Chapter 1:
The buzz of excitement filtered around me and I could feel the warm bodies pressed against my rapidly heating skin. The absolute thrill of being in this position right now had overcome me and I transformed into a blubbering excited teenage girl. Twisting my head around, I tried to find my slightly taller best friend, Harry Styles.
Simultaneously, like twins, he had turned around to meet my eyes. I smiled at him and took his hand, to ensure that we wouldn’t be lost in the sea of hopeful X-Factor applicants.
Since the very first season of the X-Factor back in 2004 when we were simply 10 years old, we had promised to audition together. In true childhood style, we made a spit promise out of it, laughing about it joyously. We would, of course, audition as individuals as we were as different as we could possibly be, but we would audition together nonetheless.
And now, six years later, the time had finally come.
Despite the many hours of waiting, my patience had not worn out. With the help of Harry and both of our loving and supportive families, we were able to make it through the many hours. Now, we were finally entering the building and finishing off the last of the minute details before auditioning.
Harry was to perform before me and I was to go directly after. Five minutes before our respective auditions, we were seated in the slightly hard plastic chairs, holding each others’ hands. Our families had gone to the waiting zone.
It wasn’t the first time we had auditioned as we’d had to perform for the producers of the show. That either meant we were really good, really bad or just downright bizarre. However, the thought of performing in front of the judges both petrified me and excited me.
“So this is it, huh?” Harry rhetorically asked, his voice shaking slightly and betraying him to the nerves that I knew he must’ve felt. A career as a singer was the basis of both of our dreams. I rubbed his hands with my thumbs and smiled at him reassuringly. I had no doubt in my mind that he would continue through to the next round and wow both the judges and live audience.
His piercing blue eyes probed mine and he wordlessly managed to calm my bubbling nerves. He always had the ability to comfort me, even without words. We were good for each other; we helped each other through everything. Exactly as best friends are supposed to.
All too soon, his voice was called out and I instantly felt the chill as his warm hands left mine. Jumping up, we hugged quickly and wished each other luck and with that he left. I sat down again and waited, my stomach in knots, both for me and Harry.
Harry had the slight advantage. Exceptionally good looking with a curly mop of mousse brown hair and beautifully haunting blue eyes, he was easily able to woo the ladies. I must admit that I had been attracted to him once before, but now he was simply my best friend, no sexual attraction existed.
His voice was like rough velvet. Kind of oxymoronic in a way, however it exemplified manliness without being too harsh on the ears. I loved listening to him to sing. On the nights that we spent together, just hanging out and talking, he would never hesitate to break out in song. When he witnessed me fluttering my eyes closed, he would gently sing me to sleep. Singing was definitely an amazing talent of his.
By the time he walked onto the stage, I had been moved to the side to await my chance to audition. I had a perfect view of Harry and I watched him intensely, unknowingly smiling my heart out.
Even at the mention of his name, the crowd went wild and I knew that his good looks were going to be one of his secret weapons.
“So tell me a bit about you,” Simon asked, leaning back in his chair. I peeked out into the crowd and was slightly surprised to see the number of audience members. My stomach fluttered again, but I refocused my attention back onto Harry.
