Fifteen Minutes

chapter 27

The one o’clock meeting was for brass only. Samuel Meier kept the details hushed and invited only Gaines and the three judges. Chandra arrived at the same time as Kelly, and they swapped a look. Whatever was going on, it was serious. Only Samuel remained standing as they took seats around a small table.

Without any fanfare, the producer got started. “As you know, the ratings this season have been the best yet.” He had a number of documents in front of him and he sorted through them now. “Our ad rates have nearly doubled and everyone at the network is thrilled. We all know the reason—Zack Dylan and Zoey Davis have the talent and they give viewers a story they can’t resist.” He sighed. “We counted on both of them making it to the final. We were sure about it.” He stopped and stared at them, the lines on his face deeper than before. “Until last night.”

Chandra felt something strange in her heart, adrenaline maybe, or something almost divine. She held her breath while Samuel struggled with whatever he needed to say.

“Don’t tell me he got kicked off.” Cullen leaned his forearms on the table. “That’s insane. It was his best night.”

Samuel nodded, his lips locked in a frown. “I asked the accounting firm to do an audit. The results were the same. He’ll go tonight.”

Heaviness hung over the table. Chandra stared at her hands, trying to contain her joy. Zack had been kicked off? The idea was outlandish, impossible. But the truth remained. She had prayed for Zack, that he would make it out alive. And America had voted him off.

Kelly had to feel the same way—happy about this latest development. Not for the show but for Zack. Cullen was going on about how there had to be a mistake. “America will turn off their TV sets for good if the bloke gets kicked off.”

“Which is why”—Samuel dropped to his chair, picked up a small stack of papers, and handed them out—“this is our newest policy. Other shows do it. But tonight will be the first time it’s been done on Fifteen Minutes.”

“Ahhh, a judges’ save.” Cullen relaxed into his chair. “Perfect. I love it.”

“Yes.” Samuel smiled, fully in control. “We need Zack on this show. Ideally it’s him and Zoey Davis in the final. We could ride those ratings for another three seasons.”

Chandra couldn’t believe it. Why have a voting system if it came down to this sort of manipulation? “So we’ll vote tonight, is that how it’ll work?”

“Yes.” Samuel leveled his gaze at her, his eyes intense. The unspoken message was crystal-clear. “All of us are shocked about this. Cullen will lead with the announcement of a save. Zack will sing for his life. Then we’ll break for a commercial and the three of you will vote to keep him.” He shifted his attention to Kelly. “We’ll come back from the break and you’ll tell America the good news—Zack is safe for one more week.”

“And we’ll vote off three the next week, right?” Cullen chuckled. “It’s perfect.” He narrowed his eyes, his focus on Samuel. “What do you think happened?”

“Honestly?” Meier shook his head. “I’ve only seen this a few times, but I think until now he’s been too good. His loyal audience sees him as a nice boy. The token Christian. He sings a song about getting drunk and they stop voting.”

“Come on.” Cullen couldn’t have been more shocked. “No one’s that narrow-minded.”

Samuel frowned. “You’d be surprised.”

Kelly stood. “If that’s all, I need to call my dad. He’s expecting me.”

Chandra watched her colleague leave without waiting for permission. Was it a coincidence, her timing? Or was she as fed up as Chandra? Of course people hadn’t voted just for Zack. They’d voted for his faith and values. When he stopped being defined by them, the people stopped voting. Chandra wondered why Cullen and Samuel were so surprised.

She excused herself and found Kelly in the hallway. “Hey.”

“Hey.” Kelly’s eyes were soft, deep.

“How’s your dad?”

“He’s still . . . terminal.” Sorrow fell like a shadow over her face. “But he’s in remission. He might have longer than we thought.”

“Good.” Chandra had come to enjoy talking to Kelly. The changes in her fellow judge were dramatic. “What about Cal?”

“We’re trying. He and the kids moved in with me.” She leaned against the wall. “I mean, we’re not rushing to church or anything. But we need each other.” Kelly hesitated, thoughtful. “The last few weeks have taught me that.”

“Hmmm.” Chandra stared at her high heels for a long moment before lifting her eyes to Kelly. “About tonight . . . looks like it’ll be up to us.”

“Yeah.” Kelly stared out a distant window at the end of the room. “I liked Zack better at the beginning. Before everyone knew who he was.”

Chandra nodded. “Me, too.” She put her hand on Kelly’s shoulder. “Do me a favor?” She didn’t wait for a response. “Tonight . . . when it’s time to vote . . . don’t let anyone decide for you. Never mind the ratings. Fifteen Minutes will always be strong.”

“True.”

“They’ll ask you back.” Chandra lowered her voice, looking as deeply into Kelly’s heart as the woman would allow. “Vote with your gut. With your conscience.” She straightened. “A lot’s riding on our decision.”

Kelly nodded slowly. “I’ll keep it honest.” She took a step toward the dining hall. “I promise.”

Chandra stayed, thinking about her words. They were true. Zack’s future depended on tonight’s vote. Now that Chandra had started praying for him, she couldn’t stop. It wasn’t too late for Zack. Only the top four contestants toured after the show was over. Everyone else was on their own. Some were offered deals, others had to find their own way. Back to waiting tables or leading worship at their local church.

The judges each had a vote. She had no idea what Cullen and Kelly were going to do with theirs.

But she was absolutely sure how she would cast hers.

ZACK HAD BLOWN it. He knew as soon as he woke up that morning. Like always lately, he jumped on Twitter before he was fully awake. At first he thought someone was playing a joke, or maybe someone had hacked his account.

It took two minutes to figure out that wasn’t the problem.

