Extended Play
You were very surprised when Niall asked you to come with him to Calabasses. You knew he was filming today and didn’t know how important it had become to him that you were there.
The drive up wasn’t long, but it was early and you were still drinking your tea. Niall had asked for you to pack him different outfits and a couple for yourself for when it gets cold or you guys went out somewhere. Early into the drive Niall got a call from Joe.
“Hey man, Emily, she said she’s sick and can’t make it.” were the first words that were said. Emily played a key role, guitar, violin, and vocals. You and her had bonded over the instruments you both knew how to play. You tuned out of the conversation in your thoughts till Niall was squeezing your thigh. “How does that sound?” he asked with a hopeful grin. “I'm sorry, how does what sound?” you heard Joe chuckle through the car speaker and Niall giggled. “Can you play Emily's part?”
“I'm sorry what?” it wasn’t that you didn’t want to or that you didn’t know how to play it, you wanted to and did know, but what would everyone say. “I- Niall, Joe? What would that look like?” Niall seemed to know immediately what you meant. “It doesn’t matter. Everyone that matters knows you aren’t using me, we asked you because we want you to." Joe hummed through the speaker, “if it helps, it was Emily’s idea. We wouldn’t ever put you in that position.”
You sighed, taking a deep breath before smiling. “Fine, fine, if you guys want me so bad.” they both cheered with a laugh and you joined them. “Okay the other violinists have an extra so you can use theirs and everything else we can discuss when you guys get here. Maia, thank you so much.” you shrugged it off with a ‘no worries’ before Niall hung up and at the very next stop he leaned over the console and kissed you hard. “You're an angel, baby girl.” he kissed you again quickly before driving again and you were still in a daze. Kissing him would never fail to amaze you. “I think I'm gonna need that on a mug.” you joked lifting yours up knowing you were really going to need it.
Click to play
“I probably won't be able to play it. This the- this is the piano isn’t it?”
“Yeah it is.”
As the gentle keys of the piano were heard Niall was shown playing it, or at least attempting to. His face was one of concentration until John started playing the harmonica and he chuckled.
I think this is my best cohesive work.
“It's been… 18 months in the making, if not longer.” Niall spoke into the camera.
And i feel like this is… the album from where- for where i’m at now, and for where a lot of people are in the world, um,
“and hopefully people grab hold of it, make it their own and then…” he was staring off into the landscape of the property getting lost in it as he spoke, “we get the opportunity to take it around the world.”
As you sat a few spaces away from the piano Niall was currently at, you marvelled at the etherealness of it all. The 11 am sun brought a proper glow over the room. It was just Niall and the piano at the start.
Life is like a board game some of the time
Mistakes and heartbreaks are no crime
But there's a light creepin' through under broken skies
Got plans? Better hurry 'cause time flies
It was then, you and the other violinists started playing each of your additions. You were closest to him and very focused on the sheet music in front of you.
Hold tight, get ready for the ride
If everythin' was easy, nothing ever broke
If everythin' was simple, how would we know?
How to fix your tears, how to fake a show
How to paint a smile, yeah, how would we know?
How good we have it though? Mm
Niall was properly lost in his music and you loved it
Life is like a dance floor some of the time
(Life is like a dance floor some of the time, mm)
Dancin' with the stars, oh, every night
And gravity comes and wraps her arms around you again
It's all fun and games until the party ends
Hold tight, get ready for the ride
You didn’t have vocals in this as you were the main violin and you were happy you got to play the majestic instrument.
If everythin' was easy, nothing ever broke
If everythin' was simple, how would we know?
How to fix your tears, how to fake a show
How to paint a smile, yeah, how would we know?
How good we have it though?
Looking at the sun our whole lives
We're blinded by the (lights)
Looking at the sun our whole lives
We're blinded by the lights, ooh
We're still not ready for the ride
If everythin' was easy, nothing ever broke
If everythin' was simple, how would we know?
How to fix your tears, how to fake a show
How to paint a smile, yeah, how would we know?
Oh, if everything was easy, nothing ever broke
If everything was simple, how would we know?
How to fix your tears, how to fake a show
How to paint a smile, yeah, how would we know?
