The Voice

I have no idea what time I finally went to sleep. For some reason, I just couldn’t sleep until I had my version of the song completely finished and ready to go—even beyond the piano parts, which I didn’t make too many changes to. I could write music for other things, but I could only play piano.

Is that strange?

Harley actually woke me up the next morning when someone knocked on my door. I had no idea who it was, but when I looked at my clock, I began panicking and throwing some clothes on. Why? Today was the day of filming for the first day of official rehearsals!

My hair, surprisingly, looked good as it was, so I quickly brushed my teeth, put on a pair of short charcoal cargo shorts, a black lace trimmed camisole, and a neon blue lace cover up sweater. Of course, I didn’t bother with shoes, but I put on my black knee-high socks with neon pink, neon blue, neon green, and neon orange plaid.

I pretty much ran right into Noah, who was laughing at how rushed I was. “Calm down, Ev. We came and got you up early so there would be plenty of time. Looks like you’re all good to go, though, so come on downstairs. I made breakfast this time—not as good as yours, sadly, but it’s breakfast.”

I smiled drearily at him. “Thanks, Noah.”

It surprised me to find the camera crew already downstairs, eating away at some breakfast as well. Niall was talking with someone who looked rather important because I saw a seriousness in Niall’s eyes that was very rare for the lad.

“They have the makeup crew downstairs waiting,” he informed me. “Everyone else is pretty much ready, although Brinley’s going all out on her hair. I don’t really know. Apparently, any time you’re in front of a camera, you’re supposed to look better than the best you’ve ever looked?”

I rolled my eyes. “She’s such an idiot. If you try too hard, you’re gonna look stupid.”

It didn’t take long to make it look like I didn’t have any makeup on, although it took longer than you would think it would. I hated that they had to put it on, but it made complete and total sense. Even Niall had to wear it, although I’m pretty sure he was used to it at this point.

When Brinley came down, I was in the middle of drinking my strawberry lemonade, until I saw her hair. It was absolutely horrid the way she had everything spiked to the point it was ridiculous and put up in a very high ponytail. It looked bad because the side of her head she had shaved looked bald, and then her hair was put up like a little six year old school girl trying to be punk.

Niall was even taken by surprise, and you would think he had seen stranger. Apparently, though, Brinley was capable of surprising him.

She made a face at me. “What’s your problem this morning? Mad because you couldn’t suck up and make breakfast?”

I couldn’t stop myself from laughing, even though I knew it was mean to laugh at someone like this. “I don’t have a problem, but you should have a problem with whoever told you that your hair looked good.”

She gasped, seeming surprised to hear this. “Seriously. What’s your problem? Are you blind? My hair looks awesome. You, clearly, wouldn’t know cute if it beat you in the face.”

“She doesn’t have to know it because somehow, it just comes naturally for the girl,” Kiley snapped, and I smiled proudly as Brinley gaped over at her. “Now, Brinley, calm your fake tits and stop being such a drama queen, alright? You’re just mad because everyone actually likes Everit. Get over yourself and get ready for the freaking cameras!”

Brinley was too shocked to respond, so instead, she just turned and went to pick her spot on the couch. Niall had his hand over his mouth to hide his grin, and he was doing pretty well to hide it in his eyes, but I could still see it there. Actually, I gave him a small smirk as we made eye contact.

To tell you that the poor boy almost lost it right there is no exaggeration. For whatever reason, this drove him crazy, but there was nothing he could do about it.

This moment didn’t last long, though, because I wasn’t hiding my laughter as I leaned over and slapped Kiley a high five. Noah kept his face serious since they were finishing up his makeup, but he wanted to laugh so badly.

“Two minutes until rolling,” the man who had been talking to Niall suddenly announced.
Noah, Kiley, and I all walked over and got our spots on the couch. There actually weren’t enough seats for everyone, so I sat on the arm of the couch.

We actually didn’t even know when they started filming. Niall started talking to us before, so it helped us not worry about that.

