you make me strong

chapter two

harry

harry walked into the restroom, quickly relieved himself, and went to wash his hands. he stared at himself in the mirror before splashing cold water on his face. he was nervous, no doubt about that. he just hoped people would like him.

louis

louis walked swiftly into the restroom and straight into another body. he heard the boy whisper "oops" right as he whispered "hi". he stood back and quickly apologized, giving the other boy a once-over. "sorry, i.. i'm louis, louis tomlinson," he introduced himself. "oh, uh, harry, harry styles," the other boy told him. "your outfit really is dreadful," louis pointed out suddenly to harry. "excuse m-" harry started. "now, now, no need to fuss. here, take my cardigan, that'll make you look a bit more presentable," louis said, taking off his cardigan to give to harry.

harry

harry was quite taken aback to the other boy's confident, but slightly unsavory, remark. "oh, um, thank you, louis," he said, pulling on louis' cardigan. "how do i look now?" harry quietly asked. "just dashing, if i do say so myself," louis mused. "good luck today, harry styles, hope i'll see you on the other side," louis winked as he walked towards the exit of the restroom. "good luck to you, too, louis tomlinson.." harry started, but louis was already gone.

louis

"mr. tomlinson, the judges are ready for you," a short brunette woman wearing a headset and whom had, might he add, disgustingly long red fingernails, told louis. he turned to his mother and sisters and hugged them all before he went to retrieve his microphone. "love you all, wish me luck," he told them, walking up the stairs to the stage.

he walked out to the center of the stage and stood there, waiting for the judges to get their papers straightened out. "now, what's your name?" the simon cowell asked louis. "i'm louis tomlinson," he quickly replied. "and what are you going to sing for us today?" the louis walsh asked him. "um, i'll be singing hey there delilah by the plain white t's," he responded.

"lovely choice," the cheryl cole hummed. "let's see what you've got, kid." and with that, the music to his song began. as louis started singing, his nerves faded away and he let himself get lost in the words of the song.

"hey there delilah, i know times are getting hard, but just believe me, girl-" "stop the track," simon commanded as he held up his hand. "that was quite good, louis," he commented. louis looked at the other judges, they nodded their heads, as if in agreement with simon. "thank you," louis spoke into the microphone.

"now, let's see what the judges have to say. louis?" simon looked to his right to louis walsh. "i'm going to say... yes," he looked to simon. "great, and cheryl?" he looked to his left at her. "it's a yes from me," she said. "well," simon said, "mr. tomlinson, you've got yourself three yeses."

harry

"mum, oh my god. wha-" "harry, stop worrying, please, dear. you're going to absolutely blow those judges away!" his mother knew he would do fine. ever since they got in the car this morning, he had been stressing himself out. "mr. harry styles?" a blonde woman with short hair and sky high stilettos came up to them. "it's time for your audition, hon. come with me, please," she said, glancing at him.

"let's go, mum," he said as they started walking backstage. once they got there and someone handed him his microphone, he took a deep breath and looked at his mother. "i can do this. i'm going to go up there and make you so proud, mum," he said. they patiently waited for the audition before them to finish. once they were done, a short brunette pushed him up to the stairs leading to the stage. "up you go, son. good luck!" she whispered to him.

harry stole one last glance at his mother before he hesitantly walked up the stairs. once he reached the middle of the stage, he stopped at stared in awe at the simon cowell. "and what's your name, hmm?" simon asked him. "my name is harry styles," he responded. "tell us a bit about yourself then?" simon said. "well, i'm sixteen, and i work in a bakery," he started. "right, right.. so what will you be singing for us today?" simon asked him. "i'm gonna sing isn't she lovely by stevie wonder," he shyly said. "let's hear it, then," simon responded.

harry took a deep breath and closed his eyes. he knew once the music started he would be fine. he knew how he got lost in the music, he knew he had this. the track started. he sung. "isn't she lovely.. isn't she wonderful.. isn't she precious, less than one minute old. and i never thought through love we'd be, making one as lovely as she. but isn't she lovely, made from love," he belted out into the microphone. he heard applause erupt from the audience and saw the judges clapping.

"wow," cheryl cole breathed. "you're quite good," she looked at simon. "well, i think we all know the answer to if you're getting through or not, but let's just make sure all the judges agree. louis?" he turned his head to look at louis walsh. "definitely a yes from me, simon," he said. "great. and cheryl?" "he's got my vote, yes," she cheerfully said. "it's a yes from me, harry. you've got three yeses," simon winked.