Fate Has Different Plans

Chapter 17

(Bella POV)

I awaited backstage, looking at my reflection in the mirror. I breathed in and out, trying to slow my beating heart. I wasn't nervous, really. I was just... okay, I was nervous. The song I had chosen to cover was difficult, and I had to ask one of the boys to help me sing it, because it was a duet. Which was slightly awkward. In fact, asking him to sing it with me was painfully awkward.

~ flashback ~

I walked to the hotel door, pausing outside before mustering up the guts to knock on the floor. Finally, I raised my hand, and knock quickly against the door. I prayed the person I was looking for would answer. I figured who he was rooming with, and I really didn't want to be put in any more awkward situations.

The door opened after a few seconds, revealing the person I was indeed looking for. I'm pretty sure I sighed in relief.

"Bella! Fancy seeing you here." He said, looking incredibly surprised to see me.

"Hello Liam." I replied, turning my hands nervously. "I have a favor to ask you."

He raised an eyebrow at me. "Favor?"

"Yes. I need you to sing with me."

"Sing?"

"Yes. The song I want to cover is a duet." I explained.

He seemed to ponder the thought in his head. I waited patiently, but I could feel the sweat start to prickle on my back.

"Of course Bella." He said with a smile. "I would love to sing with you."

I'm sure my face lite up. "Really?"

"Of course!"

I lunged in to give him a hug. "Oh, thank you thank you Liam."

"Uh... your welcome." He responsed.

Then I realized I had just hugged this boy who I hadn't spoken to in months. I released him quickly.

"I'm sorry Liam." I said, hanging my head.

"Don't be sorry! I just... you haven't talked to us in so long." He said.

I sighed loudly. "Yeah, I know. I wanted too, but I wasn't allowed too."

"You weren't allowed too?" He asked me.

My eyes widened. I knew I had said too much already.

"I'm sorry! I really need to go. We'll practice tonight, okay?" I said turning to half jog half walk away.

"Uh, yeah, sure!" He replied before he began to close the door.

"Liam!" I called to him before he closed the door.

He peaked his head back out of the door. "Yes?"

"I'll explain everything later. I promise."

He smiled and nodded his head before he closed the door.

~ end flashback~

We had practiced. It sounded bloody amazing, it really did. I was just nervous of how Niall would take it. Niall... I missed that boy.

"Ms. Hale. You're on in ten."

I turned to smile at the person. "Thank you."

I shook my head in an attempt to clear my thoughts. I was about to perform in front of the largest crowd ever. I could not mess up. I sighed loudly again and got up from my seat, heading to the back of the stage where I would be making my entrance. I was happy to find the closest person I had to a girl friend preparing for her performance.

"Dani." I said as I walked up to her.

She looked up from her stretch. "Hello Bella. How are you?"

"Nervous." I replied with a chuckle. "You?"

"Eh, I suppose so. I think I'm nervous for you."

I raised an eyebrow, then it dawned on me. Right as I heard her voice.

"Bella, darling, are you ready?"

I turned to find my she-devil of an aunt. "Of course. I was made ready."

"Good answer. You better do good." She added with a light hearted laugh, but I knew there was a real threat in her words.

"I will." I responded.

When she was out of ear shot, Danielle spoke up. "Seriously Bells, drop them."

I sighed loudly. "You know I can't. You're the only one who knows why."

"We'll figure something out." She said with a smile.

"That's another day." I said with a laugh.

"So, does your auntie know about the duet?"

I cringed. "No. She'll probably yell at me, but then she'll love me. I know it's going to send the ratings high."

"Sneaky little thing." Danielle said with a wink.

I shrugged my shoulders. I was about to respond when someone came up to me and told me that I was on in less than five. I nodded, waved goodbye to Danielle, and followed the man to where I was stationed for my entrance.

"Okay, when you here your name, these first curtains will rise, and then you'll walk out. The next curtain is for your second song." The man explained to me.

I nodded my head. "Thank you." I told him, and he left.

I waited patiently, adjusting the dress I was wearing. I had a thing for dresses. My aunt thought my fashion sense needed to be severely adjusted. I just sneaked clothes. Danielle helped me, of course. She knew everything except, that they beat me. Not regularly, of course. Only when I disobeyed them, or I did something that they didn't approve of.