Basically, all he did was tell us what we already knew. He told us his suggestions for song choices, and he asked us for our opinions. Since we had talked about it yesterday, everyone already knew what they were doing, and no one protested it. He finished telling us about the tough week ahead after that, and that was it for the time being. We were free to work on our music, and he told us he would have a practice schedule done by lunch. The camera crew would always be here, sometimes randomly showing up to watch us privately rehearse, so we weren’t allowed to take off our makeup.

Some of the people actually felt like practicing would make them peak too early, since they practiced a lot yesterday and everything, so they went swimming or watched some TV. Basically, they just chilled out for a while, which meant they wouldn’t be filmed.

Anyone who was nervous about their songs or redid the composition of their songs, on the other hand, continued to practice.

That was Kiley, Noah, Madi, and me.

As I heard Noah come of his room, I ran as fast as I could to my door and drastically slowed down as I opened it just in time for him to be in front of my door.

His eyebrows rose. “All done?”

I smiled sheepishly. “All done. I was actually gonna go make some lunch, and then maybe I could show it to you afterwards?”

“Sounds like a plan,” he agreed.

To my complete dismay, a shirtless and wet Caleb made his way over beside Noah with a cocky expression on his face. It actually made me a little nervous, but I knew I could handle it, so instead of just telling him to go away, I said, “What, Caleb?”

“I got to thinking about what Kiley said yesterday,” he informed me. “Zane’s engaged. Noah’s in love with Madi. That, really, only leaves me.”

I rolled my eyes. “Okay, Caleb. Whatever. Go away, please? I’m really busy.”

“That is, me or Niall,” he said, and suddenly, everything inside of me shut down. Even Noah, who usually remained calm in some crazy times, looked panicked. “If that’s the case, we’ll have a serious problem on our hands.”

I didn’t even think about what I did next. Thinking would lead to some serious trouble, so instead of thinking, I simply let out a sigh. “Alright, Caleb. You’re right. I do have a thing for you, and I—” Despite the fact that I felt disgusted on the inside, I stepped closer to him and began smiling a flirty smile. “I was just so scared to admit it because I didn’t think I ever had a chance with someone like you.”

Noah’s eyes were wide. “I’m, er, gonna go.”

He disappeared quickly.

Caleb laughed seductively as his hands slid around my waist, something that made me immediately regret what I was getting myself into. “I know, baby, but you and I, we’re perfect for each other. Just imagine the babies we’ll make.”

“Babies?” I asked, eyes wide. Was he serious?

“Not yet, of course,” he murmured, and his cold lips began kissing up and down my neck. I felt disgusting, but what could I do? If I didn’t do this, Niall would get in serious trouble, so I had to suffer through it. “All in due time. I’m just saying. Beautiful babies are an important thing to look at.”

“I think babies with good personalities are much better,” I disagreed. “It takes parents with good attitudes to do that. Look, Caleb, hang on just a second. Let’s breathe for a second.”

“Oh, we haven’t even gotten started losing our breath,” he informed me, and just like that, he had my face in his hands so that he could kiss me hungrily. It was disgusting, and I hated it. If I didn’t know what kissing was supposed to be like from personal experience, I would’ve thought maybe kissing just wasn’t my thing.

No, I knew better, and I know that this wasn’t what I wanted—especially when he started grabbing one of my boobs very hard.

I heard someone clear their throat, and I didn’t have to look at who it was to already know. Of course, when something like this happens, the significant other—I guess that’s a good word to describe Niall to me—shows up to witness the moment first hand.

Caleb turned to face Niall with a grin. “Sorry, dude. We’ll shut the door next time.”

I shook my head firmly. “Caleb, seriously, no. If you would stop for two seconds and listen to me, you would hear me say that you don’t even know me. All you know is that we apparently would make pretty babies, and that’s not okay, Caleb.”

Niall’s eyes were harsh and cold as he looked at me, but he was good at making it look like he really didn’t care otherwise. He even laughed. “Alright. You two work this out. Whatever it is, just close the door next time?”

