Fan Fic
As You Are
Prologue
© Stef
|
"Owen, you can't leave! You're the best singer! Listen to me, Owen!" Charlie shouted, running after Owen, who was dragging his suitcase behind him through the airport.
"I'm not gonna listen to you!" Owen yelled over his shoulder. "I can't stand it anymore. The pressure, the work, the stress. I can't do it, Charlie. And that's final!" And with those words, he disappeared into the departure lounge. Charlie and James tried to follow, but were stopped by a burly man in a black uniform. "Sorry, gentlemen, but you can't go in without a ticket." "But�" they tried to protest. "Sorry, you can't go in there. Please leave." After some more pleading with the guard, who would not be persuaded, Charlie and James shook their heads, turned around, and walked away. Ki and Mattie were standing by the car, surrounded by fans. They looked up at Charlie and James hopefully, but the two guys shook their heads. "We couldn't stop him. He just ran into the departure lounge, and as we hadn't got tickets, we couldn't follow him. Last thing we saw, he was walking over to board the plane." The guys got in the car, and Mattie drove them back to the hotel in Gatwick in silence. They had been going to leave for Germany the next day, and this spoilt the whole thing. Suddenly James banged his hand on the dashboard. "It's all my fault! If I hadn't been so damn touchy, then he wouldn�t be on that plane to Finchley right now! I'm so stupid!" "It's not your fault, James," Richard said. "There was pressure on all of us, and Owen just felt it too much. No one can change his mind for him, and you know how stubborn he is. Right now we just need to find someone to take his place." "So that's all you can do?" Charlie half-shouted. "Let him stupidly walk away, and just replace him?" "Charlie, calm down," Richard said. "I know it seems harsh, but it's all we can do. Life must go on. We need someone to replace him. It could even be a girl�" There was a pause. Then James exclaimed, "I've got it! Stef!" The other guys looked at him, mystified. "My best friend! Come on, you've met her! She has the best singing voice you ever heard and she's really gorgeous. Blonde hair, hazel eyes, c'mon, you have to remember her!" "I remember her," Ki said. "Could she get the notes though? They're a bit low for a girl�" "She can go really low, I promise you. Come on, please, guys, give her a try, she'll be so chuffed!" "Okay, we'll try her," Richard said, "but no promises." ******** The next day, the guys were sitting in James's hotel room, waiting. Finally, there came a knock on the door, and James rushed over to open it, and the guys caught sight of a tall, slim girl with short blonde hair and pale skin before she was enveloped in a massive hug from James. "Hey Stef! How are you doing?" "Well, James, if I could breathe, I would be fine!" she laughed. James grinned, and let go. "Everyone, this is Stef. Stef, this is Ki, Charlie, Mattie, Fletch and Richard." "Hi!" she greeted them with a gorgeous smile. "Well, if we're going to try you out, we'll need to get down to the studio," Richard said. "Come on!" ******** When they were down there, she sang a verse of 'What I Go to School For�, and also sang �You Said No' and 'Everything I Knew'. The guys were breathtaken. Her voice was so amazing! They had a little meeting in a room. Stef waited outside. "Well, what do you think, guys?" James said, dancing on his toes with anticipation. "I think she's really good!" said Charlie and Ki together, and then looked at each other and laughed. "No-one can replace Owen," Mattie commented, "but if we have to have someone, I think it should be her. She's the best singer I've heard in ages." "Richard? Fletch?" James looked at them anxiously. He knew that the managers would probably have a completely different opinion to the others. But for once he was wrong. The managers agreed, and they called Stef in and told her the news. She was ecstatic, and hugged everyone for about five minutes. "Oh my god!" she squealed. "Well, tonight we have a show to put on, everyone," Richard shouted over the clamour of congratulations. "Lets go!" The fans accepted Stef readily, and she felt at home almost at once. But none of them were prepared for the troubles to come. |