That Girl Band (Liam Payne)

Liam

"Why did the music stop?" I asked, looking up. The show was playing on a monitor in our dressing room.

Lou looked over at me. "Well, the blue haired one was supposed to sing and she didn't. She froze."

I looked over at Lou. "She has a name, Lou. It's Styx. Jesus." Lou laughed at me. "Shut up, man."

"Why do you know her name?" he asked.

I just shrugged and looked at the monitor. They were starting over. Styx had her eyes closed. This time, she opened her mouth and began to sing.

I don't mind it

I don't mind at all

It's like you're the swing set and I'm the kid that falls

It's like the way we fight, the times I've cried, we come to blows

And every night the passion's there so it's gotta be right, right?

No I don't believe you

When you say don't come around here no more

I won't remind you

You said we wouldn't be apart

No, I don't believe you

When you say you don't need me anymore

So don't pretend

To not love me at all

I stared at the monitor. I knew that voice. I dreamed about it at night. That was Beth's voice. I knew it was. Running out the door, I rushed to the stage. I needed to see her. It had to be Beth, but it wasn't. It was the girl drummer who didn't talk to me. I needed to see her face, really look at her.

I don't mind it

I still don't mind at all

It's like one of those bad dreams when you can't wake up

Looks like you've given up, you've had enough

But I want more no I won't stop

'cause I just know you'll come around... right?

No I don't believe you

When you say don't come around here no more

I won't remind you

You said we wouldn't be apart

No, I don't believe you

When you say you don't need me anymore

So don't pretend

To not love me at all

I stared at the screen, listening to the words. Styx wrote this song. I was sure Max called Styx her baby sister. She told me she didn't believe me when I told her I didn't love her.

Just don't stand there and watch me fall

'cause I, 'cause I still don't mind at all

It's like the way we fight, the times I cry, we come to blows

And every night the passion's there so it's gotta be right, right?

No I don't believe you

When you say don't come around here no more

I won't remind you

You said we wouldn't be apart

No, I don't believe you

When you say you don't need me anymore

So don't pretend

To not love me at all

I don't believe you

She finished the last line and opened her eyes, tears streaming down her face, makeup everywhere. I looked up at the screen, into those eyes. They were green, with a brown starburst in the center. Beth's eyes. Beth's central hetero-whatever it was. Eyes like I'd never seen before. It was Beth. She had been here the entire time. Beth wouldn't tell me her job with the band because she was the drummer and I called her a blue-haired freak. It was one of our first conversations. She couldn't tell me what she did because I was a judgmental asshole. I had called her a blue-haired freak more than once. I had made fun of her more than once. If I hadn't been such a jerk, I would have seen it before now. Those were Beth's tiny hands. Those were her legs, too short to reach me without standing on her toes. Those were her lips, full, pink, kissable lips. That was her body that I missed holding so much. I could see the spot on her neck that made her moan when I kissed her. The only difference was her hair. She must be wearing a wig?

Their set ended and the lights went down. The crowd screamed, begging for more. The girls all came off stage, rushing past me. I stopped Beth, grabbing both of her arms. She looked up at me, tears still running down her face. "Beth." I said. "It's you." She pulled away from me and ran down the hall.