Two years later

"And the winner is..."

Everything in me was frozen. Everything I'd worked for was for this moment and I couldn't believe I was finally standing on the XFactor stage in the final two. I held Simon's hand a little too tight from the nerves but he didn't seem to care. The arena was so silent; you could hear a pin drop. I wanted my name to be called, I wanted this so bad.

"Grace Hart!"

Confetti burst from the ceiling and I was immediately in Simon's arms. I hadn't realised it, but I was already crying. People screamed and clapped. This feeling was exhilarating and crazy. I won. I actually won!

"Grace, would you like to say anything?" I was handed a mic before I could respond but I took a deep breath and began.

"I just want to say thank you so much to everyone that voted every week for me, you're the reason I've won and am who I am today." More cheers. All I could remember was confetti and cheering.

"I also want to thank Simon, who gave me a second chance and if I'd made it the first time, things probably would've turned out differently. Thank you Simon, for being an amazing mentor, friend and just all out great guy." I gave him a warm hug and could see his genuine smile shine.

I gave up with my speech after that. I was crying too much, happiness overwhelmed me and at the moment, I felt like I was on top of the world.

As the segment closed, I sang my winner's single, a cover of my audition song, Wonderwall by Oasis. It was the same song I sang for both my auditions and it'd be the song that triggered all the memories I had.

Once I'd finished, I was joined on stage by the eliminated contestants and the other judges. I'd received so many hugs and kisses at the point I almost felt ready to just lock myself in my dressing room and dance around, happy.

"Once again, your winner of XFactor 2012, Grace Hart! She will record her album featuring her winner's single along with every other song she's sung throughout the competition. Also, as a special treat, she'll also be doing a duet with one of XFactor's own most successful performers, One Direction!"

I froze.

I'd forgotten about that perk. Recording a song with One Direction. The group he was in. The group that probably wouldn't have happened if I'd made it through the first time. I hadn't seen Harry since he'd made it through back in 2010. We'd promised to stay in contact throughout the show but slowly we started to lose interest. He gained new friends with his new group members and he just...forgot about me. I never forgot about him though. He was always in the back of my mind, reminding me that he was the one that pushed me to audition a second time. Even though we weren't as great friends as we were before, he still played a large part in how my future played out.

I missed him, a lot. I always wondered if he missed me too, or if he just forgot. Forgot about his past life before XFactor...forgot about me even.

As the last few bits of confetti and streamers fell gracefully to the floor. The cameras stopped rolling and the crowd died down. I was brought back stage and greeted by a few more members of the crew, even handed a bouquet of roses. Once I'd reached my dressing room, the greetings stopped and I was alone again for a few minutes to get changed out of the ball gown they'd put me in. I settled for a pair of black leggings and a baggy vans sweatshirt that was once my brother's. Pulling my curled brunette hair into a ponytail, I realised I looked more like I'd come out of the gym than just out of a TV Show finale, but the makeup caked on my face assumed otherwise. As I stepped out of my heels and into a pair a Toms, my necklace twisted inside my shirt and as I pulled it out to detangle it, I was reminded of him again.

The silver heart and lock necklace was given to me by Harry's mum, Anne. She said that I was the only girl she'd ever picture Harry with and the only girl that made him really smile. I was only 10 then so her words didn't mean much because I hardly understood what she meant but as I grew older, I slowly got it.

"Grace?" A soft knock interrupted my thoughts and the door opened slightly. As soon as I saw his exotic blue eyes I knew who it was.

"Jake!" I excitedly skipped over and hugged him. As we parted, he tilted my head up to him and kissed me softly.

"Congratulations babe, I can't believe it!" He kissed me again and again. I could feel his smile every time.

Jake, or as everyone called him, Blue, because of his eccentric eyes was my boyfriend of six months. I met him almost immediately after Harry went to leave for XFactor. He was in my English class and we were assigned partners for the remainder of the year. Eventually we started dating and it almost felt as if that void that Harry left was filled.

"Ready to go celebrate?" Jake ran a hand through his almost-black shaggy hair and took my hand into his. "Simon was nagging me to come get you so he could start that damn party he'd been going on about all week."

I giggled helplessly. Words couldn't explain how giddy I was, just being crowned the winner of XFactor 2012 and having people I cared so much about and who cared so much about me come together and just have a good time was incredible.

-HARRY'S POV-

"Harry?" I heard a knock at my open bedroom door and turned around just as I was fixing my lopsided bowtie.

It was Louis. He was in his best suit, the one sent to him by Gucci.

He came in and sat down on my bed that I'd neglected to make for the past two weeks now, it really didn't matter though.

"Grace won, you know."

I stopped fixing my bow tie and let my hands drop to my sides.

She won. My best friend won.

Although I probably should stop calling her my best friend, after all, I was the one who just gave up. Gave up calling, texting...gave up with our friendship. I know I promised to always be friends but it was so hard, there was so much she wouldn't have understood and if I let her be a part of that, things wouldn't have ended up great.

"Oh." Was all I could manage to say.

"You're going to see her tonight. It's a party for her after all," Louis stated.

This party was one Simon had invited us to weeks ago, it was one he held for the winner every year, and it didn't occur to me that this year would be Grace's year.

I'd watched the whole season, I'd watched her audition. She sang Wonderwall just like she did two years ago and she sang it brilliantly. She got three yeses and she made it through boot camp with a breeze. Grace had also changed so much within the two years I'd last seen her. The pixie cut I remembered was long gone and her hair was now long and wavy. She was leaner too, more feminine in a way. She was beautiful.

Louis was the only one out of the boys that knew about Grace. I hadn't had the guts to explain it to the others, I didn't know if they'd judge or forgive me for just leaving Grace in the dust like that.

"She's changed so much," I exclaimed. "She's like..."

"Better than Caroline?" Louis joked. I laughed and chucked a pillow at him.

Caroline and I had been seeing each other on and off for the past few years. She was older, much older. We were never official, but it just felt good to have someone I could care for...like I cared for Grace.

"Do you miss her?" Louis asked, his voice serious; something I rarely got to witness.

I sighed and finally readjusted my bow tie until I was satisfied and put on my blazer then turned and faced Louis.

"All the time," I admitted.