A/N: I'm sorry about the long wait. On my defense this story is sometimes a bit complicated to write. I don't know, I think it has to do with finding the right songs or just getting in the mindset of writing it.

Chapter 13: White lies.

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or any of Alexz Johnson's songs

KAG POV:

I was supposed to be talking to investors until my next performance, but I couldn't get my mind off of him. It had me wondering parts of the room aimlessly and listening only partially to what people told me. I had skillfully avoided my friends and family and was standing near a back wall in the dark. I could make out the crowd talking and some walking around. In my hand I held an empty champagne glass. I couldn't stop myself from replaying the kiss over and over again. Before I could stop it a goofy smile replayed on my lips. I had to take a deep breath and straighten myself out before reentering the crowd.

As soon as I stepped onto the somewhat lighten floor a number of people took notice and began smiling and giving there were half of the reason I wanted to hide. I couldn't work the floor and mingle without several other people putting themselves in the conversation. I wasn't mentally into any of it. I had my head in the clouds and all I really wanted to do was either talk about the kiss or think about it. The only thing at that moment that could surpass those two options would probably be seeing him, but he wasn't anywhere to be found.

I pushed myself out of the crowd towards the exit sign on my left. I really wanted to go back stage again. I had a feeling that's where he was. He was probably doing something for his dad, and since I didn't see Inutashio anywhere I had a feeling they both were there. I tried to cross my way to the exit then. I didn't feel like just socializing anymore. I ducked around a few people and as I approached the door I could hear loud clacking behind me. I didn't turn to look. I prayed it would just be a random woman trying to get somewhere that had nothing to do with me quickly. But I knew in the back of my mind it wasn't.

"Kagome…" I huffed silently as I turned to meet her. "Hey…" she said and my annoyance disappeared suddenly. Sango was trying really hard to meet me in a mini lavender dress and tall stiletto heels. I was about to signal for her to meet me in the hallway when all my focus went automatically to the huge lavender flower on the corner of her head. She quickly made her way towards me and I focused my eyes from the flower to her face.

"What is that?" I asked and Sango followed my eyes to the flower. She rolled her eyes suddenly and opened the exit and let herself out. The exit led to a small lobby, brightly lighted and a lot more spacious than I imagined, I surveyed it quickly before setting my eyes on Sango. She was pulling the lavender flower out of her head and throwing it on the floor. It wasn't till then I realized that she wasn't in a very great mood. She took a solid look at the exit as if she was looking out for something.

"Last time I borrow anything from Ayame." She mumbled and I sighed as I took a bit of comfort in the idea that I could finally relax. I knew it wasn't very kind to say, but I was actually starting to get annoyed by my own songs. I leaned up against the wall waiting for her to talk. After awhile she crossed her arms and gave me a very angered look.

"What's wrong?" I asked and she sort of rolled her eyes before walking forward.

"Don't act like you don't know." She said and I shook my head honestly. "Inuyasha turned me down." She bluntly stated. I didn't know what to say to that. I just sort of drifted my eyes to the flower on the floor. I could feel her eyes on me but I didn't know what to say to make her feel better. "I'm not even too upset that he turned me down. I mean I know what they say, but it's just how. It was pretty embarrassing." I nodded as if I understood, but I really didn't. There was a short pause and I finally looked up. "You know what… I'm being completely selfish I should be congratulating you… you know for everything."

"It's no big deal really…" Sango huffed suddenly and I just nonchalantly shrugged. I really didn't know what to say, Sango shuffled suddenly before cracking a small smile. "Well…you know what they say about the Takashi's" I knew that would make her a bit angry. I did want to take the time to ask her if I could make my move, but I thought 'too soon.' I decided that I'd settle on a casual question or a comment on her dress, when I heard the sound of a bulging door closing. I looked ahead but no one was coming in or out. "Where's Ayame?" I asked and Sango turned to check too. She opened her mouth to say something, but all of a sudden the echoing of a man's voice could be heard.

His voice sounded extremely familiar and I looked from Sango to the small arch way in the wall. I didn't need to say anything, and she automatically knew what I was signing. We backed up towards the center of the hall and quietly began creeping beside it.