How good we had it though?
How good we had it though?
So hold tight, get ready for the ride
‘The Show’ played on the speakers as he spoke
I wrote ‘The Show’ with Jamie Scott in London. I was, like, we should, um…
He was seen walking around outside before the camera cut to him sitting
“See if Joe Little would like to get involved in this. I know he’s in New Zealand. Maybe he’ll have some spare time.” Niall laughed looking over to where Joe was sitting in front of him.
They continued talking about the writing experience of ‘Meltdown’ and how it used to sound. It was very different from the one he finalised. The 5pm evening sun required lights around the room, but it was very sunny.
Niall walked down the stairs as you started to play the beginning notes on your own guitar. You were situated by the glass doors and the sun against your brown skin made you glow. You had vocals in this song and the mic stand was adjusted perfectly for you to sing and play.
Talkin' to yourself in the bathroom
Losin' your mind in the mirror like you have to
Ooh
Screamin' in your car in the driveway
Spinnin' out think your life's going sideways
Ooh
You sang the chorus lowly just to add onto Nialls angelic voice
One broken glass turns to total collapse
Just know this too shall pass
I'm tellin' you now, tellin' you now
Woo
When it all melts down I'll be there
Woo, woo
When it all melts down I'll be there
I'm tellin' you now, tellin' you now
You and Niall both stopped playing for the next two lines letting his voice ring through
Sleep is so thin, outta habit
Hard to tell the real from the dreams you imagine
Ooh
Nights when one broken glass turns to total collapse
Just know this too shall pass
I'm tellin' you now, tellin' you now
Woo
When it all melts down I'll be there
When it all melts down (woo)
When it all melts down now (woo)
When it all melts down I'll be there
I'm tellin' you now, tellin' you now
When there's wolves on your track (wolves on your track)
Catchin' up fast (catchin' up fast)
Baby, don't you look back (don't you look back)
Don't you look back (baby, don't you look back)
When you're hittin' a wall (hittin' a wall)
And every star falls (every star falls)
Don't you worry at all
Woo
When it all melts down I'll be there
When it all melts down (woo)
Niall smiled at being able to hear your voice stand out through the vocals
When it all melts down now (woo)
When it all melts down I'll be there
He looked in your direction to check up on you. The sun was hot as you stood in front of the glass in denim
I'm tellin' you now, tellin' you now
Woo
When it all melts down I'll be there
When it all melts down
When it all melts down now (woo)
When it all melts down I'll be there
I'm tellin' you now, tellin' you now
He finalised the closing with a final strum of the guitar and immediately looking your way with a smile.
Definitely didn’t realise how formative… 25 to 30 would be in love and life. It made me think on a larger scale.
“I think we kind of lost…” he scratched his head as he thought, “a spot of that control that we like to have as humans.
We as people always have moments of freak out and not knowing what happens next, and the unknown scares people.
“I remember I was playing- I was sat in this chair, this was on the 15th of june 2022. It was just after we got back from Joshua tree. And Julian came into town. You remember?” as he got the agreement from the other men a body in the back was blurry.
“And i have this title is ‘all i am. Thats the title of this voice note.” As the figure became clear they handed him a water bottle and smiled up at them. “Thank you love.” you smiled back down at him and as you began to walk away he laced your finger with his bringing a kiss to your lips before pulling you around to sit on his lap with him. He pressed play and the well known tune of a now different title played. You all sat and listened to the past Niall mumble the tune. You all started to hum along to it as Niall looked up at you with a smile.
“That little spanish number.” he remembered reaching to grab the guitar carefully so as to not throw you off of his lap. You didn't know how he played with his arms wrapped around you but he did, and you couldn’t help but be turned on.
“So we obviously- we wrote the song in like an hour.” Joel added to the conversation as you looked up at the new information. “Like, this was a great, like, collaboration. It was like we were all writing it together in like an hour, it was written. It was easy for us because you would not shut up about Miss Quinn, here.” you looked back down at Niall who was already looking up at you with doe eyes filled with admiration. You wrapped your hand around his jaw, grazing it softly as he smiled and leaned into it.
