Chasing Empty Spaces

Chapter 1

"Band, get on stage now. Startin' in two!" The club owner yelled backstage.

Niall took one last puff and then stubbed the butt of his cigar in a nearby ashtray. The other members of the band starting walking, a few offering waves towards the pair. Harry could hear a roar of applause from beyond the curtain as he followed suit and stepped onto the stage.

Overhead lights poured down on the stage and Harry had to blink a few times to adjust. A crowd gathered towards the lip of the stage, men and women eagerly watching at the musicians took their places. Harry flattened his palms together and slightly arched his back, generally greeting the room before getting settled at the piano bench. Harry tuned out the rest of the band warming up their instruments and started to run through a few bars, channeling all of his focus on the fingerings.

When the band leader, Nicholas Grimshaw, walked out with his white baton in hand, the crowd erupted in applause. He was a handsome man with plenty of charisma and had founded the band four years prior. Harry monotonously listened as Nicholas warmed up the crowd before they began playing. It was the same shtick almost every time that they performed, but the audience loved it.

Harry ran his fingers over the keys without pressing down and looked out over the packed dancefloor. He scanned through the crowd for Faye, guiltily hoping that she already left. Unfortunately for him, he caught sight of her as she eagerly pointed back at him. Harry frowned in confusion when he saw Faye lean over and talk to the same man that had lent Harry the bandana. He had a mischievous smirk as he listened to whatever Faye was saying and Harry felt nerves tug at his gut.

He was aware that the band was about to begin their first number, but he kept watching Faye and Bandana Man. Harry was waiting for a sign that he had told Faye what Harry said in the bathroom, looking for any indicator as she talked. It didn't happen though, the only development was that Bandana Man glanced towards Harry and shot him a quick grin. Harry averted his gaze when they locked eyes and just barely hit his cue.

Forgetting Faye and the other guy, Harry allowed himself to drift away in the music. The only thing that really registered to Harry when he played, were the other members of the band. He didn't register the audience or the applause after every number. Instead, he just focused on the keys in front of him.

After their hour long set, they band was done. Everything went smoothly and the energy of the crowd was still high. Harry stood up from the stool and stretched out his back before bowing with the rest of the ensemble. He shuffled off the stage to the sound of applause and met Niall backstage.

"Wanna get a drink?" Niall immediately asked once his banjo was safely in its case.

"Please," Harry eagerly nodded. He frowned as they walked out towards the dancefloor, "I have to find Faye, though."

Niall nudged him with his elbow and started towards the bar, "Think I saw her somewhere by the end of the bar."

They pushed their way through the crowd and Harry politely smiled when a few patrons clasped him on the back. Through the throng of people, Harry caught sight of Faye with her hip rested against the bar. She was still animatedly talking to Bandana Man and when her eyes landed on Harry, she eagerly waved him over.

"You were so good, Sugar!" Faye preened with an excited clap of her hands.

"Thanks," Harry tightly grinned, eyes falling on the man across from her.

Harry opened his mouth to say something, but snapped it shut when Niall slung his arm around his shoulder. Niall beamed at the group as if they were all close friends. Bandana Man looked back at Harry and there was an almost smug countenance playing at his lips as his eyes lingered on Niall's draped arm.