"I don't know if I'm interested." A man commented. "I'm really not here for that." Sango smiled slyly before nudging me in the side. I narrowed my eyes and scooted up to get a better look.

"Yes, but picture doubling the money you projected to make tonight. Investing in a performer is very risky; talent isn't all to take into account, besides you haven't even heard her perform, who's to say she's good or not." My heart began beating excessively as I took in whose voice that was. I could feel my heart sinking as I got closer.

"Wait," the other man said as Sango and I both rounded the corner. In between the opening were two men. They were both dressed in business casual and the one closest to us was completely unrecognizable. The second man was hidden, but I didn't have to see him to know who he was. "Isn't Kagome your daughter?" he asked. It was weird to hear a stranger say my name with such precision. My father paused in his spot thinking of his next move. I could feel Sango's sorry expression on me, and my eyes filling with silent tears. I backed away from the wall.

"Yes she is… so you should take my word. It's not a good idea." Sango rested a hand on my shoulder but I shrugged it off. I wasn't going to let my dad bring me down. I didn't need his approval. I had gotten this far…I kept telling myself that as I rose from my spot and quickly made my way towards the door. Everything seemed like a blur to me because I knew it was all a lie. What my father just said stung more than anything, it was one thing to know for a fact that he didn't appreciate what I did, but it was another thing to know he didn't believe I had any talent either.

I opened the doors to my music thumping through the room. 'Hot N cold' was playing again, but instead of my acoustic version of the song, the original songs beat came on. I grabbed the attention of a few people as I walked in. They tried to come forward to say their 'congrats,' but I just rose a hand up and smiled bleakly. I was trying to make my way backstage when I heard Sango calling my name from behind. I didn't want to talk to her. I just wanted to sit in the dark for a few minutes and think over some stuff. She knew better than anyone how I got when my father insulted me. This was no different... it was actually worse. I turned towards her for a fifth of a second before heading towards the small walkway. I was about to turn the corner when someone blocked my access completely.

I backed up in shock before looking up. I was amazed to see the brick wall that had stopped my entrance was actually a person. A man to be exact, he had put two hands on my shoulder in an attempt to hold me still. "Congratulations…" he mouthed over the music. I put a hand on my forehead before letting my eyes take in Kouga's complete structure. He had an unusually charming smile on his face as he put a hand into a slack pocket. "Are you usually this clumsy?" He asked and I didn't know rather to be upset, nervous, shy, or upset. I decided to go for indifferent.

I shrugged before taking a step back to actually talk to him. "Only when people come out of nowhere." I said and he just smiled at that. It eased me momentarily and I rolled my eyes before grinning sincerely. I didn't particularly like Kouga romantically, he was the sort of unapproachable guy you saw walking down the street. You usually have to stop everything your doing just to tap the person closest to you to tell them how attractive he was. He was that one guy you'd see strolling around the mall and wonder if you've actually seen him on TV. He was the type of guy you stayed away from in any given scenario unless he came up to talk to you. He was actually that good looking, and I would have been excessively shock to know him, if it wasn't for the fact that I knew Inuyasha. Inuyasha was exactly like Kouga but ten trillion times more shocking. He was that guy you saw walking down the street, and everyone stops to stare, and when you turn to the person closest to you to tell them, they've already seen it, took a picture of it, and talked about it. Where ever he went he had a whole group of people talking about him at any given moment. He gave me great practice when it came to talking to Kouga type guys, so I was actually uncharacteristically calm when he laid that charming grin on me.

There was a silent pause between us. The type of silent pause that happens when someone's impression of you has changed, I furrowed my eyebrows trying to pin point what the change might be. It was sort of like when someone close to you wins the lottery, you think completely different about them, and you try to rearrange your thoughts so you can carry an appropriate conversation, but it wasn't me who thought different of Kouga, it was Kouga who had changed his views on me. I looked down to the ground momentarily before glancing back. "Okay Kouga, I'm going to go." I said while backing up. I didn't know exactly where I was going to go, but I not only felt betrayed by my father, but now I also felt awkward thanks to Kouga. I was heading back down the walk way when Kouga grabbed hold of my arm. I turned suddenly waiting for him to speak.

