Playoffs was next and Kinsley was so excited and nervous. She had prepared so much for this day, and now it was finally here. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. She could do this. She had worked hard, and she was ready. She just hoped she would make it to the Live Shows. As she got ready, her mind wandered to Niall. They had spent the night before watching movies and just having a good time together. 

She couldn't deny the sparks she felt every time they touched, and she knew he felt the same way...Well, she hoped he did. She knew she was in love with him, and she had finally decided to confess her feelings to him maybe tomorrow. Maybe he would feel the same way and she wouldn't have to worry. Maybe he would reciprocate her feelings, and they would live happily ever after.

Or maybe he would reject her, and never want to see her again. Maybe their friendship would be ruined, and she would lose him forever. She couldn't deny that was a possibility, and she was terrified of that happening. But she had to do this. She couldn't keep her feelings bottled up anymore. If she didn't tell him, she would regret it for the rest of her life. She had to take the risk...She had to tell him. As the day wore on, she found herself thinking about him more and more. She needed to tell him or she was going to explode. But the Playoffs were the most important thing right now, and she couldn't afford to be distracted. She had to put her feelings on the back burner and focus on the competition. 

She had been learning Spanish lately, and Kinsley decided to add a unique twist to her performance and hoped and prayed it would turn out nicely. It was a bold choice, but she wanted to stand out and show her versatility as an artist. She practiced the song over and over again, making sure she nailed both the rhythm and the pronunciation. She could feel the excitement building as the moment drew closer. The nerves were still there, but the thrill of performing live in front of a crowd was undeniable. This was the opportunity she had been working so hard for, and she couldn't let anything, not even her feelings for Niall, get in the way.

The Playoffs week was intense for Kinsley. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement and nerves as the remaining contestants prepped for their performances. The studio was alive with activity—lights being adjusted, sound checks echoing through the space, and the faint hum of conversations from other competitors. As the start of the show drew near, Kinsley couldn't help but feel a rush of adrenaline and anticipation. This was the moment she had been working towards, and she was determined to give it her all.

****

It was now the day of rehearsals for the Playoffs. Kinsley was feeling both excited and nervous. This was the last week before the Semi Finals, Kinsley knew she had to bring her A-game. The Playoffs were crucial, and the pressure was at an all-time high. The rehearsal studio was alive with the sounds of music and the occasional bursts of laughter from other contestants trying to shake off their nerves. The atmosphere was electric, and the air was thick with anticipation.

Niall smiles fondly at her when they start rehearsals. He can tell how nervous she is. But he knows she'll do great. He has faith she will make it to the next round, she has made it this far, and that was no easy feat. He was proud of her. As he watched her rehearse, he admired her dedication and talent, knowing she had poured her heart and soul into every performance. The way she effortlessly hit the high notes, the way her body moved to the rhythm—it was mesmerizing. He couldn't help but feel a sense of awe mixed with something deeper.

She looked at Niall as he smiled at her, feeling a sense of reassurance. His calm confidence in her abilities helped to settle the nerves that had been bubbling inside her all morning. She knew that if anyone believed in her, it was Niall. He had been with her every step of the way, guiding her through the ups and downs of the competition. As their rehearsal continued, Kinsley could feel Niall's eyes on her. It both reassured and unnerved her. She appreciated his presence and support, but it also made her more aware of the feelings she had been harboring for so long. 

She had thought about it endlessly—whether he felt the same or if she was reading too much into their shared moments. The playful touches, the lingering glances, the late-night movie marathons—it all felt like more than just friendship. But now wasn't the time to dwell on those emotions. Not with the Playoffs just around the corner. She had to focus on her performance, on making sure she nailed every note, every move. Kinsley took a deep breath and pushed her feelings for Niall aside, just for now. She would tell him how she felt soon, but first, she needed to give the performance of her life.

"Alright, Kinsley," Niall said, picking up his guitar and adjusting the strap. "Let's run through the song, and remember—you've got this. Just breathe and trust yourself."

