Chapter 33 - Record Deal

I spend all day with Niall and that fact that Harry doesn’t come for me is just confirmation of what I already know. Niall and I comfort each other in a way I guess only us can. I feel like he’s the only friend I have now. He tells me about Ella, about his life and makes me laugh, even when I feel so broken inside.

“You’re a good girl, Ari. I should introduce you to Liam. He needs a good girl now,” he says concerned and I frown. I remember Harry… I remember Harry mentioning how much Liam had changed and how worried they were.

“I think I’ve had enough of One Direction,” I laugh humourlessly. “But don’t worry, I’m sure he’ll find someone who’ll help him to find himself again. People get lost sometimes, there are too many distractions on the way. But we find our way back to the path. Have faith,” I tell him and Niall smiles.

“True that,” he agrees and we smile at each other.

Niall does help me to feel better. At the same time he also makes me feel miserable. He tells me a lot about Ella, of their moments together. Of their brief history together and I just love their love, but I also feel jealous because Harry doesn’t love me like that… but I do. At least I think I do.

Now I understand all those girls behind a computer screen. I really do. Loving a boy that is nice to you but who’ll never love you back. I know how it hurts and maybe for me it’s worse because I experienced his kindness first hand. His smiles only for me. His hugs. His hand entwined with mine. I experienced all those things and it makes it one of the most painful thing I’ve ever experienced.

When I hear Niall speaking about Ella I want to go after her and tell her how much he stills loves her. How much he misses her and they should work this out. But Niall respects Ella’s decision, which is the biggest proof of love if you ask me, so I have to respect Ella’s decision, too. I just hope and beg one day they’ll find each other. They deserve to find each other.

At night I say goodbye at Niall by the music room, but he stays with me a little more. He sees me with the instruments and gets curious as why I’m so familiarised with them. I don’t tell him, instead I sit in front of the piano and play for him. I just play a song, any song that slowly turns into that song I once tried to write about Ella and Niall. I think I might pick that up again and work on it. I know more now. I can give him that, right? Maybe he could use it for another present when he sees her.

“Wow! That was amazing. Does it have lyrics?” he asks me and I nod. “Could you sing for me?” he asks and I think of Mare. Of our deal.

Why do I care? She betrayed me. I owe her nothing!

So I start playing again and I sing this time and by when I finish I know Niall has many questions so I sigh deeply.

“I sang last night. I wrote Mare’s song and sang it backstage. She did the performance,” I tell him and his expression is sheer shock.

“But… but you then…”

“I can’t face an audience,” I tell him shrugging. “I would have a worse panic attack than the one last night.”

“But Ari, everyone feels like that. The stage is threatening and frightening. But you know what helps? What’s the magic that allows us all to be there?” I only blink. “The music. Music is the magic that makes you feel on top of the world. Like nothing can go wrong. And your music is wonderful! Your music can give you the strength you need.”

“I-I-I… I can’t,” I state. I can’t even imagine myself on a stage, in front of people.

“You should try it, just to make sure you can’t, if you’re that sure about that,” he adds with a shrug and only then I realise that I’ve never really tried.

I’m about to answer Niall when the door bursts open, making me jump but Niall catches me before I hit the ground. I see Mare walking in, glowing like I’ve never seen her before and that image is like a dagger in my heart.

“Ariel!” she sings but then stops when she sees Niall is sitting by my side. “Oh, you have company. Hello,” she says charmingly but I know Niall doesn’t like her. He glares at her. “Oh-kay,” she says, knowing this boy doesn’t like her. Not like Harry. “Ari, we need to talk. I have wonderful news!” She then looks at Niall, asking him to leave us alone. Niall looks at me, asking me if it’s okay so I nod.

“Okay,” he whispers and leans in to kiss my head. “But if you need anything, come to my room, okay? Five-oh-six,” he tells me and I nod again.

After that he stands up and leaves. Mare smiles at him but he ignores her. She shrugs it off and rushes next to me but when she sits by my side I stand up. I don’t want to be near her. I don’t want her to touch me. She betrayed me.

“Ari? Are you all right?” I don’t answer, I just give my back on her. “Ari?” Still no answer. “Okay… I have the perfect news that will get you talking again! Ariel,” I hear her standing up so I step farther away. “We got a deal! An agent talked to me last night and said I was exactly what he was looking for. Of course I told him about you, that we come as a package and he wants to meet you but it’s mere formality—”

“No,” I cut her off, hugging myself.

“What?”

“I said no. I’m not going anywhere with you. Not after what you did. I don’t even wanna see your face,” I carry on, the heartbreak and bitterness clear in my voice. I’ve never talked to someone like this before.