I waited a few seconds and he finally decided to say something. "What are you doing tomorrow?" He asked. I could feel my heart double in beat and I swallowed a bump in my throat. If I didn't know better I would assume that Kouga liked me.

I smiled stupidly before shifting my weight from foot to foot. "I don't know…" I said with a shrug. "It all depends on tomorrow." I nervously stuttered. He gave me a confused look and I cleared my throat so I could change my thought. I was so unprepared for this. At least when I spoke to Inuyasha I had taken the time to think over what to say before, but now I was completely off guard. I concentrated on the clicking of heels behind me and I prayed that it was Sango. I looked up at him and smiled nervously. "What I mean is…well… what are you doing tomorrow?" He narrowed his eyes suddenly in half amusement and half speculation.

The clicking of heels got louder and instead of hearing what he had to ask next I turned right away scaring a rushing Ayame. She screamed slightly and I backed up into Kouga entirely. He luckily caught me and helped steady my form. "Kagome…" Ayame said as she held her chest. "You scared me." She announced as if I wasn't affected by her rushing towards me at all. I rolled my eyes before dusting myself off. I could feel my embarrassment as I thought over what Kouga might have thought. I turned slightly.

"Sorry." I said he nodded as if he understood.

"I get it… your clumsy…" he said jokingly and I smiled slightly.

"This wasn't my fault either." Ayame poked me on the shoulder trying to get my attention but I ignored it.

Kouga on the other hand noticed and smiled. "Don't worry I'll be there to catch you." He said in an overly charming way before taking his leave off the walk way. I turned to watch him go and so did Ayame.

"OOO wow… if I didn't know better I would say Kouga like you." She commented and I rolled my eyes while turning to face her.

"Luckily you don't know better. So tell me, what do you want?" I asked and she smiled before doing her own impression of Kouga and lowering her voice and repeating… 'I'll always be there to catch you.' I nudged her in the arm wanting her to continue. "Ayame come on."

She smiled before straightening up and allowing me to take a close look at her unusual ensemble. She wore a weird seventies inspired pattern mini dress. Her hair was up in a chignon with two multi colored chopsticks in it. They seemed to match each square on the dress. I furrowed my eyebrows as I looked down at her bright red purposely ripped stockings and her 4 inch platform shoes. "Ayame" I said as I looked up at her. "I thought you were going to wear that strapless dress?" I asked as I recalled her showing it to me last night.

She smiled before shrugging. "I thought this one was more acceptable." I looked down at it before shifting my eyes somewhere else.

"I don't think that'll ever be acceptable." She smiled slightly before backing up to spin. I smiled slightly. "Anyway Ayame, really what did you come up here for?" She shrugged while pointing down the walk way towards the floor where several people chatted and smiled towards me. Waiting at the very end were two women. I recognized them as the people who made me up and did my hair. I turned to look back at Ayame for a split of a second.

"They told me to help find you. Don't you have to performance soon." I felt my stomach spin then tighten. The scenes of my father's betrayal came back tenfold. It was as if my mind had to relate back to something depressing at the time where I needed to be reassured. It hurt knowing I had to perform when someone so close thought so little of me. I felt Ayame messing with my hair from the back. I gave her a nervous look and she smiled back.

"You look gorgeous; you know you're hardly recognizable." She said and I nodded, not knowing how to take that. Was I not attractive before? "So what song are you going to sing?" I shrugged but I knew it would probably be Hot N Cold; it was already getting increasingly popular online.

"I really don't know, probably both." I mumbled as I followed the two women backstage. Ayame followed as well. I searched the back for Inuyasha, but I couldn't see him anywhere. Where the hell was he? Both girls led me to the mirror I had been examining myself in earlier that night. Near it were a few conversing people. They wore matching uniforms. Two of them were women, and they seemed to be around my age. Their hair was loaded with extensions and they wore small shining scarlet leotards with a small fluffy skirt on the bottom. The other two were guys with baggy black pants and a shining red shirt. They had huge smiles on their faces as they talked and as soon as they saw me they dropped their conversations. "Who are they?" Ayame asked, and I shrugged as we walked closer to them.