With a nod, Kinsley took a deep breath and prepared herself for the song. The opening chords of "Sorry" by Justin Bieber rang out, and Kinsley began to sing. The smile on Niall's face never left his lips as he listened to her sing. He was always in awe of her voice as it filled the room with power and emotion. There was something about the way Kinsley connected with the music that made it impossible not to believe in her. Even now, as she rehearsed, Niall could see the raw talent that had carried her this far in the competition.

Niall was left speechless by the end of the song. "So," Kinsley's nervous voice cut through the silence. "Um, what did you think?"

"I just..." Niall tries to find the words to describe the emotions he felt, but he was at a loss for a moment. He ran a hand through his hair, his eyes still fixed on Kinsley as if he was seeing her for the first time. "I just... wow," he finally managed to say, shaking his head with a smile. "Kinsley, that was incredible. You didn't just sing the song—you owned it."

Kinsley's eyes widened, her nerves still lingering but now mixed with pride and relief. "You're not just saying that 'cause I'm your best friend, right?" She asked, half-joking and half-serious.

"I mean, I may be a little biased," Niall admits with a shrug. "But I'm serious, Kinsley. You killed it."

Her face flushed at his praise, and she tried not to get too excited. After all, there was still a lot of competition left. But with Niall's support, she felt like she could take on the world.

"Really, I don't have any notes on how you could improve 'cause you're already amazing, Kiki." Niall told her.

Kinsley felt her heart swell at the compliment, her nickname rolling off Niall's tongue in a way that made her feel both cherished and motivated. "You always know how to boost my confidence." She replied, a shy smile spreading across her face.

Niall grinned back at her, leaning back against the wall with a relaxed posture. "Well, that's my job as your coach and best friend. But seriously, don't underestimate yourself. Just keep that fire burning and trust your instincts out there."

Kinsley nods, determination flashing in her eyes as she smiles at him. "I will. Thanks, Ni."

"Anytime, Kiki. Let's run through one more time, and then we'll call it a day."

With a nod, Kinsley prepared herself for the final rehearsal, feeling confident and ready to take on the world.

-ˏˋ "I'm still speechless honestly." Niall admits to the camera during his interview. "I don't have the words to describe how great she was during the rehearsals. She's an absolute natural, and she has such a gift. I have no doubt in my mind that she will continue to excel. And I couldn't be prouder of her." He adds with a fond smile. "Yes, I am biased a little, but I truly believe Kiki will go far. She's an amazing singer and a wonderful person. And if the whole world doesn't see that, then they're missing out." ˎˊ-

****

(here's the song kinsley sings if you wanna listen to it!!)

https://youtu.be/NBd9G4bT1H8

"With Sorry by Justin Bieber, here's Kinsley Scott."

The lights dimmed as Kinsley stood center stage, trying to steady her breathing. The audience fell silent, and the spotlight was on her alone. She gripped the microphone and closed her eyes, letting the opening notes flow through her. She reminded herself of Niall's words—just breathe and trust yourself. When she opened her eyes, a calm determination replaced the nerves she had been wrestling with all day. She looked out at the audience, nerves humming but determination even stronger. As the opening notes of Justin Bieber's "Sorry" began, she took a deep breath and launched into the first verse. Her voice was smooth and soulful, and the crowd quickly fell silent, captivated.

Kelly leaned forward, her eyes lighting up as she nodded along with a smile. Blake with arms crossed, gave a small grin, intrigued by Kinsley's unique tone and performance. Chance grinned and bobbed his head to the beat, already impressed with her vocal control and talent. Niall just sat back with a proud and satisfied look, clearly enjoying the performance and admiring Kinsley's stage presence. As she hit each note with precision, there was a quiet but palpable energy in the air, something that connected Kinsley with the audience and the coaches.

Her bold choice to sing in both English and Spanish added an unexpected depth, and her voice resonated with a mix of power and vulnerability. The audience was captivated, and as she ended with a soulful finish, the room filled with applause, louder than she could have hoped for. She locked eyes with Niall for a brief moment, his proud smile making her breath, her heart skipping a beat. He looked at her with a warmth and admiration that made her feel like the only person in the room. She could see the pride in his eyes, and it filled her with a new level of confidence. Niall's smile was like a silent promise, a reminder of every encouraging word he'd given her. For a fleeting moment, everything else faded away, and it was just the two of them sharing in the victory of that performance.

