Winning chapter, as voted by the readers: chapter seventy-five.
I hope you enjoy!

My first impression of the boys was that they all look ridiculously nervous. Therefore, I thought they would be no fun at all to hang around with. But much to my amazement and relief, they were all chatty, funny and down to earth away from the stage. My fear had been that none of them would want to talk and get to know each other.

Liam, as serious as he was about the whole thing, was actually really nice. He told us all about how nervous he had been during his first shot on the show and how getting through to Simon's house had been one of the greatest feelings in the world. He told us about his family and their support and the fact that this being his second time, was why he was so anxious and desperate to go forward. All of that was fair enough, because out of the five of us, who didn't want to do well at this point? Gigs were what Liam had been doing for as long as he could remember, and we all listened intently as he told us about his troublesome childhood and how he was lucky to be alive due to having had a severe kidney problem. 

Niall was loud. Or loud when he wanted to be. Everywhere he went, his guitar went with him. It was almost like another shadow, but there was no denying that when he started playing a familiar song, all of us would get into it and sing along all while still goofing around and not taking it too seriously - which was probably the worst thing to be doing considering that we didn't have much time until Judges Houses. Niall spoke proudly of his Irish home-town and how he had been an odd mix of terrified yet confident during his audition. He was easy to entertain too, for any joke or silly story told was enough to have him laughing like a mad man. 

Zayn was by far the quietest of us all. He did pitch in his feelings and thoughts about the audition and being put into the band. He'd claimed that at first, it had seemed like the worst thing ever, but the more time the lot of us spent talking and getting to know each other, he admitted that we were cool and the band seemed to be a great chance to go far. I envied his voice, especially when we sat singing along to Niall's acoustic rendition of a Kings of Leon song, and Zayn's vocals making us all raise a brow. He spoke highly of his family, how much he loved his sisters and wanted to help his parents out as money was tough at times. He was so down to earth and I'd given him a pat on the back.

Louis was mental. He was loud - louder than Niall - and full of mischief. Despite the fact he was the oldest out of us all, he was by far the most immature. He too spoke of how he'd always been into drama and taken part in school productions, but most of the time he enjoyed telling us about pranks and naughty things he and his mates had been up to back home. He was a laugh, but I could understand why Liam seemed a little ticked off with him at times. Football also was something Louis was heavily into, and thus began the bickering of which football team we all supported, who was the best player and who had scored the most goals.

By the time we'd decided that none of us could be the better player without proof, did Amanda groan and say, "Just play a bloody game then!"

We all looked at her and I immediately felt guilty. I'd completely ignored her for the last five minutes due to footie talk and I instantly wormed my way back to sit beside her. I wrapped an arm around her and planted a small kiss on her head. I grinned and said, "I think we'd injure ourselves, dear."

She just cocked a brow. "I'm not sure about the other guys, but you probably will."

I feigned hurt. "Oh, you have wounded my heart, Mands. Looks like I'll have to prove you wrong. What do you say, boys? Up for a game?"

They all agreed and soon, we were up on the grass, making makeshift goal posts out of our hoodies. I rummaged around in the garage for an old football and all was ago as soon as I threw it onto the green. I kicked here, I kicked there but I - and apparently none of the other lads - could get the ball from Louis. 

"Go, Harry!" I heard Amanda yell and I was momentarily distracted as I looked over my shoulder to grin at her. 

Whack!

"Oh!" I heard Louis gasp. "Sorry mate!"

I tenderly rubbed the back of my head and glared at him, annoyed to find he was grinning wickedly. I saw Niall and Zayn chuckling to the left and I crossed my arms over my chest.

"You are all so mean," I huffed, laughing soon after I grabbed the ball and hurled it back at Louis' head. The four of them soon began shouting that the ball was theirs' and then the game began again. However, I slowly walked away and sat back down beside Amanda who was laughing at me.

"Wow," she said. "My hero."

"Oi," I groaned. "That was a nasty kick to the head. I could be concussed and collapse at any moment. You really expect me to get back up and put my life in danger?" 

She just laughed harder and wrapped her arms around me. When she pressed her lips to my cheek I couldn't help but smile and turn my head to kiss her back. I loved kissing Amanda. It felt like the first time every time, full of fireworks and happiness. She was my happiness. 

"I love you," I told her. I cupped her face with my hands and kissed her nose. "So much, Mands."

"I love you, Harry," she replied, grinning at me. "You crazy boy."

"Crazy?" I gasped. "I am hurt once again."

"Get over it," she whispered as I leaned closer and touched my forehead to her's. Our breaths mingled and before anything cold interrupt us, I pressed my lips to hers.

"Ooooooooooh," I heard some one tease in the background.

"Get it, mate!" another cried.

I ignored them all, for the only thing I was focused on was the beautiful girl before me. When we pulled away, I just smiled widely at her and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. A faint splash of pink tinted her cheeks and she just laughed. In an awkward way? A happy way? All I knew was that it didn't matter because she was all I wanted, and lucky enough to have as my own.

