A New Direction - A One Direction Children Fan Fiction

Zayn Malik

*Zayn Malik*

*Zayn's POV*

I have been pacing back and forth in the living room for the past hour and a half as my wife, Jessica, sat on the couch watching me. I have been worried sick about Bailey ever since she left. She left no note and she hasn't been returning my phone calls or text messages. Bailey not taking my phone calls or answering my text messages has me worried sick. As for my wife, she is completely calm about this. Yeah, she was worried sick at first. But eventually she kept telling me that she had a gut feeling that she was safe. That she was with her friends somewhere and that she'll be back eventually. Honestly, that got be even more worried. But I can't help but be worried. I'm her father after all.

"Zayn, can you please stop pacing. You're making me dizzy." My wife said in annoyance, shaking me from my thoughts.

"Sorry, I'm just worried." I said as I stopped pacing and took a seat next to her on the couch. 

"I know you are. But you have to trust me when I tell you that Bailey is safe." Jessica assured me.

"But you don't know that for sure." I told her.

"I don't, but I have a gut feeling that she is. And my gut is never wrong." She replied.

She had a point. Her gut was never wrong. Let's just hope it's not wrong on this one.

"Why don't we watch some TV to get your mind off of it?" Jessica suggested after a couple of moments of silence.

"Fine." I mumbled.

Jessica picked up the remote from the table and turned on the TV. She went to go change the channel, but the something on the show that was on caught my attention.

"WAIT!" I shouted before she could change the channel.

"What? What's going on?" Jessica said in a panicked tone.

"Oh. My. Gosh." Was all that came out of my mouth, causing Jessica to give me a confused look. But after a second she looked at the TV and her jaw dropped.

To be quite honest, I was fuming. My face was red and smoke was basically coming out of my ears. How could she go behind my back and do this?

"Hello, what's your name?" Sam Smith asked as she took her place on the X.

"My name is Bailey Malik." Bailey said.

 Simon Cowell and Ed Sheeran gave each other a look as soon as Bailey introduced herself before turning their attention back to me. Yes, she's my daughter. What do you want from me?

"And can you tell us your age and where you're from?" Ed Sheeran asked.

"I'm 17 years old and I am from London, England." Bailey said as Simon and Ed shared another look.

Why do they keep looking at each other? Obviously they know she is my daughter

"And what will you be singing for us today?" Simon Cowell asked.

"I will be singing 'Say You Won't Let Go' by James Arthur." Bailey said.

"Great. Can't wait to hear it. Start whenever you're ready." Sam said.

Bailey nodded and signaled for them to start the song. To be honest, at this point I was still fuming. But once the music started and Bailey opened up her mouth and started singing all of that anger that once filled me just seconds before had faded away.

"I met you in the dark
You lit me up
You made me feel as though
I was enough
We danced the night away
We drank too much
I held your hair back when
You were throwing up

Then you smiled over your shoulder
For a minute I was stone-cold sober
I pulled you closer to my chest
And you asked me to stay over
I said, I already told you
I think that you should get some rest"

As the song continued, tears brimmed my eyes. Not because I was upset or angry, but because I was proud. Yeah, I know that I have made it very clear that I do not like anything to do with music, especially the X Factor. And yeah, I was mad when Bailey first walked out on stage because she went behind my back and auditioned for the show. But once she opened up her mouth and started singing, I understood why she did what she did. Because she has a talent that she didn't want to go to waste. She has a talent that she wanted to share with the world.

"Bailey, that was absolutely amazing. You are very talented. You should be proud." Ed said after the crowd calmed down a bit.

"Absolutely incredible. I enjoyed every minute of it. I am sure I am going to be seeing a lot more of you i the future." Sam said with a smile.

"Truly incredible. You are very talented. I know for a fact that I am going to be seeing a lot more of you because it is a yes from me." Simon said as he began the voting process.

"It's a yes from me. Well done." Ed said smiling.

"And it's a yes from me. Congratulations." Sam said, also smiling.

"Thank you all so much." Bailey said happily as she turned to leave the stage.

But as soon as she turned toward the way she came from earlier, Simon stopped her.

"Excuse me, sorry, I just have to ask." Simon said as I turned my attention back towards him.

"What's up?" Bailey asked.

"There were four girls who auditioned earlier. Alexis Tomlinson, Brittany Styles, Katey Horan, and Julie Payne. Do you happen to have any relation to them?" He asked me as he read their names off of a piece of paper.

Why do those last names sound so familiar?

"Um. They're my best friends. Why do you ask?" Bailey asked him in confusion.

"Are they still here with you?" He asked curiously.

"Yes, they're out in the waiting room. Why?" Bailey asked, still confused to as what this had to do with anything.

"Why don't you five stick around for a bit so we could talk." Simon told me.

Bailey just nodded in confusion as I exited the stage.

At this point, Jessica turned off the TV as we sat there still very confused and shocked.

"What do you think he needed to talk to them about?" Jessica asked after a few moments of silence.

"I have no idea." I replied.

"Well, aside from Simon wanting to talk to Bailey and her friends, how do you feel about her auditioning? I know how you feel about the show." My wife asked me.

"Well, I was angry with her at first. But once she opened her mouth and started singing, all of my anger faded away. Watching Bailey perform on stage just now, I realized that she belongs on stage. I know I made it clear that I do not like anything that has to do with music and did not want to involve Bailey in any of it. But it's clear that the stage is where Bailey belongs. To be quite honest, I'm glad she went behind our backs and auditioned. She is a very talented singer and deserves to be there." I explained and my wife just smiled.

"I'm glad to hear that. I honestly thought you were going to go there and drag her out kicking and screaming. But I'm glad we get to watch our daughter every week on the show." Jessica replied with a smile.

And with that I smiled as Jessica turned the TV back on and continued watching whatever was on TV. Yeah, I don't like anything to do with music, especially the X Factor, but I am also happy that Bailey is doing something that she loves. Even though she didn't tell me that she could sing or that she wanted to audition for the X Factor, I am still very proud of her and I cannot wait to watch her progress on the show.