No, I wouldn't call myself a fan. I'd say I was a Directioner at first sight. Sure, I hadn't met them when they fist auditioned for X Factor but I was just as much in love with them as the next Directioner. Ok, maybe I wasn't in love with them, but they were still pretty good. However, I guess I wasn't expecting it when their manager suggested we tour together. Yeah, I wasn't expecting that.

Let's rewind back to six months ago.

I was sixteen. When I think about it, it was probably around the same time One Direction was on X Factor. Ok, let me introduce you to one of my best friends, Ashley.

"Please? Pleaaaase?" I begged Ashley until she finally let out a reluctant "Fine."

I had grinned and started packing as soon as the word escaped her lips.

My best friend and I were going to audition for American Idol.

"You nervous?" I asked her as we finally reached the building where the auditions were being held.

"Not really." she answered calmly.

"Are you?" she asked me.

"A bit." I lied. My whole body was shaking.

"You'll be fine." she said, placing a hand on my shoulder.

The rest of the day was a blur.

I remember Ashley went in and walked back out, shaking her head and grinning as if she had expected she wasn't going to make it. I remember going into the judge's room and singing Misery by Maroon 5.

The words "Congratulations, you're going to Hollywood." reached my ears and the next moment I was running out the door and jumping up and down with Ashley while tears rolled down my face.

I didn't think I'd make it past the first round. I definitely didn't think I'd get to the finals. The biggest surprise though was when I won. That part I remember. I just stood there on the stage sobbing and saying thank you about a million times.

Yes, I'm Alex Barren. I won America Idol and got a recording deal. I didn't think I'd be able to do it and I often wonder if it was all a dream. But this obviously wasn't a dream.

"Hello?" I said into my phone.

"Hey Alex!" my manager, Joy, chirped.

"Hey Joy." I said as I took a sip of the Starbucks coffee I was holding.

"You know about One Direction, right?" she asked. A few girls pointed at me and whispered as I walked by them.

"Yeah. Do they want to do an interview or something?" I asked, already wondering what I'd wear.

Joy laughed through the phone. "No. They don't want to do an interview with you. They want to go on tour with you." she said as I took another sip of my drink.

I almost spit the luke-warm espresso on the couple that walked by.

"What?" I said trying to choke back the coffee that was threatening to come back up.

"You heard me." I could practically hear her grinning through the phone.

"Oh, boy." I sighed.

"I think you mean 'Oh, boys.' '' she giggled. I rolled my eyes and tried to calm my churning stomach.

I drove back to the house that I shared with Ashley in L.A.

"Did you know you might be going on tour with One Direction?" she asked, eyes glued to her iPhone.

"How did you know about this before me?" I asked her, my mouth slightly ajar.

"There's an article about it on Sugarscape." she said, patting the seat on the couch next to her.

I plopped down on the couch. "Were you searching me again?" I asked her, raising my eyebrows.

"No. Ok, yes." she confessed.

I rolled my eyes and grinned.

"C'mon, I just want to make sure no one's talking bad about my best friend." she grinned and punched me playfully in the arm.

"Oh, please. You just want to make sure that you're the first to know if I have a crush on some actor guy." I laugh.

"Do you?" she asked, dead serious.

"No, I was just using it as an exam-" she cuts me off.

"Oh my gosh, who is it? You have to tell me." she exclaims, her smile broadening.

"I'm serious, I don't like anyone. Cross my heart." I said.

"Gosh, you're no fun." Ashley sighed and continued scrolling through her phone.

"So?" she said a few moments later.

"So, what?" I asked her.

"So, are you going on tour with One Direction." Ashley asked me, turning to face me.

"Well.." I said, contemplating.

"Well? Alex, you've been a huge fan for the last two years." she grinned.

"Plus," she said, holding her index finger up, "That means you'd be going on tour with five of the hottest guys in the world."

"You only want me to do this because you have a huge crush on Zayn." I laughed.

Ashley's already pink cheeks turned an even rosier shade.

"Well.." she murmured.

"Well, yes." I sighed. "I'd love to go on tour with them." I grin.

Her eyes flicked up to mine and we jumped up and did a little happy-jumpy dance.

"Well, don't waste another minute." she said grabbing my purse and rummaging through it till she found my phone. "Call Joy. Now." she said, smiling and holding my phone out to me.

I dialed Joy's number and on the third ring she picked up.

"Hey, Alex." her peppiness blanketed every word.

"Hey Joy." I smile. "I'd like to take you up on that offer."