What The Heart Wants (Stereo Kicks/ James Graham)

Chapter 77

I can't believe it's already Wednesday. This week is going by so fast. The boys and I just got done working at the studio, and are on our way to choreography. Yay. Me and James have been sneaking glances at each other all morning. It's like what happened last night set off a never ending need to be together. When we arrived to the choreography room, the girls were there which meant we would be working on our Bruno Mars song. "Alright guys. Places. Starting today we're working on both performances." Brian announced. We all grabbed our mics and got in position like he asked. The track started and Tom began singing and interacting with his partner. They got to smile and joke around, whereas me and Casey had to be physical. Why couldn't Barclay be the one who got physical? He's the the single one. I had just started mentally complaining when Brian stopped the music. "This isn't working. I don't feel anything when I watch you two." He said, looking at me and Casey. "That's because there's nothing there." I mumbled so only Casey could hear me. He let out a small chuckle but stopped when Brian started walking towards us. "Kiss." He said. Me and Casey looked at each other, confused. "Huh?" I raised my eyebrows. "You two are supposed to be playing a couple that's madly in love. I can't have you looking at each other like you'd rather be getting a root canal. I need to see passion, I want you guys to look at each other like you can't wait to be alone. I also need you to kiss. That will make it more believable." He ordered. "I'm not comfortable with that." Casey said, surprising everyone. "It's just a kiss. Suck it up." He said and then turned and went back to his chair. While Brians back was turned, I looked over at James who looked like he was about to shoot laser beams at the back of Brians head. He was pissed. He knows he has no reason to be, but I think he's still scared I have lingering feelings for Casey. So the fact that he has to watch us kiss totally and completely sucks. On both parts.

***

"Nope. The accent goes over the second 'e', not the first." I said. After choreography was over, Brittany texted and asked if I could come over and help her prepare for her spanish test, so that's what I'm doing. "Ugh. I so don't get this stuff. One word means ten different things depending on if there's an accent and where the accent is placed!" She sighed, clearly frustrated. "I know, spanish is confusing. But you just have to keep practicing. You can't give up and expect to learn it. I already tried that." I joked. "I should have taken french." She complained. "Oh shush. It isn't that bad. Atleast their accents are sexy. French people sound like they have something stuck in their throat when they talk." I smiled. She chuckled and looked at her book again. "Ok, so accent placement is obviously important. If you forget it, the word means something completely different so you have to be aware and know what you're talking about. It always helps to actually pronounce the word and hear where you put the accent when you say it. And if you're not sure, just mess around with it a bit. But an accent will never be over a consonant, only a vowel." I said. "So in también the accent would go over the 'e' because when you say the word outloud, it just doesn't sound right when you put it over the 'I'." I continued explaining grammar rules and going over vocab for another hour. By the time we finished it was 5pm and I had to go or else I would be late for dinner. Normally I wouldn't care, but tonight me and the boys are having dinner with our parents. Well, I'm having dinner with them and their parents. It's totally gonna suck, but I promised I would be there. Plus Caden said he would go with me as my family member. "Alright Britt. I gotta get going." I sighed as I stood up from her desk and stretched my legs. "Ok. Thanks so much for helping me. You explain better than my actual teacher." She smiled and stood up to give me a hug. "Not a problem. Just take your time with each question, think about it and you'll be fine. You know this stuff, sometimes it just gets jumbled up inside your brain and you can't sort it out. Trust me, it's not just you though." I gave her a reassuring smile and then began my drive home in the borrowed X Factor van. When I got home I could smell the aroma of food as soon as I walked in. When I walked in the kitchen I seen it was the cooks who were making the food. "Smells great." I said before climbing the stairs. They smiled in response and then I joined the boys in the bedroom. "You know, we should just move our beds into the living room. That way we have a room big enough for all of us." I said as I entered the room. The guys were all doing random things as usual. Tom was showing Reece how to play guitar, Casey was on his phone, Jake, Chris, Barclay, and James were playing FIFA, Caden was listening to music, and Charlie was reading Of Mice And Men in the corner. They didn't even acknowledge me. "Or not." I said and then sat down on the edge of the empty bed. "That's a great book. You reading it for school Charlie?" I asked. He looked up from his book and nodded. "Yeah, but I swear to god, I'm never gonna get into a university if I can't get through a single book." He complained. "Oh whatever you'll be fine. That's a good book anyway." I replied. "You and I have very different definitions on the word 'good.'" He shook his head and began reading again. I smiled and then something clicked. University. I should have recieved my acceptance -or rejection- letters by now. I jumped up from the bed and ran downstairs to the pile of mail that was sitting on the dining room table. I rummaged through the stack until I had all four letters from the different universities. I took them upstairs and went to my bedroom. I didn't want the boys to know I applied unless I actually got in. I opened the one from The University of Essex first.

