My legs went weak and I couldn't breath. In the middle of the corridor, in plain view for anyone to see, was Jenna. And Josh. So tightly entwined that you couldn't tell who's arms were who's. They looked up when they heard my footsteps.
"Don't let me interrupt" I said coolly, trying my hardest not to let my voice shake even the tiniest bit, even though inside I felt as though my heart had been ripped out and torn into a million pieces.
"Alice, wait!" I heard Josh yell after me but I kept on walking, refusing to let myself turn around and face him. I knew what he was going to say, he would beg for me to take him back and I would melt in his eyes.
"You've changed Josh, the old Josh would never have hurt me" I called over my shoulder, holding back sobs. Harry had been right all along, he was the double of Jenna. My heart was still pounding and my head spinning when I reached the hall again, not exactly sure what I was going to do next.
"Alice, your solo is in like a minute, get up there!" Harry ran up to me, but stopped when he saw my expression, "What's up?".
"You were right. Josh is a prick" was all I said before heading behind the stage and picking my guitar up with shaking fingers. I heard Mr Kemp introducing me on stage and the cheers of all my classmates. I couldn't play. "Mr Kemp, can you piano accompany? I cant play right now" I said in a monotone and he nodded. I walked numbly up to the stage, barely registering the 'good luck's' and 'break a legs' from the teachers who were helping out backstage.
.
I stood infront of the microphone, eyes roaming the crowd infront of me. I couldn't do this, not now that my world had been torn apart. Josh was there of course, in the second row, looking slightly worried. Not worried enough to push Jenna away though, who was hanging off his arm, looking at me smugly. Something inside me snapped.
"Hey, um, I was going to be singing Fearless by Taylor Swift" I began speaking into the microphone, my fingers shaking lightly on the microphone stand, and was rewarded with a few cheers, "But due to recent circumstances I have change my mind. I'm now going to be singing Forever and Always" I said and nodded to Mr Kemp to start the music. I look directly at Josh as I began to sing.
"Once upon a time, I believe it was a Tuesday
When I caught your eye
And we caught onto something, I hold on to the night
You looked me in the eye and told me you loved me
Were you just kidding? 'Cause it seems to me
This thing is breaking down, we almost never speak
I don't feel welcome anymore
Baby, what happened? Please tell me
'Cause one second it was perfect
Now you're halfway out the door"
I didn't break eye contact with Josh this whole time, I kept my dark eyes boring into his light ones. He began to shuffle nervously as people started whispering and glancing at him. Good.
"And I stare at the phone and he still hasn't called
And then you feel so low, you can't feel nothin' at all
And you flashback to when he said, forever and always
Oh, oh
Oh, and it rains in your bedroom, everything is wrong
It rains when you're here and it rains when you're gone
'Cause I was there when you said forever and always"
I flinched at this point, remembering him saying those exact words to me. Forever and Always. C'mon Alice, hold it together.
"Oh, and it rains in your bedroom, everything is wrong
It rains when you're here and it rains when you're gone
'Cause I was there when you said forever and always
You didn't mean it, baby, I don't think so" I couldn't hold it back any more, the tears were streaming down my face and I could no longer bare to look at Josh. My voice was wavering, hiccoughing slightly as I sang the final verse of the song through my tears.
"Oh, back up, baby, back up, did you forget everything?
Back up, baby, back up, did you forget everything?
'Cause it rains in your bedroom, everything is wrong
It rains when you're here and it rains when you're gone
'Cause I was there when you said forever and always...forever and always"
.
I just stood there, feeling empty as the cheers erupted around me, but a quiet muttering also ran through the crowd. I felt lost, unsure what to do next, tears still streaming down my cheeks. And suddenly Harry was there next to me on stage, pulling me into him and I sobbed into his shoulder, too hurt and broken to do anything else. "You were amazing" he muttered into my ear through my hair, "You are too good for him anyway". He put his arm around my shoulder and guided me off the back of the stage.
"Ali" Sarah ran up to me and I left go of Harry, crying into her shoulder instead. I saw he glance questioningly as Harry and he mouthed one word: Josh. She nodded and stroked my hair.
"You are too good for him Ali, he belongs with that slut" she said and I nodded, desperately wanting to believe what she said was true. I sat down on an overturned box, wiping my hand across my eyes.
"You're right, Harry you were so right, I'm sorry" I said quietly as they sat down on either side of me.
"Hey, don't apologise, the only one apologising should be him" he rubbed my shoulder and Sarah nodded vigorously in agreement.
"Ah, I must look a right state" I looked at my mascara covered hands just as Niall came up to find Sarah.
"Alice, I'm sorry, you sang amazingly though" he said sincerely and I nodded. "Sarah, Louis is looking for you, something about you have his money?" Niall said and Sarah nodded, standing up.
"Ok, gimme two seconds" she said to Niall and he nodded, quickly kissing her head before running back off to the hall.
"Ali, you going to be ok?" she asked and I nodded, holding my hands up for her to pull me up.
"Yeah, just gonna go sort my make-up out in the drama dressing rooms and I'll be good" I said. Not entirely true but I didn't want to seem needy.
"Ok, I love you" she said, pecking me on the cheek before following Niall.
"Still want to sing again?" Harry asked and I bit my bottom lip, "It's fine if you don't want to, totally understand".
"No, it's fine, I'll do it, meet you back here in 5 minutes yeah?" I said, grabbing my bag and heading off to fix my make-up. No way was I backing down and showing Josh how much he had gotten to me. I was not letting that boy ruin my prom any more than he already had.
