Someone Like You: A Niall Horan Love Story

Chapter 8: The X Factor

Piper's POV:

Niall gives my hand a nervous squeeze as we wait backstage. The X Factor. I have no clue if I'm ready for this. Niall and I went back to being just friends, but it's as if our friendship crossed an unwritten line when we kissed. And now we're not quite as open as we were before, and I doubt we'll ever be exactly the same as before.

We've been interviewed so many times today already that a camera crew walking up to me right now is normal. They walk up to us and suddenly I start to feel overwhelmed, thinking that this is a terrible idea. What was I thinking? Me? Piper Bradley, perform in front of all those people? No way.

Niall's warm hand reaches for mine, intertwining our fingers.

"You'll be fine, Pipe. They'll love you." I nod and release our fingers, wrapping my arms around his neck in a nervous hug.

"Are you sure?" I ask, my voice quivering.

"Positive." I hear someone clear their throat awkwardly, and I pull away from Niall. It was some geeky looking guy in a polo, holding a clipboard. He starts asking us questions which will no doubt be aired on the show. They'll play our friendship up to a romance for sure, I just hope Niall doesn't care. Oh no. Hope will watch it and hate my guts even more than she already does, which I didn't think was possible. Luckily she couldn't come today because it's her great-grandmother's birthday so I don't have to deal with her "witty" sarcasm all day.

"How long have you guys been friends?" The guy, Dave, asks. Niall and I exchange glances and I think we're both mentally blanking right now.

"Ummm..." I mutter, frantically trying to remember.

"Can you ask the question again? I wasn't really listening," Niall says and I burst into laughter, making him laugh too. "Sure, make fun of me," he says jokingly.

"'Oh sorry could you repeat that? I wasn't listening,'" I reply sarcastically.

"That's it!" He exclaims and picks me up and I'm stuck over his shoulder. He starts tickling me, therefore I start my super embarrassing snort-laugh, and he laughs at me. He stops and sets me on the ground. "Now you lady, did you learn your lesson?" He asks in a fake stern tone.

"'Could you repeat the question? I wasn't listening.'" I'm pretty sure he would start tickling me again if it wasn't his turn to audition. They're beckoning for him to come to the edge of the stage, but he quickly gives me a kiss on the cheek before he goes. It would make me feel special if the cameras weren't here capturing every embarrassing thing I do. "Good luck, Nialler." He turns to me and gives me a direct smile, making my heart rate increase insanely.

"Don't worry, I'll be fantastic," he jokes before giving me a wink. I smile as he strides confidently across the stage towards the middle of it. I can't even watch, I'm so nervous. My gaze flits from the floor to the TV screens they keep backstage, my palms sweating as I pray over and over for him to get through. His audition passes so quickly That I almost don't register when he runs jubilantly off the stage. My heart lifts when I see his thrilled face as he runs towards me. I break into a massive grin as he picks me up and spins me around, clinging tightly to me with joy. I feel his happy tears splash onto my shoulder. He made it. Now I just have to.

"Piper Bradley, they're ready for you."