He hadn’t checked last night, too exhausted from the drama with Chandra and then Zoey. Now he scanned back through his @s and realized the truth. The comments had turned sour right after his performance aired on the East Coast and they continued that way through the night and into the morning.

One after another they shouted at him, reminding him of the person he’d become. He read as many as he could stand.

What happened to @ZackDylan? I thought he was a Christian? #hypocrite

Figures. Everyone changes when they get famous. Even @ZackDylan. #toogoodtobetrue

Really? @ZackDylan singing a song about getting drunk on a beach? What a joke!

Not every tweet was negative. But the positive ones seemed focused on the wrong thing.

If you’re gonna show us your arms @Zack Dylan, take off the shirt. Give us what we want! #hotbody

Don’t you just know @ZackDylan is spending hours rehearsing with @songleader? Zoey Davis you’re a lucky girl. #jealous

He felt sick to his stomach. Some of the tweets were crass—more so than ever since he’d made it on the show. Zack winced as he read the next tweet on his feed.

Come find me @ZackDylan. The spot next to me in bed is all yours.

A few were so vulgar, with cussing and descriptive suggestions, that Zack skimmed over them. Others expressed outrage.

Anyone who votes for @ZackDylan after that performance doesn’t remember who he was at the beginning. #changed

Disappointed in you @ZackDylan. Who are you, anyway?

After ten minutes, Zack exited out of his account. He had known he was making a mistake last night even before he took the stage. Chandra’s warning, and then the whole twenty push-ups thing. Finding out about Zoey and the promise of fame from the producers had been the last straw.

Now he wondered if he’d get sent home. A thrill of anticipation ran through him. It would be the happiest exit moment the show had ever seen. Not that he could celebrate yet. He had damaged his reputation and his witness and no doubt embarrassed his family. And what about Reese? Wherever she was, packing for Europe, she must think him the most insensitive jerk alive. He had so much damage to undo. If that were even possible.

Zack stood and filled his lungs. God, I give You this day . . . I’m sorry. I’ve made a fool of myself. He thought about the first kiss with Zoey in the hallway. That never would’ve happened if he’d stood by his convictions, to bring glory to God. I fell in love with the attention, Lord, with being popular to the world. Everyone’s right. Being on the show changed me.

The change hadn’t happened all at once, of course. But it had absolutely happened. He had started the show defined by his faith. The Christian guy in love with his girlfriend back home. Not anymore. Now the world saw him as some hunky heartthrob dating his fellow contestant. How did everything get so bad, God? I let the show define me.

Defeat threatened to consume him. Help me find my way back. I’m sick of this life. I want to be Yours again. Completely. He gritted his teeth and felt a resolve he’d never known, not in all his life. Before the show his faith was easy. Untested. Now he’d been through the fire. And even though he’d failed, he knew this much—Jesus loved him. Even now. Please . . . please take me back. Forgive me.

A picture of Christ’s outstretched arms filled his soul. The Lord was here. He hadn’t abandoned Zack and He never would. His grace was sufficient, even now. God had been with him all along. Using Chandra and Zoey and even Twitter to show Zack what would happen if the madness didn’t stop. Because that’s how the Lord was. He never forced Himself on anyone. Rather, He simply remained, leaving signs and clues so His people might find their way back.

Where He would always wait with open arms.

Zack picked up his phone and gathered his nerve. Before he could report for breakfast and a packed day of rehearsals and interviews, he had to take care of something more important. He clicked his phone a few times and did what he hadn’t done in far too long.

He called home.

MINUTES BEFORE THEY were set to take the stage for the kickoff show, Zack was praying in the empty hallway behind the stage when Zoey found him. She looked beautiful, ready to move ahead. The way she’d been promised.

“Hey . . .” She approached him slowly. The two of them hadn’t talked since she ran out of Gaines’s dressing room. “Can I say something?”

“Sure.” He was no longer angry with her. None of this was her fault. Why wouldn’t she take the producers’ deal? Besides, he was well aware of her feelings for him. She couldn’t fake that, even for a spot in the final.

She came up beside him and pressed her shoulder to the wall, facing him. “I’m sorry. About last night. The kiss.”

Her apology surprised him. He figured she’d be sorry for her deal with the producers. “Thank you.” He nodded and slid his hands in his pockets.

“I mean it. The whole time I never respected the fact that . . . that you had a girlfriend.”

He could feel the walls rise around his heart. He shrugged. “You had your reasons.”

“No.” She shook her head, her eyes damp. “Never mind the producers. What we have between us—what we had—it was real.”

He smiled, though his eyes felt flat. “Sure.” He took a deep breath. “We better go. Call’s in a minute.”

She looked awkward, like she wanted to hug him. But it was too late for that. “I’m just sorry. That’s all.”

“Thanks.” He gave her a long look. As he did he remembered his own prayer from earlier. “Forgiven.”

She hesitated. “You never taught me how to pray. Remember? You said you were going to.”

“Yeah, well . . . I might be the wrong guy for that.”

“You’re not.” She held her ground. “You’re everything good and right and true, Zack Dylan. I messed it all up for you, but it was never your fault.”

“It was.” He allowed a sad, quiet laugh. “I didn’t fight for what I believed in. That was all my fault. My faith should’ve been stronger.”

“You’ll find your way out of this. I believe that.” Her expression said she knew she’d lost, that nothing between them would ever be what it had been. Still, she seemed compelled to finish her thought. “When you do, when you land on your feet on the other side, somewhere in Kentucky, there’s going to be one very lucky girl waiting.”

“Maybe.” He shrugged. All he could do was try. Reese hadn’t responded to a single text. “Come on.” He motioned to her and they walked together to the stage door. “It’s showtime.” Even as they walked toward the crowds and lights and cameras, Zack could only hope one thing.

That he was taking this walk for the last time.