A Hit In The Making | H.S | 1D |

Chapter 13

Rachel's POV:

As Niall leads me throughout the enormous downstairs, I can tell he's growing more and more nervous. Earlier in the kitchen, I wasn't too worried about whatever he wanted to show me... but now I'm a little concerned. I'm not used to seeing Niall acting anything but like his happy-go-lucky self. So, what has him on edge all of the sudden?

We walk further and further to the opposite side of the house until we reach a large red door. Niall turns to me with a reassuring smile, as if to ease both of our anxiety as he pushes the door open. Instantly my nerves calm a little when I see various kinds of musical instruments and recording equipment. A studio?

As we walk in I take in my surroundings; the cream colored neatly padded walls, random drop cords scattered about, multiple midsized amplifiers and a mixing board big enough to sleep on. To my left there's an area either corner with a few mic stands and headsets, which I'm guessing is where Louis, Niall and Harry last recorded based on the different colored microphones. To my right are a few different guitars, keyboards and an electric drum set beside a rack full of percussion instruments. A few more glances and I turn towards Niall as he shuts the door slowly. He wipes both hands on his shorts and kind of just stands there nervously, so I decide to break the silence.

"I didn't know you guys had a full on recording studio in this place" I say casually, placing both hands in the back pockets of my jean shorts. He eases up a bit and shrugs, taking in the space around us. "Yeah, not many people get to see it. Sometimes we'll have Ed over and work on stuff but usually this is where we go to disconnect from the world and really get into our own music..." Niall trails off, definitely more relaxed than before.

"So... what did you wanna show me?" I ask. He nods and walks towards the guitar stand, grabs an acoustic and begins looking through his pockets for something. He crosses the room and pulls out a Kajon for him to sit on before nodding to me. "Here, have a seat wherever you'd like" he says, placing a random guitar pick between his lips and pulling out a sheet of notebook paper. Eventually I find a black stool and sit down, eyeing Niall curiously as he further tunes the instrument in his hands. Once he is fully settled with the scribbled sheet laying on his lap, Niall sighs and looks up at me with both anticipation and hesitation in his eyes.

"Alright... I have this song that I've been holding onto for a couple of weeks now... and... well, I haven't shared it with anyone yet. And I- uhm, I wanted to play it for you-" Niall says, stumbling over his words a bit. I smile, finding his actions completely adorable yet amusing at the same time. I look at him, cocking my head to the side and give a single nod. "Just play." I say simply. Niall exhales slowly and looks over his paper before picking the strings in a rythymic, soothing progression and instantly becoming one with his instrument.

"I'm like a crow on a wire

You're the shining distraction that makes me fly

Oh, oh, oh

I'm like a boat in the water

You're the rays on the waves that calm my mind

Oh, every time..."

As the song builds up into the chorus, I'm just simply blown away. And by the time Niall reaches the third verse tears have formed in my eyes and I'm not even sure why; the song is just simply and painfully beautiful. Honestly I had no idea Niall was such a talented songwriter... in fact, I don't know very much about him at all. I'd like to change that.