A New Direction

“Bye, everyone!” I say with a joyful smile, exiting Cecily’s new home. I turn to find my father standing next to our car with his arms crossed and a mischievous smile on his face.

“Have fun, Dani?” My dad asks me as I approach him.

“Oh, shut up,” I retort sarcastically. I climb into the backseat of the car and my dad slides in next to me.

“So how was your time… really?” He asks me once more.

“It was…” I murmur, trying to find the words to describe it without revealing that I actually had the time of my life. “…Great! The girls were… great!” I smile at him.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes! Okay? Geez!” I hiss, crossing my arms and looking out the window.

My father sighs. “Listen, Dani, I know things have been difficult lately—“

“—Lately? Try like my whole life!”

My father inhales deeply, annoyed. “What I’m trying to say is—“ Suddenly, my father’s cell phone begins blaring his favorite classic Bruno Mars song. He looks at the phone. “I’ve got to take this.” He slides his fingertip across the screen. “Hey! Yeah, no, I can talk.”

“Of course you can,” I grumble under my breath, staring out the window once more.

~*~*~*~

Blasting the classic industrial band, Nine Inch Nails, in my room, I begin to ponder the sleepover I went to a week ago. I do regret acting the way that I did in the beginning. I did not end up apologizing—just participating. But they are all younger than me and I have just changed so much since I have seen them. I’m not that cute, little, innocent six-year-old anymore.

Having a dad who is the most popular late night talk show host is not a walk in the park either. The spotlight is not only on my father, but my mother and I as well. I remember reading old articles about fans and tabloids harassing my mother, Eleanor. Then once I was thirteen, they began going after me. I feel like the other girls had it much easier.

Out of nowhere, I feel a hand on my shoulder. I jump, my heart leaping out of my chest. I pull my headphones out of my ears and turn to see who it is.

“Sorry, Dani! I didn’t mean to scare you!” My mother says with a giggle.

“Oh, Mom, it’s just you!” I put my hand over my heart and exhale.

“Yes. I just came up here to tell you that we’re leaving for the anniversary party in an hour. You better get ready!” She pats me on the shoulder.

“Okay, thanks, Mom!” I say with a smile.

My mom kisses my head and then leaves.

I stand up from my desk and skip over to my ginormous closet. The girls and I agreed that we would all wear dresses and heels for our performance—our families still have no idea of our secret plan. We have been practicing over at Roksi’s house every day and on Skype at night.

I run my fingers across the dresses hanging in the closet. I pick one out—black spaghetti straps with white stars all over it. The hole from the dress then reveals my special box. I stare at it, going over the contents: straws, money, a flask, Vicodin, cocaine, marijuana and my Sherlock Holmes pipe.

I sigh deeply, contemplating if I should fall off the wagon. I have been sober for two months now. I shake the thought out of my head; I leave my closet and get dressed. I grab my purse and phone and then run downstairs to meet my parents.

~*~*~*~

“Dani!” Crystal, Kay, Cecily and Roksi exclaim in unison when I enter the club.

“Hey, guys!” I greet with a wave. “You guys all look so beautiful!”

“You do too!” Roksi says with a smile.

“Do your parents have any idea?” Kay asks me under her breath.

“Nope!” I say proudly,

I notice my father and mother go over to the rest of One Direction. It warms my heart a little bit—but it also gives me some anxiety. I’m not exactly sure why.

“Shall we go up now?” Crystal asks.

“I don’t know…” Cecily trails off, looking around at all the people.

“No! Let’s do it now!” I exclaim, feeling the punch of anxiety in my gut.

The five of us make our way over to the DJ, and tell him that we are ready. We then go back stage and take our places behind the curtain.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please put your hands together for… New Direction!” The DJ boasts into the microphone.

We hear everyone grow quiet and the lights come down. The curtain pulls away and the beginning of “What Makes You Beautiful” begins to play. We all step forward. We each sing our father’s parts. People looks confused and shocked at first but by the end of the song, the audience was super into it. We could not see our dads due to the lights but I could only imagine their faces.

“That’s what makes you beautiful!” We all sing simultaneously, and we take a large, proud bow. The crowd roars with applause and cheering. I am overwhelmed with joy and esteem.

“Thank you, thank you!” Cecily says into the microphone. “We are New Direction!”

The stage lights go down once more and we exit. I cautiously walk back to my mother and father, but that worry immediately melts away when I see their faces. My parents are glowing with excitement and happiness.

“Dani! That was fantastic!” My father bellows as he brings me in for a huge hug. “I’m so proud of you!”

“I’ve always been telling you that you have a beautiful voice!” My mother coos, rubbing my back with her hand.

“Oh, please, I barely did anything. It wasn’t even my idea—it was Cecily’s!” I explain.

“Well, it was a great one!” My father says with a grin.

“I think we may even have the next big pop group!” My mother jokes.

I look at my four friends—I mean, sisters—and smile. I then bring them in for one big group hug. “I love you, guys,” I whisper. Maybe they aren’t as immature as I thought…

Notes

So this is my first chapter on this story. What do you guys of Dani? What do you think of her point of view?

The Girls' Outfits: http://tinyurl.com/n3guszu

-DestroyShelbeyy