Finding My Voice

~16~

//A:N//: whoopsies meant to update earlier, i just got a lil lazy :P oh whale. remember i do not know shit about the voice, keep that in mind.

i love pop tarts dude. x - s

...

"I've been thinking about this over the past few rehearsals with you guys, and now I think I do know who the winner of this Battle is. I'm super proud of all of you, but the winner of this Battle is..." Niall pauses to take a breath, "both of you."

My mouth drops as I hear everyone in the audience gasp. Can he do that?

"Woah woah woah, Niall are you sure about that?" Carson asks, concern written all over his face.

Niall nods. "Yes, Carson I am 100% sure. I knew for a fact that there was no way that I could let both of these acts go, so I asked if I could take both of them with me. I was told no, they said that I could only take one act through to the Knockouts, but they didn't say I couldn't create a group out of the two. So that's what I'm doing. If it's alright with all of you, I'd like to take all of you as a single group. Kinda funny, considering my past isn't it?" He finishes.

"So what will it be? Are you, Almighty, willing to take in Pyper as a member of your group?" Carson turns to us.

I look over to them and make eye contact with Claire.

"Of course we will!" Claire smiles and pulls me into a hug.

The crowd cheers as we are pulled into a group hug. "Well there you have it, Niall is taking Almighty with the addition of Pyper Williams to the Knockouts!"

I pull out of the hug and look around for Casey. She and Tom are absolutely going crazy, and so I run over to them. "AHH PYPER OH MY GOSH!" She screams, grabbing me. "YOU DID IT!! I'm so proud of you!" Casey says as she hugs me close.

"It's all thanks to you," I say to her because it's true. If it weren't for her neverending support I wouldn't be here. I do feel bad that this couldn't be her, but now maybe I've come to accept that I might possibly have a talent myself. Just maybe.

I let go of her and Thomas immediately gives me a big hug as well. I've just realized that I've begun to look at him like a brother. I'm so used to him now, I can't wait until he proposes to Casey. So I decided to say just that in his ear. He tenses and whispers back, "Now don't go spoiling all of my secrets, okay? Give me a month or two." I laugh, "Alright but if you don't do it soon I'm afraid she might do it." He lets go of me and smiles, "Now what would be so wrong with that?" I ask. "Nothing. I just want to be the one to do it." He shrugs.

"Hey Pipes, you might want to go over and hug Niall. The show still has to go on, y'know?" Casey taps me on the shoulder.

"Oh right, thanks."

I walk over to where the rest of Almighty is surrounding Niall.

"Heyyy there she is! You did so great out there!" Niall smiles and pulls me into a hug.

"Thank you so much, Niall. Seriously."

He lets go and looks at me, "How could I not put you through? Come on now, I'm not that stupid." He laughs. "Alright, now all of you run along! I've still got a show to judge! Get!"

After that, we all walk backstage in silence. It's as if we're afraid that if one of us speaks, it won't be real anymore.

Anthony suddenly turns around and looks at each of us, with a shocked smile on his face. "Well, that just happened."

With that, it's all suddenly real.

I made it through the Battles. I'm not by myself anymore. I'm happy.

As I look around at the people who've accepted me into their group, I'm suddenly overcome with pride.

We did this. Maybe, we can win.

"Shit." I laugh.

...

//A:N//: not too long today. i'm in a tad bit of a writer's block but oh whale. x - s