New Beginnings. (Jiam AU)

Prologue.

Liam Payne, aged fourteen.

Jade Thirlwall, aged fifteen.

They were both young when they met, with minds full of ambition and dreams.

They were so eager to share their passion for music, and they knew exactly where to start.

The X Factor 2008.

This was where everything started.

****

Jade's POV

I was so nervous. So. Damn. Nervous. Every single time I felt a wave of nervousness wash over me, I wanted to turn around and go home. I wanted to give up.

"Maybe I should audition again next year..." I turn to tell me mam, who was sat next to me.

She gave me a small shrug, smiling at me. "Jade, this has been your dream for as long as you can remember. Go and make me proud."

Just then, I am called up to audition. Me mam wishes me good luck and follows me backstage, where I am handed my microphone.

I nervously walk onstage, smiling widely at the judges. "All of them seem to like me," I thought. Nothing could possibly go wrong.

I closed my eyes and started to sing. Everything that I had ever done has led me up to this moment. I needed to make it through. I just had to.

"Where do broken hearts go, can they find their way home.." I sing confidently, yet nervously.

After performing a couple lines of the song, I finish and look at the judges with a small smile on my face.

"Wow," A judge whispered.

"You have a stunning voice, Jade," Louis remarked.

"I'll go with a yes." Simon spoke up, nodding in my direction.

"Yes," Louis says, looking over at Nicole.

"You have a fantastic voice, yes." Nicole says, smiling brightly at me.

"Thank you so much! This means so much." I squeal before making my way backstage, practically jumping into my mother's arms.

"You made it, baby girl." She whispers softly, her arms wrapped around me tightly.

Once I finally manage to contain my excitement, I pull away from her embrace to see a young boy, around the same age as me walk through the same door as I did.

"I'll be right back, mama," I whisper to my mother, who nods in response.

I walk up to the room that the boy walked into, opening the door just a bit.

And boy, could he sing.

****

Liam's POV

Nervous. That was an understatement of how I felt. I was a wreck. A shaky one. My hair was irritatingly messy. My voice seemed all over the place. What if the judges didn't like me? What if they absolutely hated me? I knew Simon was very straightforward.

I take a deep breath, walking into the room that would either help make my dreams come true or crush them in tiny pieces. I shyly smile at the judges, with Louis asking me all of the basic stuff. I wasn't really interesting, but I wanted to make a good impression on them.

"What will you be singing today, Liam?" Louis asks me.

"Fly Me To The Moon by Frank Sinatra," I say, then I start to sing.

"Fly me to the moon, let me play among the stars. Let me see what spring is like, on a-Jupiter and Mars." I sing confidently, snapping my fingers to give a slight beat. I give Cheryl a small wink as I continue to sing.

Once I finish, I look at the judges, crossing my fingers.

"That was amazing, Liam. Yes." Cheryl says, a grin on her face.

"Yes." Louis says.

"I'll go with a yes." Simon remarks.

"Thank you so much," I say, the widest smile on my face as I exit the room. I wrap my arms tightly around my mum, whilst my dad gives me a pat on the back.

"I made it," I say once I pull away from my parents' embrace. They both give me proud smiles, with my mum wiping a tear that fell.

I then spot a girl behind my parents, with short curly hair and a bow on her head. She approaches me with a small smile. I give her a small wave, a smile curved upon my lips.

"You were really good back there..." She says in a thick Geordie accent.

"Thanks, I thought it was rubbish, to be honest." I shrug slightly, the smile still on my lips.

"You're a liar," she says, giving me a playful nudge. "I'm Jade Thirlwall, and I got through the auditions, too," she smiles brightly at me, extending out a hand for me to shake.

"I'm Liam, Liam Payne." I take her small hand in mine, giving it a firm shake before bringing her hand up to my face, pressing my lips against her knuckles.

"What a gentleman," she gushes as I see her cheeks flush.

"I'm sure we'll be great friends here, yeah?" I give her a nod and gently let go of her hand, running my fingers through my hair. God, I needed a haircut. I looked like a girl.

She giggles softly, nodding. "I'm sure of that. I'll see you soon, Liam." With that, she turns and starts walking towards a woman, who I think was her mum.

I stand there, looking towards the direction where she left, absolutely awestruck.

This was going to be one hell of a competition.