Under The Limelight ⇢ Larry

Ch 2: XFactor

Chapter 2

It was the first day of bootcamp at the Xfactor. Everyone had gathered in the same theater to start learning the dance moves and to meet the other contestants. But, no time for much chit-chat they had work to do and a good competition reality show to put on.

Louis had gone to the loo for a quick wee, only to get peed upon by a curly haired boy he didn't bother to even look at since he was only in the toilet for one reason only, so he thought.

"Oops." Harry mumbled, face turning red with embarrassment.

Louis let out a couple chuckles before replying, "Hi."

"I'm really, really sorry about that." Harry said, sweat forming on his forehead underneath his brown curls.

"It's fine, really." Louis smiled. He wasn't mad, mainly because Harry just felt so bad and he was... adorable? No, never, Louis thought. I'm not gay, I have a girlfriend.

Louis was so busy thinking, he didn't even see Harry getting paper towels, probably to clean up the small mess on Louis' shirt. "I'm just really nervous, ya know. I love to sing... it's my dream and all, I just wanna do really good on the Xfactor," Harry babbled on, trying to remove the pee off of Louis' shirt.

"Hey, you're going to do just fine." Louis said truthfully. He's got the voice, charm and good looks...

"You think?"

"Yes I've heard you sing. You're amazing." Louis remarked, still remembering they were in the toilet. He didn't think Harry should be worried at all, maybe I should try building up his confidence. "Hey, could I maybe have your autograph?"

"My autograph? Sure." Harry replied confused, pulling a crumpled piece of paper out of his pocket. It already had a couple of the other contestant's numbers but Harry just ripped off a small piece and just wrote 'Harry Styles' in a scribbly print. He then handed it to Louis who admired it quickly before placing it in his pocket.

"Thanks," Louis smiled. "Hey, promise me, you'll never give up on this."

Harry nodded. "Promise."

"Bring me back a star," Louis took another glance at the autograph. "Harry."

Harry grinned widely. "I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name."

"Right, it's Louis."

~

All the contestants have been attending bootcamp weekly now, even if it was a far drive. They all knew each other fairly well by then and even conversed outside of the competition. Not many were eliminated, only the ones who the judges had no idea how they even got through.

It was only weeks until around a total of twenty-five guys were alined neatly on the Xfactor stage, praying for their name to be called.

Louis and Harry had noticed each other countless times, only they each did not want to seem to desperate to make a friend, they hadn't spoken much. Louis just knew Harry's name would be called, how could it not?

Well, by then, about ten names were called; none of them Harry nor Louis.

Then, the words were called, that no one would ever want to hear; dream-crushing words, "Alright guys, that's it. You can all go home."

Harry's heart sank, he didn't want to go home, no. He wanted to stay there forever - stay on stage forever; where he belonged.

Louis, however, tried his best to hide his emotions. He was embarrassed. Embarrassed that he didn't make it through, embarrassed that he even auditioned in the first place. His mum, Jay, was ecstatic when she saw Louis come back. She thought everyone arriving had made it, but Louis repeatedly shook his head making eye contact from across the room on his way over to her. But for some strange reason, he was upset for Harry almost as much as he was upset for himself; maybe a little more. He found himself to be thinking about the curly haired boy almost daily, but he didn't even know much about him.

Harry had been walking out with an Irish lad - he didn't even know his name, all he knew was that he was blonde, loud and popular. He was also named the next Justin Bieber, apparently. Then, the choreographer had chased after them telling they should come back. Harry mentally rolled his eyes thinking, they wanna make us cry, it's all for show, which he also told a boy named Zayn, who was also called back.

Louis jumped when he had noticed Harry walking towards the group of boys that were called back. He wanted so badly to hug him, but what if Harry didn't want the same? Unconsciously, Louis bit his nails, switching feet nervously, while looking around the room all at once. This could be good news or bad news, no in between, Louis thought. Soon enough, Harry's name was called and it seemed Louis was the first one to hear it. Louis quickly turned toward where he knew Harry stood to look at his reaction. Harry had his hands over his face and he was shaky, making his way closer to the stage. Some boy named Niall was called right before Louis was. He'd never felt so nervous in his life.

Louis only knew the first names of the four other boys who were called with him, not including Harry. There was Liam, Zayn and Niall. Four other girls had also been called out and were stood hand-in-hand on stage right while the boys were on stage left.

Nicole Sherzinger spoke into the microphone, explaining how this whole thing has been hard, and both groups were too talented to let go of. Then, she mentioned how they would be put into two separate groups, which got them confused, but Louis smiled, knowing what was coming next.

Simon then announced the greatest news, "We've decided to put you both through to judges house."

Happy shrieks echoed throughout the stage while Harry felt on cloud 9. It was only a matter of seconds before Louis leapt into the younger lad's arms as if it were a start of an entire new love story...