Double Act (A One Direction Fanfiction)

Chapter Twenty Six: Live Shows

Double Act - Chapter 26

~~ Lara's P.O.V ~~

If I was scared to death when we performed at first auditions, I sure as hell felt like I would die in week 1 of the Live Shows.

I loved the song. Knew the chords inside out. That was no problem.

The problem was that millions of people would be watching me either live or on TV, not to mention the 4 incredibly talented people sitting and speculating our every move, one of which I was trying my very hardest to hate right now.

"You going to be okay out there, Lara?" Liv asked, her voice seeming far away as she peered at me with concern.

I took a deep breath, not wanting to let her down at all. "Yeah, I think I'll make it," I assured her, sounding a lot more confident than I felt. She smiled softly before looking out on to the stage where a girl by the name of Tanya Lane was performing. She was good, really good, and it wasn't helping my nerves at all. I took a sharp breath inwards as the song finished, and the crowd applauded loudly.

I couldn't make out the judges comments, but they sounded assuring and friendly, and that calmed me a little. That was until I heard Louis' voice, and my heart pace quickened whilst my grip tightened on the neck of my guitar.

In a matter of seconds Tanya had been ushered off of stage and we had been ushered on. My heart was beating almost out of my chest, and I felt like my breathing could stop at any moment. It wasn't as if my performance was a matter of life and death, but it sure felt like it. Liv kept glancing at me worriedly so I tried an unconvincing smile. She smiled back, and scanned the audience with her eyes.

Liv felt totally at home on the stage. She was born to be the center of attention and she knew it. At soundcheck earlier in the day, I had been coping just fine. It was just us and the vocal coach, with a few crew members wandering around and I'm sure Louis was watching from one corner or another.

But now was different.

"You ready?" Liv asked as Dermot introduced us, the lights dipping and a spotlight shining down from somewhere. It happened just as we rehearsed, only this time it frightened me out of my skin. I squinted through the bright light and gradually adjusted to it, my sight returning slowly.

But then looking out in to the crowd, a funny thing happened. I caught Louis' eye, and I saw the concern and worry that he held in his gaze.

Instead of making me melt inside, which it would have done a few days ago, it spurred me on. I didn't need his sympathy. I could do this on my own. I didn't need him at all. After all, he wanted to win, so I was going to do my best to make that happen.

So I sucked it up. The adrenaline took the edge off of my fear, and my breathing began to slow. I took this as the time to begin the guitar chords, strumming and allowing Liv to start the song. I wasn't due to join her until the bridge, so for now I could just play my guitar and keep my gaze down.

"Give me love like her,

'cause lately I've been waking up alone,

Paint splattered teardrops on my shirt,

Told you I'd let them go,

I took a deep breath and began to sing, a few notes higher than Liv was singing to provide a perfect harmony.

"And that I'll fight my corner,

Maybe tonight I'll call ya,

After my blood turns into alcohol,