Destiny Awaits: A One Direction Fan Fiction [On Hold]

Chapter 1- I Can Only Imagine

Chapter One

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It all had started with a radio station.

The radio stations around my hometown were something of a joke. Their idea of new music was "Oops I Did It Again" by Britney Spears. The only time I listened to the radio was to see if school was cancelled.

I'm a believer in fate, destiny, the master plan. I think everything happens for a reason, that things were meant to be. I did not know when fate would intervene in my life, but I knew that good things come to those who wait.

I had been waiting since 2010, a year that changed my life. Canadians are exposed to a lot of British programming, and between Coronation Street and Postman Pat, I knew a lot of shows from the UK. I watched BBC regulary, even the news. It was no surprise that when I started watching the X Factor that I became hooked.

Those five boys from the stairs that called themselves One Direction caught my eye from the beginning of the competition. Their obvious talent and good looks made me interested, but what really sent me into obsession was their personalities. I would be crying watching their video diaries, and memorized every word and scence. You could ask me a week and I would be able to reenact the whole video.

I rooted for the boys until the very end, and my heart was broken when they came third. At this point, I didn't think they would ever make it to North America, and I was okay with that. These five British boys were my little secret, a bit of my personal heaven locked away for only me to enjoy.

I kept up to date on everything about them, and became oblivious to the fact that others were beginning to recognize them. I remember freaking out at one girl for calling them "New Infection". My secret was suddenly blabbed by the time What Makes You Beautiful was released, and everywhere I went, I saw or heard something about my boys.

This was true to the point that even my retro radio station was playing their music. For a town who was all about Celtic music, everyone around me began to like the boys, and it was a melancholy feeling. I was of course proud of my boys for their achievements, but I felt almost betrayed. What had once been mine was now shared, like a bag of candy, one for everybody. Sure, having one candy was sweet, but having a bag to yourself is sweeter.

The radio station. It was a hot August day, and my iPod was dead. My mother kicked me out of the house to catch some sun, so I decided to take my radio with me. Shades on and sun high in the sky, I slowly started to doze off until words drifting from the radio caught my attention.

"That's right folks, we have one front row ticket to the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards being held in Los Angeles in March up for grabs. Celebrity host Will Smith, as well as musical performances by Katy Perry and One Direction are already lined up. To win, simply call at exactly 5pm to answer a question about the British sensation, One Direction!"

I quickly checked the time, and my small watch read 4:56. I ran to the phone and dialed the long number of the radio station, my thumb hovering over the "Talk" button. At 5pm, I clicked it with as much force as I could muster. I'm surprised I didn't break the phone.

"Hello! This is 145.6 FM, and we are talking to..." The voice trailed off. Realizing that this was my turn to say my name, I blurted out

"Onika. My name is Onika". It came out in a rush. Calm down girl, you MUST get this question right.

"Onika! Lovely name. What part of town are you from Onika?" The radio host joked. Our town was so small, we didn't have parts.

"River Road" I said with a smile. We had two neighbors on this road, each spread about half a kilometer in either direction. Direction. My heart began to race again.

"All right Onika, you're a One Direction fan I take it? To win a front row ticket to see them perform in March at the Kids Choice Awards, all you have to do is answer a quick question about them, okay? The question is; can you name each band member with their last names, along with where they are from?"

I breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe for others this is would be a hard question, but I could tell you the answer in my sleep.

"Niall Horan is from Mullingar, Ireland. Harry Styles is from Holmes Chapel, England. Zayn Malik is from Bradford, England. Louis Tomlinson is from Doncaster, England. And Liam Payne is from Wolverhampton, England." I finsihed, grinning from ear to ear, remembering the Bradford Bad Boi, Holmes Chapel Homie, Swagmasta from Doncaster, Wolverhampton Hustla, and Mac Daddy Mullingar. Things that other "fans" from around here wouldn't know.

"You are absolutely correct Onika! Congratulations! You have won a front row ticket to the Kids Choice Awards, and by the way you said that, you deserve it!"

"Thank you!" I said calmly into the reciever. I couldn't help myself, I was silently dripping tears onto the floor. Maybe my secret wasn't totally mine anymore, but I would be seeing my boys in a few months. No other girl in my area could claim that. In that one moment, I sent a prayer of utter thanks and joy to whoever was watching over me. My destiny was awaiting me.

The following week after winning the ticket was hectic. My mom brought me back to the reality that I was now 18. I had college to attend, a job to find. I would have to pay for the flight and hotel in Los Angeles. I wasn't being given a free pass.

My choice to take a year off school and to volunteer in Africa in the end was a no brainer. It was something that I had always wanted to do. I could always come back and apply for college, and putting this kind of volunteer work on my resume would look impressive.

I left for my first mission in September. The group that I was working with was specializing in giving basic health care services to orphans. It was a hard, emotionally draining job, but I did not regret a single second of it. Seeing the smiles on the children's faces upon recieving a band-aid reminded me of my own face in August when I had won the ticket. Their joy was mirrored in my own.

My 19th birthday came and went, and while this would have meant drinking at home, it came with no celebration. Seeing children being helped was its own reward.

Because I was a student with no previous experience, my mission ended at Christmas time. I was able to come home in time for the holidays, which brought me to the reality of my own dream about to come true. The KCAs were drawing ever nearer, and they had somehow been placed in the back of my mind while I was in Africa. Those children had been more of a priority.

The company I had volunteered with had another mission lined up for me starting in May and ending in the middle of August. This gave me time to apply for college and to be able to have all of my affairs lined up for the coming school year.

January and February were filled with applications and odd jobs to keep myself busy. I kept a collection of money for my trip, and after working two part time jobs simultaneously, I had enough money for my flight to and from Los Angeles.

March came in like a lion, with great rain storms and wind, which washed away all of the snow. These rainy days made for good road trips in which I bought the things I would need for my trip, including my outfit for the awards. After hours spent in vintage and thrift stores as well as department stores, I pieced together the perfect ensemble.

The night before my flight, my parents surprised me with some money that they had saved themselves.

"Now you can at least have something decent to eat", my mother said with a sad smile. It was hard for her to see me grow up so fast, and having plans of my own didn't help. She respected my choices, but still wished to guide me in her own way. Helping me pack and place my luggage in the car was her way of saying goodbye, and that was all that I needed.

I fell into my bed that night, mind racing through all of the possibilities of the future. Before I knew it, I was snoring. Afterall, destiny awaits.