"Who are they?" I whispered to the women beside me.

She glanced back at me momentarily. "Dancers…" She stated and I could already feel my stomach heave. I'd vomit any moment. I didn't do dancers; I didn't even know I had dancers. The idea of singing an uplifting fun song like Hot N Cold was already challenging enough. I really wasn't in the mindset for it. I was led into the small corner where I sat at the mirror. The dancers left and Ayame took a seat beside me. She was all smiles as she touched all the makeup. She got up from her spot as one of the nameless women began lifting my hair and weighing it in her hands. I stared at my strange reflection, I was still unrecognizable and too fashionable for my own taste, but I wasn't as excited about it as I had been before. I sighed as Ayame ran towards me with a small naval baring dark red tank and a small leotard skirt with fluff lining the bottom.

"Isn't this adorable?" She squeaked, and I glanced at it.

"For you maybe." She rolled her eyes as she placed the outfit in front of her and smiled. I sighed as I looked at myself again. My mind regressed back to my father and my nerves got replaced with solemn.

INU POV:

(20 minutes later)

"She's playing the original. All of this is very brand new to her, it's last minute, but she'll know what to do." I said as I set the audio up. I could hear the people behind the curtain talking loudly and I had to speak over their voices to the band mates. I paused for a moment backing up.

"Can we go over it with her really quickly?" The guitarist asked. He was my least favorite for obvious reasons. I checked the time on my imaginary watch for a split second. He stared at me in a confused gaze.

"No…" I stated. He looked the other way; I knew he wouldn't dare say anything. "Listen you should be set, it's just a small performance, it's not being taped or filmed. Don't worry it's not a gig, it's a welcoming party." I backed up pushing a hand in my slacks. "This will be where the backup singers and dancers will stand."

"Dancers." The drummer said incredulously. I ignored it but in my head I thought the same thing. They were such a bad idea. It had been my dads; he had the idea of marketing Kagome as a pop singer though she wasn't. I ran a hand through my hair. I was wondering if it wasn't too late to actually reconsider it. "Just continue setting everything up. You're on in around fifteen." I left the stage to head backstage. I had been so busy I didn't have time to even check on her. I wondered how she'd even react to me. My father made it his goal to keep me away from her all night. I knew she had to be getting ready. I walked where her scent was most prominet.

"What's wrong Kagome, it's not the outfit. Is it? Come on tell me what's wrong?" I heard a woman coax. I slowed down trying to take in the rest of the conversation.

"What do you know Ayame?" She asked in silent frustration. "It is the outfit, it's degrading." She said, but even I could tell from the sound of her voice something else was going on. I took a step forward and her friend reflexively turned to face me. She made a half attempt of a smile. Kagome wasn't in direct sight but I knew she was under the small draping that was attended for her to get dress under.

"What's wrong with her?" I asked and the eccentrically dressed red head shrugged. I walked over to her without stepping over the draping. "Kagome…" I said and I could feel the shock in her presence. She tensed up and took a long elongated breath."Hey what's going on?" I asked and she didn't say anything right away. Instead she took a few steps back and leaned herself against the opposite wall.

"It's nothing, I just…" She paused momentarily. "Why do I need back up dancers?" She asked and I walked forward thinking it over. "I mean the outfits and everything…."

"Well…" I said as I walked towards the corner of the cover, I wanted to get as close to her as possible. I could feel my heart begin increasing at the idea of being near her. It brought back the emotions of earlier today, the kiss we had. "I can get rid of them; if you want… it was my father's idea. I'm not too fond of them either."

She didn't say anything. I could hear the sound of heels hitting the floor and suddenly she peeked her head out. Her hair had been changed; it was super straight and cascaded down on only one side due to the way she was standing. Her eyes like usual were round and the most beautiful hue of midnight. Her makeup accented the blue and her bangs had been extended so they were as even as the rest of her hair. She was gorgeous, and I found myself as shocked as before. "Really." She said with a half smile, but in reality she wasn't at all please. "How about the outfits?" She questioned. I gave her my own smile and she blushed unexpectedly.

