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

I let the tears fall. I wasn't sad, really, just emotionally exhausted.

I was happy for Ryan, but at the same time I knew that he wouldn't be spending much time with me, at least not as much as I was used to. It bothered me, yes, but I refused to be the annoying person that tried to ruin Natalie and Ryan's happily ever after. They were perfect together, and I couldn't let my envious thoughts ruin that.

I finally got a hold of myself. I wiped the tears away, blew my nose in the nearby girls room, and redid the mascara that Simon seemed to think I needed to wear. It made my brown eyes look ridiculously large and uneven to my face, and I disliked it.

I took a deep breath and walked out the bathroom door. I didn't feel like going back to my room, even though I knew that I owed Niall a explanation. I just couldn't speak to him at the moment.

Every once in a while, you'll witness or have a moment when you realize that yes, life can be like a fairytale. And I was pretty sure that I had just witnessed one. Ryan singing to Natalie like that, and her reaction and what they'd said to each other was something out of a book. It was beautiful. They both had problems, they both had eccentric personality's, but they worked. They completed each other, ones flaws being smoothed out by the other. It was natural, and beautiful.

I walked aimlessly through the halls, finally finding myself outside. I strolled down the sidewalk beside busy London traffic, and kicked a pebble.

My phone buzzed, and I ignored it. There was a small cafe' that I wanted to check out.

I took a seat in a booth after getting a latte, looking around. The theme of the place was deep red and light brown, with small tables and booths scattered around. There was a bookshop upstairs, which I eventually went to and bought several novels. I needed a few classics to do an essay on for my school, which was online since I'd moved overseas. It was just simpler, and less hassle then public school. I'd also be done with school within the year, and then collage too if I wanted. I was already taking collage courses, but I'd rather go to University here if I could.

I stayed at the shop for a few hours,reading and eating until I decided to join the real world again. I knew I'd come back to the cafe' again, it made me feel separate from my hectic lifestyle for once.

I checked my phone when I was on the sidewalk again as I'd turned it off when I was in the cafe'. Instantly it lit up with over fifty missed calls and texts. Some were from Niall, some Ryan, and some from Simon for some reason. I decided to call Niall first.

“Hey,” I said. “Why is everyone trying to get up with-”

“WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!” Niall bellowed through the phone. “YOU CAN'T GO OUT WITHOUT SECURITY!”

I scoffed. “Niall, I'm not even famous I don't need security!”

As I was talking I was making my way up to the entrance to the X Factor Studios. There was a ton of noise, but I didn't pay much attention.

“Yes you are! There are fans outside trying to break the doors down for the Top 6! You're like the most famous of all of them, haven't you noticed!?” Niall cried. I accidentally bumped into someone, there was a large crowd of people for some reason.

“Whoops, sorry!” I said to the person I'd bumped into. “Niall, they're there for someone else! I don't have any fans real-”

“OH MY GOSH IT'S KELLY MELDENLEZ!” A girl screamed. My head snapped up, and I looked around in pure shock.

Girls and boys were wearing tee shirts and carrying signs with my name and face on it. Someone had a huge banner, and as I watched the crowd turned as one toward me and started yelling at me.

“PLEASE SIGN MY SHIRT!” Someone screamed. “I LOVE YOU SO MUCH MARRY ME PLEASE!” A guy yelled. I stood there and stared a moment before snapping out of it.

“Uh, sure, anybody got a Sharpie? And I'm only seventeen, that's too young for marriage!” I called to the proposal guy, flashing a dimpled grin at him.

A Sharpie was shoved into my hand and I started signing stuff as quickly as possible. Instead of writing my last name, I just did a M. with a quickly scrawled heart beside it.

Once I'd signed everyone's stuff, I stood for a moment and just talked to some of the people. They were nearly all dedicated fans of the X Factor, and had all become “Kellenators.”
“Who made that name up?” I asked a guy. He looked like he was going to faint, and I grabbed a water bottle from a more than willing girl and gave it to him.

“Are you okay?” I asked the guy. He nodded, gulping the water. “I'm Chase, and the name got started as a joke I think,” He replied. I nodded, and after signing a few more autographs for some stragglers I made my way back inside the studios.

I had barely made it through the lobby when two security guards were on either side of me. They both took a hold of my arms and gently but forcefully dragged me to Simon's office, me protesting all the while.

They disposed of me in a chair in front of Simon's desk. All I could see of Simon was the top of his graying hair as his chair was facing away from me. I fiddled with my hands as I sat.

“Do you realize how bad outside could have gotten?”

I had been sitting for almost two minutes when Simon spoke quietly, his voice grave.

“Sir?” I asked, confused.

“Outside. You went out without any security, and a crowd of fans, thankfully nice ones mobbed you. Do you realize how serious it could have gotten?” Simon asked. He spun his chair around and faced me.

“But it didn't go badly. I'm not even that famous, I don't need security!” I protested. “It was fun, those people like me and I liked talking to them!”

Simon sighed. “You don't get it, do you?” He asked. I frowned at him. “Get what?” I replied.

