Brown Eyed Girl

Chapter 9

HARRY'S POV

It's time. I'm auditioning today for the X Factor. Oh, man, I wish Claire was here. She believes in me so much. She calms my nerves. Maybe I'll call her before the audition. I just need to hear her voice. Okay, screw the time difference. I need to talk to her.

Ring. Ring. Ring.

"What do you want, Harry."

"Well, good morning to you too!"

"It's 4 in the freaking morning, Haz. I'm not too happy right now."

"I'm sorry. I'm just really nervous right now."

"Oh, crap! I totally forgot about your auditions! Are you close to being up yet?"

"No, I still have at lease an hour. I'm just starting to doubt myself, ya know?"

"Hey, don't worry. You'll be amazing. Trust me. I'm not just saying this because we're best friends. Actually, if this makes you feel better, if you sucked, I would just flat out tell you. 'Cause I'm just that type of person. You're brilliant, Harry. Honestly."

"Thanks, Claire. You honestly have no idea just how much that means. I just really wanted hear your voice. I don't know how you do it, but every time I talk to you, I just calm down. Thanks."

"That's what best friends are for, silly! I'll always be just a phone call away. As you witnessed this morning. Just, next time, maybe wait a few hours? So I can sleep a little longer?"

"Fine, fine. I'll call you in a little bit, yeah?"

"As soon as you finish your audition. Oh, and tell Anne and Gemma I say hi!"

"Alright, will do. Thanks, Claire. You're the best."

"I know! And don't you forget it! Alright, I'm going to get a few more hours of sleep, maybe. Call me as soon as you're finished! I want to be the first person you tell, besides your family, of course."

"Alright. Talk to you later, yeah? Bye."

"Bye, Haz." After I got off the phone with Claire, I just felt so calm, at least as calm as I could be, considering I was less than an hour away from singing to thousands of people.

"Who was that, Harry?"

"Oh, I just called Claire, Mum. I was a bit nervous, and she always manages to calm me down. She says hi, by the way."

"Oh, how sweet! Claire is just the nicest girl ever. You're going to marry that girl, I just know it."

"Mum! Don't say that out loud! Someone could hear you!"

"Oh, don't act so embarrassed. You know you love her!"

"Okay, fine! I love her! But that doesn't mean you can just go around shouting it out for everyone to hear!"

"Fine, fine. All I really wanted was for you to admit your true feelings."

"I swear, you'll be the death of me, if Claire isn't." Mum just smiled in response. This day was already off to a rough start, and it was only 10 A.M. Great. At least I'll get to talk to Claire bunches. She'll make me feel better.

***

"Harry, they're ready for you on stage." Well, here we go. Off to discover my future. I walked onto the stage, and saw Simon, Nicole, and Louis staring back at me.

"Hello." Here goes nothing.

***

CLAIRE'S POV

Ring. Ring. Ring.

"Hello?"

"Claire?" Oh, it's Harry! I wonder if he made it. Who am I kidding, of course he made it.

"Harry? How did it go? Tell me now! I have to know!"

"Claire, I, I..." Uh oh. I don't like where this is going.

"Harry? You what?"

"I'm afraid it wasn't good news." WHAT.

"What? Are you joking? Harry, this isn't funny. Please, just tell me?"

"I, I MADE IT." .......

"YOU BASTARD. UGH. I HATE YOU. I THOUGHT YOU DIDN'T MAKE IT. HOW COULD YOU TRICK ME LIKE THAT."

"Claire, calm down! Breathe, in, out, in, out. Better?"

"Better? Better?! I was almost in tears! How can I be calm?! Ugh."

"I'm sorry, I didn't think you would react this way. Forgive me?" Ugh, I can see those puppy dog eyes now. Well, fine.

"Okay, whatever. Just don't do that to me ever again! I thought my heart stopped for a second."

"I'm sorry, babe. It won't happen again. But guess what?" Harry, I would respond, but it seems I've lost the ability to breathe. Thank you for leaving me speechless by calling me 'babe'. GAH. My feels right now, they're on overdrive.

"Wh-what?" I could practically feel the smirk on his face.

"I sang 'Isn't She Lovely'."

"Oh, I love that song!"

"I know."

"Harry, I'm so proud of you. Like, you seriously have no idea."

"Well, I'm glad. Also, be prepared for another call like soon. Bootcamp starts soon."

Oh, yeah. Bootcamp. I almost forgot there was another round or two before live shows. Oops.

"You'll do fantastic, I just know it."

"I'm just so scared, Claire. Only 24 make it to Judges Houses. What if I don't?"

"You can't think that way, Haz. You need to believe in yourself, or no one will believe in you."

"Do you believe in me?"

"Of course, Harry. I always have."

"Thanks, Claire. Hey, I have to go. Skype later?"

"Yeah, usual time?"

"Of course! See ya then, Claire Bear."

"Bye, Harry."

Oh, this boy is going to be the death of me, I just know it.