Rewind With A Superstar System-Chapter 65: Grand Finale (1)

<🎧 Song Recommendation: Graduation by benny blanco, Juice WRLD>

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The next three hours were a whirlwind of preparation, a chaotic blur of hairspray, wardrobe adjustments, and last-minute vocal warmups that echoed through the walls of the dressing rooms.

Von sat in the makeup chair, his eyes closed as a stylist worked meticulously on his face.

She applied a layer of foundation to cover the dark circles under his eyes and, more importantly, carefully concealed the bruises on his knuckles with a thick concealer.

When she was done, Von looked in the mirror. He didn’t look like a thug. He looked sharp, dangerous, and ready.

He was dressed in a sleek, all-black ensemble: a fitted silk shirt unbuttoned slightly at the collar, a tailored jacket with velvet lapels, and dark trousers. .

Down the hall, Julian was being polished into a diamond. He emerged wearing a pristine white suit with gold embroidery on the cuffs, an outfit clearly designed to evoke the image of an angel.

His hair was coiffed to perfection, not a single strand out of place. The contrast between them was visual storytelling at its finest.

With just twenty minutes left until the broadcast went live, a production assistant hurried them toward the wings of the stage.

They were directed to the backstage lounge equipped with a plush leather couch and a large screen broadcasting the stage feed.

"Five minutes to air!" a floor director shouted into his headset, the tension in the air thick enough to choke on.

Von sat on the far end of the couch and Julian sat just with him, looking the picture of tranquility. The latter’s eyes were closed, so with nothing else to do Von pulled out his phone to pass time.

On #ProjectStarFinale was the number one trending topic in America. A single post from the show’s official account announcing the lineup was generating tens of comments per minute.

[Light Is Lost: I can’t believe they let Von back on 🤦🏼 Bro should be in jail but now he has a shot to win a million dollars. The system is fucking rigged.]

[Jenny Sins: I mean... Julian pardoned him already, and he put up an "apology video" so I guess it’s all good with him... Y’all were the ones who requested a second chance for him 🤷🏻‍♀️]

[Julian Fanboy: I don’t see any reason for you all to be bothered. Tonight is Julian West’s coronation. Von is just there to provide the drama for the ratings, it’s pretty obvious tbh 😂]

[Girl With The Ule: ooh, this makes sm sense! no wonder they didn’t say anything about the incident. but well, I just want an interesting show tonight 🙂↔️]

[Mrs. Morale: I agree with you @Girl With The Ule, we can all accept Julian is gonna win but I don’t want it to be that easy. Von is a really good dancer, so hopefully he can give us some sweet moves while he’s at it 👀]

[Pablo Guy: 😂😂]

Von didn’t know why, but the comments were really getting to him. And right now what he wanted most was the opportunity to prove them all wrong by winning. He turned off his phone after a while.

{We are live in 5... 4... 3...}

The backstage monitor flared to life after a while. The Project: Star theme song blasted through the arena speakers, the familiar orchestral swell causing the floorboards beneath their feet to vibrate.

The screen cut to a dramatic, cinematic montage.

{Two stars from Miami...} the deep voice of the narrator boomed, accompanied by sweeping drone shots of South Beach.

{Two paths. One destiny. }

The video cut rapidly between clips of Von and Julian from the very beginning. It showed them standing in line at the auditions, looking young and naive. It showed all their experiences from Holywood Week, and how they went different routes at some point.

Then, the music swelled, becoming more emotional. The editors had done a masterful job. They showcased the Bromance arc that had captivated the audience for months.

Clips of them laughing in the Star Mansion, eating together, and rehearsing flashed across the screen.

It was a weaponized nostalgia. Looking at it, many felt a pang of sadness. The editing made it look like a tragedy of brothers torn apart by ambition. It also showed the Team 4 performance, highlighting how they moved in sync, supporting each other. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

It soon moved across many details, even showing clips of other eliminated contestants, until the moment when they were both declared to be making the Finale.

{Two weeks to rest. Two weeks to recharge. Two weeks to inspire. And now, they are here with us again... for the greatest moment of their lives. The Finale!}

The screen on stage slowly faded to black.

For a heartbeat, there was silence. Then, pyrotechnics exploded along the front of the stage, and the lights slammed on.

"YEAHHHHH!"

The audience erupted. Thousands of people were packed into the Star Theater, and the sound was deafening.

Michael stepped out from the center partition, wearing a tuxedo that sparkled under the spotlights. He walked to the center of the stage, soaking in the applause, a professional showman in his element.

