Choosing America's Next Superstar by Jeff Erno

like me… and I couldn’t care less what he thinks of that kid. Or of me, for that matter.”
    “Oh, okay. If you say so.”
    “Anyway, I’m gonna go back to my room,” he said.
    “Dude, no way!” Sam objected. “We gotta go do something. I didn’t come all the way to New York just to sit in my hotel room.”
    “Well, if we make it through the solo competition, we can celebrate. But Jimmy’s right. We need to focus on this first, or at least I do.”
    “Well, wait. At least give me your cell number before you go.”
    They exchanged numbers before Corey headed back to his room. In all honesty, he knew he didn’t need any more practice. He’d rehearsed his song a thousand times. What he really needed was to get back to his room and check on Jimmy. He didn’t like the way things had gone at dinner. There was no question that Tristan had been hitting on him, and Sam was right. It did make him a little jealous. Yeah, the kid looked really young, but he was cute, and Corey sensed that Jimmy had been attracted to him.
    Well, Corey was gonna have to fix that. He needed to give Jimmy something else to think about.
     
     
    W HEN Jimmy got back to his room, the first thing he did was call home. Charlie answered and was thrilled to hear his big brother’s voice. Jimmy took a seat in the corner, using the only chair in the hotel room, and spent twenty minutes talking about his flight and the things he’d seen so far.
    “And guess what? There’s this kid here who looks almost exactly like you.”
    “Really?”
    “Yeah, well, not exactly, but he reminds me of you. His name’s Tristan.”
    “Is he… ya know, like you?”
    “Oh, gay, you mean? Nah. Well, I don’t know. I guess I didn’t even think of that. I doubt it.”
    “That’s cool, though,” Charlie said. “It’ll be like watching myself on TV.”
    “Yeah, they’re gonna start the cameras tomorrow. Ya know who is gay, though? My roommate.”
    “Wow. Do you like him?”
    “I dunno. I didn’t like him at first. I met him back in Detroit when I auditioned. He was kind of a liar.”
    Charlie laughed. “How can you be ‘kind of’ a liar?”
    “Let’s just say he fibbed a little to get on the show. I didn’t like it.”
    “Can he sing?”
    “Oh, he can sing. His voice is amazing. Very talented.”
    “So he’s your competition,” Charlie reminded him.
    “Well,” Jimmy sighed, “I’m not really thinking of anyone in that way just yet. We’re all here for the same reason—to get through this week. I’m tryin’ to be friendly to everyone.”
    “Just remember, bro, if that dude would lie to get on the show, he’d probably do anything to win. So watch your back.”
    “Good point,” he said. Just then the door opened and Corey walked in. “Hey, listen, I should get goin’. I gotta practice and get ready for tomorrow.”
    “Call me afterward,” Charlie said.
    “I will. Hey, I love ya, man.”
    “Love you too.”
    Jimmy set down his phone and looked up at Corey, who was now standing by his bed. “I thought you were goin’ out with the gang,” he said.
    Corey shook his head and flopped down on his mattress. “Nah, you were right. I need to focus on tomorrow. It’s too soon to go out celebrating.”
    “It’s still early,” Jimmy said. “Just ’cause I’m a homebody don’t mean you gotta be.”
    “No, it’s not that,” Corey said.
    “Well, I know we just ate, but I can get us a pizza later if you’re hungry.”
    “Really?”
    “Sure, why not?” Jimmy said. “Don’t you like pizza?”
    “I love pizza, but I’ve got to be careful. I don’t have much money.”
    “I wouldn’t have much either,” Jimmy said, “but my daddy slipped me some cash before I took off. What kind of job you got up in Michigan?”
    “I work at a grocery store. Cashier.”
    Jimmy grinned. “That’s funny. I used to be a bag boy. Now I work at a garage.”
    “Really? You mean you’re a mechanic?”
    “Sort of. I work at one of those