I backed up "Okay… let me see?" I asked, the red head joined me. She seemed very curious. I suddenly started running my head around what it could actually look like. She sighed and walked back in the drapery before coming out slowly. I heard the clacking of her heels; I looked down spotting bright red stilettos, her long shapely legs were completely bare and I memorized the shape of them as I went up from there. Her hands were on her hips, but I couldn't tell rather she meant it to be seductive or just casual. From her hips I spotted just pure naval, she had a diamond stud in her belly button and the bottom half of the leotard was filled with red fluffy feathers and the other half just held her breast, somewhat like a sports bra. Her long black hair had dark red streaks going through one side. I took in her body all together, while the red head clapped in complete excitement. She dropped her hands from her hips in favor of putting it shyly behind her back. She was staring at me as if she wanted to know my oppinion of it, but I was so shocked and mesmerized I didn't know exactly what to say. My reaction was delayed and I had to smile suddenly and look down at the ground to hide how I really felt.

She huffed suddenly making me glance upwards. "I know… it's stupid." She said and I heard the embarrassment in her voice. Her friend looked at me in shock as if she wanted me to tell her how great I thought it was. She walked towards the covering and I followed to stop her.

"It's not stupid…" I said but I didn't know how to convince her without saying something extremely awkward. The first thing that popped into my head was how unbelievably amazingly sexy she looked, but with her friend beside me and only one kiss between us, i didn't want things to get weird.

"Yeah sure it isn't." She said and with that she left. I looked towards the red head for a moment, finally taking in her ridiculous dress. I didn't have words to say so I just turned towards the draping Kagome dissapeared under.

"Kagome…" I said, but she didn't answer. "Listen, you're on in like ten minutes, you're singing Hot N Cold the original version." She didn't say anything, and I sighed. "Are you okay?" I asked but she still didn't respond. I checked the time on the clock by her makeup. "I got to now." I said and I paused for a split second. I took the time to close the small distance we had. "But… can we talk… after."

KAG POV.

I felt my heart skip a beat, because I knew that 'talk' didn't have to do with my costume or my stupid dancers. I knew he waited for me to say something but I didn't. After a few seconds he walked away and I stood up from my spot and left the changing curtain. Ayame stared at me with a smile on her face. I threw her a death look before walking towards the mirror. I only spotted myself for a fragment of a second before pushing the chair away from it.

"I don't know what the problem is?" Ayame said. "I seriously think you look great." I rolled my eyes. I didn't care how I looked. I especially didn't care about Ayame's perception on the whole thing. I didn't comment on it I just stared at the wall ahead of me trying to clear my mind. "So… "She said after awhile. "How hot was he the single Takashi just now? If I wasn't taken by your brother I swear." I looked at her for a fragment of a second and her smile disappeared. "What's wrong with you… seriously Kagome?"

"Nothing… really…I just… I don't think I want to perform anymore." I said and Ayame gave me a perplexed look and I stood up from my spot and took a deep breath.

"If nothing's wrong than why don't you want to perform… and don't tell me its nerves. Come on Kagome I'm your best friend."

"Ayame it's nothing." I snapped and she stopped for a brief second. I shrugged and looked past her. "I'm just starting to think I'm not as good as I might of thought." She stared at me for a brief second as if she couldn't even comprehend what I was saying. I crossed my arm and walked away. She didn't bother following me and as I walked the opposite way of the stage a woman stopped me. She had a microphone on and a clipboard on her hands. I knew she was going to tell me I needed to perform right around now.

INU POV

"Is she ready" My dad reassured and I nodded while walking away from him. He smiled and quickly patted me on my back as he got ready to take the stage. I looked around the crowded room spotting Miroku and Kouga. They stood near my brother at a table near the stage. I looked past them trying to spot Kagome's family. I had a very strange feeling that they were solely the reason she was upset. Her mom and brother were separate but there, her father on the other hand was at the other end of the room talking to an assortment of men at once. The music playing died down suddenly and the room darkened. I knew my father was taking the stage to introduce Kagome, but I had a feeling as soon as he did Kagome's dad would make a B- line for the door.

