at?" Kimberley asks, following her wifes line of vision.

"That's little Miss trouble over there-"

"Madison?"

"Mhm" Kimberley's gaze falls towards the teen whose still locked in Jeffry's arms.

"Is that her father?"

"Probably." Cheryl shrugs, and finally tears her eyes away from the scene, taking her wife's hand, she leads them to check in.

Jeffry finally releases the tight embrace.

"You are going to be a superstar" He speaks with pride, filling Madison with the words she'd needed to hear.

"You think?" She speaks with teary eyes; the doubt lingers in her tone. The words of her parents still playing in the back of her mind.

"The biggest superstar I will ever know"

"And.. And what if I don't win this?" She asks, the need for reassurance is something she always craved. Like necessity to water.

"You will still be a winner in my eyes, don't ever forget that. You will stand on that stage and walkaway with your head held high, no matter what the outcome of this journey has for you. Never forget that we are all behind you, even if some of us are busy at the moment. We all care." She nods and falls back into his arms. She's unable to utter a single word, the lump in her throat grows rapidly.

"T-Thank you" She just about manages to croak.

"Alright kid, no tears. Go on and get on that plane.. Enjoy your time!"

"Will do sir" She giggles tearfully and grasps the case with determination, dragging the designer case along the pavement.

"Madison! There's wheels on the bloody thing!" Jeffry calls out.

"It's fine! Go away and stop shouting!" She hurries into the airport, seeing a few contestants wave her over. She mentally rolls her eyes and fakes a smile.

"Hey guys!" She greets them, dropping the heavy case loudly onto the floor.

"You just drag that thing around?" Ella asks, Madison rolls her eyes, its something she needed to control.

"Don't know how to use the bloody thing. My dad usually rolls it around for me." She huffs, trying to figure out where the damn handle was.

"Wasn't that your dad out there?" Ella asks nosily.

"Erm.. No-"

"Who was it then?"

"What's with the million questions?-"

"Just wondering. Everyone got dropped off by their parents is all"

"Not everyone" She walks away, and angrily pulls the case with aggravation now. She's already annoyed, and the they have yet to get in the air.

"You can check your bag in babe, you don't have to carry it around like that." Cheryl speaks sweetly to the scowling teen.

"Stay out of it" Madison mutters under her breath.

"What was that-" The teen walks away, ignoring Cheryl's questioning look. The Geordie wasn't sure how to feel towards the cocky teenager, she felt the need to get attention from her, and she questions why she was even giving her a second of her time.

"Attitude" Kimberley whispers to her wife as they watch Madison speak to the customer service agent.

"Will I have to carry the damn thing everywhere?" The teen asks, her voice almost growling as she grows impatient.

"No ma'am, just need you to fill out the little tab with your information-"

"Why? Just take the bloody case!" Cheryl takes action, seeing as she was the teens mentor, she shouldn't be allowing her to cause a scene in the middle of custom.

"Is there a problem-"

"Oh here we go again. Are you following me!?"

"I'm sorry," Cheryl apologizes to the flustered woman "Excuse us" She grasps the teens hand and drags her away from the scene she's just created.

"Let me go!"

"Is there a problem?!" The angry Geordie comes out, and Cheryl can no longer tame down her anger. She's had it with the teens behavior.

"There is no god damn problem, how's about you leave me alone!-"

"Everyone is on their best behavior and you're the only one making a god damn scene. Do we need your parents to come and pick you up?"

"Just because I'm fifteen doesn't mean I can't take care of myself! Anyways my parents signed a paper giving me the consent to make my own decisions. I suggest you get out of my way." Madison shoulders Cheryl out of the way and returns to the agent whose also had enough of Madison's behavior. Cheryl groans with annoyance and walks back over to her wife's side, watching as everyone looks at both Madison and herself with questioning gazes.

"Alright girls! Let's go to our gate-"

"What about Madison?" Chelsea asks.

"Her parents have signed a consent form, so there's no need to hover over her. She can make her own decisions." Cheryl mocks the teen, Madison narrows her eyes at the laughing Geordie, her green orbs never leave Cheryl as she watches them descend to their gate.

"B!tch" She mutters under her breath.

"What was that miss?"

"Lesley don't question me." Madison signs the sheet for her case to be taken through and walks away. She mumbles inaudible curse words all the way through to the correct gate she'd be boarding for her journey, and by the looks of it - her journey was going to be shit.