Simon took a small remote from his desk and turned to the wall TV and turned it on. He started switching stations, through MTV, news stations, gossip shows, and YouTube videos. All were from different dates and times, and the only thing they had in common was... Me.

“These,” Simon said, gesturing at the screen as I sat transfixed as I watching my face flashing upon the screen. I had gone international, and I didn't even realize it. “Are all the social media mentions that we've gathered on you. Every time your name is mentioned, even in passing, we record it. It helps to choose the finalists of the show. So far, you and two other acts are the most popular. My nephew, Ryan is one of them. And the boy band Boxing Beats.

“I don't know if I'm aloud to sign my nephew, as it might be considered favoritism. So his best chance is to win, which is a close race with you.”

The TV switched to different shots of Ryan. Him out to coffee, him singing karaoke on our double date, and a mention of him on some talk show. The same went for Boxing Beats.

“So the show is rigged?” I asked. Simon hesitated.

“No, not exactly. We have to choose who wins essentially, but voters help too.”

I stared at him. “So you're saying Conan, Darren and Heartbreakers have no chance of making it? They've worked harder than anyone, they deserve this!” I cried. Other people deserved to win more than I did. The Top Three were a big deal, it was just luck that I'd made it this far.

“They will all get record deals, relax. I know that Heartbreakers are planning on coming back next year if it doesn't work out, and we'll probably place them in the Top Three then.”

Tears brimmed at the corners of my eyes. “And Conan? Darren?”

“They will both get adequate deals.” Simon replied. “I'm telling you all of this to get through to you. You don't seem to realize just how famous you're about to get. You're possibly the most talented young lady to come on this show, and we have to do everything in our power to keep you safe.”

I rubbed my temples. “Who's supposed to win?” I asked. Simon shook his head at me. “I'm sorry, I can't tell you that.”

“Can you at least tell me who's coming in third, so I can be prepared?”

He then said the two words that would haunt me.

“Boxing Beats.”

~ ~ ~

So basically it was a tie. A tie between me and my best friend. Which was possibly the worst thing that could ever have happened.

I stared listlessly at my food as people around me chattered away. We were all in a dining room eating together, just the Top 6. All of whom thought that they had a chance to be on top.

I could hardly meet anyone's eyes, knowing what I knew. Almost all of them would be gone within the next week or so.

Would it be Darren, Conan or Heartbreakers to go first? Country week was next, then Singer/Songwriter. And one person was going home this week.

Honestly, I thought it would be Darren. He had the least chance right now, as he was a rapper. His talents lay elsewhere. He was unusually quiet tonight, either he was worried about the show or Natalie had told him about what had transpired earlier.

“Did Simon approach any of you about recording a song?” Darren asked. We all nodded. Simon had told me before I left his office to be thinking about a song to record to release if I won. It could be original or a cover. And we also couldn't tell what song we were going to do to each other.

“And he also said something about flying our family's out too, to watch the show live!” Conan told him. Darren nodded. “Yeah, he told me that too, but it's just my dad and me and he's not really fit for the camera, you know what I mean?”

Conan nodded. I felt sick to my stomach, and pushed away my pizza as everyone started talking about their family's. Simon hadn't mentioned my family. He already knew I wasn't in good terms with my parents, and the only one I could really think of having here was Gran.

“So, what do you lads think of tha' Country Music week?” Conan boomed a moment later. His voice was deep and carried very well.

“Can't wait!” Susan from Heartbreakers replied. She was a sweet hearted blond. Conan had told me in private that her brother was mentally ill, and that she was working a lot to pay for his medication. I admired her for it. Ellie, Jordan and Peirce were the other girls in Heartbreakers, and they acted kind of stuck up. I wasn't sure if I really liked them all that much, they seemed to think that everyone should treat them special.

“I'm worried about it,” Nathan said. He, Charles and Jason were in Boxing Beats. “We're more of alternative or pop really, I don't listen to that kind of music.”

“Same here.” Darren replied.

Ryan and I both stayed quiet when the others looked at us. He was picking at the pizza on his plate listlessly, not meeting my gaze.

“Well? Kelly? What about you?” Susan asked finally. The rest of her band was being quiet, glaring at the rest of us menacingly.

I smiled at her, looking away from Ryan. “Oh, I'm not worried about it, I'm from North Carolina in the States and I listen to a lot of country.” I replied.

Everyone now looked interested, snapping to attention and looking at me. “Can you maybe help the rest of us?” Nathan asked hesitantly.

“Sure!” I replied.

“Oh thankyouthankyouthankyou-” Nathan started with Charles, and I laughed and made them stop.

About an hour after dinner, I was sitting in a rec room with my guitar. No one was around, they were all at Boxing Beats room to have a mini party. Since they were having alcohol I decided to opt for being a loner.

I had a guitar, a pick, a pen, and a composition book.

I started playing different songs lightly, getting a feel for the strings again. I'd been playing piano more than guitar, and it felt good to play it again.

