I sit in the living room staring at the phone, waiting for the producers to call me. It’s been about two weeks and I can’t help but feel anxious. I know it’s ridiculous feeling this way since I’ve already been accepted to the next round, but I just miss the rush I got when I stood there on stage looking out at the audience and hearing them cheer for me.
The phone interrupts my thoughts and I hurry to grab it.
“Hello?”
“Harry? It’s Robert from the X Factor. I would like to inform you that Boot camp starts on Monday and you have to be at Wembley Arena at eight am.” He explains and, after a brief description of the schedule, hangs up.
After hanging up I stare at the phone until my mum’s footsteps bring me back to reality.
“Who was that?” she asks while wiping her hands on the apron tied around her waist.
“The X Factor producers. Boot camp starts Monday.” I simply state and look at my mum before I get up and hug her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The stage is huge. There must be thousands of seats in the room and if I go through these couple of rounds, I’ll be singing to all of those people. Live.
When I step on stage with the others in the boy category, we’re informed that we have to learn a dance to a random song and after an hour of practice we have to perform it in front of the judges. After instructions are said we are divided into three groups.
The group I am in is first so we take our places. The choreographer gives us ten minutes to stretch, but we take that as a chance to socialize. The boy standing to my left introduces himself as Zayn and says that he’s extremely nervous since he’s never danced before. I give him my best reassuring smile and turn away before my own nerves get the best of me. As I walk around the stage I also meet a blond haired boy who I soon recognize as the happy one who’d been playing his guitar earlier to try to ease some of our nerves. I also recall him as the Irish one Katy Perry called “cute” from what I heard the boys talking backstage. All in all he seems nice, I hope he goes far.
When the ten minutes are over, everyone takes their place once again and the music starts playing. The chosen song is ‘Telephone’ by Beyoncé and Lady Gaga. The dance moves are simple when done slowly but soon I find myself messing up. A lot. And it doesn’t help that many of the other boys look like they’ve attended a dance class or two.
I look at Zayn and notice that he’s struggling so I slow down so that he can see exactly how each move is supposed to be done. He smiles in appreciation before catching up and focusing on the teacher.
Too soon the choreographer leaves us and Louis Walsh and Simon, in addition to the choreographer, sit at the judges’ table since Cheryl and Dannii could not come today.
The music starts playing but is quickly cut off as Simon stands and grabs his mic, “Where’s Zayn?”
I snap my head to the left and sure enough there’s no one there. Where could he have gone? I’m sure if he had to use the restroom he could’ve held it until after the song. Maybe he was feeling ill?
I watch as Simon leaves the judge’s table and goes backstage, leaving everyone to look around with confused looks on their faces.
A few minutes later he comes back with his hand on someone’s back. Zayn.
“Everything is fine. Play the music.” Simon says as he takes his seat.
“Are you okay?” I turn to Zayn.
He nods and the music starts playing.
I concentrate on every move I make and not messing up as the song progresses. In the middle of the song I start enjoying the dance and I look around to see everyone having the same smile on their faces, even Zayn.
When the song ends, we are dismissed without any comments and I decide to use the restrooms.
As I’m going through the door into the restroom, I accidentally bump into someone.
“Oops” I reflexively say
“Hi”, they say. And I look up at a familiar pair of bright blue eyes.
