Living the Dream~A One Direction Fan Fiction

Chapter Nine xAnna

Cate's POV:

"Sorry guys, it's bad news."

I couldn't believe it. My heart stopped and my stomach dropped. I covered my mouth, letting a rush of air out. I was going home. That was it. My X-Factor journey was done. I felt the tears gathering in my eyes and in desperation, I blinked rapidly, happy that I hadn't worn mascara just in case. I shook my head and looked at the stage floor, the tears soon spilling over and trailing down my cheeks. I felt myself shaking, and forced myself to keep on my feet instead of sinking down to the stage and completely falling apart. I was completely numb.

"Thanks for coming out. Best of luck to you in the future. You're free to go." Demi said, watching us all. I could see the tears gathering in her eyes too.

That was it. I hurried off the stage and ran through teh back halls, wiping tears from my eyes, taking gasping breaths. I had to get away from everyone. My phone rang in my pocket and I fished it out and answered it, biting my lip.

"Catie....god I'm so sorry." Jace said through the phone.

That's when I broke. I slid down against the wall and pulled my knees up to my chest, sobbing quietly.

"Where are you at?"he asked quietly.

"I-somewhere back in the halls."I managed through the tears.

"Close your eyes and picture me there okay? Imagine me there. Can you do that for me? I have to go but I'll talk to you really soon, okay?"

"O-okay." I hung up and burried my face in my knees, body racking with the shuddering sobs. The full reality hadn't hit. I still felt numb, like it was all a dream. I had wanted this for years. Them letting me go was like saying I wasn't good enough. I had always felt like I wasn't good enough and this just made me feel worse.

I felt strong, long arms wrap around me and I knew immeaditly who it was. Jace. Relief and happiness flooded over me even though I was devistated. I put my arms under his and my hands on his shoulders and burried my face into his chest. He pulled me onto his lap and rocked me back and forth slowly and gently, comforting me, just like he had done when he found me when I was fourteen, up in my room. The tears kept coming, more and more and I couldn't stop them. There was nothing I could do.

"Catie......god...Catie listen to me okay? You're better than they say you are. You should've made it. The judges are idoits."He said, rubbing my back.

"I-I just can't believe it....it's over. I'll be going back to Mullingar, and I'll be 'that girl' again. I can't do that. Jace I want to go home."

"Home?"he asked quizatically.

"Yes home,"I said, pulling back and looking at him. He wiped the tears from my cheeks. "Home, back in Manhattan. With you. I can't stand it in Mullingar. It's so small and you aren't there. My mum isn't ever home and I have no friends. I just.....now this...."the tears streamed down my face again and Jace helped me up and held me close to him again. I put my arms around his torso and he wrapped his arms around my waist.

"This is going to sound like I'm dead or something but you know I'm always with you right?"he asked me.

"I do but it's so hard. I don't know what I would be doing now if you weren't here. Actually, I would be still sitting there on the floor bawling, heart shattered, but nobody to tell me it's going to be okay."

"It is going to be okay. Someday you'll come back to Manhattan won't you? When you're 18 you can move back."he reasoned, smoothing down my hair.

"Yeah....."I said, the crying slowing down. Then I guess another wave of sadness hit. That true realization of it all smacked into me with the force of a train. But this time I comepletely, 100% fell apart at the seams. I gasped in a deep breath and then began to sob uncontrollably. My frame shook and I couldn't stop the tears. My head pounded and I bet that if Jace hadn't been holding onto me, my knees would've given out and I would have just crumpled to the floor.