The X Factor

Chapter 2-Bootcamp

Harry was really excited to be back at the X-factor. First of all, this was his chance. He dreamed about being an artist. Second of all, he would see Louis again.

He had been home in Holmes Chapel for a month and he had spent most of that time texting and talking to Louis on the phone. They got along so well and they never ran out of topics to discuss. Even if he had only met him once he already considered him a good friend. Louis was so funny and sweet and he just adored everything about him. It would be great to have a friend at Bootcamp. He was a little bit nervous to be away from his family but with Louis by his side, he was sure that he would be fine.

They had decided to meet up outside the Wembley Arena and Louis came running to him and gave him a bone-crushing hug. He was as gorgeous as Harry remembered, maybe even more gorgeous.
"Hi, curly!"

"Hi, Lou!" Harry said with a shy smile.

"Come on! Let's get inside."

They walked together to registration and were both really happy that they were put in the same category. They got thrown into it right away. Everybody in the boy category was supposed to perform Man in the mirror. Harry and Louis found a quiet place and practiced the song together. Harry smiled the whole time Louis was singing.
"What?" Louis questioned with sparkling eyes.

"I love your voice. It's beautiful Louis. Really special." Harry answered shyly.

"Naaw, thanks mate but you're the star Curly. Your voice is spectacular." Louis beamed and ruffled Harry's hair.

"So is yours."

They both did a shaky performance but somehow they both made it through. Harry was so relieved. They spent the rest of the day together and went to bed early so they would be well-rested the next day.

They had been put in a room together with other contestants. It was filled with bunk beds and one single bed that Harry had claimed. There was no way he was sleeping on the top bed. He could fall down! Besides, he had a bad back as well which was the argument he withheld while discussing the sleeping arrangements with the other boys in the room. They gave him the bed and he was pleased to have a normal bed all to himself. Except when it was time to go to bed Louis climbed into his bed with him.
"Do you mind sharing?" Louis asked.

Harry shook his head with a smile. He didn't mind at all. They lay there with their heads close together, whispering secrets until they fell asleep.

The next morning was the moment in the competition that Harry had dreaded the most. They were given dance lessons by Brian Friedman. Harry couldn't dance! He had two left feet. He could feel his spirit get crushed trying. Louis seemed to notice because he started to dance silly to make him smile and it worked like a charm. Soon he was laughing and didn't feel stressed out. He was a singer. This was just a thing he had to get through.

He wasn't the only one struggling. A boy named Zayn refused to dance altogether until Simon went to get him. Harry would have died from embarrassment if Simon Cowell had to force him to dance. He was scary!

Both he and Louis managed to get through the dance routine without breaking a leg. Louis wasn't a good dancer either and Harry was glad that he had an ally. He was glad that he had Louis period. There were a lot of nervous boys in the group like the Irish blonde guy Niall and that Liam kid who seemed to take it the most seriously. Harry had heard that this was the second time he auditioned. He guessed that Liam felt like he had a lot to prove.

Louis hugged him when they came off stage.
"You did great!"

"Yeah, right. I'll never be a dancer but at least I survived." Harry snorted.

"Don't put yourself down like that. You don't have to be a good dancer to dance as long as you enjoy it. I mean, have you seen this move?" Louis said and started to show off his 'stop the traffic let the people through' move. Harry burst out laughing and clutched his stomach. Louis grinned at him and threw an arm around his shoulders.

They went to eat dinner and sat down opposite that blonde guy Niall. He was nice. After dinner, the crew had put out forty different song selections for them to choose between. Harry had a hard time picking one but he finally settled for Stop crying your heart out by Oasis with a little encouragement from Louis. He returned the favor and encouraged Louis to pick Make you feel my love, telling him that it originally was a Bob Dylan song. They started to practice immediately and continued into the late hours of the night until they finally fell asleep together in Harry's bed, exhausted.

Harry thought that it went pretty well the next day. Sure, he was nervous as usual but he at least made it through the song without any mistakes. Louis gave him a high five before it was his turn to get on stage. Harry was nervous for his sake but he didn't have to worry. He did good, sounding like an angel.

Finally, they were all called back on stage to get the verdict. If Harry had been nervous before it was nothing like he felt right now. He might puke, or faint. Thank God Louis was next to him. They watched as name after name was called and every time it wasn't theirs Harry's heart dropped. When the last name was called and neither he nor Louis had gone through he burst out crying from disappointment. He hadn't been good enough. He wasn't the only one crying so he at least didn't have to worry about making a fool out of himself on tv.

Then Louis was there with his arms around him, trying to comfort him and that only made him cry harder. Not getting through also meant that he wouldn't see Louis and that made him so sad. They got along so well. Louis was his best friend. He had never had such an instant connection with anyone before.

Louis was also sad. Tears were glistening in his eyes but he tried to hold it together. They walked off stage and Louis had his arm around Harry's shoulders. They didn't say much. Suddenly someone in the staff stopped them. They called out Harry's and Louis' names and also Niall, Zayn, and Liam. What was going on?

They were called back on stage. There were four girls there as well. Harry listens to Simon with wide eyes when he informed them that they were too good to let go. They didn't make it as individuals but they had decided to put them in a group together. Harry stared at the other boys in shock and then his eyes met Louis'. They both started to smile happily and Louis jumped into Harry's arms and he lifted him up and hugged him.

They got five minutes to decide if they would take the offer. It was a no-brainer for Harry. Getting a second chance and being put in a group with Louis? It couldn't get any better than that. Liam was the one who needed to think it through but he soon agreed. This was their big break!