Finding My Voice

~27~

//A/N//: i just need it to be summer now. like right now. genuinely tweaking out everyday, catch me on the news for being a d1 crash out. 

in other news, i got a killer bruise on my knee. like it's immaculate. 

also apologies for not updating sooner, i kept forgetting.   mwah! x  -  s

...

It has been three days since Casey decided to awaken from the dead and grace us with her glorious presence. Since then, she has been released from the hospital but is still under serious watch and has a nurse come over to change her bandages. Because of this, she has kicked me out of her apartment due to her 'not wanting me to see her like this'. So I have unofficially moved into the shared apartment that my group members have rented. Which does work better in terms of our rehearsals. 

Speaking of, rehearsals have been hectic to say the least. Ever since we came back, everything has been go go go and all depresso espresso. Which is understandable, considering I essentially put an entire live show on pause for a few days. So now instead of a week and a half to plan the next live show, we only have a few days. The past two days have been focused on getting shots for the Behind the Scenes interviews, planning the design and aesthetic of our performance, and rehearsing with Niall. My lovely group decided to take matters into their own hands and select a song so we'd be ready to go whenever I was ready. I am extremely appreciative of all the support they have given me the past week, like bless their souls. 

For our final performance before we go to the Live Shows, we will be performing Vampire by Olivia Rodrigo. Niall thought it was a perfect choice, a power ballad to bring the depth and emotion of our voices. Also considering my past week, I should be able to pull off the emotional part. Naturally since we're singing an Olivia Rodrigo song, our theme is purple. Gorgeous. 

On another note, ever since my return to the show Jamie has been attached to me. Not saying I'm complaining, he's a super sweet guy and he was extremely helpful last week. But, I need him to realize that I am allowed some time alone. It's as though he thinks I will run away if he's not near me. Now, moving into the apartment for a little bit has not helped this in any way. He demanded that I move into his room and he shared with Alex next door. I was perfectly content with taking the couch, and I guess he's being a good guy but at some point it just gets too much. Say right now for example, I am currently laying on the bed while he is sitting on the floor next to it. To be fair, maybe I am being a bit too bitchy. A few months ago I would have been so jealous of anyone in my position of having a cute and caring guy that is absolutely obsessed with me. But considering my last few days, I would say I am allowed a few moments of alone time. 

I guess you could say I'm still a bit overwhelmed. 

Our silence gets interrupted when Anthony knocks and pops his head into the room, "Hey you guys ready to go to our final rehearsal?"

Jamie turns to look at me, gauging my response.

"Yep, just give me a few minutes to change out of my sweats." I say while getting up. 

Jamie takes that as his cue to leave and walks past Anthony in the doorway. "I'm pretty sure they're going to take you back for your interviews today. Y'know since you haven't done them yet." Anthony says slowly, almost carefully. 

Oh shit, I forgot about that. I really really didn't want to do that. I sigh, "Okay."

On the drive to the set we are all stuffed in the 'mom van' that they've been renting. I find myself squished in between Jamie and Alex, it is very quiet in the car for some reason today and I have no clue as to why. 

"Sooo, why is everyone so quiet today?" I ask, trying to break the silence.

I receive no response. Alex even shifts away from me. I cough and lean forward to nudge Claire. "Hey, did something happen?" I ask. 

She turns, "What? No, nothing has happened! Isn't it normal for friends to just sit in silence?" She asks.

I mean yes, but not you guys. 

"Sure," I say, "But you guys are usually constantly yapping about something on the way to rehearsal, so I guess this is just a bit odd."

Anthony gasps and meets my eye in the rear view mirror, "Pyper! Is this your way of saying we're annoying?"

I shrug, "I mean if you're taking it that way then sure. All I'm saying is that this is out of the ordinary for you three, Alex typically is like this so I'm not suspicious of him."

"Well, you don't have to be suspicious about anything." Claire says with a tone of stop talking please. 

"Okay then."

We pull into the set and walk into the building. Immediately I notice that all of the camera crew are already filming and waiting for us, which is odd cause usually they wait until we actually start rehearsing. As if that isn't weird enough, Chad immediately comes up to me and starts rushing me into a room with a cameraman following behind. 

"Wait, what's going on?" I ask. 

Chad just ignores me and keeps shoving me into the room.

I step into the room and inside I find the one person I wouldn't have expected to see. 

"Momma."

My mom smiles at me with outstretched arms, "What are you doing here?" I ask as I rush into her arms. 

"I needed to see you, and Casey of course."

"When did you get here?"

She pulls out of our hug, "I got to Casey's apartment yesterday."

"What? Why didn't she tell me you were here?"

My mom laughs, "Well it wouldn't have been a surprise if she told you wouldn't it?"

I turn around and walk up to Chad, "Why is she here?" I ask. 

"Well, we needed to film her interview for your behind the scenes video, and we very easily could have done that online. But, I figured you needed her to be here, so I arranged for her to be sent in." He shrugged, as if it was nothing. 

Oh, bless your soul Chad. Now I really regret forgetting your name and calling you Ginger. 

I patted his arm, "Thank you so much."

I turn towards the door to find my friends smiling at me. "So, I'm assuming you guys knew this was happening? I knew you guys were hiding something, you all are really bad liars." I smile. 

Jamie looks at me, "No actually, we did not know this was happening. We just knew about Niall's surprise, so this is completely a surprise for us too." 

Anthony hit him on the back of his head.

I furrowed my eyebrows, "Wait, Niall's surprise?" 

Just as those words left my mouth, Niall walked through the doors, "Hey guys! Due to the events that have happened recently, I've decided that you lot needed a pick me up! So, I've invited one of my very best friends to come hang out and maybe even help out." He says, looking over his shoulder.

"Oi oi!" A very familiar voice cheers.

I just about fainted.