{Just admiring the evolution of Niall Horan (picture) }

|Chapter 2

The now too familiar sound of six inch heels clicked onto the lit up stage. A girl stood in front of the tired and stressed out boys of One Direction. Liam, Zayn and Harry took a quick look at the wide smiling girl who was dressed in a shimmery sequin tank top that reflected off the lights too much for the three boys to even see her, black skin tight leather leggings, matching them with her brightly coloured heels and many bangles. Her hair was big and curly.

The boys all looked at each other all knowing what they were going to say about her, no. It seemed like every girl dressed like that in the UK. Glittered up and tight clothing. But much to the boys dismay, they had to let her audition.

“Hello love! What’s your name?” Liam asked as cheery as he could. The girl squealed quietly at the fact that One Direction was speaking directly to her. As much as the boys loved their fans, they have heard enough screaming for one long day.

“Hi! My name is Montana Fraymen, or Montana Stypaylik if you’d like.” She giggled into the microphone. Zayn, Liam and Harry had to wince at the sound of her high, loud voice at this time of the afternoon and mentally rolled their eyes at the last name everyone keeps using on them today.

“Um, okay.” Zayn spoke. “What song will you be singing?” He asked.

Montana thought for a second. “I’ll be singing ‘Gotta Be You’ just for you guys.” She smiled widely. The boys eyes widened.  She was going to sing one of their hardest songs, and not being mean or anything, but her voice was really pitchy when she spoke. Is it the same when she sang?

The boys gave her a curt nod to tell her to start. The backing track music started playing and Montana took a deep breath in before opening her mouth and made the first… uh, note? Was that even considered a note?

Liam, Zayn and Harry winced slightly at the… what’s the right word? Screechy  voice. The chorus wasn’t any better. The boys started to think if anyone really came to audition or just signed up to meet them.

Finally, the track came to an end and the boys let out a quiet sigh of relief. They looked back at the girl who had an even bigger smile than before. They gave her a small thumbs up before looking at Paul as to say ‘please take her away’.

When the jumpy girl left the room, the boys all let out a loud groan, rubbing their hands over their faces. They were so tired, and partly deaf, they just wanted this to be over already. Paul returned through the doors and walked over to the stressed out boys.

“Well then.” Paul said, looking through his clip board of all the sign ups.

“We’re never going to find someone. No offence to everyone who has tried out, but they aren’t exactly what we’re looking for.” Liam sighed.

“We’ll find someone Li.” Harry reassured him. “We just… haven’t found them today.”

“There was James Parker?” Zayn reminded. Liam and Harry just raised an eyebrow at him. “Well, he’s the only decent guy at the moment.” He sighed.  Zayn looked over at Paul sleepily. “How many more to go?” He mumbled.

“Luckily, just two boys. They’ve been waiting out there since morning. Hopefully it’s worth their time.” Paul gave them a small smile before walking through the big doors out to the waiting room.

The boys straightened themselves up, sitting up in their chairs and rubbing at their eyes one more time. “Two more. Hopefully it’s the two we’re looking for.” Liam mumbled. He looked over to Paul at the door seeing him give a curt nod and a smile.

“Here goes nothing.” They all said in sync.

Then, they heard a voice behind the door telling him good luck and an Irish accent giving a slightly shaky ‘thanks’ back.

They heard the squeak of the boy’s sneakers along the stage floor, and then he came into the lights. The boys were suddenly awake when they saw him. He looked like one of the perfect guys to fit the position. The messy but neat blonde hair, coloured clothes like they would wear and just overall good looking.

They watched as the boy fiddled with the microphone in his hand, looking up at the boys with sparking blue eyes, but a nervous smile.

“Hello!” The three boys called out with smiles on their faces.

“Hi.” The boy chuckled lightly from nerves.

“What’s your name?” Liam asked, not taking his eyes off him.

Niall couldn’t help but look down and blush slightly when Liam’s gaze wouldn’t leave him. “I’m Niall Horan.” Niall responded, looking back up and flashing a smile at his idols in front of him.

Zayn, Harry and Liam’s face brightened up at the name. They looked between each other giving approving nods, and then turned back to Niall. They couldn’t get all their hopes up yet. They needed to hear him sing first before they can think anything more.

