Sk8r Boi

Chapter Three

The band closed with What Makes You Beautiful. The entire concert was like a dream come true. I knew more of their songs than I thought I did, thanks to Natalie. And being there with my best friend in the whole world made the entire experience so much better. It made me sad, though, looking up at Zayn onstage. I remembered one of our best and only conversations back in high school.

*flashback*

I took deep breaths as I walked up to the callboard. Other high school kids crowded the area directly ahead and I couldn't read any of the words to see if my name was on the cast list for our spring musical. We were doing Oklahoma! and I so desperately wanted to be in the ensemble so I could dance. I had been working with my studio to make sure I was extra prepared for auditions and I felt like I'd killed it. I was just hoping my hard work paid off and I got to work even harder in the actual show.

Someone bumped into me and almost knocked me off my feet, but turned and caught me before I tripped and fell. I looked up and it was Zayn Malik, in his usual black, baggy clothes. But he looked so much better today than usual. I squinted at him.

"I'm sorry, Hannah," he said, making sure I was balanced so he could let go.

"Did you get a haircut?" I asked him.

"Yeah, I did," he said, clearly surprised I noticed.

"It looks really good," I complimented him.

"Thank you," he smiled kindly. I smiled back at him. He wasn't inherently angry like everyone said he was. He seemed actually caring and genuine. And hella cute. "Who do you want in the show?"

"Just ensemble," I said. "I love dancing and that's all I want to do. Who do you want?"

"Ensemble," he agreed. "I really like singing. Not so much dancing or acting."

"Are you in choir?" He nodded.

"The only reason I auditioned was because the choir teacher told me I should. He said I have the voice to be Curly. Not sure if I agree, but I don't know the musical as well as I should." I chuckled.

"I only know it takes place in Oklahoma, and there's a dream ballet sequence."

"You'd be great for that! I'm assuming." He added quickly. "I've never seen you dance."

"I'm pretty good," I smiled. "I don't like to brag, but I've worked really hard to get where I am now. And ballet is my specialty, so..." He laughed good heartedly at my words, and we looked at each other in silence for a moment. His eyes were large and brown and comforting. I felt like I could stare at them all day and never grow old of how they looked. We then realized that the crowd cleared in front of us, and we looked at each other nervously.

"Should we look?" He asked softly. I nodded, super nervous. "Hey, it's just a high school show. It won't be your last opportunity." I nodded again and we stepped forward. I scanned the list and saw my name under the title ensemble, dance captain. I sighed in relief and laughed. I was in! I was dance captain! I got to dance, and the most out of everyone! I felt so excited, and looked to Zayn to share my joy. His face was completely neutral. I looked through the cast list and didn't see his name. I looked again. Still no Zayn Malik.

"Hey, I'm so sorry," I said, putting a hand on his shoulder for comfort.

"It's alright," he said. I could tell it wasn't, though. "But congrats to you. That's super exciting."

"Thanks," I said. But I wasn't as enthusiastic as I felt a moment ago.

"Really, Hannah, it's okay," he smiled at me. I dropped my hand down to his and grabbed it, squeezing tight.

"It won't be your last opportunity," I said.

*end of flashback*

And of course it wasn't. Looking up at Zayn performing onstage with his best friends shot a pain through my heart. All those years ago, I had the opportunity to perform onstage and share my talent and passion with an audience. Show them what I had created and love every second of it. And now it was Zayn in my place, and me in the audience watching. As happy as I was for him, it hurt to know that I wasn't as far as I had hoped I would be in my future at this point. I was still in school, still working two jobs, still barely making it. And Zayn got to travel the world with his best friends, doing what he loved more than anything. As he and his bandmates cried during their last song of their last performance, all the fans around me were crying for the loss of a band member. I was crying for the loss of my future plans.