Caged (One Direction Fanfic)

Chapter Three

I descended the steps, glad to be off the stage. With a sigh I stoop to pick up the signed pamphlet from beneath the stairs, then move towards the side of the stage where I could view the next performance. I'm just about to leave, but pause when I see Niall.

He was standing a couple feet away with his bandmates, each of them checking over everything one last time. I caught his eyes and was surprised by what I saw: vast disappointment. He actually looked upset.

I try to hide my confusion at the look he was giving me. Then I shrug it off and wave. "Good luck," I wish him before turning away.

"Hey, wait up," he calls, walking over to me, and I pause so he can catch up.

"Yeah?" I ask, wondering why he would possibly want to talk with me.

"Your performance, it, it... It was..."

"Thanks," I smile slightly. I was used to people occasionally being at a loss for words when it came to my performances.

"No! No," he shakes his head, frustration clear in his eyes, "You're performance was... Do you even like music?"

I pull back, affronted. "Excuse me?" I reply incredulously, "What exactly are you trying to say?"

"It's just... You played like it was your job or something," he said, trying to explain himself.

"Well...It is my job," I say slowly, irritation beginning to work it's way into my voice.

"But you didn't even seem to enjoy it; being up on that stage, doing something you should love... It was like something was missing in your music," Niall insists.

I really do take a step back this time. "What the heck do you mean?" I exclaim, "I played both songs perfectly, and let me tell you, most people can't get thought the Fantaisie without a mistake."

"Yeah, you played the notes perfectly, but you never played the music," he stressed, blue eyes looking earnestly into my own.

"No offense, but what would some kid from a boyband know about the complexity and genius of real music?" I snap, the stress of the week getting to me. What right did he have to judge me and my music, just because he was famous?

It was his turn to take a step back. "I'll show you," he promises, "I'll show you what it means to put life into your music."

"Yeah, sure," I reply coldly, "You better go now. Wouldn't want to leave your band members waiting."

Niall glances back. "Seriously, Cadence. You don't know what your missing."

I frown back at him as he jogs back. "Maybe I do," I mutter at his retreating figure.

My music has been critiqued and picked on and slammed so many times before, much like any musician, but I had never responded like this. I had never truly been insulted. And I think the reason that his words hurt so much was because deep down inside, buried so well that I could almost ignore it.... I knew he was right.

"Screw it," I mumble as I watch them take the stage, "I'm watching."

I walk to the side of the stage, a couple of yards away from the fence that separated me from the crowd. Girls begin to scream as the boys mount the stage, the irritating sound grating against my ears. I run my eyes along each boy,, easily recognizing their faces, though their names take a moment to come to me. Niall. Harry. L...Liam...? Yeah, Liam. Zayn. Louis.

Their first song soon starts; an upbeat, fast paced song I vaguely recognized. "Jesus, that gets stuck in your head," I mumble, turning away with a sigh of irritation as the song ends. Sure, they had all seemed so happy when singing and performing onstage, but it was fake, obviously. The world was a stage, and those boys just knew how to act. Not to mention their songs seemed to be no different then the usual mindles crap people blasted into their ears nowadays.

But then they move on to their next song, freezing me in my tracks. The song, to put it simply, was mesmerizing. The melody was on the verge of being overly simplistic, but at the same time played the simplicity well. The entire song seemed almost too thoughtful for a boyband.

I take out my phone and quickly tap out some of the more notable lyrics so I could look it up later. I mean, its not like I liked it or anything... Frowning to myself, I shove my phone into my pocket and grab my AP study book. I hatedto be proven wrong, and Niall seemed like he had the potential to do so.

But I still had no doubts about my music. Nothing was wrong. I played each note, each pause, each crescendo and dimuendo perfectly. What more could he ask for?

Life, Nialls voice rings in my ear, Spirit.

Yeah, well, screw you. I think back, irritated at his irrational arguments. My music was professional, classical. Niall would never be able to understand that.

I walk into my dressing room, slamming the door behind me and throwing my belongings on the couch, my body following suit soon after.

"Urgh!" I mumble, hitting the couch with a thud.

"Cadence?" I hear Amy's call in a questioning tone, listen as her footsteps draw closer. "Aren't you supposed to be out there mingling?"

"Go away."

"Cadence," she warned lowly.

"Sleeeeeep," I respond, wishing she'd leave.

I peek an eye open, watching as she glances at the clock. "Well, you were out there for twenty extra minutes..." She mused, "I suppose that's long enough, right?"

I turn my head into a pillow to hide the fleeting grin that runs across my face. Amy was almost always on my side when it came to social events--not that she held much away over whether I had to attend or not. But in this instant she held the power to send me back out or shelter me here, and she was going to let me stay.

"I had nothing to do with this if you get in trouble!" She calls out cheerily before leaving me alone.

I throw myself back over on my back, trying to rid myself from the lingering irritation Niall had left in me. I quickly unwind my headphone and plug them in, turning the volume up to drown out the world.

But I found that nothing could quite make me feel how their song did.

It's not real, I remind myself. They were just faking the happiness, the joy, the exuberant life that radiated off them on the stage.

Niall was just an actor.

All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages...

__________

Ugh, I'm so sorry it's so short. Blegh.

Yeah, it's kind of a blah chapter, but at least I've updated! Haha.

Thanksgiving break is coming up, so I'll have more time to write then (of the teachers would stop piling on extra homework!)

Sorry it's short, I'll try to updates soon!

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Joey_Jagel