The Secret Daughter

Chapter 12

Liam smiles at me from across the room but I don't look up from my book. He's been trying to corner me alone all day but I've been effectively avoiding him. My mum came back from her convention last night and it's almost like being home with my siblings. 5 brothers and a sister.

The boys are leaving next Saturday and I'll be going back to my dad's and honestly it'll be a bit odd. Most of the guys and I have grown pretty close. I consider Niall as one of my best friends.

"Mica come help me cut up some carrots." Mum calls from the kitchen and Liam tries to catch my eye as I pass. I ignore him and make my way over to Mum. Louis is sitting on a stool pestering her to hurry up because he's hungry.

"So, Mica. When's the audition?" Louis steals a chunk of carrot from the chopping board and pops it into his mouth.

"Thursday." I tell him, flipping through the pages of my music I've been carrying around lately.

"You're going to be ace." He tells me. I smile and scruff up his hair lovingly. Harry creeps into the room and sits down next to Lou, mussing up his hair. I giggle as my mom points her knife at them menacingly like a mother.

"We want to hear you sing your song, Mics!" Harry squeals.

"Yeah, Mica, I haven't even heard it yet." My mother says, returning to dinner. I sigh.

"Are you guys sure you don't want it to be a surprise?" I plead. Zayn Niall and Liam pile up in the doorway and everyone shakes their heads. My palms start to sweat as I skip up to my room and retrieve my guitar. I scamper back down the stairs and everyone's eyes are on me. I take a deep breath and dive right into the chords of the song.

"Mmmm, sometimes I lay under the moon, and thank God I'm breathin', and then I pray 'don't take me soon' because I'm here for a reason, sometimes in my tears I drown, I won't ever let it get me down, and when negativity surrounds, I know someday this will all turn around because-" I stop mid-strum to everyone open mouthed. "What?"

"That's beautiful, Mica." My mother sets down her cutting board and runs around the island to hug me. My guitar presses against my ribs and I cough loudly. She loosens her grip instantly and stares me in the eye. "Your dad is going to be so proud of you!" Her blue eyes sparkle. I smile genuinely.

"Thanks, mum." I say. She nods and goes back to dinner preparations and I set my guitar gently on the table. Suddenly Liam's face is right next to mine and I breathe deeply.

"You sound great." He compliments me. I roll my eyes and ignore the flirting. "Really, you do. You're going to be amazing."

"Thanks." I say politely, pushing past him into the living room. I sit down next to Niall on the couch and he puts his arm around me playfully.

"Ey, little sister." His Irish accent rings through my ears.

"Hi Neil." I joke. He growls making me laugh. Liam stares at us from the kitchen table and I look away.

"Oh, well that threw a spanner in the works!" My mum slams something heavy onto the counter.

"What's wrong, Lou?" Zayn asks from downstairs.

"I forgot the basil at the greengrocer!" She exclaims, "Now the entire stew is ruined!"

"Mica and I can go grab some for you!" Liam volunteers. I shake my head in disgust.

"Oh that's so sweet of you Liam. Take a few pounds from my purse." She coos and Liam's footsteps sound across the room I sigh and get up, not wanting to upset my mum. Liam enters the living room, stuffing the money in his pocket, and I follow him out the front door.