Presence

Chapter 2

Carli's POV

'I cannot believe I just done that." I thought to myself.

I just sung in front of a crowd of people without my best friend having to push me out onto the stage or telling me that if I did not do it there would be serious consequences... i.e. she would take my guitar from me. I swear that girl thinks that she is my mother.

When I exit the stage I am greeted by a smiling Hannah who comes crashing into me crushing me in a hug. When I say 'hug' I mean... She wraps her arms around your neck strangling you, she pushes both of your bodies together and squeezes you. That is 'A Hannah hug'.

"You done it! You done it! You done it!" She cheered as she jumped up and down when she finally let go of me. I couldn't help but smile.

"Who would've thought the day would come that I just forgot about everything and went out? I haven't done that for years, Han. You don't know how good it felt to just get out there by myself again." I said smiling as we began walking back to my 'Dressing Room'.

It wasn't really a dressing room. It was just a room behind the back of the stage that the Landlady let me use every night that I was here to get ready in. "I am not saying that the toilets are unhygienic. However, I don't think anyone would like to get dressed in a toilet, eh?" She said to me.

I was pretty glad that she gave us the little room. It meant that if I did have a little breakdown then I would not cause a scene and it was easier for Hannah to calm me down.

"How about we grab our things then go for a burger or something?" Hannah asked placing her things in a bag.

"Sure, just let me check that I have everything." I said as I glanced around the small room making sure that I had not forgotten anything.

"Let's go!" I said linking arms with my best friend as we walked out of the dressing room.

We both stopped just before we were about to leave the pub because we heard my name being called.

"Carli, Carli? Carli! Wait" We turned around to see the Landlady running towards us. Her name is Martha and she is the lady who offered to let me play in her pub whenever I could.

"I am so sorry, Martha!" I apologised. "I did not hear you shouting me. What's up?" I asked.

"Well..."" She said with a smirk, waving an envelope in front of me.

"Here I have an envelope and in this envelope is some money. I want you to take it. You have been playing so well here, Carli. You have even brought more punters to the pub which is a bonus for me. So as a thank you I want you to take this." Martha said passing me the envelope.

I couldn't take her money, which would be so rude. I am only playing here for fun, she doesn't have to waste her money on me. Why should she waste it on me anyway? I am just Carli Ferguson, studying at uni like any other student.

"I am so sorry, Martha. I cannot take your money." I said passing her the envelope back to be greeted by Martha who was standing there with an 'O' shaped mouth.

"Why not?" She asked rather confused.

"Because, Martha. That money is not mine, it is yours and yours only. You do not need to thank me! It is me who should be thanking you for giving me the opportunity to play here when I am free. So thank you very much." I said whilst giving her a hug. Just a nice, comforting hug. Not a 'Hannah Hug'.

Martha was first to break the hug and stood back with a smile.

"You really are a lovely girl, Carli Ferguson. You are going to go far in life and I know it." She smiled whilst patting my shoulder.

"But I must get going, I have a bar to run. Good night ladies, see you next week" She said as she began to walk back towards the bar.

Hannah then linked her arm back into mine and we started towards the exit of the pub, but then we were interrupted.

Suddenly I heard such a loud laugh come from the corner of the room, but I could not turn to see who it was. I recognised the laugh, it sounded so familiar, like... it was as if I had heard the laugh before and I have remembered.

"Did you hear that laugh?" I asked Hannah who looked at me with a confused face.

"No. Are you hearing things?" She laughed.

I then linked arms with my best friend and for real this time, left the pub.

We were just about to enter out car when I realised that I had left my phone in the room.

"Shit. I left my phone! Start up the car and I will be back in two more minutes." I said, which was a lie. Did I know it was a lie at this moment in time? No I didn't.

When I got back into the pub I walked as fast as I could trying to avoid being stopped by anyone again, that was until I felt my self-crash into someone. I was so lucky that I did not just knock this person over with the speed that I was walking at.

"I am so so sorry, I am in a rush and I didn't mean to-" I started saying but I stopped halfway when I looked up and realised who I had just knocked into.

'Oh my freaking God' My inner fangirl screamed.

Right in front of me was the Harry Styles.

Harrys POV

Today had been a long day so I decided to call it a night. I finished my drink and then I said goodbye to the lads and the girls telling them that I would see them when I next saw them.

Niall was still caught up in his own little world before I left. He was still thinking about that girl who had performed earlier. What confused me though is why he is acting like this! Never ever has Niall James Horan been as quiet like this, never ever. This girl has really got to him and I want to sort this out.

I decided to ask the landlady of the pub who the girl was that had performed.

I found out that her name was Carli Ferguson. She was 19 years old and she performs in this bar every second Saturday night, for free.

This is brilliant I thought. I could come here the next Saturday that Carli is playing and maybe I could figure out why Niall is so intrigued by her.

Just as I was about to leave the bar I felt myself bumping into something.

I looked up and saw that it was the girl from earlier. Stood in front of me was the girl who had been performing earlier. The girl that Niall has gone quiet over. This girl is Carli Ferguson.

"I am so sorry" The girl said as she stood up from the ground.

"No, no. It wasn't your fault, love. Are you alright?" I asked, concerned.

"Yeah, I am great." She replied blushing.

I am guessing that she is a fan, just our luck.

Ok, maybe now was my chance to get to her to talk to Niall. What if she changes her mind about coming to any more of her gigs? I cannot ruin a chance whilst it is stood there right in front of me I thought.

"Excuse me?" I asked politely.

"Uh, yeah" She said with a confused look on her face.

"I don't mean to bother you, but... could you please come with me? There is something that I need to show you." I said with a smirk on my face. Maybe this could be the start of a whole new thing.

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Sorry that it has took so long for me to update! I have been busy in school with assignment after assignment and i just had no time to update!!

So what do you think of this chapter? Is there anything that i can improve on to hopefully get more readers? yes? no? comment and tell me please!

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ily all x