I walked past several people who were, at the moment trying to get seated. My dad took the stage and like I guessed Mr. Higurashi made his way towards the exit. I didn't know why I automatically felt compelled, but I made my way towards the exit. A few of the men were already talking about business as they searched for a less distracting place and as soon as they got to the door I intercepted their move and snuck a hand out to introduce myself. "Hello I'm Inuyasha." I said to all of them, I paused when I got to her dad. "Hello... Mr. Higurashi, I think we met yesterday, at your son's party."

He gave me a disoriented look as if he didn't know where I came from, and then out of courtesy he smiled suddenly. "Yes we did…hello again…"

KAG POV

The dancers were behind me stretching and I bounced on my toes in complete nervousness. I couldn't do this. I wasn't in the mood for it. I just wasn't feeling my best, I felt as if I could hurl at any moment. I couldn't help thinking that if my father hadn't come at all I would have been ten times happier. I would of danced, sang, maybe even walked the stage, but now I just felt drained, and everything negative he ever said to me kept ringing in my head. I took a deep breath as Inutashio's introduction came to an end. I was just kidding myself if I thought my dad was even going to stay for my performance. I could see him dragging chairs out into the hall to negotiate more business oppurtunities. He would go to extreme attempts to see me fail. I was so wrapped up in myself and everything I hadn't noticed the members of my band patting me on the back and running forward without me. The dancers followed afterwards and I just stared ahead. I didn't want to do this. He won, he could be extremely proud of himself now. I turned away from the entrance and searched around for a way to leave. The exit was bright red to my left and I didn't hesitate to try and run for it. Obviously I didn't get too far. Inutashio exited from the stage where I needed to enter.

"Kagome…" he called out and I paused for a moment, he walked calmly towards me and I turned to meet him halfway. "Where are you going?" He asked and I shrugged with a fake smile on my face. I knew he didn't buy it. "I just introduced you...The stage is that way…"

"I knew that…I just... I left something." I lied and he nodded as if he believed it but I knew he didn't. I walked forward alongside him as I made my way towards the stage entrance.

"Don't be nervous you'll do fine." I nodded, smiling as I thanked him and made myself on stage. As soon as I walked out the room made whistling noises and clapped hysterically. I gave them a half hearted smile and took the time to disoriently look around the room. I didn't know why I felt compelled to look for him but I did. I did it quickly before the lights could die down completely. I searched the back and as i did the audience tryed to as well. My eyes landed on Inuyasha first and foremost. He was talking with my dad while trying to pay attention to me. It didn't take long for me to realize what he was doing. My dad was truly that sorry.

"Kagome…" I heard someone whisper suddenly. I turned towards the drum player. He had a perplexed look on his face and I remembered instantly what I should have been doing. I smiled slightly and the clapping began again. I put my hand on the microphone and directed it towards me. "Hi." I said suddenly, the lights darkened again and I couldn't see my father anymore until the spotlight aimed at me. He hadn't even looked my way. I sighed silently but the microphone picked it up making a long aired buzz through the speaker. "Sorry about that…" I said "um… this is Hot N Cold." I heard the drum sticks pound together three times before the music pounded through. I could sense movement behind me, the dancers began to dance, and so did some of the audience. My time to sing came up suddenly but I didn't. The band stopped and I put a hand through my hair before grabbing a hold of the microphone. "Sorry." I said. "Can we try that... one more time?" I asked while turning towards the band. The drummer nodded and he hit the drum sticks three more times and the music drowned the room again. People began dancing and my que to begin singing approached quickly. I tapped my hand on my bare thigh trying to get into the music but I couldn't. People stopped dancing and I put a hand up signaling the music to stop. "I'm really… I don't know what's wrong with me." Mumbling began around the audience and I let my eyes wonder to my dad. He was actually looking towards me at that moment, and Inuyasha had both hands in his slacks and a worried look in his eyes. I didn't know why I felt like this but I just couldn't sing the song. I knew I had to but I can't. I turned towards the band as they waited. "I can't." I told them and the mumbling began up even louder. I turned away from the audience and backed up. I didn't run, I finally had my fathers attention and I knew exactly what to do. It was something I should of done a long time ago. I looked around the stage searching each instrument, finding the guitarist I walked towards him.

