Last week, in a stroke of cruel irony, American Idol's Leah LaBelle sang "You Keep Me Hanging On" — but America didn't. Um, keep her, that is. The 17-year-old high school junior was the first crooner cut from Idol's 12 finalists. Deservedly or not, she's back in Seattle, reluctantly settling back into real life. Here, TV Guide Online catches up with LaBelle after school to find out what she learned on her wild ride.

TV Guide Online: How are you holding up, Leah?
Leah LaBelle: I just got done with my first day back at school. Oh, it was hard. I'm so out of school mode, so I couldn't really concentrate in class. My mind was everywhere else. I haven't been to real school in a month, so it was really difficult to focus. We took three hours of [set tutoring] a day on American Idol, but it was way different from normal school. I just had to meet with my teachers because I'm really behind.

TVGO: How are your classmates treating you?
LaBelle: They were just happy for me and proud of me. Everyone was supportive. They wished I could've stayed longer.

TVGO: On last Tuesday's show, Simon suggested you pack your bags. Did you take his advice that night?
LaBelle: [Laughs] No, I didn't pack my bags! That's too much. I just waited to see what the results were and packed them on the morning I left.

TVGO: How did his blunt comments make you feel?
LaBelle: I feel a lot of things. I wasn't happy with my performance, first of all. I knew it wasn't my best and I could've done better. I was disappointed in the song. After I was done, I was mad at myself. So when Simon made his comment, he rubbed it in my face that much more. I felt like he didn't have to go to the extreme and tell me to pack my bags, you know?

TVGO: Ouch! Do you think that helped turn voters at home against you?
LaBelle: He does influence people, as much as we don't like to think so. He does.

TVGO: Any chance Simon ever apologized for his bag-packing remark?
LaBelle: No. That was the last thing he ever said to me. I don't think he would apologize.

TVGO: At Idol's recent bash, Party Boy noticed you two were chummy and playful. What happened?
LaBelle: He was cool! I don't know what happened. [Laughs] I guess that was a one-time friendship!

TVGO: It must be harsh to lose and be resurrected as a Wild Card, only to be the first one voted out of the final 12.
LaBelle: I've thought about that, trust me. I was thinking how America just didn't like me. I didn't make it through the first time — Paula Abdul brought me through. And I didn't make it through the second time, when it was up to America. Eighteen million people voted and I got the least amount of votes. It kinda sucks.

TVGO: You're only 17, though. Life goes on, right?
LaBelle: I had a good cry. I let it out because I don't like to bottle things up inside. Then, I had a long conversation with Paula. She helped me out and made me see things in a different light. I realized I'm just one of those people who isn't made for American Idol. This wasn't God's path for my life.

TVGO: Will you keep pursuing a music career?
LaBelle: Definitely. I doubt my favorite singers, Lauryn Hill and Alicia Keyes, would have made it on American Idol. Lauryn got booed on Showtime at the Apollo before she made it big! Beyonce didn't win Star Search. Everybody goes through stuff before they make it. You can't just have a smooth ride to the top; you have to work for it. I won't let my dream just die. I'll keep trying for what I want.