Hey There Delilah (Sequel to Not The Same)

You'll Always Have Me

>Delilah's POV<

Delilah's eyes bored into my skin as if she was trying to send fire right through me. That's one thing I overlooked, the hatred these kids might have for me. The younger ones looked up to Noelle, Roman, and Delilah so either they'd love me like Roman, hate me like Delilah, or be indifferent like Noelle. Danielle watched me like I was an experiment. She was so intrigued now by evey little thing I was doing. Do I remind her of Liam? Is that why she's so fascinated? I felt like a science experiment as I slowly hummed out a melody and gently pressed down on a few combinations of keys.It calmed my nerves a bit.

We were all in the same rehearsal room where I had my moment with Liam and told Roman about us. I can't really play piano but I've been learning some stuff on my own and from people here who do. The younger kids were running around on the floor and the older kids sat beside Danielle on the couch, watching me. They all looked dead. From the physical strain of this show to the emotional and mental strain of tonight, it was all clearly wearing on them. My eyes were starting to droop as well as I looked up at the clock. It was alresdy 11. My mind wandered off to what would be taking place behind closed doors. What's happening with my parents while I'm cooped up in here? Are they talking? About me maybe? Will I ever find out what they're talking about? Somehow I know that there are going to be a lot of secrets kept and a lot of things happening that not everyone's going to know about. That or everyone will just shrug this off and pretend like I'm just another contestant and my mom isn't who she really is. I kind of think they all knew, all along but nobody would admit it to themselves other than Louis.

"Time to go home!" Liam's, still thick, accent sounded from behind me. I didn't turn around but kept my head as straight ahead as I possibly could. Liam clearly wasn't too happy about the news from earlier. Maybe it will be easier if i just act like a brick wall or better yet, like I don't even exist. I felt two hands wrap around my waist and a kiss pressed to my cheek. 

"I love you, Delilah. Get some sleep, goodnight." Roman's voice lifted my spirits.

"Goodnight. I love you too." I told Roman as he released me and left me all alone just pressing down on the white keys.

"Delilah?" My mom called out to me a few minutes later. This time I did turn around but I didn't like what  I saw. My mom was a complete mess with makeup running down her face and a pained and guilty expression on her face. I've seen her like this before, and I hate it.

>Flashback<

"Mommy, what's wrong?" Usually my mom had perfect little circles of black around her eyes but now they were gone and there were black lines running down her face. Her bright red lipstick from earlier was gone now, too. I think she thought I was still playing with my Barbie's in my room because she lifted her head from the table full of papers and looked at me. She whiped away some of the smeared makeup from her face and tried to smile but something in me told me it wasn't real. It didn't reach the corner of her eyes like her smiles usually do.

"Come here, baby." She spread her arms welcomingly and I ran into them. She wrapped me up and pulled me onto her lap where she rocked with me. Most of the papers on the table in front of us were black and white only with teeny tiny print but there was also a magazine with brightly colored pictures of the person who my mom had told me before was my uncle Niall and aunty Erika. I never really understood. One time I was talking to a kid at my moms restraunt who had come with his uncle. When we were done talking and he needed to go eat, he went back to his uncle and they smiled and laughed and talked about their lives. Why didn't my uncle or aunts ever stop by and talk with me about their lives?

"Delilah, I want you to know something." She kissed the top of my head. "No matter what happens and no matter who leaves you in this life, you will always have me. I promise. I never want you to feel alone."