The Voice

I waited anxiously on the couches, tapping my fingers on the seat beside me—my own nervous twitch. I watched in fear as so many great contestants warmed up and talked to the host, Carson Daly. It was his job to make sure they interviewed everyone, but I really didn’t wanna be interviewed. I mean, I wasn’t really sure what to say. So many people around me were practicing their “sob story” to win more votes while some just told the world who they were, but I wasn’t sure I could do that.

My mind began to wander to my appearance, wondering if my hair and makeup had stayed how I wanted them to stay. The more I wondered, the more I panicked, so I stood from the chair and began hyperventilating on my way over to the mirror.

The massive lobby we were all in was bright, with the afternoon sun shining through the crystal windows, but I managed to see anyways and made it over past some of the people and to the mirror. There were other girls doing the same as me, but the mirror was big enough for a bunch of people to look in at once.

My light blue dress hadn’t wrinkled, and so far, the natural curls in my dark brown hair hadn’t fallen out. It hadn’t frizzed up, my makeup wasn’t smeared across my face . . . sure, I wasn’t one to wear a lot—typically only makeup on my eyes—but when I did actually wear it, I had a bad habit of rubbing my eyes and smearing it everywhere.

I made my way back over to the table. My dad, the man who had supported me in everything I had done in life, and Max, my best friend who, despite loving me, had stood by me through every drama and decision that had come my way since I first moved to America, hadn’t moved. They were still just sitting there, waiting on my turn to go back.

We were told the order we would audition, so I knew Carson was talking to the guy who was going out just before me. My eyes were glued to the ground, and it wasn’t until my opal purity ring nearly fell off my finger that I realized I was even fiddling with it.

I was beyond nervous, but the ring my mother left me helped. It was her present for my sixteenth birthday, the same ring her mother gave her for her sixteenth birthday.

Since getting it, I had only taken it off to swim or shower, and it had become my way of staying calm. Getting lost in the colors of the opal when the light shined on it always helped me put things in perspective. There was such depth in a simple gem that most people thought of as worthless, and I found them endlessly fascinating. Blue and green intertwined with the white, making it more than just any old stone . . . I could get lost in them.

That’s why I didn’t even notice when Carson and the camera crew approached, not until Max put his hand on my shoulder and said, “Ev?”

I blinked a couple of times as I looked up from my ring and to the crew, all of which looked genuinely kind. Honestly, I hadn’t expected them to be. They have TV appearances, sure, but we weren’t on TV right now. The cameras weren’t rolling. Surely they weren’t required to look genuine for us, were they?

Then again, maybe they were.

“May we speak with you for a moment?” Carson asked with a kind smile on his lips that reassured me. No, this wasn’t forced. Carson seemed to enjoy watching people live their dream.

That was one thing I loved about this show—Carson. He had an understanding of the contestants, as I noticed when he was going from person to person, giving them words of encouragement. Something about this relaxed me as I was face to face with someone real, so I gave him a timid smile in return. I wiped my sweaty palms on the skirt of my dress and nodded, standing up ready to follow.

We walked over to the table set aside for the TV interviews and climbed into the chairs much taller than all the others. It made sense that the chairs were taller since the table was taller as well.

After setting me up with a microphone and everything, Carson gave me another pleasant smile as they began rolling the cameras. “So tell me about yourself.”

“My name’s Everit Eberly,” I began. After receiving my invitation, I thought over this part very carefully and still wasn’t entirely sure what to say. The full details and backstory of my life were probably far more interesting than anyone here—not bragging, just being honest—but I couldn’t share most of it. “I’m seventeen. I grew up in Kenmare, Ireland. We moved to America when I was fourteen. I’ve been singing since I was a little girl, about four. I guess it started when my mum died in the car wreck.” Part of that was a lie, but I had to say it in order to reach for my dream. “Music has always been my life, and I’ve wanted to be an artist because I wanna write songs and sing songs that inspire people, that help them get through some of the toughest times. That’s why a lot of people listen to music, myself included, and I wanna be that kind of artist.”

“That’s really awesome,” Carson informed me. He looked back to my dad and Max. “So is this your dad and brother?”

“Dad and best friend,” I corrected, and I couldn’t help but smile as I began looking down at my hands. “Max is actually the one who helped me adjust when I first got here. Everything is so different here.”

“So you’re here to make a difference in someone’s life like other musical artists have done in yours?” Carson confirmed.

I nodded. “That’s it exactly.”

“What are some examples of artists that have changed your life?” he asked, and his question seemed to be genuine curiosity.

I took a deep breath and laughed a little. “Uh, wow. Um . . . Paramore, for one. One Direction, Three Days Grace, Story of the Year, Tonight Alive, Thriving Ivory, A Day to Remember, Sick Puppies . . . I mean, there are tons. Those are just the ones on the top of my mind.”

