Love at the X Factor (on hold) :(

Chapter 9

For the next few days, I spent most of my time with Niall and the boys. Most of the time, the boys had to be with their contestants, so it was mostly just me and Niall. The first bootcamp episode had aired and we are filming the second one today. I'm crazy nervous because people are being eliminated tonight.

"Today, we will be setting you up into pairs. You will perform a duet with them. Make sure you both agree on the song." Demi said, smiling at all of us.

"This will decide if you move on to the judge's houses. Good luck." Simon said, picking up a sheet of paper and began calling out names.

"Brooke Smith and Bella Taylor." I looked up and over at Brooke, who looked at me and scoffed. I rolled my eyes, instantly regretting it knowing the producers would make this into a cat-fight.

I looked over at Niall, who smiled sympathetically, knowing how things were with me and Brooke. As I suspected, we didn't get along. Last week, she stole my shirt and wouldn't own up to it and it blew up into this big thing. I'm sure the producers will make sure to add our bickering into this weeks episode to make things even more interesting.

"Now, get to work and we will meet back here in two hours to begin. You will have makeup crews coming to your rooms to get you ready the last twenty minutes." Britney said. After that, everyone got into their pairs with their mentors.

"Hi Brooke." I forced a smile onto my face as she just glared at me. Her mentor was Selena Gomez and that girl was crazy sweet. She always stepped in when me and Brooke argued.

I was over my celebrity shock...for now anyways.

"So, uh, what do you want to sing?" I asked her.

"Someone Like You by Adele." She smiled her creeper Cheshire cat smile.

"That's not exactly my range. Can we pick something else?" I could feel the cameras making their way to us.

"But that's what I want to sing." She argued through clenched teeth, her blue eyes boring into mine.

"It's not in my range." I repeated, the tone in my voice growing angry. I felt Niall's hand on my shoulder and calmed down a bit. We stared each other down for a minute before she finally caved.

"Fine! What do you wanna sing?" She yelled after Selena whispered in her ear.

"Hey There Delilah." I smiled. She looked at me and sighed.

"I do actually like that song. Let's do it." I saw a sincere smile spread across her face. We made our way down to one of the soundproof rooms and got to work.

Halfway through rehearsals, Selena stopped us.

"What? I thought we were doing pretty well." I said, moving the headphones I was wearing to sit around my neck.

"Oh, you were. But, you were a bit off key at the end of your part, Bella." I just looked from her to Niall to Andrea, my vocal coach, in the back of the room.

"I think she sounded fine." Niall said, turning in his seat to face Selena.

"Well, I think she was a little off." She countered.

"Bella, honey, you sounded fine. Continue girls." Andrea smiled at me. Selena huffed and we continued practicing until we were called to our rooms to get fixed up.

~*~

After getting my makeup and hair done, I couldn't recognize myself. My makeup was done up so much for the cameras and stage lights, but it also had the effect of not looking like a lot of makeup. I was wearing a black mini skirt with a leopard tank top that criss-crossed in the back. My hair was straightened perfectly and I was wearing a pair of black Converse with leopard print on the toe as I refused to wear the heels they picked out. It was a funny argument.