Behind the Mic (Liam Payne fanfic)

Chapter One

(dedicated to my best friend, emily)

     "ROSE!" A voice yelled my name from up the stairs as I ran down them. My boyfriend, now my ex, wanted me to listen to his explanation of him cheating on me with my sister, but I wasn't about to hear it. From either of them. "Rose, please, just listen to me!"
     "No, fuck off," I screamed back at Riley. I knew his neighbors would be pissed because of how loud we both were, but I could care less right now. "There's nothing you could possibly say to make this situation any better." I ran out of his crappy apartment and onto the street, angrily walking away from him. I pulled my phone out of my back pocket and pulled up the Uber app and requested a ride. After a few minutes of waiting, I got the notification as the car pulled up to the curb. I got in and put my backpack on the seat next to me.
     "Hello! How are you today?" the driver asked in a cheery voice. "My name is Amanda, I'll be taking you to your destination today. Where are you headed?"
     "Hollywood Bowl, 2301 Highland Ave," I responded.
     "Okay," She responded and started to drive away. Thank the Lord. "So how's your day going?" As soon as she asked me, I burst into tears. She gave me a sympathetic look in the rear view mirror and waited for me to compose myself. "Do you want to talk about it? I can be a good listener, and strangers are good to complain to."
     "I'm sorry," I said, wiping my face. "I just broke up with my boyfriend. He cheated on me, so I shouldn't be this upset, but it's so new. And sudden. I didn't expect it." 
     "Oh, sweetie," She said sadly. "I'm sorry. Do you want to talk about it?"
     "Not really," I said. I didn't like opening up to people, whether I know them or not. "But thank you." She nodded and we continued the ride in silence. I looked at my phone and see that Riley had texted and called multiple times each. I opened up the texts and skimmed through them. The basic, 'baby, come back' and 'please, let me explain' were present. I deleted all of them and his number, too. If there was one thing I've learned in my twenty years of living is to get rid of any contact after a toxic relationship or a bad breakup. 
     Eventually, the driver pulled up to the curb a few feet from the entrance to my work. I thanked her for driving and listening and got out of the car. I made my way to the front door as I paid on the app and gave her five stars.
     When I walked in, I saw my boss arguing with a co-worker of mine. I slipped past them, trying to be ignored, but as I was almost past, my boss yelled my name.
     "Rose, today a very important band is coming in to perform, and we need all hands on deck," he said, not too nicely. "Cancel any plans you have for tonight and make sure you can stay late."
     "Yeah, right, like she has any plans," my co-worker, Jace, scoffed. Mr. Roberts glared at him and began to reprimand him for being an asshole, again. I took advantage of the situation and left quietly. I loved this job of putting mics on famous people, but I hated the people who came with it.
     As I walked through the building to backstage to start to help out the techs, I heard screaming from outside. Teen girl screaming. Justin Bieber was probably singing tonight, or someone like him. I bumped into a guy as I turned the corner and went to apologize when I saw his face.
     "Oh, sorry," he said in a deep voice. I squeaked in response. "Don't tell anyone I was here." He slipped past me, winking. I just stared at him in shocked silence. Liam Payne.
     Was One Direction the important artist performing tonight? Was I going to mic them?