During The X Factor (One Direction)

Chapter 8 - Hallowe'en

Ask him about it, it’s not like he’ll bite your head off if you do!

I don’t know that for sure…

Ask anyway!

I really need to start ignoring my brain.

It’s Halloween, Sunday night, and the Belle Amie girls have just been eliminated from the competition. Since there were only two groups left before tonight, the ‘Groups’ room is fairly empty. Now Simon’s last hope lies with One Direction; the five boys that are currently hopping around the room like monkeys in a zoo.

Zayn and Liam have both collapsed onto the couch in the corner in a seemingly never-ending fit of laughter. Niall is leaning against the side of the couch, doubled over, laughing at the final two members of the band. Louis and Harry are stood in a tiny space just in front of the couch, dancing and shouting like idiots. It’s even worse than Jason’s attempt.

Good luck to Mr Cowell.

However, they are acting like this to cheer up Geneva, Rebecca, Esther and Sophia, so I suppose it’s acceptable.

Anyway, they eventually tire (surprisingly) and I creep over to the couch where Harry is now sat. I seat myself next to him, and Louis, who was sat on the other side of him, soon leaves so I’m left alone with Harry.

“Hey, Harry, I…erm, read something in the papers about you…but obviously I don’t believe that rubbish…” It’s been bugging me for a few days now. I know Harry, there’s no way these stupid rumours could be true…

“Huh? Oh…that, haha…yeah, it’s true, in a way.” He looks slightly embarrassed, but the thought of it seems to make him happier, causing his grin to grow so huge it hides his rosy cheeks.

Wait…did he just admit to it?

I feel like I’m looking at a stranger. I mean, Harry looks just the same as he always has, curly hair and adorable dimples, but he just doesn’t seem familiar. The way he talks, the way he acts…he’s not himself.

I very nearly yell “Who are you, and what have you done with my Harry?!” but he’s not even my Harry anymore; he’s theirs.

No, I can’t go all soppy and moody over this! It’s nothing. Harry’s just trying to fit in with his band mates, make them ‘gel’ better, or whatever it is Mr Walsh keeps saying every week.

Just keep telling yourself that…

“Harry! Chaz! C’mon, before they leave!” Niall shouts from the door, before running down the corridor.

“What’s he talking about?”

“You’ll see,” he answers cheekily, pulling me to my feet and dragging me down the corridor with him.

We stumble, laughing, into a long empty corridor, separated by two doors at either end. Niall is far ahead of us, yanking open a door halfway down the corridor and practically flying inside. As we run nearer to it, I hear lots of noise. I can distinctively hear exceptionally loud male voices, shouting and laughing.

It only confuses me more, and I’m reluctant to enter, but Harry forces my through the door.

Inside I find a small room, with three couches surrounding a stained coffee table, making it look a bit like a waiting area. On the couch nearest to the door I see Niall and Louis.

But there are four other people in the room, divided between the two remaining couches. A classic bit of Pudd bromance over there, and a bit of Flones action in the corner.

That’s right. I’m in the same room as McFly.

And I think I may be having a heart attack.

For a moment, I’m literally speechless but Harry introduces me to them, as if they’re old pals, and I manage to stupidly exclaim, “You’re McFly!” to which, they all laugh.

These guys have been my favourite band since they first began. I’ve never had the money to go to their concerts, or anyone to go with, so I would just stare at the television watching MTV.

But now I’m in the same frikkin room as them! (And it’s not a concert!)

Yeah, and you just made a fool of yourself in front of them.

I’m a little bit bewildered for a few seconds, but then I feel my face flush with colour and decide that it would be best if I just sat down and stopped talking. I squeezed in between Niall and the arm of the couch, as far away from the McFly boys as was physically possible.

But these guys are lovely. They refused to leave me out, and I struck up a conversation with Danny about Bolton, because that where he comes from and I have relatives living there. I’ve only been a couple of times, but I’m talking to Danny Jones, so I don’t care.

Soon, Niall and Harry distract Danny, so I turn to talk to the amazing Tom. It takes all of my strength to NOT start talking about one of his cats, Marvin, so instead I start talking about Toy Story 3.

“Oh, it was amazing! I love Toy Story…that makes me sound like a geek, but I’ll admit it!” he laughs, lifting his hands as a sign of surrender.

We talk for ages. The others have all started conversations, too. Louis is laughing and rolling around on the couch with Harry (Judd) and Dougie, and Danny, Niall and Harry (Styles) are talking about football.

Suddenly, Louis jumps up, declaring, “Guys, I have to show you something!” and he flees the room, flanked by Judd and Poynter. This is when I decide to question Tom.

“Er…Tom? Can I ask you something?”

“Yeah, ‘course.” He replies, and I lead him out of the room and out of earshot, into the now deserted corridor, the sounds of the crazy boys still lingering in the air.

I take a deep breath, “You know your friends before McFly -your best friends- do you still see them? Often?” I feel so stupid asking such and odd question, especially since I asked so pleadingly.

The question seems to surprise Tom. He takes a while to answer, scratching his chin to help him think, and I very nearly die.

“Well,” he finally says, “It’s rare that I see most of them because I’m always so busy with the guys, but I kind of realised that those guys,” he points towards the room next to us, “That they’re my best friends now.”

I feel utterly crushed.

“Right. Thanks Tom,” I say with a forced smile.

He looks at me and must be able to see through my false grin, because he places a hand on my shoulder and reassures me, “Then again, that’s just me, Fat Tom who loves Toy Story and Star Wars.”

I laugh at him, and nearly die again when I see him smiling down at me.

“Thanks, really,” I say again. He smiles sympathetically at me before walking back into the room. I look over, and see him holding the door open for me, but I shake my head and let it bang shut.

The sound echoes down the long, empty corridor, and I follow it, hoping it’s trying to escape too. 

At the door, I look back. There’s no one else here, I’m all alone. I can hear through the solid walls, the sound of Harry laughing, and it kills me. It kills me knowing that I’m not sharing this moment with him, where he’s happy, and I can see that smile of his lighting up his face.

He used to be my friend, my amazing best friend, but now he’s just that guy I once knew.