A Love, a Lie and a False Identity (Louis Tomlinson)

Louis

Louis

          ‘OK, boys, let’s take it from the top,’ our chorographer Brian shouted across the stage, his voice echoing around the massive empty concert hall. It was always so surreal, practising in the emptiness, trying to imagine it filled with hundreds of screaming fans, chanting our names. I was thankful this concert was going to be a little bit more civilized, it was taking longer and longer for my hearing to return to normal after one of our concerts these days.

The music started up again, and the beat travelled through my body, making me move. There was nothing more I loved than performing. It was all I wanted to do, ever since I was a kid. It made me feel alive, in a way that I hadn’t felt doing anything else. I never wanted it to end.

          ‘Harry, you are a beat too fast,’ Brian shouted, rolling his eyes. He was a perfectionist; every little missed step was like a huge insult to him and his dance routine. There wasn’t even that much dancing, we usually just ran around the stage like kids jacked up on sweets.

          ‘Sorry,’ he said, but I could see he wasn’t. He knew he could stand on stage and act like a chicken yet the crowds would still go absolutely nuts for him. He was hot property, and had basically become the face of the band. I didn’t mind so much, it meant it kept the media off the rest of us, just a little, but I did feel for Harry. The constant scrutiny was tough on him, and as his best friend, I felt it was my duty to be there for him. He was like a little brother to me most of the time, I was protective of him. It was why he had been so resistant to admit his feelings for Rosie, why he was unable to commit, as he didn’t want to drag her and their relationship into the media, for it to be dissected and analysed until there was nothing left.

But he had told me the news this morning, about the fight between Rosie and Cara, how he had gone round to Rosie’s, and all the feelings had finally been admitted. I had nearly jumped for joy that my friend was so happy. Finally he was in love, and I knew, especially from seeing them together in New York, that she truly loved him as well. That was all I wanted for him, not to be used for his fame, to have girls pretending to be with him when really all they wanted was the fifteen minutes in front of the camera. He didn’t deserve that, and I knew Rosie was genuine. I had been lucky enough to have that with Eleanor, and I think that was what pained me the most, that I had lost that trust with someone.

I needed someone outside of the band to rely on, who I could tell things to and not have to worry about the press finding out. Zayn had Perrie, Liam had Danielle, and Niall had…food. It just…it made a difference.

          ‘Louis! Concentrate!’ Brian barked in my direction, making me jump again. The rest of the guys sniggered, but quickly jumped into position when they received Brian’s death stare themselves. We had been here nearly two hours already, we were all starting to drag, but Brian was relentless. He had choreographed some of our routines on the X Factor all those years ago, and he hadn’t changed at all.

          ‘Sorry,’ I answered, but I could feel myself losing it. I think Brian could sense it because his face softened and he turned the music off.

          ‘We have two days until the performance guys, but I think you are doing OK. Why don’t you take five?’ he said, flashing a grin before heading offstage. Zayn immediately collapsed to the floor, face up like a starfish, breathing heavily. Liam grabbed two bottles of water and threw one to me before opening in own. Harry was already texting on his phone, probably to Rosie, immersed in staring at the screen. Niall was hunting for some food, which didn’t surprise me in the least. That boy needed to find someone, just to distract him from his other love. Normally I would ask Eleanor to maybe set him up with one of her friends, but I couldn’t do that exactly now, could I?