"Hi…" I said and he looked at me wide eyed. "Can I have this…?" I said indicating the guitar. He had an acoustic one in his hand and the bass player held an electric one in his hands. He looked down at it and without a word he passed it to me. I smiled while my thanking him and turned back towards the drum player. He stood up as I got closer. "I just want the stool." I told him and he nodded while picking it up. The dancers stood in wonderment not knowing what to do. "Just sit tight." I told them while taking the stool from him. I walked towards the microphone pushing it down.

I kept my eyes on my father who was staring incredulously at me now. I was actually pleased to finally have his attention. I put the stool down and set the microphone stand at my level. I sat at the stool and brought the guitar towards me. "I want to sing another song." I announced, no one seem to react. "I figured you guys have heard my version of Hot N Cold enough now…" A few people laughed and I strummed quietly on the acoustic guitar to get the feel of it. "I want to sing a song I wrote… it's dedicated to my dad. He's right there…" I announced pointing towards the back. The audience turned his way and even the spot light aimed at him. "I wrote it when I was really young… like twelve, it's been a working process, I've gone back and redone it more than a million and one times. I think I've finally got it right. So this is for you dad, I think you'll understand why."

I pushed myself closer to the microphone and cleared my throat. This is "White lies."

INU POV

Her father walked closer to the stage. He seemed completely memorize with what she might say next. The spot light went back to her and the saddest most melancholy chord compression began. I automatically knew what type of song she was going to perform. She adjusted herself slowly before closing her eyes and letting the music sink in. Suddenly her voice chimed in slowly with a soft whisper:

I drift away to a place
Another kind of life
Take away the pain
I create my paradise

Everything I've held
Has hit the wall
What used to be yours
Isn't yours at all

The music then began to get very slow and she stopped playing all together and almost like a flame her voice took on a new life. It heightened in pitch and it became impossible to ignore it as she dived into the chorus.

Falling apart, and all that I'm asking
Is it a crime, am I overreacting

Oh, he's under my skin
Just give me something to get rid of him
I've got a reason now to bury this alive
Another little white lie

The second verse began the same as the first, a piercing coherent whisper that sounded almost threatening in a way.

So what you had didn't fit
Among the pretty things
Never fear, never fear
I now know where you've been

Braids have been un-tied
As ribbons fall away
Leave the consequence
But my tears you'll taste

The music stopped again and chorus repeated again in the same high pitched voice. I found it hard to concentrate on anything else. I could feel everything she was singing and more. I could tell the audience could too. No one moved, no one whispered, everyone stayed glue to her as she sung. The songs meaning was apparent to everyone in the, and though her father was who she angled it to no one turned to look at him at any point. They were waiting till she was done.

The music changed as she came down to the hook of the song she rose up slowly from her spot as her hands stroked the chords automatically. The music became unusually slow and her voice turned into a melodic whisper again and she took the pause to push the microphone upwards.

I don't believe I'll be alright
I don't believe I'll be OK
I don't believe how you've thrown me away

All of a sudden her voice picked up and rose and the music stopped as it echoed throughout the whole room.

I do believe you didn't try
I do blame you for every lie
When I look in your eyes, I don't see mine

The music stopped again and the scent of fresh tears alerted me as she began the chorus of the song again…

Oh my permission to sin
you might have started my reckoning
I've got a reason now to bury him alive… (Her voice began to whisper again and the music became somber)
another little white lie

She put the acoustic guitar down and stared straight ahead at her father before dropping the microphone and turning away. No one made any attempt to move until a woman at the other end of the room clapped suddenly. The whole room combusted into applause and people began whooping. I stared ahead for a moment until I let what just happened sink in. After awhile i decided to head backstage. I was about to make my entrance when I heard someone call my name.

I turned in shock when i took in her dad. "Let me go…" He stated "please." I didn't know what to say to that, so I backed up allowing him to go ahead of me…

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Okay sorry for the unusually long wait.

songs used:

white lies (skin) alexz johnson, instant Star soundtrack season 1

mentioned songs listed in previous chapters