Reader’s Note: This preference is structured completely differently from the previous stories. It is inspired by the song "Fictional" by Khloe Rose. (https://open.spotify.com/track/56xb5xXdUopdjiknbFmC4W?si=xS3sX8yoTfGfrNgwk_Ldgg)
Imagine the following scenario: You are the sixth member of One Direction, and you had been dating one of the boys. But now, you’ve broken up, and during the concert, you perform a song you wrote about the breakup—or about relationships in general.
This story allows you, as the reader, to choose which of the boys you had the breakup with. Enjoy reading!
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You’re seated at the piano, positioned in the center of the sold-out stadium stage. The spotlight blinds you slightly, but your focus is fixed on one point. Not the thousands of fans chanting your name, but the one person standing in the front row: him.
It's the middle of the One Direction tour, and until now, you and the boys have had an amazing time. Especially with him. You thought he was the one—the guy who was different from all the others you’d dated. But the bitter truth came crashing down when you realized he was just like the rest. The truth is, it doesn’t matter if someone is a bad boy or a nice guy. Men in your life have always let you down.
And that’s exactly why you’re here, in the middle of 1D’s biggest sold-out show, singing a song you wrote last night—not just for yourself but for every girl out there struggling, wondering if good men only exist in books and movies.
You can feel the eyes of the other boys on your back. They know what’s coming next; they were there when he broke your heart. As you play the first chord on the piano, an unusual hush falls over the stadium. This song is nothing like the upbeat teen anthems your band usually performs. It’s not sad, but it’s not cheerful either. It’s raw, honest, and for everyone who’s ever felt like love let them down.
„Well, I guess the third time's not a charm
Nursing a three times broken heart
And down the rabbit hole again,“
you sing softly into the microphone, your voice almost breaking as you continue.
"I put myself in another world
Where I can be any other girl
'Cause I don't really wanna face it
'Cause, if it isn't real
You can pretend all you want
It's all you'll ever need
"That's not healthy, " they said
"To live in your head"
But it hurts a lot less to me"
The words are raw, honest and hit everyone in the room.
You see him looking at you, his eyes shining, whether with anger, sadness or understanding, you can't tell. But you keep singing because that's what you have to do. Your voice gets stronger as the chorus comes:
„I fall in love with boys I see on a TV screen
The ones in books who are as perfect as they can be
I spend all of my time imagining
What it would be like if they existed
My parents tell me I should look for one in real life
But I get let down by both the bad boys and the nice guys
I'm tired of giving more than I receive
So, I'll just stick to the boys
Who don't know me“
You can see the faces of the other guys trying to cover up the situation. The audience is quietly almost surprised because they knew or thought that he and you were dating. They thought it was cute. A little band romance, maybe a wedding or a band baby. There were lots of stories about the two of you.
Your voice quivers a little, but you force yourself not to let the emotions inside you get too big. This is your moment - not his. You press the keys of the piano as your fingers automatically start the chorus again. The fans in the audience seem to be slowly catching on to the lyrics, and their cell phone flashlights light up like a starry sky around you.
„Oh, I hid his number, I almost called
Like, maybe he's hurting after all
I can't afford to be that naïve
I'll just keep wishing it was me
In that ending scene
Where they're meeting up halfway
And they're kissing in the rain
It's a little bit cliché
But I love it anyway“
you sing with a hint of bitterness, „'Cause it's better than when you're walking home
And the rain starts pouring
But you're all alone"
Your gaze lingers on him for longer than you intended. Throughout the entire chorus and even when you address one of the lines directly to him. "I'd rather keep on dreaming of someone I'll never meet
(Ohh-oh) than give love to another one who won't choose me"
He looks like he wants to say something, but the music and your words leave him no room.
"I'm tired of giving more than I receive (ohh-oh)
So, I'll just stick to the boys who don't know me" As the last chord fades out, there is silence for a moment. The fans burst into applause and you can feel the relief pulsing through your veins. You are no longer the weak person who is broken in front of him. You are the one who rules this stage - your heart belongs to you again.
You stand up, bow slightly, and walk over to the guys, who nod appreciatively at you. The tour goes on, and the show must go on, but you know he'll never forget those words. And maybe, just maybe, he'll understand what he's lost.
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Author’s Note:
I hope you enjoyed this slightly different chapter! Tell me, which boy do you broke up with? 👀
