The X Factor

Chapter 3-Judges houses

Harry couldn't believe it. He was traveling to Marbella in Spain without his parents. Everything was new and exciting. He and the boys had been texting back and forth to try and come up with a name for their group and he had suggested One Direction. They had all liked it. It would sound cool when the x-factor announcer would say it.

So now they had a name and they were in freaking Spain together. They had all decided to sing Torn to try and impress Simon and the guest judge Sinitta.

Simon had told them that they had to work hard to make this happen. Harry was glad that the four other boys wanted this as much as he did because they all took it seriously. They practiced every chance they got.

They were also five teenage boys away from their parents for the first time which meant they were living the life. Louis was the prankster among them and Harry just followed his lead. Louis had blossomed. He had been shy at first but they all were. They didn't know each other, except for him and Louis. Once again Harry was so happy to have Louis by his side. Everything was better as long as Louis was there. He really liked him.

"Oh, come on Liam! We need a break. We're in freaking Spain! Stop being such a grandpa. Live while you're young!" Louis argued, trying to convince Liam that they should go to the beach.

"We need to practice! We're singing in front of the judges this afternoon." Liam protested.

"We have been practicing nonstop. We need this Liam. I can sing while I swim if that makes you happy. We won't be gone for long. Guys?" Louis said and looked around at the others. His eyes stopped at Harry.

"I'm with Louis on this!" Harry immediately agreed and was rewarded with a smile from Louis which turned his cheeks pink.

Liam rolled his eyes.
"Of course you are."

"What's that supposed to mean? Get off his back!" Louis immediately answered when he saw how unhappy that comment made Harry.

Liam and Louis stared at each other.
"Guys? I wouldn't mind going to the beach." Niall chipped in.

Liam sighed and looked at Zayn.
"Yeah, I'm sorry Liam. We need a break. The beach sounds like fun." Zayn said apologetically.

"Fine! One hour! Then we need to practice again." Liam caved in and couldn't help but smile when Harry gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

He stopped smiling when he saw that Louis wasn't amused at all by Harry's display of affection towards him. He chuckled on the inside instead. Those two.

Louis' mood changed back as soon as Harry turned his attention to him again.
"Come on Lou! Let's get our swim trunks!"

Fifteen minutes later they were down at the beach. Louis took Harry's hand in his and they ran into the water until they fell. Harry came up to the surface with a grin. Louis winked at him before he turned around to look for Liam.
"Liiiiam! I'm aaaaalreadyyy tooooorn!" He wailed and Harry burst out laughing and pushed him under the water briefly.

They started to splash water on each other, laughing out loud, while the rest of the boys joined them.
"This was a great idea, Louis!" Niall said.

"I know!" Louis bashed with a grin and winked at Liam who shook his head in amusement.

Harry started to chase him and Louis squealed.
"Haz!"

He took a step to the side and his face scrunched in pain.
"Lou? What happened?" Harry immediately asked, eyeing his favorite boy in concern.

"I stepped on something." Louis grunted and laid on his back floating so he could look at his own foot. His eyes widened in surprise when he saw the blood.
"Shit!"

Harry reacted immediately. He swooped Louis off his feet and carried him bridal style to the shore. He called out for some crew members before he gently put Louis down in the sand. A medical team came to examine Louis' foot and Harry stayed by his side, holding his hand. The rest of the boys stood a bit back.
"You must have stepped on a sea urchin. We need to get you to a hospital." One of the men who examined him said.

"What? I don't have time for that. Can't it wait?" Louis protested weakly and the man shook his head.

Louis looked at Harry with pleading eyes.
"It's okay Lou. Go to the hospital and get that treated. You'll be back in no time." Harry said softly and stroked Louis' hair from his eyes.

Louis sighed and nodded his head. Harry wanted nothing else than to go to the hospital with him but one member missing from their group was bad enough. He watched Louis leave before he turned to the boys.
"Let's get back."

He was worried sick while they rehearsed their song for the rest of the day. It didn't sound right without Louis. The song didn't work without him. They couldn't do this without him but they might have to. Hour after hour passed and there was still no sign of the blue-eyed boy. Harry was getting frantic. The boys tried to calm him down but it felt like he couldn't breathe properly when Louis wasn't there.

The film crew took him to the side for an interview. They wanted him to talk about what had happened. He wasn't in the mood but he knew that was a part of it all so he sat down and stared into the camera.
"The clock is ticking and it's getting closer and closer to our performance, so we're really just waiting around, hoping that he turns up."

It was almost their turn to perform in front of the judges. Harry was a mess. He was always nervous to sing but Louis had always been there supporting him. He hadn't realized how much he had relied on Louis for support.

A staff member came up to them to inform them that Louis was on his way and would arrive shortly. Harry flew up from his seat and ran outside. The rest of the boys followed him but he hardly noticed. When he opened the front door Louis was getting out of a car and Harry ran up to him and hugged him hard.
"I'm okay." Louis mumbled against his neck.

The rest of the boys came to hug it out too and they carried Louis inside. The performance went well even if they were really nervous. Now they just had to wait for the verdict. They were asked to come back and Harry listened to Simons' words.
"My head is saying this is a risk, and my heart is saying you deserve a shot, and that's why it's been difficult. Guys, I've made a decision. I've gone with my heart. You're through."

Harry couldn't believe it. They made it through? He immediately hugged his bandmates before he ran over to give Simon a hug as well.

Later that night he and Louis were in the same bed, as usual, having a whispering conversation.
"Everything will change now, Hazza. I can't believe it. Promise me we'll be the same, you and I?"

"Of course, Lou. It will always be you and I. Nothing will come between us." Harry promised.

Louis let out a breath of relief and nuzzled closer. Harry's heart was beating fast. What exactly were they? Friends for sure but it also felt like more?