Little Louder Now (Harry Styles/One direction fanfic)

Chapter 27: Pens and dotted lines

Is anyone reading this crap? lol  sorry its short.  filler, doncha know...

Chapter 27:  Pens and dotted lines

*Niall's POV*

"We're in Simon Cowell's office," Charlie whispered nervously in my ear.  She had a mixture of awe and sheer terror plastered on her face.

"Don't worry, love.  Uncle Si just puts on an act for X Factor.   He's really just a big pussy cat.  You'll see," I assured her.

Liam was giving Holls a similar pep talk.  She was obviously freaking out.  Simon's office is intimidating.  It is large, modern with lots of windows letting in tons of natural light, filled with white leather sofas and glass coffee tables with artsy books covering them.  It had been unsettling to me too when I first entered it, but then I got to know the man who owned it.  Uncle Si, as he insisted we call him, put us at ease and made his office our second home.  I had no worries that he would do the same for Little Louder Now.

Zayn was busy texting Perrie, trying to see if she could visit him some time on the tour.  Scheduling conflicts made it next to imposible for them to see each other over anything but skype and we all knew that was not the same as seeing someone in person.

The texting obviously wasn't going very well because suddenly Zayn's Iphone was flying through the floor, bouncing off of one of Simon's flawless white walls.

"Wanna talk?" I mumbled.

"She thinks that my job is less important than hers and that I should just drop everything to get on a plane and see her.  Not to mention she's pissed as fuck that Little Mix didn't get to go on tour with us.  She has this thing out for Little Louder Now saying they're shite, don't deserve the tour with us, are complete nobodies, ugly, and I should get them fired," he yelled.

"But they're our girlfriends AND our friends," I reasoned.

"You don't think I TOLD her that?  She doesn't give a fuck.  She's being selfish and jealous.  I told her that LLN make the rest of you happy and they are just my friends, but she just won't hear it," he said putting his head in his hands.

"I just don't know how much longer I can take this stress, you know mate?" he said with exhaustion in his voice.

I had no idea what to really say to him so I patted him on the back. 

Charlie came up to him and gave him a meaningful hug.  "We'll help you through this Zayn.  If it's meant to be, it'll work out," she said softly.

"Thanks, love.  That's sweet of you to say," Zayn responded.  "But I don't even know if I wanna see her now."

"Cool down.  Things will seem different in a little while," she reassured him.

"Now buck up.  We got shit to do," I said in a mock gruff tone... and then I looked over at what the others were up to.

Louis, Ollie, and Harry were sitting on a sofa.  Harry had his arm lazily slouched around Ollie's shoulder and Lou was talking of all things about the pro's and con's of handlebar mustaches.  I think he was trying to distract Ol from the upcoming meeting.

""Tell me you wouldn't do me if I had a wicked handlebar stash?" Louis said, fingering his upper lip.

"I REALLY don't think that look would suit you , Louis," Simon said entering his office and taking a seat at his massive glass desk.

I could hear all the girls take a collective gasp at seeing Simon.

"Well, I'll just have to prove you wrong," Lou said, crossing his arms.  Simon laughed heartily.

"Be my guest to try.  That is, if you can grow one." 

Simon's comment had broken the ice and everyone bust out laughing.

"I vote he's out of the band if he has a handlebar mustache," Harry said raising his hand.

"I can't BELIEVE you Hazza.  I thought you had my back," Lou sulked.

"Harry's right.  You'd look like an idiot," Liam cackled.

"Zayn has a better shot at a mustache but he'd look like a twat," Simon continued.

"Hey!  Not cool, Si!" Zayn said mildly offended.

"Okay, enough on facial hair and down to business.  This tour between LLN and One Direction is paramount.  To get things on the road, so to speak, Ollie, Holland, and Charlotte must all sign contracts stating that they agree to the rules and what is expected of them on the road."

"Wait, what?" Holland said, starting to panic.

"Don't worry babe.  It's not that bad.  If Louis can handle it, it'll be a piece of cake for you guys," Liam said reassuringly.

"And the rules are..." Ollie asked.

"You will be expected to be at all events on time.  This includes interviews, rehearsals, signings, warm-ups, and concerts.  Free time is to do whatever you want but body guards will be assigned to you most of the time for your protection.  Try to behave as best as possible.  I don't want to see any pictures of you girls half naked snorting coke off of male strippers please," Simon finished.

"But everything else is okay though, right?" Charlie joked.

Simon raised his eyebrow.  "At least you girls have a sense of humor.  These boys were scared shittless when they first met me," he chuckled.

Simon was met with a chorus of "WERE NOT!"'s.

"Just try to keep in mind that you're in the public eye now and being with One Direction, especially being romantically involved with them, will make life more than a little difficult.  Paps and fans will be everywhere monitoring and cmmenting on every little thing you do.  Keep it reletively tame, but try to have some fun at the same time," he encouraged.  "Remember, you're living the dream!"

To make things even more real, Simon passed packets of paper over to Olivia, Holland, and Charlotte to sign.  They glanced them over quickly, getting the gist of what the contracts entailed.

Each one was handed a pen.  Immediately pens were placed to dotted lines and signatures were scribbled excitedly.

"This is it girls!" Holland screamed.

"Dreams do come true," Ollie whispered, almost not believing what had just occured.

Harry leaned in and kissed her on the cheek.  "Believe it babe.  We're tour mates."

She blushed in response.

"Now that you're officially signed, I suggest 1D go and take you ladies out to celebrate.  My treat of course," Simon said handing over his black mastercard to the ever responsible Liam.  "Don't have too much fun tonight though because both of your bands have an interview discussing how your tour is back on and all your other big personal news," Simon said with a waggle of his eyebrows.

"What now?" Louis asked quizically.

"To the PUB!" I hollard.  "Let's get our drink on!"