“Hey Niall.” Zayn greeted. “So, what made you decide to come today?” He decided to ask. The boys asked a few others different questions before, but only got the typical answer back. ‘Because it’s always been a dream to just be next to you guys and, oh my god, I love you boys so, so much’ and bla bla bla.

“Well, actually as much as I’m a huge fan of you guys, I also made a deal with my mate that if I auditioned for the band as well he would audition too.” Niall chuckled. “But for me personally, it would be awesome to just be able to do what you guys do. Travel all over the world and sing, yeah. It’s kind of a big dream of mine.” Niall explained with a kind smile.

The boys nodded at his answer liking to hear something different for a chance. “Nice! Well, what song will you be singing for us?” Harry asked.

“I’ll be singing ‘So Sick’ by Ne-yo.” Niall answered.

“Love that song.” Liam said, his smile growing wider. “Well, when you’re ready Niall.”

Niall nodded and took a deep breath, gripping tight onto his microphone. He started to sing the first lines of the song. His voice was a little unsteady until he finally got into the song, closing his eyes and singing with everything he’s got.

To say Zayn, Liam and Harry were amazed by his voice would be an understatement. Niall would have to be the best they’ve heard sing on that very stage all day. The way his voice sounded was amazing.

Soon the song came to an end and silence filled the air. Just when Niall thought everything went wrong and he ruined his chances, he looked down at the three boys in front of him who were giving wide smiles back at him, which gave him a little bit of hope.

“Loved it.” Liam mumbled.

“Thanks Niall.” Zayn said.

Niall nodded. “Thank you.” He smiled before he made his way back over to the man who brought him in. Paul gave him a smile, opening up the door for the boy.

When Niall left the audition room, he couldn’t possibly wipe the giant smile on his face. Not only did he just meet the boys he idolized, but they all liked his singing! All Niall wished for now was to be the one of the new members in One Direction.

*

Louis tapped his fingertips nervously on his knee, the nervous shivers starting to come back to him. Looking around the room, he noticed he was the last person to audition for the day. That only terrified him more. What if they already picked the two new members and there was no point in making a fool out of himself for nothing?

Louis hummed the starting tune to his audition song before quietly mumbling the words.

“Hey there Delilah, what’s it like in New York City, I’m a thou-“

Louis stopped as his voice started to shake. He sighed. He started to think negative. His nerves and fright were getting the worst of him just like he thought they would.

Why did Niall have to pull him into all of this? He could be at home right now scrolling through his Tumblr just looking at the boys of One Direction from his laptop screen, not sitting in the uncomfortable chair waiting to stand right in front of them and sing.

Just as he was about to try sing his song again, Louis heard the big doors open, snapping his head up to see his now brightly smiling best friend. Niall walked over to Louis, the grin not leaving as he sat next to him.

“So, how did it go?” Louis asked looking up at Niall.

“Well, I think it went good. They were smiling. So that must be some good sign.”

Louis smiled. “I knew they would love you Nialler. It’s the charm of the Irish.” He laughed

“Sure. I’ll believe that when I get my not existent call from them saying that I’m in the band.” Niall gave Louis a small pat on the knee, looking back at him. “Well, now it’s your turn.” He smiled softly at him.

Paul walked out into the basically empty waiting room. “And last but not least, Louis Tomlinson.” He called out looking over at the two boys.

Louis huffed out a breath of air. “No turning back now.” Louis stood up from his spot in the chair, fiddling with the hem of his shirt nervously.

“You’ll do awesome Lou. Just do what I said before, if you start getting stage fright just pretend they’re not even in the room and sing like you always do. Okay?”

Louis nodded his head at Niall before making his way over to the open doors, Niall following behind him. He looked over his shoulder once more. Niall gave him a thumbs up and Louis smiled shakily in return. He was so glad to have a friend like Niall to be there for him. Louis looked up at Paul giving a nervous look.

“Good luck, lad.” The man said gesturing for the slightly shaking boy to walk through.

Louis let out one last breath and grabbed the microphone that was in front of him, holding onto it tightly. This was it. Make it or break it.