perception [h.s]

e i g h t

e i g h t

"if you don't go after what you want; you'll never have it."

**

"Happy birthday!" Dani yelled before yanking me into one of her tight hugs.

"You're sixteen now!" Sam ran up to us and joined in.

"Thanks guys," I said, despite being restricted by their embrace, "I. Can't. Really. Breathe."

"Oh god, sorry Chloe," Dani mumbled, clearly flustered.

"How was your day, anyway?" Sam asked whilst pulling out a seat for himself, Dani and I doing the same.

"Okay I guess, except Cara being a bitch but that's to be expected." I chuckled.

"Just ignore her honestly, anything she says is a bunch of crap and you know it."

"I know, don't worry," I sighed, "Now, let's see this present,"

"If you insist ma'am," Sam chirped before running off, I'm assuming up to Dani's room.

"Now, before you get it. It's physically not big but the whole idea is huge," Dani began explaining, "When you open it, please don't be 'mad' at us because we honestly are trying to help you and push you at what you are good at." Okay... It couldn't be that bad. I mean, I thought birthday presents were meant to make you happy?

"I know I am probably psyching you out but Sam and I have been planning this for quite a while now and we understand that you may not feel one hundred percent comfortable when you first find out but please try your best to do this, because this is an amazing opportunity for you Chloe," She concluded, a look of concern in her dark eyes. In the back of my head I recalled the conversation that I overheard of Sam and Dani. "I didn't want to psych her out." Dani's words replayed in my head. Oh my god. The stage. The present. If this was what I was thinking then I had no idea what to do.

"Chloe?" Dani waved her hand in front of my eyes, bringing me back to reality.

"Yeah?" I stuttered before meeting my eyes with hers.

"You okay? You seem a bit... fazed?" She asked.

"Oh, I'm fine don't worry. You just slightly freaked me out that's all," I began laughing it off just as Sam returned with a highly decorated envelope. My eyesight wasn't particularly good but even from the sofa I could read the big print of letters on the from of the envelope, it read:

SING UK

Oh god.

"Have you given her the speech Dani?" Sam asked casually, had they really planned this entire thing?

"Yeah, now let's get on with this," She prompted him.

"Can I just say something?" I asked the two of them, earning a nod from both of them in response, "Is this really as big as you two are making it out to be? Because a couple of weeks ago when we came back here after Starbucks, I overheard you two talking about something," Sam and Dani immediately looked at each other, alarmed, "Something about a stage and not wanting to psych me out, I don't know if I heard you right but it's been kind of worrying me since,"

Sam let out a sigh, "Yes, this is as big as we are making it out to be. And yes what you heard has to do with it. And as soon as you read the envelope in my hands you will know what this whole thing is," He said, looking at the floor.

"Okay, just give me the envelope," I said, "I think we have done enough procrastinating, right?"

"Yeah, sorry," Dani mumbled whilst Sam handed me the envelope. I flipped it over in my hands to read the front:

Dear Miss Chloe Rivers,
Enclosed is the form to confirm your audition date and details,
From: SING UK

I felt my heart begin to thump heavily in my chest, I refused to look up at my two best friends who I knew were eyeing me eagerly, to gage any sense of reaction or emotion. I had none. They couldn't have? They wouldn't have, would they? An audition, on SING UK. Shit.

SING UK was the biggest singing show in the UK, it had produced stars such as One Direction, Olly Murs and Little Mix all of which had now become hugely famous worldwide. All I knew about the auditioning process was that it was extremely vigorous and that thousands of people auditioned every year. This meant that thousands also got turned down.

My heart hadn't slowed down or sped up, it was keeping a constant beat and I felt my hands beginning to shake. Only four months ago I couldn't even sing in front of my best friends, never mind audition, in possibly a month, in front of some of the biggest producers in music, as well millions of people watching on TV. When Dani talked about 'pushing me at what I'm good at' I didn't exactly think that meant signing me up to audition on a massive talent show, behind my back.

"Are you going to open it... or?" Sam asked cautiously, his voice shaking slightly.

Without replying I began peeling open the envelope and pulling out the letter. It was just as highly decorated but the writing was extremely clear and bold.

Hi Chloe,
Thank you for sending us your entry form, we would love to have you audition!
Your audition will be held on February 27th at anytime between eight am and four pm. We will make sure to email you with any further information of the timings.
Please have prepared four different pieces that you would be willing to sing, in case the judges would like to hear one or two different songs from you.
When you arrive you will be given your number along with the exact timing of your audition, the address for our studio will as well be emailed to you.

We look forward to seeing you there and good luck!

Yours Sincerely,
Alison Lee.

Holy crap. So this really was happening.

"Chloe? Are you, you know, okay?" Dani asked me quietly.

"Yeah, just shocked," I mumbled. I didn't really know what I was feeling. Nervous and excited? I wasn't excited as such, though. I had no idea if I could actually do this.

"You know that we wouldn't have put you up for this if we didn't think that you could do it." Sam explained.

"I know, it's just that I'm confused as to why now? What motivated you too sign me up?" I asked them, "I'm not angry. Yeah, slightly upset that you kept this from me but I would never be angry at you guys for trying to help me."

"It's fine if you are angry at us because we sort of knew that this would throw you off a bit and in terms of the reason behind us signing you up? Well, there isn't really one, we just thought that it was time for you to step out of your comfort zone and use your talent for your own 'benefit?'." Dani spluttered, shifting from side to side.

"We just want what's is best for you." Sam smiled, covering up for Dani's mis-wording, "We really want you to give this a go."

I honestly didn't know what to say. If I didn't do this now then I probably never would but if I went for it, then I risk the chance of not getting through. Then what would I do? Knowing me I would just stop singing and give up. In the midst of the moment I said the first word that came to my mind.

"Okay." I simply stated, taking both of them by surprise.

**

harry is coming into the story in two chapters ayy