When the football came flying through the air towards me, I grew frustrated.

"Can you four not see I am trying to have a moment? Just because those of you who are away from your girlfriends or don't have one are agitated, does not mean you need to ruin my moment of chivalry!" I said, trying not to laugh. It was difficult for me to be outrageously mad with anyone, especially since the four lads were new friends and just happened to be band mates.

"Well, sor-ry," Louis laughed, nudging Niall's arm. "He's mad at us."

"Oh, well," Niall said with a shrug. "Harry, you coming to play one last game? It's getting late."

I checked my phone and right enough, it was later than I could have imagined. "Amanda, what time are you leaving, did you say?" I asked, dreading her answer. I didn't want her to leave, not now or ever.

She pouted and said, "Soon, unfortunately. I wish I could stay longer."

"So do I, Mands," I said, kissing her nose. "So do I."

By the time Amanda had to leave, I felt a little empty inside. Don't get me wrong, I was happy to be able to hang around with the guys and get to know them all better, but Amanda was the one person who made me happy beyond words. 

I kissed her goodbye with a small smile, sad to see her leaving. She told me to keep my chin up and to stop messing around. Her exact words were, "You lot need to stop messing about and playing football. You need to practice your singing and think of a band name, Harry."

"I know," I'd said to her. "I promise we will."

"Good. I love you Harry."

"I love you too, Mands."

I ventured back through to the garden to find the boys sitting down in a small circle. They were chatting away quite the thing and only when I made my presence known with a cough did they look up at me. Zayn smiled and gestured for me to sit down beside him. I did, and I ended up squirming in beside him and Liam.

"What's up?" I asked. 

Liam opened his mouth to speak but Louis cut him off before he had a chance to say a single word. "We're trying to think of a name."

Liam scowled and muttered, "I was about to tell you, Harry."

I just nodded. "Funnily enough, that's what Amanda told me before she left."

"Ah, Amanda," Niall chuckled. "She's awesome, Harry."

"Yeah, she's fit and funny. A great combination I always say."

"She's more than funny and attractive," I said without realising. "She's so much more."

I saw Zayn and Liam exchange a look and I received a small, knowing smile from Liam before he said, "You're sickeningly in love."

"You really are," Niall agreed with a nod. He tapped his fingers against his guitar and smiled widely. "It's cool but a little too lovey-dovey."

"Yeah," Zayn added.

I just shrugged. "So, I love her? I'm sure you all love someone or something dearly."

I saw Niall hug his guitar - instinctively? - and I just laughed.

"Sure we do, but this is like Disney love. This is the sickly sweet kind that puts cake to shame," Liam said, nudging my shoulder. "Good for you, mate."

"We applaud you," Louis said, feigning a posh voice. "But putting all good things aside for now, I do believe the lot of us 'ave an important thing to be concentrating on. We need a name, lads, and we need one soon."

He was right. Judges Houses were so soon, and we were running out of time. Precious time that we'd wasted playing football and messing around. We're idiots, whispered a voice in the back of my head. I could see in all of their faces that they were thinking the same, that we had wasted both times we had managed to meet up - both times that were supposed to have been used for singing, getting to know each other and to think of a name - and we were all regretting it now.

But we had already thought through what kind of names we wanted. Something memorable, Liam had said, yet something with a ring to it, as Louis had wanted. Niall pitched in by saying he wanted something not too long while Zayn wanted it to have a meaning. I was the only one who didn't have a preference, just as long as it wasn't ridiculous - like Niall's suggestion of Niall and the Potatoes. 

"We need to be serious," Liam said suddenly. "We were all messing about last time we spoke about a band name, but we actually need to pick something we all like and something not too silly. Nothing like the 90's boybands." He shuddered.

Louis shrugged. "Hm, I'm not too fussed. I mean, Backstreet were brilliant."

"Oh, god no," I heard Niall cringe. "No names like that."

"I agree," Zayn mused. "I'm thinking one or two words, and a little punchy."

"Punchy," Liam tested the word. "Hm, something punchy..."

I remained quiet, racking my brain for some ideas. But nothing struck me and I groaned. It was difficult, trying to think of a name. The main worry that was running through my head was that if we made it anywhere through The X Factor, and got into the music industry, it was a name we were stuck with. We all had to like it. 

When nobody said anything, I cleared my through. All eyes turned to me and I sanded my hands together before asking, "So ... suggestions anybody?"

Thank you for reading guys, this chapter is unedited because I'm absolutely shattered but I'll get round to fixing up errors very soon.
Quick question: is anyone still reading this? I feel like since the text chapters ceased, everyone vanished, so if you're still reading but you're perhaps a silent reader for these bonus chapters, let me know you're still there by posting a, "I'm here," or something below? Reassure me, fellas! Thanks guys.

Cazza