Chapter Text
Nicole Haught is currently one of the biggest names in music.
Her parents signed her up for piano lessons when she was 5 years old. She would often be found at the piano after school playing songs from her little music book. As she got older, she loved to play classical music and eventually started to write her own. When she was 12, she wanted to branch out and learn other instruments. When she listened to music, she always heard the thumping of the bass and would make up different riffs while drumming on her thighs. Her mother suggested taking lessons from a family friend, Randy Nedley. She mastered the drums and was playing difficult combinations within 6 months of starting. He couldn't believe it. He called her a damn prodigy. Drumming had multiple benefits for her. She always had anxiety which would manifest as small outbursts of anger. If she was upset or anxious, she'd run upstairs, throw on her headphones and pound the drums. When she was in high school, she played on the drumline in marching band. Playing on the drumline gave her a sense of confidence and she continued to grow. Her anxiety was under control and she'd never been happier. It was her junior year that she decided to major in music. She started learning the guitar from her friend, Dolls. It was probably her least favorite instrument but she enjoyed it. Throughout high school and after she graduated, she started playing different events for friends and family, birthday parties, work events, school functions where alumni were invited to play for younger kids. She started playing at open mic nights and had gigs several nights a week at the local bar Shortys. She would meet her friends and girlfriend and they'd have a few beers and sing the night away.
It was after one particular event that Nicole stopped playing in public. She had agreed to play at her uncle's work function. Nicole and her uncle were extremely close. He supported her in everything she did. Went to ever recital, football game, and marching competition so when he asked her to play for his colleagues, she quickly agreed. She brought her guitar and played a few cover songs her uncle requested her to sing. It was quite the event. It was the company year-end gala with all the company's employees, vendors, and customers. The entire dining hall was packed. Half-way through her set, there was a loud noise in the back of the room. Five men kicked the doors in and entered the room. They started shouting demands while their ringleader Bobo del Rey came into view. He snarled a frightening smirk and chomped his teeth. He looked around the room as if surveying the crowd. Once he found what he was looking for, Bobo held up a small device and at that moment an explosion erupted and Nicole was thrown into a wall. There was screaming and everyone ran trying to escape or find cover. Nicole got up onto her hands and knees and looked around to find her uncle but he was nowhere in sight. A second explosion caused a large pillar to collapse and it landed on top of her and crushed her hands. She doesn't remember much about that night. She remembers the explosions and chaos before she passed out from the pain. Her uncle had been the target that night. He had gotten into a disagreement with Bobo over something. She couldn't remember what. Her uncle died that night. She never played in public again.
Eventually her hands healed and she started developing her piano skills again. It took a while but she eventually got to where she was prior to the accident. She would practice and write daily. Her girlfriend would always listen in the other room. She hated Nicole wouldn't play anymore. Her eyes lost the sparkle and excitement they used to hold. She knew Nicole had gone through something tragic but she wanted to see that spark in her eyes again. One night, Shae invited their friends to Shorty's. It was open mic night and Shae had come up with a plan to get Nicole to sing. Nicole's sister, Hayley, and friends, Dolls, Wynonna, Willa, Jeremy, and Rosita, were all in on it. When Nicole was announced to go onstage, she froze. Her face turned ghostly white and her hands started to tremble. She looked to Shae with wide eyes and Shae lifted her hand and gently cupped her cheek. "You can do this Nic." She kissed her cheek and shifted her head to the stage with a huge grin on her face. Her friends cheered her on and she slowly got up and walked on stage to sit behind the piano. She sat down and gently ran her fingers down the keys as her eyes welled up with tears. She took a deep breath and ran her fingers through her hair. As a single tear fell from her eye, she started to play. It was a song she wrote after her uncle died. She hoped it would be the perfect way to honor him.
"Hi everyone, I'm Nicole, as you all already know." She huffed a small laugh. "Um, this is a song I wrote after my uncle passed away. It depicts the fight between the overwhelming challenges and despair that surround us each day, and our deeper desire to overcome adversity. I hope you like it."
As the first notes sounded, the entire bar was silent. They all knew the significance of these next few minutes. Being a small town, everyone knew about Nicole's past. Nicole started to sing:
I want to be, I want to be stronger
Nicole let out a quiet sob and stopped for a moment to collect herself. She apologized and took a few deep breaths. Shae caught her attention and mouthed 'it's ok.' Nicole gave her a small smile and began the song again.
I want to be, I want to be stronger
Everywhere I walk, just leave broken steps
Don't know what's ahead, only what I've left
Can't see forward, just see no way back
Don't know what I have, only what I lack
Oh
As she got to the chorus, she had tears rolling down her cheeks.
But I long to be stronger than this
But I long to be stronger than this
I want to be, I want to be strong
Can't just tell my feet, to walk in their shoes
'Cause every time I win, just feel like I lose
Oh I wouldn't break down and weep if I could choose
Oh It's like a nightmare I can't keep from suffering through
I long to be stronger than this
I gave, more than, all I can give
But I want to be, I long to be
I long to be
As she got to the bridge, she threw her head back and relished in the feeling of losing herself in the music. She hadn't realized how much she missed this. She started feeling like her old self again and smiled her signature dimpled smile.
We want to be, Stronger,
Well we want to be, Stronger
We want to be, Stronger
But I want to be stronger than this
I gave, more than, all I can give
I want to be, I long to be, I want to be
Stronger
When she finished the song, you could hear a pin drop. Nicole looked up at the crowd and as she lifted her eyes, the crowd went wild. Everyone was clapping and cheering. Several people had tears in their eyes. She thanked everyone and went back to her seat. Little did Nicole know this night would end up changing her life forever, in more ways than one.