Back for More // louis t.

Five - Clouds

I melted into a puddle as I watched them perform with such passion despite their only audience being their crew and my band. A tear broke the dam when I heard the oh-so-familiar opening to "Little Things". Niall took over what was originally Zayn's part.

"Your hand fits in mine like it's made just for me,
but bare this in mind, it was meant to be..."

I couldn't hold back the sniffles as I began to cry while holding my hands over my mouth, trying to quell the sounds. It was just too much to bear, finally watching their performance. I had dreamt of this moment for years.

"You can't go to bed,
without a cup a' tea,
and maybe that's the reason that ya' talk in your sleep,
and all those conversations are the secrets that I keep,
though it makes no sense to me..."

Louis' eyes glanced at me intermittently. There was no mistaking it this time. We locked eyes for just a few moments. I shook it off, he could have anybody he wanted, why would he want me?

Niall's solo came up before I had a chance to recalibrate, but I soon found myself lost in the music again, crying silently into my hands.

"You'll never love yourself half as much as I love you,
And you'll never treat yourself right darlin' but I want you to.
If I let you know,
I'm here,
For you,
Maybe you'll love yourself,
Like I- YOU SING!"

"Love you," I called back quietly, still in a trance. I couldn't help but respond after watching so many videos of it over the years. Jack wrapped a brotherly arm around my shoulders, and I leaned into his warm embrace. When I looked back up, Louis was quickly moving to the other side of the stage as they finished the song.

Finally, the boys one of their new songs, Monster. I was one of the first outsiders to hear it.

"You put me on a pedestal and tell me I'm the best..." Liam sang in a raspy tone. I couldn't stop the grin plastered across my face. Their music never failed to put me in a good mood.

After they finished their final song, they were dismissed promptly by Emily to the showers. Each of them sped off the stage so that the crew could clean and set up the stage for my band.

"Since someone can't get their entrance right, we'll just skip that for tonight and go straight to soundcheck." Emily gave me a pointed look and snapped at me as I picked up my microphone. I watched as the crew rolled the grand piano on its rolling platform onto the stage. "Price Tag first." She commanded.

I didn't waste any time, nodding and letting Jack count off on the drum set.
"Seems like everybody's got a price..."

I let myself get lost in the music, listening to my band play, performing for the empty arena. In just a few days it would be full of people. Cane was in front of the stage, moving how he wanted me to mirror him. I followed his movements as he had me dance around the stage to the best of my ability. Nothing was overly choreographed since it wouldn't fit with One Direction's image.

Cane helped me get used to moving all over the stage instead of standing in one place. He had me point and gesture up to the upper levels, "bringing in the crowd" as he called it, throughout my performance. It felt awkward 'interacting' with an empty arena, but I knew it was good to practice the right gestures.

"Keep it moving Cassidy! Bring the crowd with you down-stage!" He kept yelling at me enthusiastically.

I looked out to the floor where the crowd would be on Friday, where I could just barely see a shirtless man, with a white towel wrapped around his waist toward the back of the floor. His hair was soaking wet, but even from this far away and concentrating on singing and 'dancing', I knew it was Louis. I could spot my idol from miles away. I was suddenly incredibly nervous, but I pushed through the rest of the song, not wanting to be screeched at by Emily again.