Someone Like You: A Niall Horan Love Story

Chapter 9: Just Don't Fail.

Piper's POV:

I hesitate, panicking all of a sudden. What if they hate me? What if I make a fool out of myself onstage in front of everyone? I couldn't face Niall if I blew it. I just couldn't.

Niall squeezes my hand and gazes at me with those beautiful blue eyes.

"Piper, you'll be amazing. Don't worry, it'll be over before you know it." I nod and bite my lips together, a nervous habit I have.

The stagehand ushers me up the stairs and to the edge of the stage while I wait for the person in front of me to finish their audition.

I look back at Niall, my heart beating uncontrollably. He grins and gives me a double thumbs up. I smile watery at him, but that's the best I can do.

He mouths to me "just don't fail". Ladies and gentlemen, words of wisdom from the brilliant Niall Horan.

"You're on," the stagehand says quietly so I almost can't hear him. I grip the microphone I was given so tightly my knuckles turn white.

I stride as confidently as I can onto the stage, almost immediately overwhelmed by the crowd. And for crying out loud, Simon freaking Cowell is sitting write in front of me. How could I NOT be nervous?

The crowd cheers deafeningly and I wave back with a smile. They do know how to cheer a girl up.

Simon glances up from his paper with that familiar smug smirk on his face.

"What's your name, love?"

"Piper Bradley."

"It says here that you and Niall Horan, who just auditioned, are best friends." It's not really a question but I answer it anyway.

"Yeah, we've been best friends for about seven years." He raises his eyebrows in surprise but doesn't respond. Oooookay.

"What are you gonna be singing?" Katy Perry asks, looking at me over her drink.

"'Breakeven' by The Script."

"Good luck."

I'll need it.

I take a shaky breath and start singing, and I think it goes well. It feels like it ends before I even start since we only get like 30 seconds to sing.

Simon raises his hand, signaling me to stop singing. Oh no. That's never a good sign.

He chews on his pen thoughtfully for a second, giving me a practically unreadable look.

I bite my bottom lip (it's already partly raw from doing this too much) as I wait for him to give me his verdict. The other judges are looking at him, waiting for him to go first.

"Well, Piper, I thought it was absolutely-" I suck in a deep breath "-amazing. You're a fantastic singer and I can't wait to see you in bootcamp." I let out a little squeal and jump up and down. YESSSS

They go down the line of judges, each of them giving me a yes. It happens so fast I can barely take it in.

I run offstage and literally jump into Niall's arms, wrapping mine around his neck. Tears of joy trickle down my cheeks and spot his shirt but at this point I don't care. I'm smiling so much I feel like my cheeks are going to explode.

He buries his face in my neck, giving me shivers.

I feel a camera crew swarm around us. We're giving them great footage for a soon-to-be X Factor romance, in their eyes at least.

"We made it," I whisper, grinning into his shoulder.

"We made it. I knew we would."

We have to break apart so I can hug the rest of my family but I swear I hear him whisper 'I love you' as I let go.