Chasing Ari (a 1D Fanfic )

Chapter 19

***Ari's POV***

Sydney and I rush out of the house, me taking one last look in the mirror to make sure my hair looks decent. 

Sydney pulls me outside and she locks the door while I start the car. She hops in are we are off. 

Today, Sydney and I will be singing for charity brunch for one of the local children's hospitals. There will be donors and children and families there and all we have to do is provide the entertainment. Its something that we enjoy doing. Being able to help raise money for the hospital, that is. And its not to shabby that we get to sing together, too. 

Sydney and I run through our vocal warm ups on the drive over the the club house where the brunch was to be held. We probably sounded ridiculous to anyone driving by since we had the windows down. 

After doing about 10 scales we reached the club house. Walking across the parking lot, we did a quick trill exercise. Inside, we were greeted by an older lady with high cheek bones and short blond hair.

She looked at us a little odd and inquired, "Are you lady's here to golf?" 

"Oh, no, no, no. We are preforming at the charity brunch."  Sydney corrects.

The lady laughs, "Oh, that makes quite more sense." She steps out from behind the desk and turns toward a long corridor. "Follow me this way," she begins down the marble corridor, her heels clicking with every step. "The carters have arrived about fifteen minutes ago. The hospital officials seem to be running a tad late," she looks at us apologetically.  

"Oh that's fine. The equipment was dropped off previously. Sydney and I will be happy to set up ourselves. Its not a problem." I reassure her. 

"Oh, that's splendid. If you don't mind, I'll send over one of the sound techs from the golf course office, just in case. There are no scheduled tournaments today, so she should be free." she explains before opening a large, elegant wooden door.  The room was colossal. The wall directly across from the door was fully rounded glass that looked out on the golf course. A classic black piano was situated in the corner of the room, to the left of the extensive window. There were long tables lining the room, leaving an open space in the middle of the room. The caterers are working diligently to set up for the meals for all the guests. 

"Pardon me. I'll radio Ms. Lee. Have a wonderful day, ladies." she said as she exited back through the doors. Sydney and I were quiet until the sound of the womans' heels clicking against the marble faded.

"Did she just say Lee?" Sydney questions.

I nodded. I heard a definite 'Lee'. Kaylie's last name. Kaylie Lee. Her parents thought it was cute. Her parents are just darling.

"This is going to be great." Sydney smirks as she starts making her way around the room. I go the opposite around the tables. 

"What are you thinking?" I ask Sydney suspiciously. Whenever she says something is going to be great, you really should begin worrying. Shes about to do something that will bring her great pleasure and probably bring you great embarrassment. 

"Oh. Don't you worry your pretty little mind about a thing, darling."  she says, in an elegant accent.

"See, when you say things like that, I automatically start worrying." I explain, finally reaching the towering window. The window was rounded to give a panoramic view of the course. 

Sydney plastered a large fake grin and turn towards me. "Oh, whatever could you be worring about?" she smiles. I narrow my gaze at her in warning. My friends are devious, to say the least.

"You worry me. You really do." I say shaking my head and scanning the veiw from the window. 

"She worries me, too." a voice snickers behind us. We spin around to find Kaylie in khaki knee length shorts and a aqua polo embroidered with the logo of the country club and golf course. 

"Kaylie Lee Lee!" I sing.

"Ari-ri-ri" Kaylie sings in reply.

"Sydney-ney-ney!' Sydney sings with a smile.

"Me-me-me," one of the caterers sings as she plates out to the tables. We laugh at her outburst.

Kaylie heads towards the audio equipment that was bundled under the piano. "I didn't realise that you guys were the entertainment today. I would've brought a camera to record when you choke." she jokes.

"We're not gonna choke." Sydney defends. "We'll just stare absentmindedly into the crowd."

 "Whose even playing the piano?" I ask. "The hospital officals never told us. They told us we have to take requests from the children and families for songs if they had any. So the pianist must be someone well rounded."

"I'm not exactly sure. But I think it might be Shawn Johnson. One of the donors heard him at Alberto's on Fifth and recommended him." Kaylie returns. Shawn and I preformed one night at Alberto's when Judge and her husband were dining there. She lives in Naples, and I almost screamed in excitement when I first saw her walking the streets of Fifth Ave.

"Oh, he's good. I've worked with him before. He's pretty young." I say as I begin helping Kaylie and Sydney untagle some of the wires. The microphones were thankfully wireless but the speakers were still jumbled together.

"He's cute, too. Isn't he, Ari?" Sydney interrogates.

I nod in agreement. Sydney gives me another one of her famous smirks.

"Hey, Kaylie. Do you know who else Ari thinks is cute?" Sydney pauses for a second. Kaylie only looks up for the wiring in her hands.

"Niall. Horan. Actually, she's going on a date with him. She even prepared a speech to confess her love for him" Sydney exagerates. 

"That's not true." I correct, maybe a little too quickly.

"Which part?" Kaylie raises an eyebrow.

"Well, the date part is true," I smile sheepishly. "But, I never said I liked him. Nor, have a written a speech to confess my love for him." I say, sticking my tounge out at Sydney.

"Oh, thats wonderful!" Kaylie squels. "Tell me how it goes, girl. When was the last time you went on a date? Omg, we have to go dress shopping! Are you wearing a dress? you have to wear a dress. Where is he taking you?" Kaylie jaws on. She pauses and I look up from the finally untangled wires in my hands. I stare blankly at her, unsure how to respond. 

'"After the event, we are going dress shopping. Definately. Something not to fancy but elegant and young. Oh, this is going to be perfect." Kaylie continues, she loves any excuse to hit up the mall.

"Okay, Kaylie. Whatever you wish." I say handing her the untangled wires, there's no point in fighting her for a shopping spree.

"I can not wait." Sydney adds, plugging in her untangled wires. 

Kaylie unfolds the mic stands and place them in front of the window, right in the center. 

"Ya know, I hear Niall's favorite color is green." Kaylie clicks on a microphone. "And I do believe you would look smashing in an emerald green." Kaylie speaks into the microphone, her voice easily filling the room. 

Sydney clicks on the other microphone and teases, "I do agree. May we all welcome the wonderful Ari, who will be sporting an splendid emerald number for her date with the ever Irish, Niall Horan." They both wink at me as one of the hospital officials waltzes into the room. 

"Did I hear a Niall Horan?" Tom. the official repeats. " He is gave the largest donation this year to the hospital. One of the largest, yet actually. He's a really sweet kid. Big heart. He won't be attending the brunch, but he is on the course. It's too bad. I bet you girls would have loved to meet him," Tom shrugs to himself. He obviously was unaware of our connection to the boys.

The girls and I can't help but exchange a snicker.