“And I have these, like, harmonicas sitting here. And, like, as a joke. You know, I was like…” he played the harmonica goofily, “or something- I was, like, ‘let me see it’. And juts- it’s my favourite thing. Just like the one note, like, monotone, like, ignorant Bob Dylan.” Niall ‘yupped’ a few times causing you to smile at him. “No, ‘cause im sure- im sure you like- you could have-”
“I did a take and I was like-” Joel mimicked himself playing the harmonica very well in comparison to Niall’s. You all laughed because of the comparison. “And, like, this is so whack.”
“And you were like, ‘do what you would do’. And I was like, ‘I can’t play this thing’. And, uh, and you were like,” Niall switched his voice to sound like Joel, ‘but that's what makes it honest.” you all laughed at his impression as Jamie spoke up.
“Yeah, totally. It's so much cooler that- as simple as it is.” Niall nodded looking confused. “It’s literally- was it like four notes?” he now mimicked himself playing the simple notes dramatically. “Yeah it like 2 note.” Jamie laughed.
“And uh, that was like- that magic in it. Like, we had it all- Remember i was, i was ready to BV it up, and i was like, ‘No, we don't need to do that.’” he paused looking up at you before looking away to continue speaking to the boys. “I think once we’d written, ‘You Could Start A Cult’ to me, that was the end of the album.”
The 8pm sun casted a glow on Niall outside all alone on a little chair in a wheat field. You stood back behind the few crew members who were there. It was once again just him and his guitar, and the harmonica of course
Darlin', I will give up everything
Who I'll be and who I am
You can have it all
Baby, you could start a cult, you see
Anywhere you go, I'll be
Yeah you are so much more than beautiful to me
The camera followed him around in short circles adding an ethereal feeling to it all
Oh, I'll follow you 'til there's no tomorrow
I'll follow you 'til there's no tomorrow
I'll follow you 'til there's no tomorrow
I'll follow you
Swear you, you could start a war or two
Kingdoms fightin' over you
To wake up by your side is all I wanna do
Oh, I'll follow you 'til there's no tomorrow
I'll follow you 'til there's no tomorrow
I'll follow you 'til there's no tomorrow
I'll follow you
You couldn't help the tear that made there way to your eyes as he played the harmonica
Baby, you could start a cult, you see
They will say that we're crazy
But you are so much more than beautiful to me
The crickets in the background added a beautiful feeling to the last song of the day. You were back playing violin as Niall walked through the house to the mic from outside.
Wantin' your summer skin pressed on mine
Fallin' like rain, ripplin' on by
Supermoon watch it dance in your eyes
My wildest of dreams, takin' on a new life
If it's this good way down here
Then what's it like up there high in heaven?
On a night like tonight
You would forever be amazed at his vocal range
Are we just two stars passin' by?
Wantin' your summer skin pressed on mine
Wanna know what your lovin' tastes like
On a night like tonight
Yeah
Yeah
He bounced around the room during the instrumental break and continued as he sang again
Innocent kisses, now our hearts on fire
Got me so high, walkin' on a wire, yeah
Baby, you, baby, you blow my mind
Tell me anything you like, except for goodbye
If it's this good way down here
Then what's it like up there high in heaven?
On a night like tonight
(On a night, on a night, on a night)
Are we just two stars passin' by?
You felt the camera on you a few times but were so focused on Niall’s voice you couldn't think about it
(Passin' by, passin' by, passin' by)
Wantin' your summer skin pressed on mine
Wanna know what your lovin' tastes like
On a night like tonight
(On a night, on a night, on a night)
Yeah
Yeah
You felt your stomach drop in need as he moaned out both yeah’s
Wantin' your summer skin pressed on mine
Wanna know what your lovin' tastes like
Wantin' your summer skin pressed on mine
Pressed on mine, pressed on mine
Wantin' your summer skin pressed on mine
(On a night, on a night, on a night)
He ended outside and as instructed you set your violin down as you walked through the glass doors to join him outside. You wrapped your arms around his back to his front letting your head rest on his shoulder. He turned his head planting a kiss against your temple before everything went black.
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