The applause continued, and Kinsley finally took a breath, letting the energy of the crowd wash over her. She felt a surge of relief and excitement, happy and relieved it seemed like everyone liked it. She turned around to the band and backup singers, smiling and thanking them because she knew it was a team effort. The support and energy of the people behind her had been just as crucial to the performance as her own preparation. The band's tight rhythms, the backup singers' harmonies—they had all come together perfectly to elevate her voice. She just wanted them to know how much their support had meant to her. Without them, the performance wouldn't have had the same magic.

After a few moments, Kinsley faced the coaches once more, heart pounding as she waited for their feedback.

"And that was Kinsley Scott in the Playoffs, representing Team Niall." Carson called out over the audience's cheers.

"Insane!" Chance commented in disbelief as the others nodded in agreement, sharing pleasantly surprised and disbelief looks.

"Right?" Kelly agreed, still in awe and disbelief over the performance.

"Let's get some thoughts from our coaches, Kelly?" Carson continued while the cheers began to die down.

"Kinsley, that was phenomenal. You didn't just sing the song—you made it your own. Blending English and Spanish was a bold choice, girl, I had no idea you could speak in Spanish, let alone sing in Spanish!" Kelly gushes, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "You brought so much emotion to that performance, and I was hanging on every note. Your voice has such a unique texture—so much soul. You've got a really special gift, and I can't wait to see where it takes you."

"Thanks so much, Kelly!" Kinsley replies, her voice trembling slightly from the overwhelming rush of emotions. She can't help but smile brightly, grateful for the feedback. "I really appreciate it."

"Gotta be honest, I didn't understand a single thing you sang when you sang in Spanish," Blake speaks up, earning a few laughs from the audience. "But it didn't matter!" He adds, grinning at Kinsley. "Your voice conveyed everything perfectly. You didn't need to speak the language for us to feel the emotion behind it. That was just pure magic." He looks at Niall, teasingly pointing at him as he glances back at Kinsley. "Not sure if you saw his face while singing amazingly like you were, but he was practically glowing with pride. You've got something special, Kinsley."

Niall ignores the blush he felt creeping up his neck at being called out but can't suppress the proud smile on his face. He keeps his gaze on Kinsley, his heart swelling with affection for her as she stands there, beaming with the kind of glow that only comes after truly pouring your heart into something. Kinsley's heart flutters at Blake's words of Niall's proud expression throughout her performance, and it made her feel like she was soaring. She had never felt more seen or supported, and hearing the praise from the coaches only added to the fire of confidence that had sparked inside her.

"Thank you, Blake!" Kinsley replies, her voice full of gratitude. "It means a lot to me that you felt the emotion in it. That's always the goal—to make everyone feel something."

Chance nods along with a grin. "Yeah, I love that. That was a performance to remember. The bilingual twist—was just brilliant. I was like, did I just hear that right? It was such a smooth transition too. And you've got that power in your voice that makes people stop and listen. It wasn't just a performance, it was an experience. You've definitely got a way of connecting with your audience, no matter what language you're singing in. That was something truly unique."

Her heart was still racing as she absorbed the praise from the coaches. She couldn't help the wide smile at the words, feeling the weight of their approval wash over her. Their feedback was exactly what she needed to hear. She had put everything into that performance—her voice, her heart, her soul—and it felt like it had paid off in a way that was beyond her expectations.

Niall's gaze never left her as he nodded in agreement with the coaches, his eyes gleaming with pride. He couldn't help but feel a deep sense of admiration for Kinsley. She had poured herself into the performance, and it showed in every note. The way she had blended English and Spanish so effortlessly, her ability to convey emotion through song—it was truly remarkable. Niall had always known she had something special, but seeing it unfold on stage like this was something else entirely.