"We’re all looking forward to the finale, aren’t we?!" Michael shouted into the microphone, cupping his ear.

"YES!" the crowd screamed back, a wall of sound that shook the floor.

"Well, here we are," Michael beamed. "Welcome, all of you, to the Grand Finale of Project: Star!"

He waited for the cheers to die down slightly before continuing, his voice dropping to a serious, dramatic register.

"Tonight, history will be made. Tonight, two men enter this ring, but only one will walk away with a million dollars, a global recording contract, and the title of the next American Superstar! Please... welcome to the stage... your finalists!"

The massive LED screens parted like the Red Sea.

Von stepped out first.

He walked with his head held high, his expression unreadable behind a pair of dark sunglasses he had slipped on at the last second.

"BOOOOOOOOO!"

The reaction was immediate as hundreds of people were jeering, some giving him thumbs down. It was a heavy pressure he didn’t expect to feel, but then, Julian stepped out a few paces behind him.

The boos vanished instantly, replaced by a rapturous, ear-splitting roar.

"JULIAN! JULIAN! JULIAN!"

It was like a religious revival. Girls were screaming, holding up signs that read ’Team Forgiveness’ and ’Saint Julian.’ Julian walked with a humble wave, smiling gently, soaking in the adulation as if it were his birthright.

They took their places on opposite sides of Michael.

"Gentlemen," Michael said, turning to them as the applause finally settled into a buzzing murmur. "Welcome back."

He turned to Von first. "Von, it’s been a tumultuous couple of weeks. You’re standing on the biggest stage in the world right now. How are you feeling?"

Von adjusted his microphone. He hesitated for a fraction of a second, letting the weight of the boos filter through his mind. He didn’t let the anger show.

"I feel great, Michael," Von said calmly. "Regardless of the noise, I’m just happy to be here. I feel very good."

"Glad to hear it," Michael said, pivoting quickly to the crowd favorite. "And how about you, Julian? How is the heart rate?"

Julian laughed in a charming, self-deprecating sound. "I’m not gonna lie, Michael, I’m nervous. My hands are shaking a little bit. But I’m still excited. This is a very big moment for me, and for my family."

"Of course it is," Michael nodded solemnly. "The world is watching you two tonight to see who will become the champion. This truly is a monumental moment, and you have your skill and hard work to thank for making it this far."

Michael gestured to the cameras. "Before we begin the battle, is there anyone you would like to thank? Julian, let’s start with you."

Julian stepped forward, putting a hand over his heart. He had practiced this answer in the mirror a hundred times.

"First and foremost, I want to thank God for giving me this voice," Julian said, looking up at the rafters. "I want to thank the producers for this opportunity, and my wonderful family watching from the box seats. My father, who taught me everything I know about hard work. And of course... the fans. You guys are my rock. I love you."

The crowd screamed their approval. It was the perfect answer.

"Beautifully said," Michael nodded. He turned to Von. "And you, Von? Who would you like to thank?"

Von paused. He looked out at the sea of faces, most of whom wanted him to lose. He thought about the journey and thought about the people who had actually mattered.

"Wow," Von said softly. "I have a lot of people to thank. From the fans who voted for me, to the past contestants that were part of my journey here. Conor, Sophie,, Max, Alex, Aura..."

He turned slightly, gesturing to the man in the white suit. "And even here with me, Julian. I can’t forget any of them. They truly helped me in my journey to this stage."

The crowd quieted down, surprised by the grace of the answer.

"But," Von continued, looking into the camera lens. "The biggest appreciation goes to two special people for me. To Zack, my roommate, who kept always kept me sane. And to my lovely sister, Naomi. I love you both very much. Thank you for all the help, the sacrifice, and the encouragement to get this far. I’m here because of you."

A ripple of applause broke out. It wasn’t as loud as Julian’s, but it was still unexpected to Von.

Michael smiled, sensing the emotional beat. "Well, to all of them watching from home, and to the millions watching around the globe... I hope you won’t disappoint any of them."

The lights on the stage suddenly shifted, turning a deep, dramatic crimson. The giant screens flashed the words FINAL SHOWDOWN.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Michael shouted, his voice rising to a crescendo. "The talking is over. It is finally time. For your Grand Finale, Von Varley and Julian West will be going toe-to-toe in a singing face-off! Let’s have it!"

The audience roared, stomping their feet until the stadium shook.

Then, the stage lights cut to black.