I Will Always Love You - A Niall Horan Love Story

Chapter Fourteen

~Charlotte's POV~

"CeCe, StaceyWacey!" was the first voice we heard when the boys arrived.

"Lou!" we shouted in unison, as he hugged us.

"Be careful, Lou. You're gonna squeeze them to death!" Harry laughed.

I hugged each of them then reached Niall.

"Nialler! I missed you so much!" I cried, hugging him.

He chuckled, "I missed you too, Charlie!"

I was so happy to be back with him, only to remember that I was about to break his heart.

We sat and talked for about twenty minutes before I pulled Niall aside to talk to him.

"Niall, I have to tell you something."

"What's up, babe?"

"Well, yeasterday, I was reading a magazine," I started, then continued to explain the things it said in the mag.

"That's crazy! There is no way that I'm the reason for your fame!" he cried.

"Well, that's why-" I paused.

"Whhyyyy what?" he looked at me with his beautiful blue eyes.

"Ithinkweneedabreak," I said, all in one big word.

"I'm sorry, it sound like you just said we needed a break?"

"That's because I did. I'm sorry, but I need to find out whether or not people really like me for me, or if they like me because of you. I really hate to do this. I don't want to hurt you-" he cut me off.

"Well that's what your doing! You ARE hurting me, Charlie," he started tearing up.

"I know and I hate myself for it. This is just as hard for me." I whispered.

"Really? Because it seems a lot more harder for me. Fine! We can have a break! Or let's make this easier for you, and not make it a temporary break, but a permanent break, ok, Charlotte?" and he walked off, back to the group.

My heart shattered.

For once in my entire life, he didn't call me Charlie.

When it came time for us to perform, I wasn't sure if I could stand to see him, in the front row.

"Come one Charles, we can do this," Stace was telling me.

I took a deep breath, as we stood behind the large screen that would open in about 30 seconds. "Ok, I got this."

Thirty seconds later, the music played, the screen opened and we stepped out.

The song we were singing thsi week is Smile by Avril Lavigne, but the clean version. Cheryl got us to change the word from bitch to chick and fucking to really.

Stace sung the first verse. While she sung i had to smile and dance around just a little. We had back up dancers, one of them being Danielle. I glanced over at the boys a few times.

Harry was mesmerised by Stacey.

Liam was watching Danielle.

Louis and Zayn were dancing in their chairs.

And Niall had his head hung low, facing the ground.

When it came to the chorus, we both sung. Stace and I looked at each other a few times and smiled. I forgot about what happened about an hour ago, and focused on my performance. But i still felt guilty.

I hurt him.

I really hurt him.

I hurt him so much, that he doesn't want to call me by my nickname anymore.

I snapped out of it, as it got to the second verse. My verse.

Niall looked up when I started singing. I smiled at him, but his face was blank. He showed no emotion. Didn't smile, didn't frown. Just stared.

We finished off the song with one last chorus and thanked everyone as they cheered.

"WOW! That was breath-taking!" Demi cried, holding her hands to her chest.

The rest of the judges commented on our performance. They all loved it, but Simon and Louis still gave us just a few tips, which I liked. It would help me improve.

The next day the boys left. We said goodbye, but Niall didn't want to say goodbye.

That night, they were annoncing who had to leave the show. We were as nervous as ever as we went on stage with Cheryl and Madi, Bridgit and Aaliyah, who were all in a group known as Fuzion and two other bands that were in Cheryls group.

"In no particular order," Dermot began, "these are the acts that are through to the next round."

He paused for a few seconds then said, "James Sayamani!"

Everyone cheered as James hugged his mentor, Simon and walked off to the side.

"The next act through is," he paused again. "Fuzion!"

Cheryl, Stace and I hugged the girls as everyoen cheered, and then they went of the side.

he went on to announce that Britney Laurence, Chris Joffer, Caitie Helen, Melena Hays & Jackie Newman were through.

"The next act through is." as usual, he paused, the announce, "Charlie & Stace!"

Everyone cheered. We hugged the other two groups, who were boys, then hugged Cheryl and went off to the side.

It got down to Young Men Society, who were a band in Cheryl's group and Lucy Gales, who had Simon as her mentor.

"The last two acts will have to perform a song of their own, and the judges will decided who is through to the next round. Don't go anywhere, we will be right back after the break."

After the break, Lucy performed Superhero by Cher Lloyd and YMS performed One Time by JBiebs. Lucy got through, but YMS was let go.

I could barely sleep that night.

'I hurt him,' was all that kept playing through my mind.