Dance in the Family (1D, bk 2)

Chapter Eleven

Dream:

The stage was brightly lit and that made it impossible to see the audience gathered in the large hall. The concert was just starting, and I hadn't prepared another song yet... I had to sing the leaked one. But as the music started up and the first notes rang out, everyone that I couldn't see started booing. I could hear someone shouting about how awful my voice was. Another person was shouting something about the lyrics making no sense.  

Off to the side, the boys were watching. They didn't make a move to help me, though they were all frowning. I thought it was in support of me, until Niall stepped out onto the stage and the music stopped completely. The band must have been confused by the lack of enthusiasm. 

"Haley, what are you doing? You're horrible at this! Why aren't you dancing like you should be?" he demanded. I flinched as though he'd slapped me.

Liam stepped out beside him, nodding. "You have no place singing in our concert. You're not a singer, and you're not even an especially good dancer. You only got the position because we were desperate and Simon owed Beth a favor."

"Face it Haley, nobody wants you around," Harry said, stepping into the light beside them, pulling Louis with him. Louis was nodding, smirking as I'd never seen him do before.

"I don't know what I ever saw in you, Haley Miller. I don't ever want to see you again," Zayn said. He didn't even bother stepping out onto the stage. He just watched me, disapproval clear in his eyes. "I'm glad we all got to hear that song before this concert, because we all learned a few things about you. Like how much of a disappointment you are."

It all hurt so much, I didn't know what to do. I turned, running away from the crowd and the boys. Paul was off to the side, but he didn't look sympathetic like he usually did. He looked just as disappointed as the boys had, and I rushed past him, eager to be away. My car was not parked outside, and the hall was surrounded by trees. Mica and Skylar were outside, staring at me.

"What is your problem, Haley?" Mica demanded. "At least you had it all for a while. Do you really need to be so selfish now?" 

"No kidding. You brought me here and I didn't even want to come. What made you think I'd want anything to do with you?" Sky demanded. "I leaked the song hoping you'd finally get what you deserve. And look! It worked!"

"You did this?" I gasped, trying to mask my pain. I knew it was showing on my face though when she laughed. "Why would you do this to me?"

"Oh look at that! You've made this all about you again! This concert wasn't ever about you. It's a One Direction concert, and they were just letting you sing in it! And that song, sure you wrote it, but I wrote most of the music for it! Did I get any credit? No! I'm doing this to you, Haley, because I hate you!" she shrieked, her expression growing darker as she ranted. 

I paled, shocked. She was right. I really did make all of this about me. It really wasn't MY concert. It was theirs. And the song really wasn't all mine, because she HAD helped me with a lot of the music. What if... what if I really was a horrible person? 

 

I woke up gasping, clutching at my heart and crying. Zayn was sleeping peacefully beside me as though nothing was wrong. And for him, that was probably true. But my life had just almost fallen apart in the midst of a single dream, and I didn't know how to cope.

I got up out of my bed, unwilling to stay still. I could wake Zayn up, but he'd just try to tell me that I was wrong. I could call any one of the boys, Paul, Mica, or Beth, but... they'd all say the same thing in different ways. And by calling them or waking Zayn up, I'd once again be making it all about myself. And it wasn't.