shattered•2•hearts

HER VOICE

London...

Greenhall was buzzing with excitement. The very fact that so many girls are willing to take Jessica's place is fucking disgusting.

It's like they don't even care that just a week ago she disappeared without a trace, leaving that godawful letter behind. Well, according to what they were told.

Anger fuels my blood as the one-sentence goodbye flashes through my mind.

~

I'm getting married to someone else.

~

How could she do this to us? After all we've been through; after all I've done for us. How can she throw away everything we ever had as if I never loved her more than life itself?

I loved you, Jessica.

Sadness quickly replaces my anger as the thought runs through my head. She was the only woman I loved besides my mom and she betrayed me.

The dark classroom where I'm sitting seems to swirl into an abyss as my dark thoughts start taking over. Jessica is marrying someone else like we meant nothing. The revelation shakes my core.

All this time, was she just faking it?

The sound of the door opening and closing brings me out of my thoughts and I remain still as the silhouettes of two girls come into view.

They don't notice me and I sigh in relief. I'd hate to sign another autograph right now.

"I can't believe this," one of them whispers. I can't help but notice the lithe of her voice and the strength in her tone.

"Okay, if that's the bad news, what's the good news?" she now asks.

There's silence and in the dark I see the other girl smile, "They're looking for a new lead singer."

"And how is that good news?" the lithe voice girl replies with a sigh.

"We're gonna audition," her friend sings out.

"Absolutely not!" the girl with the lithe voice exclaims in horror.

It's the audition for the band, I know that's what they're talking about but why does she seem so horrified by the thought of auditioning?

"Come on!" her friend insists, "I hear you in the shower all the time. You're perfect for this, you know all their songs and everything."

All our songs? Now that piqued my interest. Who is this girl?

There is no sound for another minute and then the girls leave. I feel like a creep having heard every little detail of their conversation but I couldn't help but feel like this was some kind of sign.

All thoughts of Jessica momentarily leave my mind as this strange girl's voice echoes in my head. She has such a beautiful voice.

I find myself longing to know the person behind the mysterious voice and hoping she shows up at the audition.

~~~

I blankly stare at the contestants as I walk into the gymnasium. My eyes glance briefly at all the girls, both singled out and grouped, disgust swimming in my veins from the hopeful look in their eyes.

I never wanted to do this again. I hate auditions. As my eyes go down the line, they stop on a particular group; two girls, standing at the very end of the line.

One of them is well-known, Jaqueline Mayers while the other is a new face to me. Her eyes are wide, and drops of sweat are layered on her forehead.

Jaqueline says something to her and her eyes widen even more. The nervous girl then glances my way and I quickly look away, quickening my footsteps to reach to judges' table. What the hell just happened? Why did I just stand there staring at her?

Brendan, my best friend and the drummer of my band is already there. His blue eyes questioned me behind his glasses as I sat down.

"What was that about?" he inquires the moment I sit next to him.

"Nothing," I mumble, "Let's just get this fucking thing over with, please"

He nods before turning to the prospects. I zone out whatever it is he said, my only concern being to find the owner of that melodic-sounding voice from earlier, although something was telling me, I already found her.

Prospect after prospect goes by and my anxiety raises with each disappointing group or solo that passes. Brendan notices my frustration and gives me a quick 'are you okay' glance.

I give a singular nod and continue on searching. At one point, Oliver Jones's little sister came on but she was so off-key with every note she sang, I had to stop her right at the beginning of her song.

She was not happy but I didn't give a flying fuck. I'd already made my choice, even though I haven't consulted with Brendan yet.

I'm just humoring these girls. Not one of them has the talent it takes to be part of this band, to be a rebel. They live in their worlds of bubbles and roses where everyone is at their beck and call.

They don't even know the meaning behind the words they sing. The lyrics of my music passing through their lips convey none of the real emotions behind it. It sounds like blasphemy coming from them. My music means nothing to them.

After another grueling hour of bad singing, I had enough. The legs of my chair scrape back as I got up and shot a hard glare at the remaining prospects.

"If you know you can't hit the fucking high note in the goddamn song, get the bloody hell out of here," I seethe quietly.

They all stare wide-eyed at me before filing out quietly. I saw Jaqueline pulling the girl I'm now assuming is her friend, back to her after she tries to leave with the rest of the seniors.

The gymnasium is almost empty now, only two groups and three solos remained. I nod in satisfaction and allowed them to audition.

Half an hour later Jaqueline drags her friend on stage behind her. I keep my face void of emotion but my heart is racing as I patiently wait for them to start. It has to be one of them.

"I'm Jackie, and this is Melany," Jaqueline states in a bored tone.

She gives the girl, whom I now know as Melany, a warning glare, shoving a mic in her hand. Her chocolate-colored eyes meet mine quickly before fluttering to the ground.

A shy one, that just won't do. After two minutes of waiting, I was about to make them leave but then I heard it. Starting off soft then becoming confident.

That voice, her voice. She's the girl from the classroom. Her singing voice is just as lithe as her speaking voice. The lyrics of my song, falling from her lips so elegantly and hauntingly captured me and the emotion behind every word felt real.

Jaqueline wasn't bad either. Her voice complimented Melany's perfectly creating an emotional atmosphere that will have even the toughest of men bawling their eyes out.

I flit my eyes sideways just in time to see Brendan wiping away a stray tear from his cheek.

"Stop," I command. The pair immediately clamp their mouths shut and I almost felt guilty as I saw a frightened look cross Melany's face.

"What's the matter?" Jaqueline demands, brow raised. She looked like a girl on a mission to fight and I almost laughed. She's already expecting the worst.

"I don't need to hear anymore," I replied with a shrug, "You both made the cut."

"That means?" Melany questions, her nose scrunched up and her eyes narrowed.

"It means you're both in," I answered with a small smile, "Welcome to Crash Course Rebellion."