He still couldn't believe he had helped guide her to this point. He felt a deep sense of pride, not just for how far Kinsley had come, but for how much she had grown. Watching her perform with such confidence, vulnerability, and authenticity made him realize that her journey was just beginning. He had seen the talent in her from the start, but now, it was undeniable. He knew she had been so nervous and worried about singing in another language which was something she never done before. Though she had taken a leap of faith, embracing her uniqueness, and that made all the difference.

"Man," He sighs heavily, leaning forward with his elbows on the table in front of him and head rested on his hands. "The fact you recently just have been learning Spanish and still pulled that off so effortlessly, it's honestly incredible. You took something that could've been intimidating for a lot of people, and you made it sound so natural. That takes real artistry, Kinsley." His voice was full of admiration, and it made Kinsley's heart flutter even more.

"Wait," Kelly gasps. eyes widening as she glances between the two. "Hold on, you didn't know Spanish before this?"

"I actually had recently started to learn, it's maybe been about a few months," Kinsley admits, a bit shy but proud of how far she had come in such a short time. "I knew a little bit growing up, but I really started taking it seriously to challenge myself. It was a bit nerve-wracking at first, but I just wanted to try something new and push myself outside my comfort zone."

Kelly's eyes widened even further, clearly impressed. "That's unbelievable! You didn't just get by with the language—you owned it. Your pronunciation, your expression—it was flawless. You made it sound like you've been speaking Spanish your whole life."

Kinsley couldn't help but blush at the praise, feeling a warmth spread across her cheeks. "I really appreciate that. It wasn't easy, but I put in the work. I'm still learning, though, so I'm sure there's a lot more to improve on."

Niall chuckles, his voice light but sincere. "She's being humble. The progress she's made in such a short time is amazing. It's one thing to learn the language, but to sing in it with so much emotion and depth? That's not something you just pick up overnight." He looks at Kinsley with an almost affectionate gaze, his admiration for her clear. "It takes a lot of guts to take on a challenge like that, and you nailed it."

Blake then points at Niall with a stern look. "I mean it before with Gina Miles that if you don't put her through, you're not my son anymore. Same thing applies with Kinsley." Blake told him, his tone playful but laced with mock seriousness.

Chance gave her a playful grin. "I was wondering, though—when are you gonna start making more songs half English and half Spanish?" He teased, making the audience laugh.

Kinsley laughs along with everyone else, feeling a mixture of disbelief and gratitude. "I think I'll stick to one language for now, but who knows? Maybe one day." She said, her tone light and playful, yet filled with a sense of possibility. The crowd laughed with her, appreciating her humor and the way she was able to keep the atmosphere light even after such an intense performance.

Niall chuckles and smiles at her. "I think we'd all love to hear that album someday," He teases, giving her a wink. "But in the meantime, keep doing what you're doing. You're killing it."

Kinsley smiled fondly at him, the weight of the night's praise finally starting to settle into her bones. The nerves that had once been so overwhelming seemed to fade away in the warmth of the positive feedback. She could feel her confidence growing with each passing moment, bolstered by the support of her friends and the audience.

"Thank you, I really appreciate it." Kinsley admitted, her voice heavy with emotion. She couldn't believe she had gotten this far, and knowing that she still had the support of everyone made it all the more meaningful. She had come a long way, and she was grateful for the journey so far. She just hoped that she could make it past this round and to the end of the show. Though even if she didn't, she was proud of herself and what she had accomplished.

"Everyone give it up for Kinsley Scott!" Carson shouts out to the crowd, as they cheer and applaud her performance. She took a bow, her face beaming and her eyes glistening with happy tears. She shared a smile with Niall, who had gotten up and met her half way to hug her. He had a proud and relieved look in his eyes as he whispered encouraging words to her and held her tightly.

"That was amazing, Kiki," He praises her, a smile on his lips and a twinkle in his eyes. "I'm so proud of you. You were incredible." His voice was soft and sincere, and it made Kinsley's heart melt. She couldn't help but grin and feel emotional, overwhelmed with all the support and encouragement she was receiving. Having Niall's arms around her, supporting her, gave her a sense of calm and confidence that she knew would carry her through the rest of the competition. She leaned into him, letting the warmth of his embrace soothe her.