“That is quite a variety,” he laughed, and I couldn’t help but smile in agreement. “Well, Everit, it’s been nice talking to you. I really wish you the best of luck. I’ll see you when it’s your time to go in there.”

I smiled at him and nodded. “Yeah. Thank ya, so much.”

After that, the worst part was just waiting. Max and Dad tried to distract me, but I was so nervous and shaky. How many times had I sang this song in the car, just singing along? I knew the lyrics, and I could sing it. There was nothing to be nervous about. Was I good enough? That’s a matter of opinion, but I had to be at least decent to make it this far, right?

Finally, after over an hour of waiting, they called my name, and Carson walked Dad, Max, and me out of the room and into a well-lit hallway. I went one direction whereas Dad and Max went another. The moment I was alone, my mind started focusing on the lyrics, on my performance.

You need to do more than sing, Everit.

My lungs ached as I walked into the auditorium. You could definitely hear the crowd talking, and I even faintly heard Blake saying something. But I didn’t pay attention to that as I took a deep breath and said a quiet, quick prayer and refocused myself. My heart was pounding, and I forgot how to breathe for a moment. Luckily, I remembered just in time because right as I began getting a steady rhythm going, they told me to go out on stage and start.

They weren’t kidding when they said the music would start as soon as I got near the microphone. I mean, with all the people there were auditioning in the three days they were in New Orleans, they had to keep things moving.

“I had a plan, and it made God laugh.”

Almost instantly, two chairs spun around. Those two chairs were Adam Levine and—holy crap, Niall Horan?!

Somehow, I managed to stay focused and continue with whatever emotion the music brought to my face. The smile this song brought to my face only widened when the reality hit me. I already got two chairs!

“It didn’t work, should’ve checked the math.
I hit the wall cause I live too fast.
I didn’t know it could hurt that bad.

I clung to hope when there was none
I should’ve known that was so dumb.

Whoa, oh, oh.
Whoa oh, oh, oh.

There’s no going back,
When life’s a loaded gun, you pull the trigger, trigger.”

And after that, the other two spun around. That was the most surprising thing of all. I was hoping for one, but I got all four?

“There’s no going back
The past is in the past
Thank God it doesn’t last forever.”

Since we had to make it a ninety second audition, I had to cut out a lot of the song, but it didn’t make it any less powerful—in my opinion anyways.

“The future I’m living now
Is not what I’d thought it’d be
The person I was before
Is nothing like me

The future I’m living now
Is the way that I want it to be
The minute I walk through the door
I slam it behind me

There’s no going back
When life’s a loaded gun, you pull the trigger, trigger
There’s no going back
The past is in the past
Thank God it doesn’t last forever.”

The crowd began screaming and cheering much louder than I ever dared to imagine. I wore a smile bigger than I remembered ever smiling as I tried to look at the coaches through teary eyes. All four of them—Blake, Christina, Niall, and Adam—had huge smiles on their faces while they each gave me a standing ovation and cheered with lots of enthusiasm . . . for me.

Christina looked cocky, and Blake just looked happy to be alive. Niall and Adam, however, were giving me these huge and sexy smiles. I took a moment to realize that the secret judge this year was Niall Horan of One Direction.

Holy crap. I was actually gonna get to talk to him again.

I had to take another deep breath as Christina began her speech to convince me to come to her side.

“Let’s be honest,” she practically purred, like she was trying to seduce me or something. “You’re gorgeous, and watching you perform is incredible. You got so into that song. I felt your pain, and I felt really sad for you, ya know? I felt the emotions of the song. You conveyed those emotions. That’s what performing is about! I want to make you a winner. I can do that! You should definitely pick me. Besides, I look better in a dress.”

That made me laugh, despite the fact that I really didn’t like her.

Niall was next, and he was still laughing a little about Christina’s comment. “I can’t argue that one. I look awful in a dress. She forgot some things I would like to say, however. First, what’s your name?”

“I’m Everit Eberly,” I said, and his eyes lit up.

“Where are you from?” he asked, voice at least five notches louder to match the excitement dancing in his brilliant blue eyes. “Is that an Irish accent I hear?”

I couldn’t help but laugh as I nodded. “I’m from Kenmare.”

“Kenmare?” he murmured, and while he thought about it, his eyebrows pulled together. “What county is that?”

“Kerry,” I said, but he still looked confused, even as recognition flashed across his eyes. Surely he didn’t remember asking me the exact same thing last time we met . . . . “It’s about four hours from Mullingar on the southern coast.”

“Yes! See?” Niall insisted. “You should definitely pick me. We’re both Irish, and you’re sexy! I mean, I can’t argue with what Christina said. You get up there and perform like a professional. The moment I heard your voice, I knew I had to have you on my team. Adam and I both did.” He glanced over at Adam, who was giving him a curious smile. “You should definitely pick me, though, because I love you, and I love your voice, and we’re both Irish. And you’re still absolutely beautiful. Please pick me?”