My heart sank in my chest. I couldn’t even breathe as Niall shut the door behind himself, leaving me in there alone with him.

Even explaining this wouldn’t justify it. That was wrong, and I definitely shouldn’t have let it get there. Immediately, I felt fear and pain surge over me, followed by guilt and anger. Did I really just throw all that away? Ruin something that could’ve been so perfect in my life? It could’ve become the rest of my life, and I literally just crumpled it up and threw it out because I didn’t use my brain.

I opened the door back and shook my head. “This was a mistake, Caleb. We don’t know each other, and I felt nothing just then, so there’s no point trying to make it work. Please just go. I really am quite busy.”

He wasn’t even completely out the door before I was closing it back behind him, and when I did, I began hyperventilating. How could I do that to Niall?! I always told myself that if that ever happened to me, I would beat the crap out of the guy and the girl, depending on if she knew or not, yet here I was, being the cheater!

Ugh. We’re not even dating, and I already broke his heart.

I gave myself some time to calm down before carefully rushing out of my room faster than anyone would be able to see me. Before I actually left, I listened to make sure no one was out there—including camera crews, but they were in Eleanor’s room—but once I knew I was clear, I made a mad dash down into Niall’s room. I knew knocking wouldn’t get me anywhere, so instead, I just walked right in.

He knew it was me, and his body tightened. “We have nothing to talk about. You should really practice. It’s gonna be a tough week for you.”

“Niall, do you even wanna hear what happened?” I asked, and I folded my arms over my chest. I felt so terrible inside, but I knew if I showed it, things wouldn’t get fixed. So instead, I frowned at him.

“No, quite frankly, I don’t wanna hear that I just magically walked up right as it started, and you were totally innocent,” he snorted. “Save it, Everit.”

Hearing him say my full name, especially the way it said it, hit home, so it was hard to continue on like I needed to—strong. “That’s not what I was gonna say.”

“Save it, Everit,” he said again.

“I’m not leaving until you at least let me explain,” I disagreed. “I’m not saying it was right, by any means, but I did that to protect you. I don’t know if you’re aware or not, but Noah and Kiley have figured it out. They know, and Caleb knows that there are mutual feelings between a guy and me here. There’s only you and him, Niall. What was I supposed to do? ‘Oh, yeah, it’s not you. It’s Niall. Sorry.’”

“That doesn’t excuse kissing him!” he exclaimed. “I’ll give you that. Maybe pretending to like him a wee bit was best, but that? Everit, he was groping you!”

I sighed. “Alright, look. You’re pissed, and I know I deserve that. I’m gonna go upstairs, and I’m gonna let you chill out about this and think for a minute. Do you really think I wanted that? That I asked him to do that? Actually, in case you were wondering, I was in the middle of telling him that we didn’t know anything about each other and that I was wrong to crush on him when that happened. And then, yes, as cliché as it may sound, you did happen to show up. Look, I’m out. I probably shouldn’t be in here anyways, but I wanted you to at least know what happened before you got too pissed and upset about it.”

Without a moment of hesitation, I disappeared out of his room and into the kitchen, where Kiley was looking through the refrigerator for something. I knew it would scare her that I was there, so despite the current mood inside of me, I smiled deviously and leaned against the counter.

When she turned around, she actually let out a yelp of surprise, which got Harley to come running down the stairs, barking in alarm. I laughed while she picked him up to calm him down.

“Hey.”

She gawked at me. “You’re way too good at being silent! If I had heart problems, you would feel really bad right now!”

I laughed and nodded. “I would.”

And I was thankful she didn't. I really didn't need something else to feel horrible about.

Notes

The lyrics are from the song Misery by The Maine. If I use their lyrics frequently, don't be surprised. They're amazing. :)

Anyways, I hope you guys enjoy this chapter, even if it didn't end on a good note. :P

Comment and lemme know what you think? :)