Amp It Up (X Factor, Niall Horan, One Direction Love Story)

I own nothing except my own characters. I in no way know own One Direction, Simon Cowell, or The X Factor. This is a work of fiction, and I do not claim to know anything about the inner workings of The X Factor. All of this comes from my own head. Enjoy!

Prologue.

The branch outside my window scratching against the glass was one of many things keeping me awake that night.

Another was my bladder, as I needed the restroom badly. But the third and final thing preventing me from sleeping was the sound of my parents voices arguing down the hall.

I was too scared to make a break for the bathroom. I didn't want to be on the receiving end of my fathers fury after he fought with my mother. He was born in Ireland, where my grandmother still lived, and had the stereotypical temper. He'd moved to the States when he was in his early twenties, and met and married my mother. I got my red hair from him, and brown eyes from my mother.

When I was growing up I'd never been able to figure out why I didn't have the same kind of relationship with my father as my friends did theirs. My dad simply wanted a son, and when my mother had been unable to provide him with one, producing me instead, he'd turned slightly bitter.

My parents relationship had been a good one for many years. But lately they'd been fighting, and I couldn't bear it. My mother, once so calm and sweet, now threw snide remarks and insults at my father and I. Dad insulted her cooking and how she kept up the house every chance he got, which was a major taboo in our house. You simply didn't insult my mothers spotless, shiny house and impeccable cooking. You just didn't. And when Dad started in on that taboo subject, she responded with such vengeance that I would simply leave the room. Watching them scream in each others faces wasn't something I liked to do.

I spent that last night in my childhood home awake, waiting until I heard my Dad storm off the sleep on the sofa and my mothers bedroom door slam shut. I snuck to the bathroom, used the facilities, then marked a cross through the calender behind the toilet.

No more days until my flight to Ireland. My bags were packed, money in my purse, guitar in its case, and goodbyes said.

I was going to live with my Gran. I'd last seen her when I was ten years old, on a trip to Dad's home country for his thirty second birthday.

And now I got to go there again.

~ ~ ~

Six Months Later.

~ ~ ~

The first time someone told me I could sing, it was unexpected.

I had been in a park with some friends I'd made in school before Gran had decided to put me through online high schooling. I'd been chilling out on a bench near one of the main walkways, messing with my friend Kaleb's guitar. He'd gotten it for his birthday, I remembered. I started mockingly singing Heartache Tonight by The Eagles, making up my own version on the guitar.

I hadn't noticed the crowd I'd drawn until I'd finished the song, and people had started clapping. About ten people had gathered around my small group of friends, and they were all smiling.

Eventually they convinced me to do another song, and from there I just did a mini concert in the park. Well, until a constable saw us and started looking antsy. We'd cleared out after that.

My Gran heard about it from someone else, and put me through vocal lessons. And eventually I decided to audition. Gran was at home, the heat of the midday sun too much for her.

The last few days had been awful. People around me smelled bad, were rude, and most were unbelievingly arrogant. Today was the last day of auditions in Dublin, and I was extremely nervous as I sat in the waiting room.

I had a History book to work on, and my music so I was preoccupied for a while. But there's only so much studying one can do about the French Resolution and I'd had my fill of it for the day. So I started people watching.

And let me tell you, THAT was amusing. I'd never seen so many different hair and clothing styles before.

Some people got the mix right, like a extremely trendy looking girl who had a group of boys around her, all talking and laughing. And some didn't get it right. Like a tall boy with acne pecking his chin who had paired checkered pants with a striped shirt. As I watched, he approached the trendy, sweet looking girl and spoke to her. The girl's sweet, flirtatious smile dropped instantly and she said something to the boy harshly and he slunk away to the laughter of the other boys.

“What a dork,” The girl said. The boys around her laughed, and they went back to talking like nothing had happened.

I decided I didn't like that girl.

~ ~ ~

Several hours later, a loud ruckus roused me from the nap I'd been trying to take. A group of teenage boys had run into the nearly room, all laughing and talking loudly. One in particular stood out to me, a boy with dark hair and brown eyes. I accidentally made eye contact with him, and he winked. My face flushed and I picked up my phone and began aimlessly scrolling through my text messages. I'd gotten quite a few over the last few days, people texted me and wished me luck.

"So... How long have you been waiting in line for?" He asked. I raised an eyebrow at him.

I looked up from my phone when I heard cheering and footsteps coming towards me. Someone plopped down in the seat next to me, and I raised an eyebrow at the mischievous looking boy.

“Hello, pretty thing, how're you?”

I laughed outright. “Hello, I'm fine. What about you?” I answered. I stuck out a hand and shook his.

“Ryan Debark, at your service,” The boy said with a mock bow in his chair. He dramatically kissed the back of my hand, and I tugged it away.

“Kelly, Melendez,” I replied. “Are you auditioning?”

Ryan folded his arms behind his head and relaxed, giving me the impression he planned to be there for a while.

“Yep. How long have you been waiting in line for?” He asked.

"Three days, you?" I asked.

"Four hours, Mom knows someone in the business or something.”

“Lucky.”

“Well, let's get to know each other!” He said brightly. “Um, okay.” I said, unsure.

"So, how come ya have a American accent if you be in Ireland, love?" He asked.

"Uh, I lived in the States until last year, I don't have an accent yet." I replied. I fiddled with my History book.

