Walking in the Wind One Direction EDITING

17. You're the one that I want

This morning, the stage is buzzing with energy as the contestants from the girls' and boys' categories gather. Simon takes his place at the front, ready to kick off the second day of boot camp.

"Okay, first of all, welcome back, and most importantly, congratulations," Simon begins. The crowd on stage erupts in cheers. "I see in every category a star in the making. And we've only just begun."

The applause grows louder, and a ripple of excitement moves through the group.

"Today, we've got two things on the schedule," Simon continues. "This morning, you'll perform your first duet. If your partner went home yesterday, don't worry. We've paired you with someone else who also lost their partner."

"We'll start with the pairs who stayed together," Louis adds, stepping forward. "This gives the new couples a bit more time to rehearse before they go on."

Another round of cheers erupts.

"So, first things first. If the couples who already have partners could leave the stage to prepare, we'll now call out the new pairs," Simon instructs.

I grab Harry's arm, and we head off the stage together. Laelynn, Jade, and Liam follow behind, leaving Daisy and Louis to stay back and hear their new pairings.

"I'm excited for this," Harry says, his green eyes sparkling.

"Me too. You still remember all the moves, right?" I tease, nudging him.

"Of course. How could I forget?" he replies with a grin.

Backstage, the schedule coordinator hands out a sheet with the performance order. Harry scans it quickly.

"Oh, we're on third," he notes. "We'd better get ready."

"We're on twenty-second," Laelynn says, standing beside Niall.

"I think they're starting with your song and ending with ours," Jade observes, glancing over the list. "We're on twenty-fifth, right before the newly formed couples go on."

"We're on twentieth," Liam adds, gesturing to the girl next to him.

Jade wasn't wrong, this girl really isn't the prettiest.

I catch her casting a shy glance at Liam, who doesn't seem to notice.

"Guess we'll have some time to watch you two perform!" Liam says, smirking at me.

"My God, as if the judges weren't enough pressure," I mutter, rolling my eyes at Liam's cheeky grin.

"Hey, guys!" Daisy calls out, running toward us with her signature curls bouncing. "What number are we?"

I scan the list and find her name, I notice her and Louis are a new pair. "You're on thirtieth," I say, glancing up to see Louis now standing beside her.

"Great, give me that," Louis says, plucking the paper from my hands without hesitation.

"Louis, come on! We need to practice," Daisy urges, already heading toward the door.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming!" Louis runs after her with the schedule in hand, leaving us to laugh at their chaotic energy.

The first duet is called to the stage. The others find seats in the back to watch while Harry and I stay backstage, softly singing our song and mimicking the choreography. Each movement feels natural as we rehearse, and we can't help but laugh at ourselves when the first couple finishes.

"Ready to go again?" I ask as the second couple starts their performance.

"Always," Harry replies with his usual charm.

We run through our routine again, perfecting each spin, step, and cue until the stagehand signals that it's our turn.

"We've got this," Harry whispers as we walk onto the stage.

"Don't forget to have fun with it," I whisper back, meeting his confident smile.

From the corner of my eye, I see Laelynn, Jade, and Liam holding their thumbs up in support. The judges—Simon and Louis—sit behind their desk, their faces calm but watchful. With no time for chit-chat due to the packed schedule, we take our places. The familiar beat of "You're the One That I Want" fills the room, and the performance begins.

"I've got chills, they're multiplying," Harry sings, his voice strong and smooth. He hits the first note perfectly, setting the tone for what's to come.

"And I'm losing control," he continues, tossing off his jacket with dramatic flair. I play along, placing my hand on my hip and feigning boredom.

"'Cause the power you're supplying, it's electrifying!" Harry slides onto the floor at my feet, making the judges chuckle.

"You better shape up," I sing, nudging his chest lightly with my foot. He springs to his feet as I turn away from him, my every step daring him to follow.

"'Cause I need a man," I croon, spinning around to face him. "And my heart is set on you." I rest my hand on his shoulder as I walk back the other direction, making him walk backwards.

Harry matches my energy, stepping in sync with my every move. The chemistry between us is undeniable, and we're both grinning as we play off each other.

"You better shape up." I turn my back to him again. "You better understand." I walk away and once again Harry follows as he should. "To my heart I must be true." I sing facing him again. "Nothin' left, nothin' left for me to do" Harry smiles at me as he sings.

The song picks up pace, and we dive into the chorus.

"You're the one that I want," Harry belts out, pointing at me with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"You are the one that I want," I echo, pointing back at him.

"Ooh, ooh, ooh, honey!" The background track harmonizes as Harry and I circle each other, switching positions effortlessly. "The one that I want."

"You are the one that I want." The background track goes again. "Ooh, ooh, ooh, honey" We play up the playful tension, moving closer with each line. "The one that I want."

"Ooh, ooh, ooh" Harry offers his hand. "The one I need" And I take it, "Oh, yes, indeed" spinning out dramatically before pulling him back in. "yes, indeed"

"You're the one that I want" we end the song holding hands, our final pose earning a wave of applause from the judges and audience alike.

"Thank you," Simon says, his tone calm but impressed.

We bow quickly and exit the stage, still riding the high of our performance. A camera crew approaches and they start rolling.

"That was amazing!" I squeal as soon as we're backstage, ignoring the cameras as we were instructed to.

"It was electrifying," Harry jokes, mimicking one of his lines from the song. We burst into laughter.

"You guys were awesome!" Liam exclaims, rushing over with Laelynn and Jade trailing behind.

"Really a convincing performance, guys," Louis adds, his tone more serious but genuinely impressed.

"I think I was smiling the entire time," Harry admits, his cheeks slightly flushed. "I forgot we were even competing."

"Oh, I had so much fun doing that," I say, still catching my breath. My adrenaline is through the roof, and I can't stop grinning.