I was about to crack.
I'd been in this line for more than six hours, drank one too many red bulls and had Coldplay's new album on repeat for way too long. My best friend, Harry Styles and I had been waiting for so long, I wasn't sure if we would still be alive by the end of the day.
"Grace, I think I'm about to go insane," Harry informed. He'd proceeded to pull his beanie over his face and groan loudly.
I laughed lightly and pat him on the back, "You and me both."
I glanced down at the large XFactor audition sticker stuck to my shirt. Harry had one on as well and this was the main reason we were border line crazy. We'd planned to audition for XFactor ever since we were in primary, that's how long we'd been friends for, 8 years and counting. We met in music class back in grade 2 on a rainy day. Mr Nichols must've not bothered because I remember him leaving us in the music room to toy with the instruments. This was when I met Harry; he was strumming an out-of-tune guitar and singing quite obnoxiously. I asked him if he knew how to play and he lied and said he did. Obviously I found out later on he was a completely rubbish guitar player and liar. He'd spent the next few years of primary proving to me he wasn't that bad of a singer and I eventually accepted the fact that we was pretty good.
Ever since then, we'd been inseparable. Throughout high school we were the best friends that everyone saw together. We were occasionally mistaken as a couple here and there but we'd awkwardly laugh it off. Secretly though, I did have a little crush on Harry. He was the only guy in my life that I cared so much for apart from my own brother and dad. He treated me like a princess but also sometimes like one of the boys. Our friendship was wonderful; I didn't want to ruin that.
"Harry Styles?" One of the managers yelled in a mic that echoed in the large auditorium. Harry turned to me and sighed longingly.
"I guess this is it," he said. His voice trembled slightly and I knew he was nervous. I stood up with him and wrapped my arms around his neck as I felt his wrap around my waist.
"Whatever happens, we'll always remain friends, right?" I pulled out my necklace from under my shirt. It had a small silver heart with a lock hanging off it. Harry smiled and did the same but instead, his was a key.
"We'll be friends 'till the day we die." I laughed and gave him another quick hug before he disappeared in the sea of people in front of me.
It felt like an eternity until Harry returned. My heart raced for him, hoping he'd get through, hoping the judges would see his amazing talent. I heard muffled cheers from the other room, I hoped they were good.
When the doors finally opened again, I saw Harry...and he was smiling.
Harry raced over towards me and before I knew it, I was off my feet and engulfed in a giant bear hug. I could hear him say, "I made it!" Over and over again in my ear. I was so happy for him, the pure joy that spread across his face was true and I was so proud.
It wasn't long until they called my name too. Harry squeezed my hand and reminded me it was going to be okay. He'd told me how much fun it was going to be with us two both competing in XFactor but I had to do one thing first, actually get through.
My heart was racing again. The guy carrying a clipboard and sporting a headset led me through the stage doors and before I knew it, I was standing in front of thousands of people and three judges, Louis, Nicole and Simon.
"Hi sweety," greeted Nicole kindly. I waved and said hi in response.
"What's your name, how old are you and what will you be singing?" Simon said almost immediately. It caught me off guard at how quick this was all happening.
"I'm Grace Hart, I'm 16 and I'll be singing Wonderwall by Oasis." I tried my best to sound confident but I could feel my palms starting to sweat and the nerves starting to sink in.
Simon signalled for me to go and I did what Harry and I both agreed upon, to sing acapella with no backing track. That way the judges would hear our true voices that weren't masked by the synths and guitar riffs.
I saw Louis' hand rise after I'd finished a verse and stopped. The crowd clapped and cheered, I heard a few wolf whistles here and there and I couldn't help but smile.
"Your voice is phenomenal, it's like hearing an angel sing," Nicole praised. I was smiling from ear to ear at that point; I couldn't believe she actually enjoyed it!
That was when the happiness ended.
"Grace, how old are you again?" Simon asked, intrigued.
"Sixteen." I replied without another beat.
"Your voice is wonderful, darling but I can't help but think if you came back in a few more years it would be phenomenal." His words weren't necessarily bad but I could tell what was coming and I felt the world around me start to crash.
"I say no. You're great, but you could be better," exclaimed Louis. That struck me. I pulled back my tears and bit on my lower lip to prevent from breaking down. I just smiled politely and nodded. What else could I do?
"It's a yes from me, Grace. I think you're ready and these boys don't know what they're talking about!" Nicole chimed. I laughed and thanked her. The crowd cheered again.
We all turned to Simon. Thoughts in my mind went at a thousand miles a second. Thoughts of what would happen if I got through and how Harry and I would be. Thoughts of what would happen if I didn't, and how I worked myself up for this moment. I waited for the words that would decide my fate.
"Babe, listen." I was listening. "You're brilliant, but you're still so young. I think if you come back in two years, you'll have an even greater shot. So for now, I'm saying no."
That was it. It was a no.
It took all my will power not to cry. The crowd booed but all I could do was smile and thank them for the opportunity. As I left the stage, I couldn't hold in my tears anymore and just let them fall. The man who'd escorted me reminded me everything was going to be okay, but something told me he'd probably said that to every reject that day.
As the doors opened, there was only one face I wanted to see and one face that would break my heart.
I saw his hair before I actually saw him, his curly locks bopping in the midst of hopefuls. I ran over and tapped him on the shoulder. He saw my tears before he saw me and like any good best friend, he already knew.
"It's going to be alright, Grace." No matter how many times I'd been told that today, it only really helped when it came from Harry's mouth. He comforted me like no other.
"You got in and I didn't. This wasn't the plan," I laughed hysterically in his shirt as he held me tight. I could feel my mascara staining it but we both didn't care at that point.
I then told him everything that happened, how they liked my voice but felt I wasn't ready and how Simon told me to come back in two years.
"And that's exactly what you're going to do," Harry exclaimed. I raised an eyebrow at him, confused.
He rolled his eyes and looked right into mine, wiping away a loose tear. "In two years, you're going to come back and you're going to knock their socks off. You're going to show them what they missed out on two years before, you got that?" And I did. I got exactly what he said, and that was all I needed.
"But for now, promise me you'll be my number one fan throughout this whole XFactor thing, alright?" Harry lifted his pinkie up.
"If you promise not to get all big-headed from the fame and the girls you're going to get," I joked but secretly, I was a tad serious.
"That'll never happen, Hart."
I hooked my pinkie into his and honestly believed he'd never change.
A/N: HELLO! For those who were readers of my other stories, you're probably like, "Oh my God, SHE'S ALIVE!" Haha. I've been MIA for a while, just living life, being normal. I really wanted to write a fanfic for One Direction though because I've been really into them lately. Just to be clear, this will be mainly HarryxOC but I might change it up a bit as the stories goes, maybe. I'm not sure if I'll continue my other stories but I'll keep them up if any of you are interested. Thanks again :)
