Chapter 1- Louis
Destiny is calling me
Open up your eager eyes
Cause I’m Mr. Brightside
I waited as the music faded, looking around at the audience. I was just so grateful to be here. It might have been at a local pub with only about 50 people listening to my band, The Rogue play, but I didn’t care. It was enough for me.
I came off the stage with a natural high, and arms immediately surrounded my waist. I looked down at the small silhouette now cradled in my body and laughed.
“Hello to you too, Amy.”
“Sorry Louis, I just…can’t. You were so amazing! Did you hear yourself? Mr. Brightside is definitely my new favorite song!” I smiled down at her, almost protectively. Even though I was only a year older than her at 18, I felt like Amy’s father sometimes.
“I thought you did quite well too, Louis.” I forgot that there were more people in the room, so when I brought my attention away from Amy, I was met with the eyes of my girlfriend, Marisa. Did I see a hint of jealousy in her expression? No that couldn’t be, everyone knows there is nothing going on between Amy and I.
I quickly pulled out of my embrace with Amy and took Marisa’s hands in mine.
I looked to the slightly shorter figure in front of me. She has brown eyes, but with brown hair similar to my own, she looks more like my sister than any of my actual siblings do.
I looked between the two girls in front of me. “Alright to celebrate for the heck of it, I’m treating my two favorite girls to ice cream.”
“Sounds like a great idea!” Amy replied immediately. I could see the hesitation in Marisa’s eyes.
“Come on babe, it’ll be fun!”
“Alright, let’s go.” She replied seconds later.
“Excuse me son, are you Louis Tomlinson, the singer of The Rogue?” A man’s voice came from behind us while we were walking out the door. I turned around, curious.
“Yes I am?” It came out more as a question unintentionally.
“Hello, I’m Simon Cowell, and I can’t hide the fact that I was very impressed with your performance.”
“Thank you, sir.” I was immediately on my best behavior. It was Simon Cowell after all.
“Would you be willing to come to my office to see about starting you off on your own solo career?”
I couldn’t believe it. I’ve wanted this all along but when the time finally came, I stood there like a fool with my mouth hanging open. It was Amy nudging me in the kidney that brought me back to reality.
“I would love to Mr. Cowell, thank you.” He handed me his contact information and walked off.
“Lou! Do you know what that means! Simon freaking Cowell wants you! Isn’t that amazing?” I knew that was Amy speaking before I even had to look over to them. I knew what it meant, for sure. It’s what I wanted all along. Only problem is, Marisa has told me many times before, if I go into singing, she will leave me. I stood there like an idiot, not knowing what to do. The look on Marisa’s face said it all.
The next morning, I was sitting in Simon Cowell’s office. My foot was tapping incredibly fast, but I didn’t find the will to stop doing it.
Marisa and I fought last night. For a long time. She kept saying that I was being selfish, thinking about my career and not of her. She assured me the long distance thing wouldn’t work, and that if I made it big I wouldn’t have any time for her. All I knew was that I didn’t want to lose Marisa, so I agreed to anything, just to get her to stay.
“That’s right sir. All I want is to be assured that I can bring my girlfriend with me whenever I go out of the country.” I could tell Simon didn’t like it, but apparently he wanted me bad enough, so he changed the contract.
The next few months were great. Simon and his record label were eager to get me known, so I had already released two singles while I was still working on my album. My first hit got to number 1 in theUK, and number 2 inIreland, and I traveled to a few countries aroundEurope, with Marisa in tow. I couldn’t have imagined a better time.
Then came the bad news. Simon had called me into his office unexpectedly, and I was nervous for what was to come.
“I’m sorry Louis, but your second single has barely sold at all in some countries, and it’s not doing too well inEnglandeither.”
“What does that mean for me, sir?” Simon was always so vague when it came to explaining bad news.
“It means you no longer have a solo career with Syco, Louis.”