Budget Cuts, Huh?

Chapter One

"We've decided to put you both through as groups, see you at boot camp"

Louis couldn't believe it, well... actually he could. But still Louis, a kid from Manchester, who's claim to fame was playing Riff in the school production of West Side Story, had gotten through to basically the most important round in the entire TV show. This was a make or break moment. The first step on Louis' path to his god given right, stardom.

There was one catch though, he wasn't completing alone.

Louis, much to his frustration, was dumped together with four random idiots from around the country.

Here's what he had to work with -

There was that bleach blonde haired Irish guy who got in purely because he's hot and has yet to show any actual musical talent. The scarf boy, who looked like Spoodle during his rendition of Isn't She Lovely, admittedly an attractive Spoodle but never the less, still a Spoodle. Next there was Liam Payne, the only one apart from him he knew had talent, even if he genuinely looked like he was holding a basketball in his mouth when he sung. And finally, that lazy, bad boy wanker, who was dragged in to his audition by his mum, apparently he 'slept in', it was like he didn't even want to be here?  Louis. Was. Screwed.

It's not like Louis hated them or anything, he wasn't the type of guy to jump to an opinion like that so quickly. He was sure they were decent lads. It's just ... he needed to win. And he was seriously doubting his chances been paired with this lot.

But there was one more problem on top of his band mates. Due to recent budget cuts and last years 'incident' the usual luxury get away location for boot camp had been cut. Instead, Louis and thirty other lucky contestants are being sent to the campus of Oasis Christian camp.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Is this seat taken?" Louis asked what he recognised to be one of his new band mates as he walked through the isle of the bus. He thinks his name was Zayn?

"Piss off" Zayn said, lifting what was very clearly a copy of Twilight to cover his face, obviously intent on ignoring any further questions. A bit harsh, but who was Louis to interrupt a man's Edward time? Still kinda hostile though? It's not like Louis was asking for his first born child, it was just a bus seat.

"... Alright I guess" Louis said, sauntering off down the bus and away from his snappy band mate.

Maybe he'll try sitting with another one of the guys, the Irish lad seemed nice enough.

Louis searches the bus, eyes surveying his fellow contestants until he spots a blond head 3 rows down and makes a b line towards it.

"Can I sit here? The bus it pretty packed and I think this is the only seat left"

"Depends, got any snacks?" Niall asked eyeing off Louis' bag like a fucking feral animal

"Uh...I think my mum packed crisps?" Louis mumbles nervously

"Well sit your fine ass down blood brother, I think we'll get along just fine." Niall replied slapping the seat next to him with a little too much force to be considered friendly

"Blood bro- you know what? Never mind." Louis sat down before he gave himself the chance to reconsider. This was his band mate, however much he resembled a rabid animal.

"Well are you gonna pass 'em over or what mate?"

"P-pass what?" Louis responded. Was this some slang he didn't know? Was Niall asking him to do drugs? Louis would never do that! He's never even had a drink. How was he supposed get famous if he wasn't in peak physical and mental health all day everyday? Being a star is hard work. Louis would know.

"The crisps mate." Niall responded flashing a smirk and reaching for his bag in question

"Oh sure, go ahead." Louis threw the bag over to Niall, relieved, and began getting comfortable in his seat and nodding off without realising, the dull hum off the bus combined with his exhaustion from the past few days of competition knocking him out in minutes.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Louis wakes groggily to Niall tapping him on the shoulder

"Niall mate, me mum didn't pack me anymore snacks." Louis groaned, still half asleep.

Niall looks at him for a moment before replying.

"Don't Stress. That Harry guy gave me half his marmite sandwich, even let me eat the crusts of his"

"Why did you wake me up then?" Louis' head drifted to look out the window, seeing nothing but rolling countryside. The camp really is middle of nowhere huh?

"5 minutes until we start the best 2 weeks of our lives." Niall half yelled tossing Louis' empty crisp packet into his backpack.

"Have you spoken to any of the other lads yet?" Louis asked "I've only really met you and that Zayn guy"

"Oh of course, I've added all of you on Facebook! You should see Liam's profile picture, it's a picture of him and his Nan, real cute." Niall then turns his head to face the front of the bus, shouting.

"Oi Liam, come meet Louis!"

Liam wrestles his way down the aisle towards Niall, from his seat at the front of the bus. Momentarily forgetting that this was in fact a moving vehicle and being thrown onto Zayn's lap as the bus takes a sharp turn, knocking Zayn's very sophisticated literature out of his hands.  To everyone's shock, Zayn doesn't sock him in the jaw right then and there, on the contrary, his face turns a deep shade of red and he, for some unknown reason, apologises.

"I... A-aa...  Sorry" Zayn stutters out before turning his head to the window in embarrassment. Liam resting on Zayn's lap a moment too long before jumping up and onto the seat opposite Niall.

Louis and Niall, of course, burst into tears laughing. That's sure one way to break the ice with your new band mate. However, Zayn's death glare quickly shut them up.

Still flustered from his recent fall, Liam presents his hand to Louis "Hey mate, don't think we've met, names Liam." Shaking his hand,

"Ah I think I remember watching you a couple of seasons ago. Second times a charm, eh?"

In the midst of all that the bus door opens and the one and only Simon Cowell pokes head through to look towards his newly assembled boy band. Announcing that they've arrived, a smug look on his face.

This might just end up being the most eventful two weeks of Louis' life.