“I was in the States a few months ago, in L. A. for my Uncle. What state are you from? Anywhere near there?”

"North Carolina. My parents moved to Canada, so I moved here with my Gran." I said. Uh, where did Canada come from? I need lying lessons.

Ryan didn't seem to pick up on the lie, choosing instead to ask another question.

“ Um, do you think I could have your number? I'd really like to talk to you again if I don't make it through to the next round."

I took his phone and entered my name, and he grinned. "Kelly, I have to go, but it's been great talking to you, but my friends over there want to talk to me." He jerked his thumb over his shoulder to the group of guys in hoodies and sunglasses, waving frantically at him.

"Okay, text me if I don't make it and we can hang out. Bye, Ryan." I said as he got up.

"Bye love, I'll see you later." He said. I nodded and went back to my book.

I freaked out internally when it was my turn for the short interview to go with my audition. I just stated my name and age, and smiled a lot.

The camera's started filming me as soon as I stepped into the waiting room. Dermont O'Leary smiled at me, his teeth glinting in the bright light.

"Hello, there! What's your name, dear?" He asked jovially. I smiled at him weakly, my stomach flopping.

"I'm Kelly Melendez." I said. He slung a arm around my shoulders and smiled at the camera. "How old are you​” He asked. I grinned at him. He had a way of making me feel better. "I'm sixteen." I said.

"Are you nervous? The other person is finishing up right now!" He said.

"Yes, I am." I said. "Well, chipper up! There's nothing to be scared of!" Dermont said.

I rolled my eyes and grinned at the camera. "Except, you know, a live audience and Simon Cowell.

Dermont threw his head back and laughed. A door opened in the wall and Ryan walked out, grinning.

"Ryan! Did you make it?" I asked him. He flashed me the thumbs up and I grinned at him. "See you soon!" I said, and Dermont steered me through the door and onto the stage.

It was electrifying, being on stage. I'd been on stage before, for talent shows and stuff like that, but this was amazing.

People clapped politely when I came out, and I waved at the crowd. My butterflies were gone.

"Hello love, who might you be?"

Simon Cowell was speaking, and I snapped to attention. He was doing the classic Simon look, white tee-shirt, jeans, shiny shoes.

"Kelly Melendez." I said. "And how old are you Kelly?" Louis Walsh asked me.

"I am sixteen. And I live in Dublin, Ireland." I said.

Louis Walsh smiled at me, and Nicole Scherzinger did too. "I like you young lady, lets see what you've got!" Nicole told me, and I grinned at her.

"Well, alright Kelly, what are you singing for us today?" Simon asked me.

"Set Fire To The Rain." I said. "By Adele."

"Alright. Lets see this." Simon replied, to the applause of the crowd. He cued the music and I began to sing.

"I let it fall, my heart, and as it fell, you rose to claim it..."

Simon and Nicole grinned at me as soon as I started, and I closed my eyes, losing myself in the music.

Instead of doing the final high notes like the original song, I had changed it up a little. It was a little shorter, forcing my voice to go up and down the scales. Mainly it was to show my voice control. People were cheering as my voice soured and flew, and I moved to the beat trying not to grin in enjoyment. I loved singing with all of my heart. And I was trying not to trip over my own feet.

"Ohhh, oh no, not over, let it burn, let it burn, let it burn...." I sang with all of my heart.

I let my voice fade out, the sound echoing around the room. There was total silence, which was weird, as there was over a thousand people in the room.

I've followed Simon Cowell through almost all of his shows. American Idol, The X Factor since it started, and many others, but I had never seen his face look like that.

His eyes where wide open and staring straight at me, he was half out of his chair and was gripping the table tightly.

He sat back slowly into his chair, still staring. And there was still total silence.

And then, someone yelled, loudly and clearly, "YOU GO GIRL!"

And just like that, people where clapping and cheering, and Cheryl and Louis where on their feet, clapping and cheering, and Simon was still gob smacked. I nearly collapsed in relief. I wiped my forehead and fiddled with my microphone awkwardly.

The audience kept clapping until Simon seemed to come back to himself, and he raised a hand so silence the crowd. They wouldn't stop until he stood and yelled for them to stop.

He turned back to me on stage.

"Young lady, I can safely say, that was the most electrifying performance we've had. Maybe in the history of the show." Simon said, and I could barely make out the rest of his sentence when people began screaming again and clapping.

Nicole Scherzinger stood, tears in her eyes. "Kelly, I need to tell you this. You are the next Adele. I don't care what-"

"YOU GO GIRL!" Louis said, cutting Nicole off. I laughed and wiped my eyes, I hadn't realized I was crying until that moment.

"Louis yes or no." Simon said. He still looked shaken.

"Yes." Louis said. I covered my mouth and wiped another tear from my eye.

"Nicole ?" Simon asked.

"Yes, yes, a million times YES!" Nicole cried. I covered my mouth. Two votes, I was in all ready.

Simon Cowell grinned at me.

"Kelly Melendez, welcome to the X Factor."

~ ~ ~

How was it? It's the shortest I've written before, I'd LOVE some feedback! And I don't normally do notes, but I'd like to let ALL my readers and fans I LOVE YOU ALL YOU MAKE MY LIFE! THANK YOU FOR READING! I just get awkward writing notes, and I know people like to read the story! :)