A series of chords sounded good, and vaguely familiar. I softened it into a soft strumming, and then I remembered a stupid little song that I'd written when I was thirteen. It was after a guy had turned out not to 'like' me back, and I'd written it in a fit of rage.

Some of the lyrics had been okay though.

I started to softly sing as I strummed.

I scribbled through the song, writing the random lyrics down and then rearranging and cutting out until I thought I had a good rough draft. I knew I didn't want to record this song as it was a breakup song, but it felt good to have written one. I figured out the chords to it and rewrote it all on two clean sheets of paper and put it in my notebook.

I put the notebook in my guitar case and left them in the rec room. When I opened the door and stepped out, I nearly ran into Ellie.
“Oh, hey! What's up?” I asked her. She looked uncomfortable. I'd never really spoken to her, she was the quiet one in Heartbreakers.

“Uh, nothing.” She muttered. “Bye.”

I slowly walked away, turning when I heard the rec room door close after Ellie and I made my way to my room. Well, she was abrupt.

I hadn't spoken to Niall since our interrupted phone call. Every time I thought of that morning and what we'd been doing I blushed. Maybe it was a good thing that Natalie burst in. I wasn't ready for sex, but heavy making out sounded good any day!

I opened my door and locked it, shrugging my bag to the ground and sighing. I closed my eyes and leaned against the cool wood, wishing for a hot bath, but lights out would be soon and I could barely manage a quick shower.

“Miss me?”

I let out a small scream and turned to face Niall. I clutched my chest, my heart pounding. “Holy Macklemore! Don't do that to me!”

Niall laughed and wrapped his arms around me softly. “If I kiss you, am I forgiven?” He asked. He planted kisses up and down my neck softly, focusing on my pulse. I whimpered softly. “Maybe. Depends.” I gasped out when he sucked lightly on my pulse point, all thoughts of sleeping gone.

“On what?” Niall's lips trailed to just under my ear.

“On how good the kiss is.” I replied. Niall's lips caressed mine softly for a moment, then he drew back and lent his forehead against mine. “I'd kiss you again just to prove a point but we kinda need to talk.” He muttered. I pecked his lips again and he groaned.

“Yeah, we do,” I said breathlessly. He kissed me again, harder this time. “Okay stop, stop.” I muttered. He finally pulled back, then tugged me to sit with him on the bed. I blushed when I remembered what we'd been doing last time we were on the bed, and if the heat in his eyes were any indication he was thinking the same.

“What exactly happened today while we were busy?” Niall asked. I snorted. “Yeah, busy, if that's what ya wanna call it.” I mumbled. Niall cocked an eyebrow. “Okay okay, well, Natalie and I raced to Ryan and then he sang this really romantic song to her that totally described their relationship and now they're back together, and I'm single again.” I said. Niall opened his mouth. “And yes, that was the extremely short version.” I added.

“Oh,” Niall said. I nodded. “Big OH. It was like the cutest thing I've ever seen in my entire life.”

Niall frowned. “Well, why did you run off?” He asked. I glared at him. “I didn't run off, I went to a cafe' slash bookstore and got coffee and read for a few hours.” I informed him.

“Were you upset?” Niall asked quietly. I smiled at him crookedly. “Yeah, a little bit. He's my best friend, Ni. I can't just be all happy for him when I know his life is going to be ninety-nine point nine percent Natalie from now on. I just don't want to feel forgotten.”

Niall pulled me to straddle him on the bed, our foreheads touching. He kissed my nose softly.

“Trust me, Babe. No one could ever forget about you.”

I kissed him again.

~ ~ ~

I really, really, hated getting up in the mornings. And the person trying to wake me up obviously knew that, as they were trying to tug my blankets off.

“Go away you swine!” I mumbled. The person laughed, definitely male. He then pulled me off the bed by my blankets, and I landed in a heap on the floor, hugging my pillow to my chest and huddled under my comforter.

“Get up get up! It's a big big big day!”

I cracked an eyelid and glared at Ryan. “Okay, Effie. I thought you were avoiding me?”

Ryan's response was to tickle my feet, which ended with me kicking him in the face. Which also resulted in him having a bloody nose, and me having to get up and get him a paper towel so he wouldn't get my blanket dirty.

“Sorry!” I apologized yet again. Ryan glared at me over the mass of white paper towels from my bathroom.

“You better be glad I love you because anyone else would be in a headlock right now,” He muttered. His voice sounded kind of muffled.

“Yeah, well, I love you too. How's Natalie?” I asked. He winced.

“Not taking the whole 'Fake Dating' news very well. She tossed me out of our room this morning when I told her.” He confessed.

“Wait, so she can pay Darren to fake date her, but you can't ask me as a favor? Which by the way, I am SO cashing in on.”

Ryan shrugged. “Her logic is weird. We're trying to work out our problems.”

“That'll take a miracle.” I muttered under my breath.

“Excuse me?”

“NOTHING!” I sang. “Well, I thought this would be a lot more awkward, do you want to go watch Mean Girls?”

Ryan nodded enthusiastically. For a moment I forgot that it would be a tie between him and I, and that I needed to figure something out, and soon.