I had to take a minute to catch my breath as the audience began cheering again. Niall was just smiling brightly as I reacted this way. Niall Horan just told me I’m sexy and beautiful?! And that he loves me? And he’s begging me to pick him?!

“I agree with Niall and Christina on everything they said,” Adam informed me. “But let’s remember. I have had a winner twice now. Niall is a newbie. He doesn’t know anything. I’ve produced two winners on this show before. I can help you win this thing because what I see in you is someone who could come pretty close to winning all on her own, so with a little help, I think you’d be unstoppable. You’re innocent and so stinking cute, but in that innocence is a girl who lights on fire when she sings, and I want that.” He grunted and slammed his hands down on his chair. “I want you!”

Adam Levine just said the same thing. Holy crap. You are not in real life.

Blake sighed. “What more can I say? They’ve said it all. You’re beautiful. You’ve got an innocent, sweet face that just . . . when you perform, you captivate everyone’s attention. I’ve won this thing three times now, and I can do it again if you pick me. I can make you a star, and you won’t have to look like Christina either.”

Christina gaped over at him as Niall and Adam both began laughing hysterically. The crowd wasn’t sure what to do, and though I could laugh all I wanted, I decided to just bite my giggles back and focus on what Blake was saying.

Didn’t mean my smile didn’t get bigger because of his comment, though.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Christina demanded, but she still had this annoyingly flirty smile on her lips, even though he wasn’t single.

Blake just shrugged his shoulders and turned his attention back to me. “Pick me! Niall may be cute and Irish, but I’m cute and country, and I know what I’m doing.”

“Maybe I’m a quick learner,” Niall defended himself, but he was still laughing about the Christina thing. “Anyone can win if they have her.”

I took a deep breath as the crowd began calling out names of people I should pick. I couldn’t make out a single one, but it was so simple to me which I should pick. Actually, I felt like I didn’t even need to say it.

“I always told myself that if I made it on this show and more than one chair turned around, if Adam was one, I would pick him because I love Maroon 5, and I think he’s so gorgeous,” I said into my microphone. I could see Adam getting really excited, so I grimaced and said, “But now that I’m here, it’s different. I’m gonna have to go with Niall.”

Niall immediately jumped up from his chair and rushed up on stage to hug me. I was breathless as I hugged him back, but the most surprising thing he did was kiss me on the cheek and say, “Thank you. Together, we can win this.”

The crowd was cheering, whereas Adam, Blake, and Christina were all just laughing at Niall’s child-like enthusiasm.

“It’s a shame, but I wish you the best of luck,” Adam said with a smile. “Anyone on my team needs to know that you are the one they need to fear and watch out for because I still believe you could win this thing.”

I barely managed to get out, “Thank you,” because I couldn’t breathe. I remained calm while I walked past the coaches’ chairs, getting applause even still—especially from Niall—but the moment I was out the double doors and headed down the hallway towards to Dad and Max, I took off running, letting out a squeal the entire way.

Even when I made it to the room they were waiting in, I was still struggling to find the breaths I so desperately needed.

Carson looked just as happy as they did. “Was that what you were expecting?”

“Not at all!” I breathed. “I didn’t even think I would get one chair, much less all four!”

“So what made you pick Niall?” he asked. “When watching the performance, you could see how surprised you were when he was in the chair next to Adam.”

“As I’ve said, One Direction is one of the artists that have helped me in a lot of ways,” I admitted. “It’s not as much their music as it is them. He came from Mullingar, Ireland, and became what he is today, so that gave me hope, ya know? Then, I was able to meet the guys at one of their concerts in Nashville, and Niall talked to me like I was person, not someone beneath him. I wanted to be able to work with him and experience that even more.”

“Well now you get to, and I wish you the very best of luck,” he said, still with a genuine smile. “Those were some outstanding comments made, and I really hope you succeed.”

That made two of us.

I let out a more than breathless laugh. “Thank you.”

And that was how I left, knowing that I was on Team Niall and that all of the judges truly believed I could win this.

Notes

Hey guys! This is my first time posting my One Direction fanfics, so I hope you like it! It's not the longest one I have, but it's the first one I ever finished.

I got the idea when watching the Voice a few seasons back, so I started working on it. I wrote it, re-wrote it, edited the crap out of it, and finally, I have something I'm willing to share.

If you wanna see her audition outfit, here it is. :)

I hope you guys like this story. I've had a lot of fun writing it, and I hope you'll have at least half as much fun reading :)

Comment and lemme know what you think! I'm completely nervous about posting this. My little sister has tried to get me to do it for months, and I'm finally taking her advice. Hope you enjoy it as much as she does. :)