The Music Brings Us Together (6/?)
Title: The Music Brings Us Together
Chapter: 6/?
Pairing: Adam/Kris
Rating: R (For later chapters)
Summary: The behind-the-scenes story that we never saw, as I imagine it, anyways.
Beta: Adamgrrrl
Disclamer: Unfortunately, I do not own Kris, Adam, or anyone else in this story. Nor do I own any of the songs, or anything recognizable from American Idol or Ford. I barely own the plotline, as its based on the show. Adam and Kris belong completely to themselves, and each other.
“Congratulations, you guys!” Jasmine exclaimed, genuine enthusiasm beaming from her bright smile as she and Ali entered Kris and Adam's room, shutting the door behind them.
“Thanks,” Kris said, giving her a sad smile. He sat up on his bed and lay his guitar down beside him. Ali put a hand on Jasmine’s shoulder and squeezed it lightly, smiling softly at her.
“Really sorry you didn’t make it this round,” Adam said, looking up at her from his place on the floor, leaning back against the edge of Kris’s bed, cell in hand.
“But you’ll definitely make it in the wildcard round,” Ali finished, sitting Indian style on Adam’s bed.
Jasmine rolled her eyes and flopped onto the bed beside Ali. “Come on, guys, don’t treat me like I’m made of glass or something. You are allowed to be happy, you know,” she said, her smile never faltering.
“We’re not treating you like you‘re made of glass,” Kris protested.
“Yes, you are,” Jasmine insisted, though her smile was still warm as she flicked her eyes from one face to another. “We all knew that at least one of us wouldn’t make it through this round. I'm just so glad you three did!”
“Well, don’t think we’re just going to sit idly by,” Adam said with a smile.
“We‘ll totally help you pick your song!” Ali offered instantly.
“And make sure you get more rehearsal time than anyone else,” Kris added, picking up his guitar and strumming a few chords experimentally.
“Thanks, guys,” Jasmine said softly, beaming around at them gratefully. “But you know the judges still have to pick me for the wildcard round.”
“They’d be crazy not to,” Ali said matter-of-factly. “Adam, can I borrow your laptop?” she asked, already pulling it towards her from the nightstand.
“Yep,” Adam said as he sent a quick text to a friend and snapped his phone shut. As a random thought, Adam blurted out, “Anyone know what song third group’s group performance is?”
“Um, I think it’s Katy Perry’s ‘Hot N Cold,’” Ali said offhandedly, her face lit up blue from the light of the computer screen.
Adam’s eyes widened. “No fair,” he said bluntly with a slight pout. “Why couldn’t we d-”
“So not what we’re worried about right now,” Ali cut him off, raising her eyebrows at him amusedly.
“Oh, right,” Adam muttered, moving over to sit beside her on the bed. Kris laughed, shaking his head at Adam’s reaction as he moved over to claim a place on the bed, too.
They spent the next few hours running through pages and pages of songs, Kris occasionally playing a verse or two of the ones they thought would suit Jasmine best. Jasmine shook her head at most of them, and sang a couple verses of others. Eventually they had it narrowed down to a short list of four songs.
--------------------
After a week of rehearsing with the band, and two weeks with Kris, Adam and Alison, they all felt pretty good about Jasmine’s chances of making it to the wildcard round. After some minor bickering between Alison and Kris over the song, which Adam finally ended up by pointing out that it was Jasmine’s song, not theirs, they all agreed on “Reflection,” by Christina Aguilera. Apparently it was good enough, too, because Jasmine made it, along with…three others? (Adam and Kris had been two of the many that didn’t exactly rush to comfort Tatiana when she didn’t make it. The girls mostly did that; the guys just stood back and let them.)
“I can’t believe they threw everyone for a loop like that!” Kris said, taking the chair beside Adam. “A top 13?”
“Gotta keep the show interesting, I guess,” Ali said brightly, passing around the four cups of soda she’d brought from the drink table. Everyone was downstairs in the dining hall of the hotel, celebrating with pizza, drinks, and a large cake that the producers had brought in with all of their names on it. Only the top thirteen were there, along with Scott’s brother, who was always present.
“I don’t really care,” Jasmine said, shrugging delightedly. The grin hadn’t left her face since Simon told her she was through to the next round. “I’m just so glad we all made it!”
“This is completely surreal.” Adam shook his head, laughing. “Can you believe it? All of us in the top 13?”
“I still can’t even believe there is a top thirteen,” Kris said, grinning. He turned slightly when he saw Anoop passing behind him. "Hey! Congrats, man,” he called towards him.
“Thanks,” Anoop replied, beaming as brightly as everyone else. Anoop gave Kris a quick fist bump, then turned back and walked farther down the table to sit between Lil and Jorge. Everyone had been congratulating the four that had gotten through that night, but Anoop was probably hearing it the most. For about thirty seconds, they all really thought he was going home with the others.
“Hey guys, having fun?” Ryan asked as he poked his head into the room before stepping inside. Everyone nodded or whooped their approval, most with too much food in their mouths to speak. “I just wanted to come by and tell you the theme for next week's show, so you can start preparing your songs." Everyone visibly perked up at mention of the theme, and dead silence filled the room until Ryan spoke again. “Next week’s theme will be,” Ryan paused dramatically, and for a moment Adam wanted to remind him that they weren’t on camera, but bit his tongue and waited. “The songs of Michael Jackson!”
Sounds of a approval and excitement rippled through the room. Adam made no sound, just slid an incredulous gaze to Kris, who had performed a Michael Jackson song just a couple of weeks ago. Predictably, Kris had both hands covering his face, elbows planted on the table as he quietly muttered "You've got to be kidding me!"