“What?” she repeats and I turn around to glare at her.

“I saw you last night! You know how I feel about Harry and you still left with him. And then today you were laughing at him and the things he said and—”

“What? Today? You mean in the kitchen? I wasn’t even talking about—”

“I heard you!” I shout, surprising myself more than Mare. “I heard you this morning. I saw you last night. I don’t wanna even see your face again!”

She breathes heavily, watching me carefully. She’s lost her smile. “You… you’re turning your back on me for… for a guy?” she questions me and I shake my head.

“No, it’s because of you! Because of what you did.”

“Oh no, don’t come with that. I know you, Ariel. It’s because of him. You’re throwing all this away for a boy! So typical of you. You did all this for a boy!”

“I did not!” I shout but now she’s shaking my head.

“I should’ve known better but you looked so nice and innocent but you’re just like all the others. You don’t even give me a chance! You just assume the worse. You think the worst of me when I’ve done nothing wrong! You’re stabbing me in the back for a boy!”

“It’s not because of him!”

“Yes it is!” she shouts louder. “Of course it’s because of him. You wanted to become more confident because of him. You accepted this deal because of him and you stab me in the back because of him. It’s not my fault he goes after every pretty face he sees. It’s not my fault his reputation precedes him! You shouldn’t have trusted him! He came after me last night. He wouldn’t get a no for an answer, he had to speak to me in private. And he kept talking about saving him and something about my voice and so many other things but I had no idea what he was talking about. I even told him it wasn’t even my voice and that if the voice reminded him of someone it was of you!”

I take a sharp breath, my eyes wide open in shock.

“I don’t know what’s going on between you two but I have no interest in Harry Styles. I just got my deal and I don’t want his fans hating on me. I don’t even wanna be his friend. Have you seen what his fans do to the girls that get near him? They are ruthless! I want fans, not haters! I would never get involved with Harry.” She is breathing heavily and I don’t know if I’m breathing at all. “And if all that wasn’t enough, I know you fancy him. I would never betray you, Ariel. I’m not like that. I know how much it hurts when people do that. I set things as straight as I could.” I notice how she breaks by this point, how tears form in her eyes and she blinks them away. “But you are stabbing me in the back because of him. You know what? I’m so glad I made you sign that contract! For a moment I thought it wasn’t going to be necessary. You were so nice and just good. I never thought you were gonna do this to me but you’re just like everyone else. You stab me in the back when it doesn’t look nice for you anymore. How despicable. But guess what, Ariel? I’m not stupid. I don’t let people use me to their advantage anymore. You signed a contract. You can’t just walk out on me. Especially not now that we signed a contract.”

I had totally forgotten about that. I did sign a contract, she’s right about that.

“And let me refresh your memory, Ariel Hamilton,” she carries on. “Remember point sixteen? No? Well, it said that if any of the parts wanted to get out of the deal, once it was offered, the other had to pay the amount of said deal. I’m not walking out here, so I have nothing to worry about. Now you… you’re breaking a contract because of a boy.”

“It’s not because of a boy!” I shout, shaking because consequences I never foresaw are coming and biting me in the bum.

“Then prove it! Prove it to me, Ariel, that you didn’t do all this because of a boy. That you’re not betraying me because of a boy.”

I blink in confusion and she wipes the tears away. Some have escaped and are running down her cheeks. I, on the other hand, am cold.

“He betrayed you and he might do it again. He made you believe he fancied you and then went after another girl. If it really wasn’t for a boy, get revenge. You do that and I let you walk away from this. I’ll ignore the contract and we’ll never see each other again. But you need to show me that this is really because it’s over between us and not because of a boy. Hurt him like he hurt you.”

“I-I-I…”

“Destroy the image of that boy who destroyed your heart… the boy that destroyed our friendship,” she whispers the last part and has to stop for a few seconds, to fight the sobs. I’m silently crying, I feel the hot tears down my cheeks. “Show the world what he really is.”

“I… I can’t do that,” I stutter.

“Why? Because you did all this for him? Because he cares about you, too?” I hear her cynicism. I hear the betrayal in her own voice. “Show me it’s not because of him and I’ll tear that contract apart. If you don’t, then you have to be a grownup and face the consequences of your decisions. That’s your last homework, Ariel. To be an adult.”

And with that she walks away, hugging herself and wiping away more tears. I’m left alone, with a frozen heart and a blurry mind.

-:-:-

Remember when you all said "Mare is gonna betray Ariel"? Yeah... it was the other way around. Ariel BETRAYED Mare. Can we call that a plot twist?

Dedication to @hasgtagme_ for being clever ;)

Bel, xx