Congratulations! Dear Aria Smith, The University of Essex is proud to welcome you to--

That's all I read. I just needed to see if I got in. Next was The University of Manchester.

Congratulations! Dear Aria Smith, thank you for--

Next was The University of Cambridge.

Dear applicant, we regret to inform you that your application to--

Fine. Cambridge was a long shot anyway. Last is The University of Oxford.

Congratulations! Dear applicant, we would like to welcome you to the esteemed--

No freaking way. I got into three out of the four schools I applied to. Holy shit. I grabbed all three of my acceptance letters and ran to the bedroom. "Guys!" I yelled excitedly and they all jumped at the sudden noise. "Jesus Christ, you scared the shit out of me!" Jake glared at me. "Sorry. Actually, I don't care. I got accepted to Essex, Manchester, and Oxford University!" I was still yelling. "Bullshit you did. Those schools are practically impossible to get into." Barclay shook his head. "Oh really? Well I have the acceptance letters right here." I smiled smugly. James and Caden jumped up and took the letters. "Aria this is amazing!" Caden smiled and gave me a hug. "I know." I smiled back. "What about the band?" Charlie asked from his corner. "I'll only be going part time, and I'm doing it online so I can do my schoolwork wherever we go." I said. "This is great. But why didn't you tell me you were planning on going back to school?" James asked. "Well, I didn't want you to be disappointed if I didn't get in. So I waited until I got the letters." I said. "I wouldn't have been disappointed, but I understand why you didn't tell me." He handed me the letters and gave me one of his bone crushing hugs that I love so much.

***

Dinner was actually a lot better than I thought it would be. The moms brought a bunch of baby pictures from the boys' childhoods and we all looked at them and laughed at the stories that went along with them. James announced that I had been accepted to Essex, Manchester and Oxford and all the moms were impressed. They asked me about what I was studying and what I planned on doing in the future. Obviously I told them my short term goals were to become successful with this band, but if that doesn't happen I plan on getting my bachelor's degree in english and my master's in education and hopefully becoming an editor, or journalist or teacher. Something along those lines. They all admired that I had a back up plan other than music and they even said they were happy that I was in the band because they think I'm a good influence. Reece's mom noticed my promise ring and asked if I was engaged. "Oh no, it's just a promise ring." I smiled politely, but removed my hand from the table so it was out of sight. "Aahh. So I take it you're in a relationship?" She asked. Everyone was looking at me. "Uhh, y-yeah I am." I stuttered nervously. "Well that's great, who's the lucky guy?" She pressed. My eyes quickly looked at James and then to my folded hands. "I could really use some dessert! Is anyone else dying for something sweet?" Caden asked, trying to change the subject, and it worked. The boys went along with his diversion and subsequently, there were no more uncomfortable questions about my ring, or who my boyfriend was. After dinner was over, me and Caden were the first to say our goodbyes and then we went up to the room to wait for the boys. "You totally saved my ass." I sighed when we were out of ear shot of the mothers. "I know. You owe me." Caden smiled and sat down in his bed. Or should I say James's bed. Or is it their bed? I don't even know. "Alright well I'm pooped, I'm gonna call it a day. Night." I said before going to my room and changing into my pajamas. I had just climbed into bed when someone opened my bedroom door. "Bedtime already?" It was James. "I'm tired." I groaned into my pillow. "I know." He chuckled. "I just came to say goodnight." He said softly before bending down and placing a kiss on my cheek. "Goodnight Aria, I love you." He whispered. "Goodnight. I love you." I replied, and I just heard my door shut before I drifted into unconciousness.

UNEDITED. SORRY FOR ANY MISTAKES. ITS 11AM WHERE I AM AND I HAVEN'T BEEN TO BED YET LOL I HOPE YOU GUYS LIKED IT! EVERTHING IS SLOWLY COMING TO A CLOSE AS THIS FANFIC GETS CLOSER TO ENDING. JUST A FEW MORE CHAPTERS BEFORE IT'S OVER :( STILL DEBATING ON A SEQUEL, I'M NOT SURE THOUGH. COMMENT AND LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS THINK!