Walking in the Wind One Direction EDITING

18. Don't go breaking my Heart

After Harry and I finish our backstage interview with the filming crew, we decide to spend the rest of the morning enjoying the other performances. We sneak into the back of the stadium, where Liam and the others had been sitting earlier, and settle in to watch the stage.

"I'm actually glad we went on early," Harry says, leaning back in his seat. "Now we can just sit back and enjoy this."

He nods toward the stage, where Liam is performing. Liam's voice is flawless, as always, but his duet partner is struggling to keep up. She looks nervous, her voice cracking on a high note, and their movements feel forced, like they didn't have enough time to rehearse.

"How did they even end up pairing those two?" I whisper, biting back a laugh.

"That's not the real question," Harry replies with a grin. "The real question is: how is she still here?"

"Don't be mean," I say, putting on my best serious face. For a moment, Harry looks guilty, but I can't hold it in any longer—I burst into laughter.

"I can't!" I gasp, turning away from him, tears forming in my eyes from trying to hold back.

"Shh!" Harry chuckles, covering his mouth. "They'll hear us!"

"I know, I know," I say, catching my breath.

"I didn't mean it like that," Harry says, still laughing. "It's just—Liam's one of the best singers here, and she's just..."

"Mediocre?" I finish for him, raising an eyebrow.

Harry glances at me, and it's the wrong move. The moment our eyes meet, we're both laughing again, trying to stay quiet so no one notices us.

"Okay, okay, shh!" I say, trying to compose myself. "We're done. Serious faces now."

"Right," Harry agrees, straightening up and focusing on the stage.

"When I was down," Liam sings, his voice steady and powerful.

"I was your clown," his partner follows, her pitch wobbly and unsure.

"Ooh-ooh," Liam nails the next line effortlessly, but the girl cracks again. I immediately feel Harry's eyes on me.

"I am not looking at you," I whisper, shielding my face with my hand to block him from my peripheral vision. "Stop—I'll laugh!"

Harry bites his lip to keep from laughing and shakes his head, turning back to the stage. Somehow, we make it through the rest of Liam's performance without completely losing it.

After he's done, Simon thanks them and a new couple enters the stage. Liam joins us a few minutes later, dropping into the seat beside me.

"Hey," he says, looking a little deflated.

"Hey," I reply, offering him a small smile.

"You're just in time for Laelynn," Harry says, nodding toward the stage.

And Niall. Laelynn and Niall.

"Oh yeah, and my roommate. Niall." Liam casually mentions and leans back in his chair.

WAIT. They are roommates?

Laelynn and Niall step onto the stage together, both looking confident. As soon as the music starts, they completely command the space. Their voices blend perfectly, and their movements are so natural it's like they're not even trying—they just belong up there together.

"They're actually perfect," I whisper, watching in admiration. "Neither of them looks even a little nervous."

"See, this is why I'm screwed," Liam mutters. "The girl I was paired with gave me nothing to work with. These two actually have chemistry, like you guys did."

"You'll be fine, mate," Harry says, still watching the stage. "You did an incredible job out there, even though she couldn't keep up. The judges will see that."

"You'll get a better partner next round," I say, looking up at him reassuringly.

Liam gives me a weak smile. "If there is a next round for me."

"There will be," I say, placing a comforting hand on his knee.

Laelynn and Niall finish their performance, earning a roar of applause from the audience. Afterward, we watch a few more acts—Jade's, Zayn's, and a couple of others.

Then it's time for Daisy and Louis.

"Here you guys are," Laelynn whispers, appearing beside us with Jade. "We were wondering where you'd gone."

"Shh, they're starting," I say, pointing to the stage.

"I wish I had popcorn for this," Liam says, leaning forward in his seat.

Louis whistles dramatically as he and Daisy take their places. "Sandy?" he says in character.

Daisy turns around, batting her lashes flirtatiously. "Tell me about it... stud."

The track starts, and immediately they command the stage.

"Oh, I like that they added that bit," I whisper.
I bet Louis really wants to do well on a grease song.

"I bet Louis is loving this—Grease is so his thing," Laelynn replies.

"Man, we should've thought of that," Harry says. "It makes them stand out."

"As if they're not memorable enough," Liam adds, shaking his head in awe. "Just look at them."

We all watch, completely captivated, as they perform. Louis is charming and confident, and Daisy matches his energy perfectly. They move together so seamlessly, it's hard to look away.

"They might actually be better than us," Harry says quietly.

"No way!" I whisper back. "We were great."

"I think you guys were about the same," Jade chimes in.

As the song ends, the audience erupts into applause. Without a word, we all jump up and rush backstage to meet them. Liam pulls the door open, and I'm the first to run through.

"That was amazing!" I squeal, throwing my arms around both Daisy and Louis. "You guys were incredible!"

"Thanks," Louis says, laughing as I let go.

"If you two get eliminated, the rest of us might as well pack up and go home," Harry says.

"Oh, I don't know about that," Daisy says modestly, blushing a little.

"Pfft. Now is not the time to be humble," Laelynn says, pulling her into a hug.

"You guys want to grab a snack and watch a few more performances before we have to be back on stage?" Jade asks, holding the exit door open.

"Yeah, let's go," Louis says, leading the way.

As we follow, I can't help but feel a surge of excitement. Watching everyone perform today has been incredible, and I know this is only the beginning.