"Thank you, Ni." She whispers, her voice full of gratitude and affection. "I couldn't have done it without you." She squeezed him tightly, her face buried in his chest as she let out a content sigh. It was the safest she had ever felt, wrapped up in his arms and feeling the steady beat of his heart. The loud cheers from the audience faded into the background as they held onto each other, savoring the moment. They knew it was only a matter of time before the show continued, and they would have to let go, but for now, they were content to just hold each other and enjoy the feeling of closeness.

"Hey, I also wanted to talk later. After this is all done, meet me at my place?" Niall asked, his voice low and his eyes hopeful.

"Oh?" Kinsley looks up at him with curiosity and excitement. "Sure, I'd love to. I've actually wanted to talk to you, too. We'll catch up after the show." She replied, a smile tugging at her lips. She decided she was going to confess her feelings to him and see if there was a chance they could be together. She had a good feeling about tonight. She just hoped he felt the same way.

"I'm looking forward to it." Niall replied with a smile, kissing her forehead before they pulled back and he went to sit down.

-ˏˋ "Kinsley Scott," Niall sighs heavily during his interview after Kinsley's preformance in the Playoffs. "I've seen Kinsley grow so much in such a short time, and every time she takes the stage, she amazes me more," Niall continues, his voice filled with admiration and pride. "That performance was no different. She took a huge risk by singing in Spanish, something she's only recently started learning, and she made it look effortless. Her connection to the song, the emotion she poured into it—it was undeniable. I couldn't be more proud of her."

Kinsley is then shown backstage, smiling from ear to ear. "I'm still processing everything," She admits, her hands on her face and eyes watery. "I was so worried I would forget the lyrics or stumble over the Spanish parts, but it went better than I could have imagined. I'm just so relieved and glad it went well and everyone liked it."

"Everyone loved it." An Irish accent suddenly echoes behind her, and Kinsley turns to see Niall standing there, his grin as wide as hers. "You were absolutely incredible, Kiki," he says, his voice a mix of warmth and pride. "I knew you had it in you, but tonight you just... you shone. I'm honestly in awe."

Kinsley's cheeks turn a light shade of pink, and she can't help but beam at the compliment. She feels a wave of happiness wash over her, her heart full and her spirits soaring. "Thank you, Ni," she says, her voice filled with affection. "I couldn't have done it without you, though."

Niall's grin softens into a fond smile. "Well, you did all the work, I just helped guide you along the way," He replies, his tone light and teasing, but the sincerity in his voice is unmistakable. "But seriously, I'm so proud of you."

Kinsley can't help but smile brighter at the words, the sincerity behind them and the affection in his voice making her heart skip a beat. She hugged him again, letting her body relax into his embrace and her head rest on his chest. He hugged her back, holding her close as they basked in the moment. The two stayed like that for a while, neither wanting to pull away. They knew they would have to eventually, but for now, they were content to just stay wrapped up in each other.

Until a crew member reminded Niall he had to get back out there. They hadn't realized how long they had been hugging. They both pull back quickly, both sheepish and blushing.

"Right, sorry." He clears his throat, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'll see you after the show, yeah?"

Kinsley nods, her smile growing as she feels her heart flutter at the thought. "I can't wait."

He grinned at her before he turned and left. She had turned to face the camera with disbelief, starting to rant how she still couldn't believe this was happening. But she missed the look Niall have her over his shoulder before he went out there. He looked at her like she was the only person in the world, his gaze filled with warmth and affection. Kinsley couldn't stop smiling, her heart racing as she replayed the moment over and over in her head. She couldn't believe how lucky she was to have found someone like him.

"Niall Horan, guys, like, wow. Sometimes I still can't believe that guy is my best friend and coach." She chuckles at the confession. "But I'm so glad that went well and hope I go through!" She gushed, her voice full of happiness and relief. ˎˊ-

A/N ugh i love niall & kinsley so much you guys